Spring 2021 FAQs

• All Falcons must report if they are experiencing symptoms, feel they have been exposed, or have tested positive for COVID-19 to report this information here.
• The University has created a case management system to support members of our community with COVID questions, exposure, and positive results. The University has partnered with Odessa Regional Medical Center (ORMC) to provide medical case management support to our community as well.
• At UT Permian Basin, we are emphasizing daily symptom checking for all faculty, staff, and students who will be physically present on campus. Using the #CampusClear app, members of our community can track their daily symptoms and receive a clear or not cleared note to come to campus.All Falcons should practice safety precautions recommended by the CDC including washing hands often, staying home if sick, keeping a physical distance of 6 feet when possible, and wearing a mask to minimize the risk of exposure. Our success and ability to minimize risks will require a shared responsibility. We’ve outlined those steps in our Falcon 5 Pact.

Face coverings are required at UTPB. All students who come to campus will be provided a mask, but we encourage all members of our community to obtain additional masks. Environmental Health & Safety will host several events with Student Life to distribute masks. Housing staff will issue a mask to each person upon check-in. Masks will also be available for purchase at the bookstore and are available at many stores citywide. 

The Office of Environmental Health and Safety has strategically placed sanitizing stations throughout campus including in many classrooms and offices and in hallways and corridors.

The University has signage to remind our community about social distancing. Like wearing a face cover, we will remind folks in our community but for those that won’t comply, they will be referred to Student Conduct. Social Distancing in classrooms has been addressed by removing chairs/tables/desks to reduce occupancy to maintain six feet (6’) spacing between students and faculty.

Contract tracing is being handled by the University through the case management system. There is a surveillance testing program for students involved in some campus activities, like student athletes. Trinity Family Health is our provider for Medical Services for Students. Any student in a face-to-face class or living within 50 miles of campus pays the Medical Services Fee and is eligible for primary care at Trinity Family Health. Routine health care needs are generally provided at no additional cost to students.

Trinity Family Health will have testing available. Students without insurance will be able to receive a test at no additional charge at Trinity Family Health. The University will not reimburse costs for testing from other locations.

All Falcons must report if they are experiencing symptoms, feel they have been exposed, or have tested positive for COVID-19 should report this information here.

In order to assist UT Permian Basin in its response and management of the COVID-19 illness pandemic, please complete the following steps if:

• You are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19,
• You have tested positive for COVID-19, or
• You have been in contact with someone who was confirmed to have COVID-19:
  • Complete COVID-19 Health and Illness Form located here.
  • Employees should notify their Supervisor
  • Begin self-isolation until the UTPB Case Management team has provided specific recommendations for next steps.
  • The UTPB Case Management Team will contact you within 24 hours.

Resources will be available through the Case Management to help with questions about isolation/quarantining protocols and testing.

The University is open to the public. While some services are offered virtually, all office remain open during business hours, particularly those that serve current and prospective students.

Medical Services for undergraduate and graduate students is available at Trinity Family Medicine. The medical services program is designed to provide students with basic primary healthcare needs in an outpatient setting. Trinity Family Medicine will provide medical services to UT Permian Basin students who have paid the Medical Services Fee (any student enrolled in a face to face class). Students have the option to buy our student health insurance plan (SHIP). Check out: https://utpb.myahpcare.com/

Our students can choose options for how they take their classes so they have maximum flexibility to arrange their experience to match any concerns about their health. Those options are defined in the academic section.

Most students opt to quarantine in their existing rooms although we do have a limited number of additional rooms that can be used. We will offer meal support and regular check-ins to any student in quarantine or isolation. Should the need arise for someone to be taken to an emergency facility, we can help the student be transported.

The Testing Center will remain open, by appointment only, and used only for University testing.

The Childcare Center re-opened July 6, 2020 with modified ratios as determined by the State of Texas. Children will remain in separate rooms by age grouping. Center staff will meet children and parents at the door. Only children will be allowed inside the Center. Children will be screened daily, prior to entering the Childcare Center. Staff will wear masks. Meals and snacks will be served individually, not family style. Enhanced cleaning procedures utilized.

Yes. The University will continue to work with students and we are waiving late fees on payment plans. The deadline to sign up for a payment plan is 

We recognize that these changes may cause financial challenges for you. Students can apply for emergency aid at www.utpb.edu/emergencyfund. Students and their families can also consult with Financial Aid if their family financial situation has changed.

We do not have a health service clinic on campus. Instead, we partner with Trinity Family Medical, located very close to campus. Students enrolled in at least one face to face course pay the Medical Services Fee. These students can be seen for routine visits at no additional cost at Trinity Family Medical. If an on-campus resident needs assistance getting to Trinity Health, they should contact the Dean of Students Office during normal business hours, or their RA after-hours.

We have counseling services available both in person and virtually. If you need support but cannot make it to a face to face appointment, we can facilitate a session using a secure online platform. To schedule an appointment, contact Counseling Services by calling 432-552-3365. Counseling services (including crisis needs) are available via phone call 24-hours a day by calling 432-552-4600.

UT Permian Basin offers the My SSP App for students. With this new partnership, we have expanded counseling services to students significantly and put the power of help in your hands.

• Free and confidential mental health and wellbeing support available to students 24/7/365.
• Access to clinical counselors that have experience working with students and speak multiple languages.
• Effective and convenient ways for students to access support via telephone, chat, video, mobile app, or web.
• Includes access to virtual fitness through the App via LIFT.

Accessing MySSP - Download the free app from the App Store or Google Play

Call 1-866-743-7732 Visit http://us.myissp.com 

Daily health screenings will be implemented for all student-athletes, coaches, and staff.

• Action plans will be followed for those who have or have been exposed to COVID-19.
• Specific sanitation protocols and policies for the Athletic Training Room and Strength & Conditioning Department have been developed.
• The Athletics Department has developed game day protocols for both home and away competitions. All game day workers will follow protocols.
• Fan safety measures for indoor and outdoor events will be implemented.
• Protocol has been developed for on-campus, prospective student-athlete visits

International Students will be allowed to remain in campus housing, if they choose. The Department of Homeland Security has reversed its position back to the status quo.

No. The Department of Homeland Security has reversed it guidance and now indicates international students can take online classes without risking deportation.

The Spring 2021 semester will begin and end as originally scheduled. The Spring semester will start on January 11th and will conclude on April 30th. Will the semester be extended?

The semester will not be extended. All academic learning will take place within the previously scheduled dates.

UT Permian Basin will offer all classes currently listed on the Spring 2021 Course Schedule. The current published Spring 2021 Course Schedule lists two basic types of courses:

• Face-to-Face/In-Person Courses are those in which more than 85 percent of the planned instruction occurs when students are in the same place with an instructor(s).

• Online Courses are those in which more than 85 percent of the planned instruction occurs online/virtually (asynchronously) when students and faculty are not in the same physical place. Most, if not all, of the instruction takes place asynchronously.

• Hybrid Courses are courses in which the majority (more than 50% but less than 85%) of the planned instruction occurs when students and instructor(s) are not in the same place. This form of instruction offers a mix of on-campus/in-person and remote/online/electronic learning.

• HyFlex Courses are those which, like hybrid courses, offer a mix of on-campus/in-person and remote/online/electronic learning. In these courses at least 50% of the planned instruction occurs when students and instructor(s) are in the same place.

• Remote Courses are ones in which students, while not required to physically come to campus to attend in-person classes, are required to “attend” virtually/remotely (synchronously) during scheduled days and times, with students expected to log in and participate in the lecture via video conferences.

Students who are unable to attend a class (for any reason) should contact their professor, if possible, in advance of any class(es) to be missed. Faculty are committed to working with students who experience unforeseen hardships--including COVID-19 related issues—that prevent their ability to come to campus or participate in their classes.

No. You will still be eligible for your financial aid as long as you continue to meet the minimum enrollment requirements for your awards, just as you would in face to face classes.

Yes. You will have to continue to meet the minimum enrollment requirements for your scholarship though (e.g. hours, gpa)

In addition to the general safety protocols instituted on campus, the University has taken measures specifically related to classrooms, labs, and other teaching and learning spaces. Along with the requirement for students to wear masks while in class, the seating capacity in each classroom/lab/space

has been reduced in order to allow for the required six feet of social distancing as recommended by the CDC. Since the calculated “COVID-19 room capacity” has reduced normal seating capacity by at least 50 percent, most classrooms and classes this fall will not be able to accommodate all enrolled students at the same time. Therefore, in courses that will require in-person instruction this fall, a staggered attendance approach may be taken and devised by each faculty member for each course based upon course requirements, “COVID-19 room capacity,” and enrollment. Students will be apprised by their instructor about the specific modality of their course (including any in-person requirements) on or before the first day of class.

During the Springsemester, campus offices will return to regular business hours:

Monday-Thursday 7:30 am - 5:30 pm Friday 8 am - 12 pm

The Library hours for Spring are:

Monday -Thursday 7:30 am - 12 am Friday 8 am - 6 pm Saturday 10 am - 6 pm Sunday 1 pm - 9 pm

Some offices, however, may have extended hours. Students should frequently check the UTPB website for any modifications to office hours.

Yes! We’re excited to welcome students back this fall and we have new protocols in place to minimize risks. They include:

• Checklists, safety information, and COVID-19 support will be provided to each resident.
• The occupancy standard for campus housing will be one student per bedroom and no more than two students per bathroom in a unit.
• Residence Life staff will assign roommates based on athletic participation or academic discipline, utilizing the “pod” methodology for minimizing risks, contact, and for self-isolation.
• While there will be self-isolation spaces on campus, if students are ill, they are encouraged to leave campus.
• Common spaces (workout area, study rooms, TV spaces, and laundry rooms) will have reduced capacity and use social distancing guidelines. o These areas will undergo increased cleaning.
• Move-in to campus will be extended over several days to allow for a system of scheduled check-in times to maintain distance and limit large groups. You can find a detailed explanation of housing policies and procedures here.

If possible, the student should plan to return home for the period of their illness. If that is not possible, they can use one of the quarantine rooms we have set aside. The University will coordinate meal delivery and students can expect their student account to be charged for these meals. Students will receive a daily check in regarding their health.

We do not anticipate housing closing this Fall, even if all classes move online. However, it’s possible that a state agency or other governing body could require us to close.

Yes! University dining services operated by Chartwells will follow the company’s internal guidance as well as the following:

• All locations will be open to provide additional options.
• Extended hours will be available to serve as many students as possible while minimizing risks.
• Required social distancing measures will be followed.
• No self-serve food stations.
• Limited capacity within the dining hall in RDH.
• Take out will be available.
• Chartwells staff will increase protective measures.

You may also view more information, our menu, and nutritional information at Dineoncampus.

We care about our campus community and we’re looking for ways to engage in-person, online, and through social media. Please connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. For Fall 2020, we have a plan in place to engage students in ways that minimize risk. For all in-person events, checklists will be developed for all events. Events will be permitted, with limitations on size, dependent upon venue capacity.