Health and Safety Rule Requirements and Violations for Students

Due to the ongoing pandemic, there are new behavior expectations for students on campus. Please review the required behavior expectations, along with the procedure for reporting and addressing violations below. More information about all required and strongly encouraged behavior expectations is available on the Protect Texas Together website.

To re-open campus, we must recognize the responsibility that we each have to all other members of the UT community; responsible behavior protects the health and safety of all members of our university community.

Recommended protective face masks are mandatory indoors. Wearing recommended protective face masks at all times when inside university buildings will be mandatory except when alone in a private office, eating in a campus dining facility or when students are in their own residence hall rooms. Recommended protective face masks are encouraged outdoors.

Beyond the failure to wear a recommended protective face mask inside a university building, other behaviors will also violate the Institutional Rules on Student Services and Activities, including (but not limited to) deliberately putting others at risk by coughing on, spitting on, sneezing on, and/or purposefully invading the personal space of others while not wearing a recommended protective face mask (indoors or outside).

Reporting

Student Conduct and Academic Integrity in the Office of the Dean of Students anticipates a large number of reports for potential violations of the health and safety requirements. Reports that are incomplete, vague, or lacking reasonable credibility may not be possible to investigate, and those cases will be dismissed.

Please note that you may not be notified of the outcome of a reported student's behavior due to federal privacy laws known as FERPA.

Health and Safety Requirements and the Institutional Rules

• Institutional Rules section 11-404(a)(18)(c)- Disruptive Conduct- when a student behaves in a manner that impedes, interferes with, or disrupts any University teaching, research, administrative, disciplinary, public service, learning, or other authorized activity.

  Failure to comply with the directions of an authorized employee and/or administrative official of the university when asked to promote the safety of our campus community (wearing a recommended protective face mask in class or indoors, following social distancing signage and directions, etc.) is a violation of Institutional Rules section 11-404(a)(18)(c)- Disruptive Conduct.

  Students who refuse to follow directives to wear a recommended protective face mask, and/or force class to be cancelled will be referred to Student Conduct and Academic Integrity for disciplinary action. Repeat violations will lead to sanctions including suspension from campus.

• Institutional Rules section 11-404(a)(3)- Harmful Behavior- when a student behaves in a manner that threatens the health and safety of any student or employee or of visitors to the campus.

  Deliberate behavior that threatens the health and safety of students, faculty, staff and/or visitors, including but not limited to coughing on, spitting on, sneezing, and/or purposefully invading the personal space of others while not wearing a recommended protective face mask (indoors or outside) would be a violation of Institutional Rules section 11-404(a)(3)- Harmful Behavior.

  Students deliberately engaging in behavior that threatens the health and safety students, faculty, staff and visitors will be referred to Student Conduct and Academic Integrity for disciplinary action. Sanctions (including suspension) will be assessed based on the severity of the incident.

• Institutional Rules section 11-404(a)(22)- University System and Institutional Violations - violates any provision of the Regents' Rules and Regulations of The University of Texas System, the rules and regulations of the University (including but not limited to administrative rules of campus offices), or specific instructions issued by an administrative official acting in the course of his or her authorized duties.

  Failure to comply with the directions of an authorized employee and/or administrative official of the university when asked to promote the safety of our campus community (wearing a recommended protective face mask in class or indoors, following social distancing signage, etc.) is a violation of Institutional Rules section 11-404(a)(22)- University System and Institutional Violations.

FAQs

I went to an on-campus event hosted by a student organization and social distancing directions were not followed. What should I do?

• Submit a report to Student Conduct and Academic Integrity including the student organization name and the location and time of the on-campus event in your report.

What should be done if someone is not wearing a recommended protective face mask?

• Recommended protective face masks are strongly encouraged but not required outside.
• After entering a university building, recommended protective face masks are mandatory. Notify a staff member if someone is not wearing a recommended protective face mask. If a student does not comply when asked to put on a recommended protective face mask, then they may be subject to disciplinary action.

Who is required to wear a recommended protective face mask during class?

• Instructors and students are all required to wear recommended protective face masks. Wearing recommended protective face masks at all times when inside university buildings will be mandatory except when alone in a private office, eating in a campus dining facility or when students are in their own residence hall rooms.

What will happen if students do not have a recommended protective face mask on at the start of class or if they remove their recommended protective face mask during class?

• The student refusing to wear their recommended protective face mask will be asked to leave and get a recommended protective face mask and/or put their recommended protective face mask back on.
• Instructors may cancel class if a student refuses to wear a recommended protective face mask.
  • Instructors may also dock students' participation grade for the day if they refuse to wear a recommended protective face mask.
• Students may also be subject for disciplinary action if they do not follow instructions.

Can students with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing a recommended protective face mask get in trouble? What should they do?

• Students who are unable to wear recommended protective face masks because of health conditions should contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). All students participating in in-person classes must be wearing a recommended protective face mask that covers their nose and mouth. Failure to do so could result in disciplinary action.

If a student has been told to quarantine, can they go to class in person?

• No. Quarantined students should not attend in-person classes. Failure to follow quarantine endangers the people around us, including: roommates, friends, classmates, family, as well as the staff and faculty of the university. Students should contact their instructors about in-class work and lectures.

Will a student get in trouble for staying home if they have been told to quarantine or fail a symptom check?

• No. Instructors may not penalize students for not attending class in person if they fail a symptom check or are told to quarantine. Instructors should make alternative arrangements for students to catch up on course materials.

What kind of social distancing is required of students in class? Can students get in trouble for not distancing?

• Classrooms will be set up to ensure proper social distancing. Students, faculty, staff and visitors need to maintain a distance of six feet from others at all times. Failure to comply could lead to disciplinary action and potential loss of participation points.

A student has an internship/practicum off campus. Should they wear a recommended protective face mask to that site?

• Students should follow the health and safety directions given to them by their internship or practicum sites.

Will students get in trouble for not following the health and safety directions of an internship site?

• If the internship is for course credit and the site contacts the university indicating students are not following their specified health and safety directions, those students will be referred for possible disciplinary action with failure of the internship course as a potential result.

What documentation should faculty keep if they need to speak to a student about these classroom health and safety rules?

• If faculty need to speak to a student about a classroom health and safety matter, they should document their name, EID, date/time of the conversation, and a small summary of the concern and the outcome. This will help faculty track issues in their classroom, see wider issues they may need to address, and help provide evidence in the event they need to refer a student for disciplinary action.

What if a student fails to take precautions during a faculty member's in-person office hours?

• If a student refuses to wear a recommended protective face mask, they should be asked to leave and referred for possible disciplinary action if they are not compliant.