1. Reporting Positive COVID-19 Cases on Campus

As the number of COVID-19 cases in Tennessee continues to surge, it is important that the following situations be reported to UTHSC:

• You have a positive diagnosis of COVID-19
• You are required to self-isolate or quarantine, per University or physician direction
• You live with someone who has a positive diagnosis of COVID-19

How to report COVID-19 situations on campus:

• Faculty and staff must complete the Notice of COVID-19 Occurrence Form on the Human Resources webpage
• Students must notify their department chair or program leader within their college

Employees and students who test positive for COVID-19 should be prepared to provide the names of individuals on campus with whom they have had close contact during the 48 hours prior to the onset of symptoms or a positive test.

Following current CDC guidelines:

• Individuals who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and are not experiencing any symptoms of the illness do not need to quarantine following an exposure
• Vaccinated individuals should get tested 3-5 days after the date of exposure and wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days after exposure or until a negative test result is received
• Individuals who have not been fully vaccinated will be required to remain off campus in quarantine for 10 days
• Non-vaccinated individuals sharing a household with a COVID-19 positive individual must remain off campus in quarantine for 20 days

UTHSC encourages all faculty, staff, and students to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Visit vaccines.gov to locate COVID-19 vaccines available near you.

If you have any questions regarding COVID-19 safety protocols on campus, please contact Tim Barton, Chief Safety Officer, at tbarton4@uthsc.edu.

2. Donate to Middle Tennessee Flooding Recovery

Recently, a massive amount of rain flooded several counties in middle Tennessee. Lives have been lost, homes have been destroyed, and it has been declared a major disaster for the state of Tennessee.

Our fellow Tennesseans need our help!

Campus Police is hosting a donation drive to collect the following needed supplies now through Friday, September 3, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, at the Van Vleet Building on the Memphis campus:

• bottled water
• hand sanitizer
• cleaning supplies
• nonperishable food items
• diapers
• personal toiletries

If you are unable to bring the requested donations listed above to the Van Vleet Building on September 1 – 3, please consider making a monetary donation online to one of these disaster relief organizations:

• The Tennessee Region of the American Red Cross
  https://www.redcross.org/local/tennessee.html
   
• The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
  https://www.cfmt.org/
   
• Nashville Community Resource Center
  https://crcnashville.org/
   
• Salvation Army
  https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/

The UTHSC campus has always been passionate when it comes to upholding the important mission of public service. We greatly appreciate any donation that you can make toward this recovery effort, and we know the people of Middle Tennessee are grateful for any assistance we can provide them.

3. Employees: Earn Cash Incentives Through the Partners For Health Wellness Program

Employees enrolled in the university-offered health insurance plan are eligible to participate in the Partners For Health Wellness Program. 

ActiveHealth Management is our wellness vendor, and they can help you achieve your health goals. Once an employee and/or spouse signs in to the ActiveHealth Management website and completes the online health assessment, they can each earn up to $250 per year ($500 per year for families) by completing certain wellness activities, if eligible. 

Quest Diagnostics will be at the Student-Alumni Center on Friday, September 17, 8:00 am – 2:30 pm, to complete the biometric screenings for employees and spouses participating in the Wellness Program. Employees must register/schedule for a screening by tomorrow, Friday, September 3, by accessing my.questforhealth.com and using the registration key: SOT. On the Quest website you may either download a physician screening form or sign up for an onsite screening.

Biometric screenings may also be scheduled at University Health Services by calling 901.448.5630.

4. CESA Nominations Are Open

The time has come to nominate a non-faculty exempt staff member who has gone beyond the call of duty! The nomination form is available now and nominations will be accepted until Friday, September 10! For more information, visit the CESA webpage.

5. Celebrating Labor Day

The University will be closed on Monday, September 6, in honor of Labor Day.