Dear colleagues,

As a follow-up to the message that was sent last week about providing academic support for students directly affected by COVID-19, the following FAQ has been developed to help instructors navigate concerns about student privacy and COVID-19 disclosures and absences:

What should I do if a student informs me that they have tested positive for COVID-19 or are required to quarantine due to COVID-19?

Work with the student on any academic accommodations they might need such as remote learning options. Also, remember that this is private, confidential information the student is providing to you and it is not information that you may share with others. Even if a student voluntarily tells others about their status, you should not tell other students. In working with other University officials or academic advisors to help a student, you should avoid providing details about the student’s health status.

How should I respond if Student A tells me that Student B has tested positive for COVID-19?

You may tell Student A that the Missoula City-County Health Department (MCCHD) will contact all persons whom they have identified as close contacts with individuals who have tested positive. If Student B has indeed tested positive for COVID-19, MCCHD will determine which of their contacts to trace. Student A should be sure to answer their phone, in case a contact tracer is calling. It is not appropriate for you to tell other members of the class about any student’s health status, even if they have tested positive or are otherwise in quarantine.

It is important to note that generally, being in a class with a person who has tested positive does not make others in the class “close contacts” because social distancing and masking mitigation measures are in place.

May I ask my student for documentation of their need to not come to class due to COVID-19?

During this pandemic faculty are encouraged to be as flexible as possible so that individuals who might be ill or otherwise contagious do not come to campus. Therefore, at this time you should not ask for documentation.

How will I know that a student is released from quarantine or isolation and may return to class?

If the student was ordered by MCCHD to be in isolation or quarantine, MCCHD will provide them with quarantine release letters. Other students might self-quarantine because they have symptoms, are ill, or have not yet been contacted by MCCHD. Therefore, it is not appropriate to ask for documentation to return to in-person class or other curricular activity.

If I am contacted by an MCCHD contact tracer, may I provide them with information about students in my class?

Yes, you may provide an MCCHD contact tracer with seating charts and additional information to help them identify contacts. You should refer them to the Registrar for student contact information.

Again, we appreciate your dedicated support for students who are being affected by COVID-19.  Please let us know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Lucy France, Legal Counsel

Maria Mangold, Interim University Registrar

Nathan Lindsay, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs