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What Terps Need to Know From the University of Maryland, Division of Student Affairs

What Terps Need to Know

From the University of Maryland, Division of Student Affairs

https://keepconnected.umd.edu/what-terps-need-know 

Community Expectations

COVID-19 Testing Spring Requirements

  • All students, faculty, and staff must attest to a COVID-19 test result before returning to campus.  
  • Residence hall students are required to complete pre and post-arrival testing. They must attest negative COVID-19 test results within 10 days before move-in and no later than two weeks after on-campus arrival on Keep Terps Safe portal to enable building access. 
  • Students living on or near campus will be required to be tested every two weeks in the spring semester.

Symptom Monitoring
Those returning to campus must continue to complete daily symptom monitoring on the UMD app or the Keep Terps Safe Portal (return.umd.edu). This is one of our key mitigation strategies to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

Face Coverings
As of January 16, 2021, Prince George’s County will require face coverings to be worn in all public places, outdoors or indoors, even where you are able to maintain 6 feet of distance from others. This means that in all locations on campus and the surrounding community, except for your private residence, a face covering must be worn at all times. Face coverings are not required during vigorous exercise outdoors.
 
Self-isolation/Quarantine for students returning to College Park
For the first two weeks of the semester, all courses will be online. Students are asked to sequester and limit in-person gatherings for two weeks after arrival to help mitigate the spread of the virus. All activities, events and programs will remain virtual during that time as we want to wait for students to be tested on campus before we begin to offer in person opportunities for engagement.

Spring Quarantine & Isolation Housing 
Consistent with last semester, residential students who test positive or have been exposed to a close contact who has tested positive will need to move to quarantine and isolation housing in Leonardtown or on Fraternity Row. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has offered new quarantine guidelines. Students in quarantine or isolation will now be required to stay ten days, whether they are being quarantined for possible exposure or isolated with symptoms or a positive test result.

For Students Living in Residence Halls

New to housing residents move-in information

  • New-to-housing students are invited to move-in in advance of returning students on Thursday, January 21, and Friday, January 22, by appointment only. We encourage new students to return on one of these two days to settle in and participate in the Winter Welcome events. Move-in appointments are available through February 8.
  • Residents may log in to their Housing Portal for assignment and move-in scheduling details.

Returning residents move-in information

  • Residence Hall move-in for returning residents begins January 23 by appointment only. Appointments will extend through 2/8 for residents who wish to delay return.
  • Move-in appointment and pre-arrival negative COVID-19 test result activate the student ID to access the residence hall. If a residence hall student comes back early without an appointment, access will not work.
  • Returning residents should plan to complete a curbside drop off to alleviate congestion in the building and support the 4Maryland healthy behaviors.

Programs and Engagement Activities

  • Students are expected to limit their in-person interactions for the first two weeks of the spring semester and take another COVID-19 test before in-person instruction commences. These measures were implemented at the beginning of the fall semester and helped begin the academic year with as few positive cases as possible.
  • Students can have socially distanced conversations using face coverings in shared spaces on their assigned floor.
  • Students should wear face coverings outdoors and in public spaces and should not go to bars or restaurants, and they should not host or attend large gatherings and parties.
  • All programs, events, and activities will be held virtually in the first two weeks of the semester. We want to wait for students to be tested on campus before offering in-person opportunities for engagement.

For Students Living Off-Campus 

  • Many virtual programs are scheduled, and all students are invited to attend. There will be no in-person programs and events during the first two weeks of the semester.
  • Essential on-campus services will be available for off-campus students.
  • Off-campus students are expected to follow similar guidelines as students living on campus. Students can leave their living quarters to exercise, buy groceries, or take care of essential functions only —as was done during the stay-at-home order.
  • There can be no social events, gatherings, or parties on or off-campus during this time.
  • Students should wear face coverings outdoors and in public spaces and should not go to bars or restaurants, and should not host or attend large gatherings and parties.

Engagement Opportunities

Weeks 1 & 2
All programs, events, and activities will be held virtually in the first two weeks of the semester.

Weeks 3 & 4

Limited in-person on-campus programming or events may be offered dependent upon PG County and public health guidance. 

Links to Activities 

Resident Life Winter Welcome 
Winter Welcome Virtual programming – Join us opening weekend to connect with fellow Terps for game night, DIY Terrariums, Caricature art and more!

TerpLink 
To see a full slate of engagement opportunities, activities, and events waiting for you to join, visit TerpLink. 

Adele H. Stamp Student Union - Center for Campus Life

  • STAMP continues to be the official COVID-19 testing site for the University community. To make a testing appointment, visit return.umd.edu
  • No reservations necessary to enter STAMP. University community members may swipe in with their UMD IDs at any entrance, for details visit stamp.umd.edu/reopen
  • “Find Your Thing” at the virtual Second Look Fair where you can discover student organizations and clubs — more than 800 student organizations will continue to operate this spring. Visit the Student Organization Resource Center (SORC) on the STAMP website or for a list of events and announcements, go to terplink.umd.edu. 
  • The All-Niter is back! Postponed from the fall semester and previously just a day-long event, it will now take place every Friday in February with cool activities to do at STAMP or at home: pick-up-supplies (or mail option) for Reverse Tie-Dye All-Niter Shirts, Canvas Night, Virtual Escape Room. Scavenger Hunts. For the full schedule, go to stamp.umd.edu/allniter. Check out Student Entertainment Events (SEE) website at see.umd.edu for a full schedule of events like the popular Build-a-Bae for Valentine's Day, game nights, outdoor movies, bachelor event, Art Attack and more!
  • Alternative Breaks Dialogue Program – Participant Application Open
    The Alternative Breaks Dialogue Program looks to build a world in which UMD students are empowered learners in community together, taking action toward just causes. Through a series of virtual intentional and reflective dialogues addressing global social issues, student participants will exchange and evaluate different approaches that challenge specific structures of our global community. Participants will also do service with local community partners to discover how they can turn their knowledge into action in safe, responsible, and sustainable ways.
    Interested students must be able to commit 1.5 hours/week for 8 weeks between February 15th, 2021 - April 9th, 2021. Application deadline: January 31, 2021. Email alternativebreaks@umd.edu with questions about this program or check out our website, alternativebreaks.umd.edu
  • Make a Difference in the Community: The Terps for Change Volunteer Application for the Spring Semester is now open! Priority deadline for education volunteer sites: January 31st, 2021 at 11:59pm. Deadline for all other volunteer sites: February 7th, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.We have a limited amount of program space and sites fill up very quickly on a first-come, first-serve basis for new volunteers so apply HERE today!
  • From the Memorial Chapel: Chaplains are a source of support for the UMD community during these stressful times. We also have one newer chaplain, Father Conrad Murphy, who came on board for the Catholic chaplaincy in the summer of 2020.
  • Immigrant and Undocumented Student Life Program at UMD — We welcome immigrants, late arriving immigrants, undocumented students, DACA or TPS recipients, refugees, and mixed-status immigration students. If you are curious if our office is right for you, please email us at undocu@umd.edu.
  • Earn money while doing good: Apply to be a 4Maryland Student Ambassador and support the university's COVID testing team.

University Recreation & Wellness

  • During the first two weeks of school, from 1/25-2/7,
    • RecWell will be operating on a reduced schedule and with limited in-person recreation activities for weights, cardio equipment, swimming, badminton, table tennis, indoor pickleball, and shooting baskets (Armory only). For detailed hours of operations, go to recwell.umd.edu/calendar/
    • Reservations are required for access. To make a reservation, go to recwell.umd.edu/keepmoving/reservations
  • Beginning on February 8, RecWell will expand hours and begin offering in-person Group Fitness classes, Club Sports and Intramural Sports activities. 
  • For all of the above facilities and programs, reservations are required, as are face coverings at all times, except while swimming. Users of the facilities will be expected to maintain appropriate physical distancing throughout the facilities.  
  • RecWell is cleaning all high-contact surfaces every two hours, and disinfectant and hand sanitizing stations will be provided throughout the facilities.
  • Virtual classes and programs are currently available and will remain available throughout the semester.
  • Take advantage of our outdoor facilities, activities and services. Spending time outdoors contributes to your mental and physical well being.
    • RecWell offers facilities such as LaPlata Beach, the Engineering Fields, Fraternity Row, Eppley Tennis Courts, and the University Golf Course and driving range.  
    • Enjoy the various adventure program offerings or services to help you get outdoors on campus or within the local area. Go to recwell.umd.edu/activities/adventure to learn about trips, clinics, or how to rent gear.
    • As of January 16, 2021, Prince George's County requires face coverings to be worn in all public places, outdoors or indoors, even where you are able to maintain 6 feet of distance from others. Face coverings are not required during vigorous exercise outdoors.
  • For additional information on all that RecWell has to offer, go to recwell.umd.edu

 

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