A Healthier U is the University’s comprehensive and evolving plan to keep our campus and our community healthy and safe by minimizing the spread of COVID-19. Read the student plan outlined in the AHealthierU Plan.
Yes. Heath screening will be enabled through Healthcheck, a COVID-19 assessment tool that allows individuals to report COVID-19 health status, symptoms, and exposure. Students are required to complete the screening each day before they come to campus. By responding to a series of screener questions regarding symptoms, the daily health screening provides a ‘pass’ for the student to move around campus (i.e., a green screen indicates the student is cleared to move around campus, whereas a red screen indicates the student is not cleared to be on campus). Students who report specific conditions will be instructed to contact the Auburn University Medical Clinic for evaluation and possible testing. Students will not be tested unless recommended by the Medical Clinic.
In conjunction with the Alabama Department of Public Health, Auburn will implement a proximity/exposure notification application as part of the GuideSafe™ platform. Individuals will be able to use the app to report a positive test result and anonymously notify other individuals with whom the person has been in proximity that they may have been exposed to the virus. The benefit of downloading and using the application is that it will help improve tracing efforts to reduce the spread of the virus. Use of the application is voluntary, but strongly encouraged.
All information collected by the GuideSafe™ platform will be collected and stored in HIPAA-compliant servers. The information collected is held anonymously, and there are no identifying values that can link the information to the participant. The generalized information will help the University mitigate possible spread of the virus and support the efforts of the Alabama Department of Public Health to protect individuals from COVID-19.
For fall 2020, classes will be offered in a variety of formats – in person, online, blended, or HyFlex. Students will have the choice to remain home and participate in online courses or join the residential campus experience. Every student should make an informed decision on whether to enroll in the online option or take classes in-person. There are heightened and unpredictable health risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Risks include exposure to asymptomatic carriers of the virus, as well as virus transfer through face-to-face communications and sharing spaces with others. In some cases, Auburn may recommend that students seriously consider the full online learning option. Ultimately, the final decision resides with the individual student and their health care provider.
Students who choose to return to campus for fall 2020 but have concerns about an underlying medical condition should contact the Office of Accessibility to discuss their on-campus living or learning environments. Students in this category include those who by diagnosis are immunosuppressed or those who, because of a medical treatment plan, including medication, may have a suppressed immune system. Students requesting a modification to their learning or living environment may be required to provide medical documentation that reflects current status, diagnosis, treatment plan and prescribed current medications.
Auburn University cannot require students to remain on campus at all times. However, students are strongly encouraged to minimize their travel and continue to practice all necessary health and safety behaviors while off-campus. Students are not required to return to campus following Thanksgiving break.
Current information for prospective Auburn students can be found on the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website.
The easiest way to access the Healthcheck self-screener is to go to www.auburn.edu/healthcheck and login with your AU User ID and Password. Students can also access the Healthcheck icons on either the “My Academics” and “My Campus” tab in AU Access and click on the GuideSafe icon.
No, a red screen simply means that you have reported possible symptoms related to COVID-19 or have possibly been exposed to someone with COVID-19 and should not come to campus. Students who receive a red screen will receive an email from A Healthier U with further information and should either (1) stay home until cleared to return to campus or (2) contact a medical professional to see if they need to be tested.
Currently, a student’s Healthcheck status automatically resets at midnight each day. Students cannot manually reset their screens or complete their screener more than once in a 24-hour period.
Yes. All students are required to initiate testing for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. After students initiate the testing process, they will be emailed instructions on how to test, including testing method and locations. This requirement is part of Auburn’s comprehensive plan for a safe and healthy return to campus, and testing is facilitated by GuideSafe™, a statewide initiative led by the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Students should visit healthy.verily.com to find instructions from GuideSafe testing.
No. GuideSafe™ Testing will provide free tests to every student. Students may be tested at local physician offices or other sites, but those will not be reimbursed by the university.
All GuideSafe™ testing locations and the at-home kit will use a nasal test that requires a simple, painless self-swab taken from just inside the nose.
No, the test is easy and painless.
Yes. Tests will be performed on campus at Beard-Eaves Coliseum. Students should schedule appointments in advance by following the instructions emailed to them from Testing Alabama. Students who have been assigned an at-home kit but would prefer to test on-site should email testing@staysafetogether.org to be added to the on-site testing group.
If students choose to test privately or need to share a prior positive, they must email documentation of results to ahealthieru@auburn.edu from their Auburn University email account. Documentation must include the student’s name, date of test and results.
You should not retest through GuideSafe™ if you tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 12 weeks. Provide those previous test results via email from your Auburn University email account to ahealthieru@auburn.edu. Your documentation must include your name, testing date, and testing status.
Students who test negative for COVID-19 will receive results via email within 48 hours of testing. If a student tests positive for COVID-19, a university official will contact them with results and next steps for protecting themselves and others. If a student who tests positive lives on-campus, they will be required to move into isolation housing until given medical clearance to return to their on-campus residence. Students who live off-campus and test positive will be asked to self-quarantine.
If students use GuideSafe™ Testing with either the at-home test kit or test in-person, results will be submitted by the testing lab. If students test privately or need to share a prior positive, they should email results to ahealthieru@auburn.edu from their Auburn University email account. Documentation must include student name, testing date and testing status.
Testing results are confidential. Auburn University and the Alabama Department of Public Health will be notified of any positive results, but personal information will not be shared.
Auburn University will accept any test that assesses for an active case of COVID-19.
Students who answer yes to the question, “Have you been around anyone not wearing a mask for more than 15 minutes?” will be told that they are not eligible to test in-person. At this time, students should answer “No” to this question. Students who have already answered yes and are currently barred from scheduling a test should email testing@staysafetogether.org in order to move forward with scheduling a test.
Visit healthy.verily.com to sign up for testing.
GuideSafe has a call center to field questions about entry testing and the platform. Parents and students may call 866-839-5308 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The call center has connections with Verily support, so they also can troubleshoot login issues for the entry testing.
As Auburn welcomes faculty, staff, and students back to campus, we have made strategic adjustments to our academic calendar. These changes support the health, safety and well-being of the campus and broader community and anticipate a possible resurgence of COVID-19 in mid to late fall.
In the modified calendar, all instructional days occur prior to Thanksgiving, and all final exams will be administered remotely after Thanksgiving. Key changes include:
Aug. 17: Classes begin
Oct. 8-9: Fall break is suspended, and classes will continue to meet
Nov. 23-24: Classes will meet on these two days of Thanksgiving week; students do not have to return to campus after Nov. 24
Nov. 25-27: Thanksgiving break
Nov. 30 to Dec. 1: Student reading days
Fall Commencement is scheduled for Dec. 12, contingent on existing health and safety guidelines.
Students will be required to wear face coverings, and the maximum capacities for classrooms will be reduced to 50% of normal capacity. For many rooms, this can be accomplished by leaving one empty seat between each student. Enhanced cleaning procedures are in place, with classrooms disinfected nightly. Also, single-use cleaning products are in available classrooms, dining spaces, and other high-traffic areas.
Due to COVID-19, Auburn University expanded the use of Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading for Spring Semester 2020. Summer and fall 2020 semesters will see a return to the traditional grading policies.
For fall semester, Auburn will employ four general instructional methods: Face-to-Face, Online, Blended, or HyFlex. Face-to-Face courses are conducted in person. Online courses are conducted online in their entirety. In blended courses, some instructional activities are conducted in-person while other instructional activities are conducted online. HyFlex courses are conducted face-to-face but are available online simultaneously.
Faculty will determine which instructional methods best align with the learning outcomes of their courses, and the chosen methods will be published in the University’s scheduling systems by August 1. Students will be able to search courses by instructional method and adjust their fall schedules, if desired and seats are available.
Faculty should indicate in their syllabi how course content will be provided to students who cannot attend class due to COVID-19-related absences. Faculty should reference the University’s Policy on Class Attendance to make arrangements for students to complete missed work and/or major examinations. Regardless of the delivery method, all classes will be captured/recorded to ensure availability of material to students.
To be prepared for the possibility of remote instruction, students should have reliable and regular access to a Windows or Macintosh computer/laptop, a webcam (built-in on the computer or as an additional USB accessory), and off-campus access to broadband Internet. Refer to the Student Specific Computer Recommendations page for guidance on specific computer recommendations based on your academic program. In the event the University has to transition to remote operations, students with electronic textbooks and other technology needs should contact the AU Bookstore at books@auburn.edu.
To complete the required daily Health Screening, students will need a smartphone or laptop computer. For exposure notification, a smartphone is required.
Your schedule for the fall will not change. Faculty will determine which instructional methods best align with the learning outcomes of their courses, and the chosen methods (Face-to-Face, Online, Blended, or HyFlex) will be published in the University’s scheduling systems by August 1. Students will be able to search courses by instructional method and adjust their fall schedules, if desired.
Is it possible to receive academic support remotely?
Yes. Academic Coaching, Study Partners (peer tutoring), and Supplemental Instruction (SI) are all available through remote delivery. To learn more, visit: http://academicsupport.auburn.edu/
No. Courses will transition to remote delivery for finals after Thanksgiving break. In addition, the residential halls and dining venues will remain open for students who need/decide to remain on campus after Thanksgiving. Fall contracts will continue through the end of the fall semester.
Auburn’s tuition and fee structure have been established regardless of the method of instruction. Tuition and fees will not be altered in the event that the mode of instruction is changed for any course for all or part of the semester. Auburn remains committed to offering the highest quality academic experience and will maintain the high quality of instruction that students expect while earning their degrees, regardless of the mode of course delivery. Auburn’s faculty will continue to teach courses, and the course curricula will continue to prioritize the learning outcomes that faculty have established.
No. Courses will transition to remote delivery for finals after Thanksgiving break. In addition, the residential halls and dining venues will remain open for students who need/decide to remain on campus after Thanksgiving. Fall contracts will continue through the end of the fall semester.
A staged return of students to campus housing is planned to de-densify activities ahead of the first day of classes. The move-in process has been streamlined, and a new curbside check-in allows for greater physical distancing. Furniture in common areas has been reconfigured to promote physical distancing. Enhanced and increased cleaning procedures will be used in common areas, and kits of cleaning supplies will also be available to students. For students who must quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19, a block of isolation rooms is reserved on-campus.
More information on fall 2020 housing is available on the University Housing website.
Move-in will take place over several days to allow for proper physical distancing. The check-in process will be a curbside check-in. Residents will drive up to their designated centralized location and receive a welcome packet and their room key. To maximize the health and safety of our residents, there will be no volunteers available to assist during move-in. Additionally, we will be unable to provide move-in equipment to assist with move-in. Students are welcome to bring their own items, such as wagons or dollies, to campus with them.
Other safety protocols include:
Students and families will be expected to wear a face mask while on campus.
Hand sanitizer will be provided inside all residential areas and buildings.
Elevator capacity will be limited to maintain a 6-foot distance between all occupants.
Physical distancing will be expected of residents and their families while on campus.
Visitors that do not live in the residence halls will not be allowed entry into any of the residence halls. Depending on federal and state guidance, and as COVID-19 cases decrease statewide and nationally, visitation policies will be amended to lessen restrictions.
All residents will be required to wear a mask upon entering the residence hall. Masks may be removed once the resident has entered their personal room.
If you have a health condition and need a special accommodation to your housing assignment, please contact the Office of Accessibility.
Tiger Dining has been working to make sure we adhere to physical distancing and other health and safety guidelines. At the same time, we want students to have options with nutritious and high-quality food.
Changes you will see this fall include:
Contactless payment will be available at all locations.
Grubhub kiosks will be added for students to place grab-and-go orders.
A variety of carry-out options, including meal kits, will be available.
Seating capacity has been reduced by 50 percent, and new entry-exit and queuing procedures will be in place.
Enhanced cleaning measures will be utilized, and sanitizing wipes are readily available for student use.
Yes, Auburn Cares will offer contactless pick up for Campus Food Pantry users. New Campus Food Pantry users will complete initial paperwork and meet with an Auburn Cares staff member via Zoom, and then they can sign up to receive pre-stocked food bags. To learn more, visit the Auburn Cares website.
Since finals will be in an online format, residents are encouraged to move out when they leave campus for Thanksgiving break. However, residents have the option to return to campus after Thanksgiving break and remain in their hall until end of fall semester. The halls will close for Thanksgiving break at 9 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 25 and reopen at 9 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 29. The residence halls will remain open through finals week and fall commencement. At this time, the official closing for residence halls is 9 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 13.
For more information regarding the fall 2020 calendar, please visit Auburn University Housing.
Auburn University Medical Clinic staff will determine through contact tracing if there is a need for a roommate or suitemates to move to quarantine housing. If the student lives on campus, Auburn University Property Management will clean the room or suite where the diagnosed resident was residing. Before cleaning can occur the residents of the room or suite must remove or safely store valuable items, remove all items other than furniture or rugs from the floor of the room and ensure the room is ready to be cleaned. The residents will need to vacate the room for a few hours for cleaning to take place. Residents will be notified of the date and time of the cleaning and when they may return to the room.
The quarantine/isolation housing is available for all Auburn University students, regardless of whether they live on or off campus. Auburn University Medical Clinic staff will determine if a student should be placed in quarantine/isolation housing.
Students will be provided with a schedule of meal deliveries and will receive three meals per day. All meals are packaged individually and placed in the main floor lobby or other designated location after being delivered. Quarantined students will be given a time to pick up their food. Students with dietary restrictions will have an individually packaged meal labeled with their name. Meals will be left at the pick-up point for one hour. Food safety guidelines require that any meals not picked up within an hour will be discarded.
Only students from other countries are required to quarantine for 14 days upon arriving on campus. No other students are required to quarantine upon arrival.
Residents who feel sick in any way are encouraged to call the Auburn University Medical Clinic at 334-844-9825. In an emergency, always dial 911. Additionally, if a resident feels they may have COVID-19, they should notify their RA as soon as possible so Housing can implement their COVID-19 response plan.
Auburn University Housing and Property Management are working closely to ensure that all residents are safe within the residence halls. Property Management is ensuring all rooms are cleaned according to CDC standards prior to move-in. Housing has created a safe and simple move-in plan to ensure the fewest number of people possible are in the residence halls at one time. Signage is posted throughout the residence halls encouraging physical distancing and healthy hygiene, furniture in common spaces has been removed or rearranged to allow for more space and encourage physical distancing, hand sanitizer has been placed in all residence hall lobbies and masks are required in all university buildings, including residence halls.
Auburn University Medical Clinic will determine if students should be assigned to quarantine/isolation housing. If needed, Housing will provide isolation or quarantine housing in Leischuck Hall and Hall M, located in the Hill residential community.
Tiger Dining will prepare meals for quarantined or isolated students. Meals will be delivered to a central location in the quarantine/isolation halls.
Custodial staff are following CDC-recommended cleaning and disinfection guidelines and using EPA-approved cleaning compounds. Property Management will clean to the standards established by the CDC as well as additional protocols developed by Facilities Management and Risk Management and Safety.
Students will remain in isolation or quarantine throughout the duration of the quarantine period, as designated by Auburn University Medical Clinic. Isolation will likely be for up to 14 days. Quarantine may be for just a few days until test results come back. Length of isolation or quarantine is determined by Clinic medical staff.
Once a student in quarantine receives a positive COVID-19 test result, they will be relocated to the isolation hall immediately and their room will be cleaned/disinfected. Once a student has completed the isolation period or has tested negative for COVID-19, they may return to their assigned residence hall room.
Dining on-campus will be a safe option. Our dining contractor complies with all federal, state and local safety guidelines, as well as their own corporate safety protocols. Most food may be procured with minimal contact by ordering through Grubhub and paying with the GET mobile app. Signs directing traffic flow and decals marking safe physical distancing, as well as limited seating and plexiglass table dividers are just a few of the enhanced safety protocols implemented in dining locations this fall. If a student is unable to dine on-campus, they may order meal kits through Grubhub or Home Chef and pay with their dining funds.
If you’re enrolled in at least one class taking place on the Auburn University campus, you must participate in the meal plan. If all of your classes are designated online-only on your detail schedule, you may apply for the away-from-campus accommodation.
A student will be able to redeem a Block meal in three locations on campus:
Village Tiger Zone: At this all-you-care-to-eat facility, dining staff will make each plate to order to minimize contact. Students will be able to eat in the facility by adhering to proper physical distancing or take food to-go.
Foy Commons Dining Hall: There will be a new customized meal ordering experience served in a “food locker” system. The rotating menu options include everything from burrito bowls to traditional homestyle cuisine.
Terrell Hall’s Pizza on the Hill: Students may purchase an entire pizza made to order.
Yes, the Auburn experience is centered around the campus community, and we are leveraging technology to keep students safe and connected. Welcome Week and other student events will incorporate more outdoor and virtual events to minimize crowds and physical contact. A mobile check-in process using AUinvolve for all events supports contact tracing efforts, if needed. Using Virtual Student Organization resources, our 550 recognized student organizations can continue, even if groups are unable to meet in-person.
Yes. We know that your experience outside of the classroom is critical. To ensure your organizations can continue meeting this fall, we have a host of resources for virtual organization management. Training opportunities will be made available in multiple formats allowing for in-person and remote training for organization leaders. AUinvolve will continue to serve as the best place to learn about various organizations’ events – whether they are hosted in person or virtually.
Yes. Greek Life is considering the best ways to conduct their traditional programming (e.g., recruitment, educational programs, membership development and initiation programs) to continue in an altered format that is consistent with campus health and safety regulations.
Visit the Greek Life website
We definitely hope to play all sports this fall, but will rely on state health orders to make these determinations. We will provide information as it becomes available.
Campus Recreation looks forward to welcoming students, faculty, and staff into the Recreation and Wellness Center when safety protocols are fully implemented. The physical and mental health of our members is our first priority. We plan to open Campus Recreation facilities conservatively and expand programs as conditions allow.
To reopen safely, we have prioritized physical distancing and de-densification, while also enhancing our high standards of health, safety, and cleanliness. This plan is subject to change based on University guidance, state guidelines, the CDC, and new developments in COVID-19 research.
Upon re-opening, the following amenities will be available with physical distancing guidelines.
Facility
Auburn Outdoors (by appointment only)
Group Fitness
Courts
Some programs and services will be unavailable including Auburn Outdoors trips, the climbing towers and bouldering wall, Olympic and powerlifting, personal training, and day-use lockers. Intramural team sports where physical distancing cannot be maintained will also not occur. Club Sports are currently under review.
Intramural Sports (team sports where physical distancing cannot be maintained)
Olympic and Powerlifting
Personal Training
Day-use lockers
This fall, spaces for study and student life activities will be available. De-densification will be necessary for safety reasons in Auburn’s libraries, computer labs, dining venues, and other group gathering spaces. Plans are still being developed and more information will be available soon.
Auburn University does not require students to remain on campus at all times. However, students are strongly encouraged to minimize their travel and continue to practice all necessary health and safety behaviors while off-campus.
A Healthier U is the University’s comprehensive and evolving plan to keep our campus and our community healthy and safe by limiting the spread of COVID-19.
Read the student plan outlined in the AHealthierU Plan.
Yes. Heath screening will be enabled through Healthcheck, a COVID-19 assessment tool that allows individuals to report COVID-19 health status, symptoms, and exposure. Students are required to complete the screening each day before they come to campus. By responding to a series of screener questions regarding symptoms, the daily health screening provides a ‘pass’ for the student to move around campus (i.e., a green screen indicates the student is cleared to move around campus, whereas a red screen indicates the student should not be on campus). Students who report specific conditions will be instructed to contact the Medical Clinic for evaluation and possible testing. Students will not be tested unless recommended by the Medical Clinic.
In conjunction with the Alabama Department of Public Health, Auburn will implement a proximity/exposure notification application as part of the platform. Individuals will be able to use the app to report a positive test result and anonymously notify other individuals with whom the person with the positive test result has been in proximity and may have been exposed to the virus. The benefit of downloading and using the application is that it will help improve tracing efforts to reduce the spread of the virus. Use of the application is voluntary, but strongly encouraged.
All information collected by the GuideSafe™ platform will be collected and stored in HIPAA-compliant servers. The information collected is held anonymously and there are no identifying values that can link the information to the participant. The generalized information will help the university mitigate possible spread of the virus and support the efforts of the Alabama Department of Public Health to protect individuals from COVID-19.
For fall 2020, classes will be offered in a variety of formats – in person, online, blended, or HyFlex. Students will have the choice to remain home and participate in online courses or join the residential campus experience. Every student should make an informed decision on whether to enroll in the online option or take classes in-person. There are heightened and unpredictable health risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Risks include exposure to asymptomatic carriers of the virus, as well as virus transfer through face-to-face communications and sharing spaces with others. In some cases, Auburn may recommend that students seriously consider the fully online learning option. Ultimately, the final decision resides with the individual student and their health care provider.
Students who choose to be on-campus for fall 2020 but have concerns about an underlying medical condition should contact the Office of Accessibility to discuss their on-campus living or learning environments. Students in this category include those who by diagnosis are immunosuppressed or those who, because of a medical treatment plan, including medication, may have a suppressed immune system. Students requesting a modification to their learning or living environment may be required to provide medical documentation that reflect current status, diagnosis, treatment plan and prescribed current medications.
If you have a health condition and need an accommodation to your housing assignment, please contact the Office of Accessibility.
Absolutely. Student Counseling & Psychological Services will continue to provide comprehensive preventative and clinical mental health services to students, including counseling and psychiatric services. Individual consultations by phone and tele-mental health for individual therapy, group therapy, and psychiatric services are available.
The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been stressful for many people and communities. Fear about the spread of COVID-19 can be overwhelming and cause various emotional responses. Student Counseling & Psychological Services has a website filled with resources for you during this time.
Wearing face coverings greatly reduces the chances of COVID-19 transmission, protecting those around us. Auburn University requires face coverings inside all university buildings, including classrooms and laboratories. This requirement applies to everyone on campus and also extends to those attending university events in non-university buildings. Students will be encouraged to bring at least three face coverings with them to campus. By wearing a face covering, you can help protect the people around you and encourage others to do the same.
Yes. The Auburn University Medical Clinic will continue to provide a full range of primary, preventative, and urgent medical care services for Auburn students, faculty, staff, visitors, and members of the surrounding community.
To ensure that our clinic is safe for all patients, we have implemented the following:
Cleaning and disinfecting. All areas and surfaces are cleaned and disinfected frequently throughout the day. Our building is also thoroughly cleaned and disinfected every night.
No one enters the building without being screened first. We are asking all patients to call 334-844-9825 to answer a series of screening questions. Patients with COVID-19 symptoms do not come inside the clinic. They are seen either outside at our testing site or via a Telehealth appointment.
Personal Protective Equipment. All staff members that have contact with patients are required to wear at a minimum a face covering. We are following the CDC Guidelines on this requirement. If a patient is sick (and we have ruled out COVID-19) they must wear a face covering before entering the building.
Physical Distancing. All patients must practice physical distancing while in our clinic, and sit at least 6 feet apart from other patients in the waiting room. Kiosk usage is staggered to guarantee physical distancing during check-in.
Staff Monitoring. Staff members' temperatures and symptoms are monitored daily. If a staff member presents with any COVID-19 symptoms, they are tested and sent home immediately.
No Visitors. We are not allowing people to accompany patients to their visits in the Medical Clinic.
Yes. The Auburn University Medical Clinic is testing symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. If you are having symptoms, have had known exposure but do not have symptoms, or need a test to return to work or to visit family you can call 334-844-9825 to answer a series of questions and setup an appointment.
Our drive-thru testing site is located in the South Quad parking deck next to our clinic. It is quick, easy, and confidential. Best of all, you should get your results the same day.
Yes. University leadership is developing a range of contingency plans based on situations and circumstances that might occur and that may require Auburn to pause or shut down some or all activities.
To prepare for this scenario, however likely or unlikely, Auburn is taking into careful consideration surrounding healthcare and treatment capabilities, on-campus testing capacities, and available isolation and quarantine capabilities on and around campus.
Contingency planning is also taking into account what is happening in the surrounding community as well as federal and state guidelines.
Existing efforts, such as building resilient pedagogies that can adapt if a student must be isolated following a positive virus test, support our contingency planning.