The University of Georgia has resources for you to stay healthy and well.
We understand the tremendous strain that the COVID-19 pandemic placed on members of our campus community. We want to remind faculty and staff that there are several support systems and tools available through various USG benefits programs.
Help for coping with stress related to the COVID-19 outbreak or other life matters is available through the KEPRO Employee Assistance Plan via phone at 844-243-4440 or online (company code is USGCares). These services are available to all full- and part-time employees and their families and other members of their household.
Click here to see a full list of faculty/staff well-being resources.
CAPS is your go-to, on-campus resource for emotional, social and behavioral-health support. We support students in achieving both academic and personal life goals. CAPS is committed to providing high quality, affordable and confidential services to UGA students and their eligible partners. The benefits of CAPS includes:
*For students who pay the health fee and bill insurance.
When it comes to your health and well-being, know that you have the support you need, any time, any place. Whether you are on campus, studying from home, or studying abroad, UGA is here for you.
Please see the announcement below from the University System of Georgia regarding an increase in the well-being credit for faculty and staff who receive the COVID-19 vaccine. USG Employees: It’s a priority for all University System of Georgia employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine. To encourage vaccination, USG is offering an increased Well-being credit to […]
Dear Students: As we look forward to the Spring Semester, we want to remind everyone that appropriate face coverings will continue to be required while inside University facilities/buildings. The University provided all faculty, staff and students two face coverings to start the Fall Semester. With the realization that these have been heavily utilized, the University […]
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC has recommended 14 days for quarantine if you are deemed to be in close contact of an individual with COVID-19. Recently, however, the CDC has revised those guidelines to allow for shorter periods of quarantine if the affected individual is asymptomatic. The Georgia Department of Public […]
This has been a long and difficult semester. The challenges have been significant, but by working together and making sound choices to protect the fellow members of our UGA community, we have successfully reached the end of the Fall Semester. We commend all of the members of our UGA family—faculty, staff, and students—for your dedication […]
Nearly 30,000 tests have been conducted this fall semester.
Whether you are staying here in Athens, heading home for the remainder of the Fall Semester or planning to return to Athens after the Thanksgiving Break, you should be aware of the resources that UGA is offering to help keep you—and those you love—safe and healthy this holiday season.
The University Health Center (UHC) is administering the COVID-19 vaccine for free to any eligible member of the UGA community over the age of 16. Vaccines are also offered by local health providers as well many pharmacies in the area.
Anyone who tests positive should isolate for 5 days, even if you are not experiencing any symptoms, regardless of vaccination status per the CDC. You are also strongly encouraged to share your test results with those you believe you were in close contact with so they may take appropriate measure to isolate.
There may be treatments available for some individuals with COVID-19. Please see this link for further information on the CDC website.
The CDC does not recommend testing unless you develop symptoms. Refer to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html for more information.
If you or someone you know needs assistance, you are encouraged to contact Student Care & Outreach in the Division of Student Affairs at 706-542-7774 or visit sco.uga.edu. They will help you navigate any difficult circumstances you may be facing by connecting you with the appropriate resources or services.
UGA has several resources for a student seeking mental health services or crisis support. Need help managing stress, anxiety, relationships, etc. or want to be connected socially? Visit BeWellUGA for a list of free workshops, classes, mentoring and health coaching led by licensed clinicians and health educators in the University Health Center.
When it comes to your health and well-being, know that you have the support you need, any time, any place. Whether you are on campus, studying from home, or studying abroad, UGA is here for you.
Students who are showing symptoms should seek care from the University Health Center. Please do not walk in. Make an appointment via telehealth or in person by calling 706-542-1162 or your primary care team’s number.
Employees who are showing symptoms should seek care and testing from a healthcare provider and may be required to self-quarantine.
DawgCheck is an online tool used during the pandemic to help assess and respond to COVID-19 cases at UGA. Effective May 16, 2022, the University of Georgia has decommissioned DawgCheck as a reporting tool for positive COVID-19 cases but will maintain a license should it need to be redeployed.
High quality CPR includes both chest compressions and breaths using a CPR face shield or CPR mask; however, as in any situation, if you do not have access to a shield or you do not feel comfortable providing breaths, you can provide only chest compressions (also called “Hands Only CPR”). Should someone need CPR, first call 911. Have someone call 911 for you or place your cell phone on speaker mode. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest. You should compress the chest 100 to 120 times per minute. Watch this video to see a demonstration of the Hands Only CPR method.
If viral conditions change substantially, we will be ready to adapt to keep our community safe. We will continue to provide health and safety counsel to senior administrators as needed. We are constantly monitoring local, national, and global viral conditions and will make changes to our policies if necessary.
If necessary, the university will communicate with campus community members about protocols and other changes through emails, social media posts and updates to the COVID-19 website.
If you are a student, you should work through the Disability Resource Center’s (DRC) existing accommodations process. DRC professional staff work directly with students to assess their individual needs and to develop appropriate plans for accommodations and services. If you have questions regarding a COVID-19 accommodation, please contact the DRC at drc@uga.edu or 706-542-8719. Click here for more information.
If you are a staff or faculty member, you should work through the University’s existing Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations process.
USG provides an employee assistance program to employees and family members with free, comprehensive support through the KEPRO Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Support is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at 1-844-243-4440.
UGA also offers additional support for employees, including:
A supervisor has the authority to send an employee home if the employee exhibits COVID-19 symptoms identified by the CDC. Employees should use accrued sick or vacation leave or other available leave options.
If an employee experiences such symptoms while at work, they should report to their supervisor that they are ill and should leave work immediately.
Yes, for COVID-19 related in-network provider visits and testing, out of pocket costs such as deductibles, copayments and coinsurance, will be waived (no cost) for you and any covered dependents if you are enrolled in one of the USG healthcare plans through Anthem BCBSGA or Kaiser Permanente (including employees enrolled in the Consumer Choice HSA).
Approval of all COVID-19 related accommodations and flexible work arrangements (including telework) expired June 30, 2021. Requests for ADA accommodations or flexible work arrangements will be reviewed in accordance with the pre-pandemic UGA ADA accommodations or Telework/Flextime policies. Please contact University Human Resources at 706-542-2222 or hrweb@uga.edu for questions or assistance.
Students who believe they have been directly exposed to COVID-19 and are showing symptoms should seek care from the University Health Center. Please isolate until you can be assessed and do not walk in. For everyone’s safety, the Health Center is seeing patients by appointment only. For respiratory complaints, we will often schedule a telehealth visit via Zoom through which we can determine how best to arrange for both care and testing. To make an appointment via telehealth or in person please call 706-542-1162, or, if you know it use your primary care team’s number.
Employees who believe they have been directly exposed to COVID-19 and are showing symptoms should seek care from a healthcare provider and may be required to self-quarantine. During this time, employees should not come to work and should inform their manager. Managers have the discretion to determine if an employee’s duties and responsibilities can reasonably be performed from an employee’s home location, and, when they can, the manager may elect to offer the employee the option to telework.
The CDC does not recommend testing unless you develop symptoms. Refer to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html for more information.
If you are displaying symptoms of COVID-19, isolate until an accurate assessment of the cause can be determined. Isolation, similar to quarantine, requires that you remain out of contact with others and limit movement in public. Isolation and the support needed to accomplish it is best achieved off campus or at a permanent residence.
Employees should not come to work when they are sick and should self-isolate until they can determine the cause through consultation with their healthcare provider. This requires the appropriate use of available leave. If an employee appears to be exhibiting symptoms associated with coronavirus while at work, a manager should excuse the employee from work and advise them to seek care from their healthcare provider.
Public health officials strongly encourage people who test positive to notify those with whom they have had close contact, and in many cases, this is the most effective way to notify those who have been exposed.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
You can learn more about quarantine and isolation on the CDC website.
The University System of Georgia (USG) continues to recognize COVID-19 vaccines and boosters offer safe, effective protection and urges all students, faculty, staff, and visitors to get vaccinated and/or boosted either on campus or with a local provider. As USG works closely with the Georgia Department of Public Health to prioritize the health and safety of campus communities, the system encourages people to wear masks based on their preference and assessment of personal risk.
Departments that are interested in having masks on hand can order them at no cost while supplies last through UGAmart.
Learn more about proper masks and masking behaviors.