Health Information
For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Iowa, visit the Iowa Department of Public Health website.
We know that dealing with this evolving situation can cause stress and anxiety. Please remember that there are campus and community resources available to faculty and staff:
- UI Employee Assistance Program, 319-335-2085 or eaphelp@uiowa.edu
- CommUnity Crisis Services(formerly the Crisis Center), 319-351-0140
If a student is in need of additional support, they should connect with one of these campus or community resources:
- University Counseling Services, 319-335-7294 or http://bit.ly/1PbwPol, to schedule an appointment
- Student Care and Assistance, 319-335-1162 or dos-assistance@uiowa.edu
- CommUnity Crisis Services(formerly the Crisis Center), 319-351-0140
For more, see: https://mentalhealth.uiowa.edu/
For information about UI health plans’ coverage related to COVID, please see the UI Benefits webpage.
COVID-19 will continue to be present in the community for the foreseeable future, and guidance and information about the pandemic changes rapidly and must be continually monitored.
The University of Iowa will continue to take deliberate steps to reduce the risk of exposure to the COVID-19 virus and will be proactively engaging with students, faculty, and staff throughout the semester to gauge health and well-being.
Campus leadership will continue to monitor a set of metrics to determine if the university needs to alter policies, procedures, or scheduling.
The metrics include:
- New cases
- Percent of positive tests
- Available testing
- Appropriate contact tracing
- Ample classroom instruction
- Staffing for critical functions
- Course instruction transition to online
- Classroom availability
- Residence hall capacity
- Protective equipment inventory
- Cleaning equipment inventory
- Johnson County school operation level
- Child care availability
- Proclamation compliance
- Cases at other Iowa universities
- UI Health Care capacity level
The UI will also continue to rely on guidance from the Board of Regents, State of Iowa; the Iowa and Johnson County departments of public health (IDPH, JCPH); the Big Ten Conference; and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding the wearing of masks, social distancing, and other best practices.
Masks are not required, but welcome.
No, questions and comments about mask wearing are strongly discouraged. Members of the university community are expected to be respectful of one another’s personal decisions. Whether or not to wear a mask is a personal decision that each person must make for themselves and for their own reasons.
At the university, we value respect and civility. Disrespectful behavior may be addressed according to the university’s ethics policies for staff and faculty. Behavior that constitutes harassment may be addressed according to the Anti-Harassment Policy. If you have questions, please contact your local human resources representative.
Up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations
- Wear a mask around others for 10 days.
- Test on day 5, if possible.
If you develop symptoms get a test and stay home.
Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated
- Stay home for 5 days. After that continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
- If you can’t quarantine you must wear a mask for 10 days.
- Test on day 5 if possible.
If you develop symptoms get a test and stay home
Vaccination
- Eligible employees will be vaccinated at UI Hospitals & Clinics
- Eligible students will be vaccinated at Student Health
For the latest information on campus vaccination, visit: https://coronavirus.uiowa.edu/vaccine-information
No, the COVID-19 vaccine will be provided free of charge.
The University of Iowa strongly encourages students, faculty, and staff to receive the vaccine as soon as they are eligible, in consultation with their healthcare provider, but it is not mandatory.
The Board of Regents, State of Iowa has determined the public universities will not mandate vaccination. The university is obligated to follow the guidance of our governing body.
No. The university encourages everyone to be vaccinated, but vaccinations are voluntary. Any communication that may be perceived to pressure, force, or coerce anyone to obtain a COVID-19 vaccination should be avoided.
No. Supervisors/instructors should not ask their employees/students if they are vaccinated or if they plan to be vaccinated. Asking about their vaccination status may prompt disclosure of disability-related information or information regarding existing health conditions. Avoid discussing an employee/student's vaccination status in group meetings, group emails, class, etc.
As a supervisor, you should first remind employees that this information is personal, and that they are under no obligation to share. Supervisors are encouraged to communicate the opportunities for vaccination that are currently available to University employees through the University Employee Health Clinic.
Conversations among employees or students would be difficult to restrict. Supervisors and instructors should refrain from participating in employee/student conversations about COVID-19 vaccination status. They should also be alert to any coercive or pressuring behavior among co-workers or students. If this behavior is observed, supervisors and instructors are encouraged to remind the participants that the University is committed to a voluntary approach to vaccination, and that no one should feel pressured or coerced by anyone.
No, outside of the healthcare setting the COVID-19 vaccine is not mandatory and there is no need to ask for verification of their employees' vaccination status.
No. The COVID-19 vaccination is not mandatory and should not be a factor in assigning work, including whether someone can work onsite. When onsite, employees are required to follow any applicable University of Iowa COVID-19 safety policies.
Employees who are not able to be vaccinated due to health conditions and who wish to request a workplace accommodation based on a health conditions should contact their local human resources representative to initiate an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation review with Faculty and Staff Disability Services (FSDS).
We ask that everyone respects the privacy of their co-workers and students by refraining from asking about their vaccination status. Vaccination status is a personal matter and should be treated as such. Asking someone about their vaccination status may cause them to feel pressured to share personal or private information. No one should feel this kind of pressure in the workplace or classroom. By avoiding questions regarding vaccination status, we are helping to ensure that everyone feels respected.
No. The university encourages students to be vaccinated, but vaccinations are voluntary. Instructors and staff should avoid any communication that may be perceived to pressure, force, or coerce any student to obtain a COVID-19 vaccination.
Testing
No. Students can pick up a free COVID-19 test kit at Student Health locations in the IMU and Westlawn.
A variety of COVID-19 testing options are available in our community. Please see the testing information page.
Faculty and Staff
Employees who wish to request a workplace accommodation based on a health condition should contact their local human resources representative to initiate an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation review with Faculty and Staff Disability Services (FSDS).
On July 1, 2022, the university returned to pre-pandemic leave policies in compliance with the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, lifting the COVID-19 State of Emergency in 2021. The university continues to offer substantial time-off benefits. If you have COVID-19 or any other illness, you should follow your department’s standard process for reporting an illness and taking sick leave.
University Human Resources Family Services office has resources to assist in finding alternate child care arrangements. This site will be updated regularly as new information and resources for our caregivers of children becomes available. Managers should direct employees here for assistance.
Students and Parents
TALA has been phased out. If there are concerns about a need for reasonable accommodations under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), students should contact Student Disability Services (sds-info@uiowa.edu). Students are also encouraged to contact their advisor or collegiate student services office for additional assistance. If students have other concerns related to their health and well-being, they may contact Student Care and Assistance (dos-assistance@uiowa.edu). Faculty are not being required to teach their in-person classes virtually.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act includes a Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) that provides emergency funding to higher education for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 crisis.
The University of Iowa’s Office of Financial Aid has completed distributing the $8.086 million the university received from the federal government’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to assist UI students experiencing financial difficulties related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. About 4,700 eligible students received assistance, with an average award of $1,712.
- 85% of recipients are undergraduate students, 10% are professional students, and 5% are graduate students.
- 33% of the recipients are first-generation students.
- 33% of the total number of undergraduate student recipients also are Pell Grant recipients. (Graduate and professional students are not eligible for Pell Grants.)
To be eligible students had to meet Title IV eligibility requirements, demonstrate a financial hardship due to COVID-19 pandemic, and have submitted the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The University is required to provide details on the distribution of these funds to students, and is available here: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Report (PDF).