Frequently Asked Questions

Testing

Weekly testing is not required.

However, if a student or employee (both vaccinated and unvaccinated) is symptomatic or exposed to a positive case, they should seek testing through a healthcare provider or use a widely available home test.

Students: Testing appointments for students who are symptomatic are available between 9 to 10 a.m. in the Health Center. Students should make an appointment through the Health Portal.

Faculty and staff should contact their personal healthcare provider for testing or use a home test.

If you test positive for COVID-19 or have been exposed to a positive case, follow these Isolation or Quarantine protocols.

Face coverings

Outside: Face coverings are optional in all outdoor areas, including athletic events and all other types of gatherings, for both vaccinated and unvaccinated.

Inside: Face coverings are optional in all indoor areas, including classrooms and labs. 

All faculty, staff and students can choose to wear a face covering based on their individual health and safety needs.

Symptomatic testing: Home test kits are widely available, and faculty, staff and students are encouraged to use these.

Testing appointments for students who are symptomatic are available between 9 to 10 a.m. in the Health Center in the McLane Student Life Center. Students can schedule an appointment through the Health Portal.

Faculty & staff should contact their personal healthcare provider for testing or use a home test.

If you test positive for COVID-19 or have been exposed to a positive case, follow these Isolation or Quarantine protocols.

Although face coverings are optional indoors for all individuals on the Baylor campus, face coverings may be required on a temporary basis in certain indoor settings.

For example, masks are required to be worn when following the University's Isolation and Quarantine Procedures after an individual has tested positive for COVID-19 or is quarantined due to exposure.

Faculty, staff, and students can choose to wear a face covering based on their individual health and safety needs.

Campus partners are no longer required to wear a facemask except under the following conditions:

• Directed to do so by their corporate office OR
• Masking because they have tested positive or been exposed to COVID-19.

The University has N95 masks available for faculty, staff and students who would like an added level of protection. Departments and offices can request for a box of these masks by emailing the Office of Environmental Health & Safety at ehs@baylor.edu.

If you are a student living on campus, N95 masks may be available at your residence hall front desk. If you live off campus, N95 masks are available to be picked up at the McLane Student Life Center (SLC) during operational hours.

If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to the virus, seek testing from your healthcare provider or use a home test.

Students also can log in to the Health Portal to make an appointment for testing at the Baylor Health Center in the McLane Student Life Center. When the health center is closed or the University is closed for the holidays, Baylor students have 24/7 access to on-demand urgent care through Baylor Telehealth by AcademicLiveCare.

Employees should contact their personal healthcare provider for testing or obtain an at-home test kit available through pharmacies, such as CVS, Walgreen's, HEB and more. Baylor employees should notify their supervisor of any needed sick time or remote work time.

Isolation and Quarantine Protocols

The University's Isolation and Quarantine Procedures provide an outline of what you should do if you are exposed to or test positive for COVID-19.

Symptoms of COVID-19

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms, ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update this list.

When to Seek Emergency Medical Attention

Look for emergency warning signs** for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone

**This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility: Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.

Students and employees should follow the University's Isolation and Quarantine procedures outlining what you should do if you are exposed to or test positive for COVID-19.

Baylor University is not providing isolation housing for the Fall 2023 semester. Students should have a plan if they test positive, including:

• a location to complete the self-isolation period, including returning home if feasible,
• a plan for transportation, such as using your own vehicle or transportation by a family member, but no use of public transportation,
• access to groceries/meal delivery,
• access to necessary medications,
• a plan to communicate with your professors,
• numbers of emergency contacts, and
• contact information for their preferred healthcare provider.

The University's Isolation and Quarantine Procedures provide an outline of what you should do if you are exposed to or test positive for COVID-19.

Isolating in place

All students who test positive for COVID-19 are required to isolate for 5 days. It is recommended that students return home to isolate if possible. If returning home is not a viable option, students may isolate in their current residence, including on-campus residence halls. Students should maintain social distancing as much as possible and wear an N95 mask at all times if sharing a room with someone else. N95 masks are available at residence hall front desks.

Vaccinated students and employees are not required to quarantine if exposed, although they should wear a mask around others for 10 days and test 5 days after exposure.

Meal Delivery

Meal delivery services will not be available to students who are isolating during the Fall 2023 semester. However, students who are isolating and have a meal plan may obtain a meal from the dining halls by wearing an N95 mask and getting a meal to-go. Students living off-campus are encouraged to use a food delivery service or find other ways for food/meals to be delivered to their residence.

Meal delivery services will not be available to students who have a meal plan and are isolating in place because of a positive COVID-19 test.

If they have a meal plan, they should go to the closest dining hall - masked preferably with an N95 - to get a meal to-go only and then return immediately to their room. If they have not received an N95, they should call the front desk of their building or their CL if they need an N95.

Students living off-campus are encouraged to use a food delivery service or find other ways for food/meals to be delivered to their residence.

Employees who test positive or have been exposed to a positive case should continue to reference the University's protocol on Isolation/Quarantine for direction.

Employees are no longer required to report their COVID positive result to HR, but they should notify their supervisor of any needed sick time or remote work time. If an employee is experiencing more severe symptoms and unable to work, they should take care of themselves and ensure they get guidance from their primary care physician.

Our current COVID policy on retesting is that we cannot accept a negative retest (antigen or PCR) to overturn a recent positive test. Anyone who tests positive is required to isolate for the 5 days following their positive test regardless of any instance of testing negative after that initial positive test. 

What we know now about curtailing the spread of the virus is that it is less important to sanitize surfaces and more important to maintain regular ventilation and air flow. The University does not provide room cleaning, however, if a student does not have regular cleaning supplies in their room, they should contact their hall front desk for available supplies.

The University's Custodial Services team has continued its focus on implementing improved ventilation practices, including increasing building fresh air, maximizing filtration and disinfecting coil systems. The University has a limited number of air purifiers that are available upon request for temporary use in a residence hall room or department.

Baylor Custodial Services also conducts cleaning and disinfection in accordance with current CDC recommendations, including increased disinfection in multiple locations with an emphasis on restrooms, common spaces and common high-touch contact points across campus. Any disinfectant used on campus is approved as effective against the coronavirus by the EPA.

Neither McLennan County nor Baylor University will provide contact tracing this fall. Anyone who tests positive is encouraged to notify their close contacts.

The Baylor Health Center in the McLane Student Life Center provides health care for students Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

When the Baylor Health Center is closed, Baylor students have 24/7 access to a nurse line after hours, on weekends and holidays at 254-710-1010. In addition, telehealth appointments for 24/7 on-demand urgent care for students are available through the Baylor Telehealth by AcademicLiveCare Care Hub. More information about telehealth appointments is available on the Health Services website.

Students who have questions about absences should refer to the attendance policy found in their class syllabi.

Baylor does not require a COVID vaccination for attendance in Fall 2023. The University encourages vaccination for students, faculty and staff and a booster dose, if you are eligible.

The Baylor Health Center in the McLane Student Life Center anticipates offering the new COVID-19 booster this fall when it becomes available.

If you were vaccinated on-campus, the Baylor Health Center maintains a record of your vaccination.

If you were vaccinated at an off-campus site, please check with the provider that administered your vaccine for instructions on how to retrieve your records.

Information on how to obtain a new vaccination card or other evidence of vaccination also can be found on the CDC website.

You can find all communications regarding COVID-19 from Baylor University posted on the University Updates page.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Texas Department of State Health Services provide the latest information on the current COVID-19 situation on their websites.

Baylor Custodial Services conducts cleaning and disinfection in accordance with current CDC recommendations. This includes increased disinfection in multiple locations with an emphasis on restrooms, common spaces and common high-touch contact points across campus. Any disinfectant used on campus is approved as effective against the coronavirus by the EPA.

Additionally, Baylor Custodial Services continues to implement improved ventilation practices, including increasing building fresh air, maximizing filtration and disinfecting coil systems.

We remind everyone to practice good personal hygiene to lower the risk of becoming ill.

Touchless hand sanitizing dispensers are set up across campus.

If you need a face covering, disposable face covers are available at the McLane Student Life Center.

If departments have questions about additional PPE, cleaning supplies or other materials, they should contact Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) at 254-710-2900 or ehs@baylor.edu.

If you are a student with COVID symptoms or exposure to the virus, please log in to the Health Portal to make an appointment for testing at the Baylor Health Center in the McLane Student Life Center. Employees should contact their healthcare provider.

For students who need regular health care, appointments with the Baylor Health Center also can be made by calling 254-710-1010 or online through the Health Portal log-in on the health services website.

This fall, the Health Center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday. Check the website for updated hours. When the health center is closed or the University is closed for the holidays, Baylor students have 24/7 access to on-demand urgent care through Baylor Telehealth by AcademicLiveCare.

The Office of Baylor Spiritual Life and University Chaplain Dr. Burt Burleson offer pastoral care and other spiritual resources for students and the Baylor community by phone at 254-710-3517, by email and on the Spiritual Life website. For pastoral care, reach out to Tyler Conway, senior coordinator for care and Campus Ministries, at tyler_conway@baylor.edu.

The Baylor Counseling Center can be reached 24/7 at 254-710-2467. Students also may email Counseling_Center@baylor.edu.

The Paul L. Foster Success Center provides assistance with advisement, academic support, accommodations and access to resources for student success, including The Store.

Baylor Care Team Services is a team of case managers who connect students to resources both on and off campus and offer holistic care through creating trusting relationships.

No. However, getting the flu vaccine is strongly encouraged by Baylor to reduce a person's risk from flu.

Baylor Health Services offers flu shots in the Health Center in the McLane Student Life Center.

Effective March 1, 2022, international travel will no longer be restricted, subject to the usual process of departmental/college approval. There will also be no vaccine mandate issued by Baylor University. All travelers will need to follow the entry requirements of host countries (which supersedes Baylor policy and may mandate vaccines, vaccine cards, and boosters).

Each trip will be reviewed individually in light of travel restrictions and entry requirements. Registration forms must be submitted to the Center for Global Engagement at least 14 days in advance to allow sufficient time for review and consultation with the travelers by CGE and the Office of Global Safety and Security. International Group Travel (study abroad, international missions, field trips, etc.) will no longer have a vaccine mandate, but all travelers must abide by the entry rules and local ordinances of the host country without exception.

Since you reside in New York, we encourage you to visit the New York State Health Department website for the latest COVID-19 related information. From there, you can sign up for email notifications, or contact your local health department office by viewing the online directory.

Baylor continues to provide more general information about Waco and Baylor at www.baylor.edu/coronavirus.

Residents of Dallas County can visit the Dallas County Health and Human Services' website for the latest COVID-19 related information and resources. Those in Tarrant County (Ft. Worth and surrounding areas) can visit Tarrant County Public Health for coronavirus information. Additional information is available on Tarrant County Public Health's Facebook page.

Baylor continues to provide more general information about Waco and Baylor at www.baylor.edu/coronavirus.

Since you reside in the Austin area, we encourage you to visit Austin Public Health for information on COVID-19. The website includes a Virtual Assistant to use for your coronavirus-related questions.

Baylor continues to provide more general information about Waco and Baylor at www.baylor.edu/coronavirus.

If you live in Houston and the incorporated areas of the city extending outside Harris County, we encourage you to visit the Houston Health Department for COVID-19 information. If you live in Harris County, visit Harris County Public Health.

Baylor continues to provide more general information about Waco and Baylor at www.baylor.edu/coronavirus.

Since you reside in the Washington, D.C. area, we encourage you to visit the District of Columbia Department of Health for information on COVID-19.

Baylor continues to provide more general information about Waco and Baylor at www.baylor.edu/coronavirus.

Since you reside in the San Antonio area, we encourage you to visit the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District for information on COVID-19.

Baylor continues to provide more general information about Waco and Baylor at www.baylor.edu/coronavirus.

Baylor University's primary COVID-19 liaison is:

George Nunez, Director of Emergency Management
Email: coronavirus@baylor.edu

Access any of the following resources for additional information or answers to commonly asked questions:

• FAQs: coronavirus.web.baylor.edu/faqs
• If you are a member of the media, please contact Baylor Media & Public Relations at 254-710-1961 or mediacomm@baylor.edu.

International students can contact Baylor International Student and Scholar Services in the Center for Global Engagement at 254-710-1461 or by email at ISSS_Support@baylor.edu.