Information for Students and Their Families

UTEP continues to take steps to ensure that we do our part to minimize the risk of COVID-19 in our community. Spring semester will include the same mask, social distancing, course delivery and remote work requirements we had on campus for the fall semester. Information about course delivery for the summer 2021 and fall 2021 terms will be released as soon as available.

UTEP has been approved to be a COVID-19 vaccine provider under the Texas vaccination program. Vaccines are being administered to UTEP faculty, staff and students based on risk, following CDC and state guidelines. In order to be vaccinated at UTEP, students are asked to complete a short questionnaire at this link which could include telling us that they do not want to receive the vaccine at UTEP. When a vaccine is available, students will receive instructions in their UTEP email about how to register and schedule an appointment to receive the first dose of the vaccine. 

Bringing our campus back together safely is an enormous task. Nevertheless, we believe there will likely come a point in the spring semester when we can start more meaningful campus activities. Although we cannot “toggle” classes from asynchronous distance learning to a classroom with a specific time, we will be able to expand our engagement with students, do more co-curricular activities, engage more students in research, and enjoy the pleasure of each other’s company again. We will continue to share updates as new information becomes available, create opportunities for feedback and find ways to connect virtually. 

Things You Need to Know

Updated: Feb. 9, 2020

• Students registered for the spring semester and who have not completed the COVID Vaccine Questionnaire received an email from the Dean of Students requesting that they complete the questionnaire immediately. This could include telling us that they do not want to receive the vaccine at UTEP. Students who have not completed the UTEP COVID-19 Vaccine Questionaire may do so at this link. It is very important that students are included in UTEP’s COVID-19 vaccination program as soon as vaccines are available. If you have already completed the questionnaire, you do not need to resubmit.
• Will you be on campus this spring semester? Consent today for FREE, on-campus COVID testing program at consent.utep.edu. Students who live, work or are attending class on-campus are asked to test every 14 days unless advised otherwise due to their unique circumstances.
• Miners who are not on campus or are showing symptoms may use the dedicated UTEP line at the state COVID-19 testing site located on campus on Schuster Avenue. The UTEP line can be accessed from the Schuster 3 parking lot at Schuster Avenue and Lawton Drive. You will need to show your UTEP Miner Gold Card to access the UTEP line. visit utep.edu/covidtesting   
• The Student Success Helpdesk is available to provide support for students who need assistance with registration, schedule conflicts, financial literacy and housing.
• Students are encouraged to Take the Miners Pledge and make a commitment to help fight COVID-19. Visit utep.edu/minerspledge to make your pledge, and tell us why you’re doing it. Include a photo or video of yourself taking the pledge or showing what you’re doing to stop the spread.
• UTEP offers students, including veterans and active duty, a wide range of mental-health related resources on and off campus. To learn visit the Mental Health Resources webpage.
• A remote learning plan has been created to ensure students can continue learning online. Visit our Learning Remotely webpage and find information related to tutorials, laptop checkouts, VPN, accessing OneDrive and mobile hotspots.

What to Expect on Campus

• Students coming to campus for any reason are required to use screening.utep.edu prior to coming to campus.
• The university has taken actions—such as  enhanced cleaning and classroom protocols, changes to foot-traffic flow through buildings and on-campus pathways , and much more­—to ensure all campus spaces and buildings support the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff.  UTEP also established a Temporary Health & Safety Policy which is in effective until the University determines the threat of COVID-19 has subsided.
• On-campus Housing, the Union, Library and other buildings will be open for the spring semester. The Student Recreation Center is open with modified hours of operation and safety protocols. The facility is open by reservation only. For more information, click here.  Outdoor WIFI is available on-campus including Centennial Plaza, College of Health Science/School of Nursing Building Patio and Union Plaza.
• Students should report positive cases or issues related to COVID-19 to screening.utep.edu. Staff stands ready to assist you with support and resources needed.
• Miners, you can still connect with us online! We invite you to join us for our online info sessions and virtual events and engage in online services including Counseling and Psychological Services and the the Career Center.

Additional Resources

The fall plan is continually evolving, and some of our planning may change as new information becomes available. We recommend that you return to this website often, in the event that pertinent updates have been communicated.