Student Reporting Procedures

Last updated January 8, 2020

All students are asked to report if they have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been identified as a close contact.

Students can be informed by a positive case, the North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH), a public health official, or medical provider. 

Two Options for Student Reporting

Option 1: Complete Online Form

online reporting form

Option 2: Call Us

UND Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities (OSRR)
701.777.2664

Students should leave a voicemail message with their name, phone number, and student ID if they call outside of normal business hours or if their call is not answered. OSRR staff will call the student back to gather additional information.

Next Steps

After a student submits the report, OSRR will contact the student to answer questions and to provide support and services (e.g. absence notifications to faculty members). This typically occurs within two business days.

Protocol after Receiving a Student Report

OSRR will coordinate UND’s efforts to provide assistance and services to students who test positive for COVID-19 or who received notification of close contact for COVID-19 by a positive case, the NDDoH, a public health official, or medical provider.

Upon being notified by a student that they have tested positive for COVID-19, or had close contact, OSRR staff will check-in with the student. The check-in may include items like the following:

  1. How are they feeling?
  2. What day were they tested?
  3. When did they first notice symptoms?
  4. When is the last time they were on-campus?
  5. Where were they on-campus?
  6. Do they live on-campus?
  7. What can UND do to best support them?

These questions are designed to help the University determine what actions (if any) are necessary in response to the positive test result. These questions will also help identify whether additional support services and/or guidance can be provided. The student may indicate a desire for OSRR to inform their faculty members and/or advisor that the student has tested positive for COVID-19 or had close contact. This will be done in an effort to assist the student with requesting course adjustments.

OSRR will report the positive test information to designated need to know employees. These designated employees include but are not limited to Facilities, the Department of Public Safety, Student Health Services, Housing, and Athletics. The designated employees will work with campus partners to develop and implement needed safety and cleaning actions based on the reported information.

Online reports will be shared with OSRR. OSRR will attempt to contact the student to gather additional information and offer support services as appropriate.

University Support for Students in Quarantine or Isolation

  • When the University learns that a student has been placed in quarantine or isolation a staff member from OSRR will reach out to the student regarding the situation and will continue to communicate with the student as needed.
  • The student will receive information regarding working with their instructors to identify how to continue to attend classes remotely (if possible), making course arrangements and adjustments due to the quarantine or isolation, having absence notifications sent on their behalf, and other options that may benefit the student if the student is unable to continue with the course.
  • Faculty members are encouraged to work with students during this period to allow students to continue to participate and progress in their coursework.
  • Other options include exploring academic courses with the student’s academic advisor, requesting an incomplete for a specific course, and facilitating a late drop / withdrawal if the student is unable to finish or perform well in the course due to the quarantine or isolation.
  • The staff member will also provide information regarding how students can utilize many campus services remotely during the quarantine or isolation period. The campus resources include, but are not limited to, the University Counseling Center, Housing, Dining Services, Student Health Services, One-Stop Student Services, program specific contacts, and academic advisors.

How are Students Placed in Quarantine or Isolation?

The Director of Emergency Management or their designee will coordinate quarantine and isolation for the University. All University representatives will contact the director or designee to begin this process:

Jen Berger
Director of Emergency Management
Office: 701.777.2030
Cell: 701.330.4884

Eric Plummer
AVP for Public Safety and Chief of Police (Designee)
Office: 701.777.3341
Cell: 701.317.2207

When the director is made aware of a student of concern, the director will identify whether or not the student has been identified as a close contact and should quarantine or if they have tested positive for COVID and need to isolate.

During normal business hours, the director will contact OSRR for assistance. Outside of normal business hours, the director will work with the UND Operations Center to contact a member of the UND Care Team for assistance.

The OSRR Care Team member on call will do the following:

  • Provide the Director of Emergency Management with all needed student contact information.
  • Make initial contact with the student via email and provide them with an electronic copy of the UND Students in Quarantine or the UND Students in Isolation document.
  • Log the student information in Starfish.

The director will consult with UND designated hotels to determine capacity and availability and will identify and assign a hotel space for the individual in need.

Community Assistants (CA’s) are located in each hotel to assist with questions or concerns that may arise during the hotel stay. CA’s do not provide medical advice or information regarding quarantine and isolation dates.

Quarantine vs. Isolation

Students should not be on-campus during the quarantine or isolation period for any reason, with the exception of students who are living in on-campus apartments or getting tested for COVID-19. Students are not permitted to quarantine or isolate in the residence halls.

Who Needs to Quarantine?

All close contacts as identified by a positive case, the NDDoH, a public health official, or medical provider who meet the criteria for quarantine. There may be an option to self-monitor versus quarantine in some situations where both the positive case and the close contact were consistently and correctly wearing face coverings throughout their interaction. NDDoH guidelines for quarantine or self-monitoring are expected to be followed.

General Information About Being Quarantined

  • The CDC defines quarantine as separating and restricting the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease, in this situation COVID-19, to see if they become sick.
  • Students may be notified by a positive case, the NDDoH, a public health official, or medical provider, that they have been identified as a close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and need to quarantine or self-monitor as a result. Symptomatic individuals waiting for COVID-19 test results (this does not include tests done based solely on participation in a mass testing event) are expected to quarantine.
  • For a positive case, the NDDoH, a public health official, or medical provider will determine who is a close contact. See information regarding being identified as a close contact.
  • For information regarding travel related quarantines, please see the NDDoH Travel page.
  • For information regarding what to do when waiting for test results, please see the NDDoH Fact Sheet.
  • Quarantined individuals should remain at home throughout the quarantine period. This includes avoiding public places, workplaces, retail and dining locations, public transportation, and any other locations where people may congregate. Quarantined individuals can continue to work and learn remotely. Students should work with their faculty members on accommodations for continuing their classwork during the quarantine period.

How Does Quarantine End?

Options to reduce quarantine for close contacts of a positive case of COVID-19 using symptom monitoring and diagnostic testing were approved by CDC on Dec. 2, 2020.

  • The isolation period for a positive case has not changed. Isolation period is 10 days following onset of symptoms, or 10 days following a positive test if asymptomatic.
    • For close contacts quarantine can end after Day 10 without testing and if no symptoms have been reported during daily monitoring.
    • Quarantine can end after Day 7 if a negative test is obtained within 48 hours of the end of the 7th day, and if no symptoms were reported during daily monitoring. Negative test may be a PCR test or an antigen test. Antibody testing does not meet the criteria for reducing quarantine period.
    • Quarantine cannot be discontinued earlier than Day 7.
  • While in quarantine a close contact should test as soon as possible if symptoms develop.
  • Continued symptom monitoring and wearing face covering must be continued throughout Day 14.
  • If a student learns that they have tested positive for COVID-19 during quarantine the student should report the change in their status using the reporting protocol describe above.

Who Needs to Self-Monitor?

Depending on circumstances, some close contacts may self-monitor rather than quarantine. In some situations where the positive case and the close contact were both consistently and correctly wearing face coverings throughout their interaction, the close contact may be allowed to self-monitor rather than quarantine. 

The positive case’s case investigator may help the positive case determine who are close contacts, and which close contacts will need to quarantine or self-monitor. Household contacts and health care workers are not included in the exemption from quarantine to self-monitoring.

General Information on Self-Monitoring

  • Individuals who are self-monitoring are still considered  a close contact.
  • Face shields are not included in approved face coverings for exemption from quarantine. If bammies are used, they must be double layered, or folded to form two layers.
  • Persons who are exempt from quarantine and advised to self-monitor due to correct and consistent use of face covering should:
    • Wear a face covering while around others. Wearing a face covering when around others is critically important.
    • Recognize the possibility of becoming a case.
    • Watch for symptoms for 14 days and be tested if symptoms occur.
    • Be tested 7-10 days after their most recent exposure to the positive case.
    • Practice physical distancing, avoid large crowds and gatherings.

How Does Self-Monitoring End?

  • They are a close contact. They cannot test out of self-monitoring.
  • People self-monitor 14 days following their last close contact with an individual who tested positive.
  • If a student learns that they have tested positive for COVID-19 during self-monitoring, the student should report the change in their status using the reporting protocol described above.

Individuals who have COVID-19 must isolate for at least 10 days. Isolation keeps someone who has the virus away from others.

Who Needs to Isolate?

All individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 as identified by the NDDoH or other public health official must isolate.

General Information About Being Isolated

  • The CDC defines isolation as separating and restricting the movement of people who have a contagious disease (e.g. COVID-19) from those who are not sick.
  • NDDoH or a public health official will determine who is positive for COVID-19. Students who are notified that they have tested positive will need to isolate as a result.
  • For information regarding testing positive for COVID-19, please see the Fact Sheet for People with COVID-19.
  • Isolated individuals should remain at home or in a location where they will not be in contact with other individuals throughout their isolation period. During the isolation period, individuals should avoid public places, workplaces, retail and dining locations, public transportation, and any other locations where people may congregate. Isolated individuals can continue to work and learn remotely. Students should work with their faculty members on accommodations for continuing with their classwork during the isolation period.

How Does Isolation End?

  • The NDDoH or other public health official will inform individuals testing positive when their isolation period is officially complete.
  • They need to remain at home until 10 days have passed since their symptoms began AND they are fever free (<100.4F) for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications AND symptoms are improving. Asymptomatic individuals must remain home until 10 days have passed since their positive test date as long as they are asymptomatic for the duration of their isolation. If they develop symptoms anytime during their isolation period, their release from isolation date will be changed.
  • They should not retest for 90 days after their positive test.

Where Can Students Quarantine or Isolate?

Student are not required to use UND Quarantine or Isolation Spaces at designated off-campus hotels and may find alternative arrangements. Dr. Birx, the White House’s coronavirus coordinator, recommends students who test positive for the virus stay near campus. They should not return home and risk infecting family members.


Residence Halls

Students are not allowed to isolate or quarantine in the residence halls. UND designated hotel rooms are available during the isolation period to minimize the spread of COVID-19 on campus. Designated hotel accommodations and meals through UND Dining will be available at no additional to the student.

UND Apartments

Students living in UND apartments will be able to quarantine or isolate in their apartment. However, students unable to quarantine or isolate safely may select to do so at a UND-designated hotel at no cost to them.

Living Off-Campus

Eligibility regarding quarantine and isolation spaces for off-campus students is defined by the inability to:

  • Have a bedroom to themselves.
  • Have a dedicated bathroom to themselves.
  • Have access to food and/or a kitchen area by themselves.
  • Any other identified reason why the student would not be able to quarantine or isolate successfully in their location.

Off-campus students including students living in fraternity or sorority chapter houses unable to quarantine or isolate safely at their current location will be able to stay at a UND-designated hotel during the quarantine or isolation period. Hotel accommodations and meals through UND Dining Services will be available at no cost to the student.

Staying off-campus includes NOT using the Wellness Center, entering dining centers, attending in-person classes, participating in athletic requirements, engaging in student organization functions, or participating in extracurricular activities, or any other in-person meetings/requirements.

Eligibility for UND Quarantine and Isolation Spaces

Students are eligible to use the space as defined in the table below and as space is available. UND has a total of 322 rooms available for quarantine and isolation.

Location of Residence & Response Priority Isolation Quarantine – Close Contact Quarantine – Medical, awaiting test results Quarantine – Travel 

Residence hall, Kappa Delta, or UPlace

Not eligible to stay in their current assignment.

Will be assigned to a UND Isolation room, unless they indicate that they are going somewhere else.

Not eligible to stay in their current assignment.

Will be assigned to a UND Quarantine room, unless they indicate that they are going somewhere else.

Eligibility is determined by the medical professional.

If the professional determines that they need to quarantine they are not eligible to stay in their room.

Not eligible to stay in their current assignment. 

Will be assigned to a UND Quarantine room, unless they indicate that they are going somewhere else.

Fraternity or Sorority House (except Kappa Delta)*

Eligible for a UND Isolation room.

Eligible for a UND Quarantine room.

Eligible for a UND Quarantine room if deemed necessary by the medical professional. 

Eligible for a UND Quarantine room.

Off-campus in Grand Forks (or in UND Apartments)*

Eligible for a UND Isolation room if unable to stay safely in current location. 

Eligible for a UND Quarantine room if unable to stay safely in current location.

Eligible for a UND Quarantine room if deemed necessary by the medical professional and unable to stay safely in current location. 

Eligible for a UND Quarantine room if unable to stay safely in current location. 

Off-campus outside of Grand Forks*

Only eligible if an agreement with the program / location has been established in advance.

Only eligible if an agreement with the program / location has been established in advance. 

Only eligible if an agreement with the program / location has been established in advance. 

Only eligible if an agreement with the program / location has been established in advance. 

Eligible to test out

Not eligible to test out of isolation.

Quarantine may be shortened if able to test per CDC guidelines.

If test returns negative, will be allowed to leave quarantine. 

Quarantine may be shortened if able to test per CDC guidelines.

*These facilities are not owned or operated by UND. We are unable to require students residing in them to utilize UND Quarantine and Isolation Spaces. We will encourage students to utilize the spaces when they are available to them.

What are UND Quarantine and Isolation Spaces?

  • UND Quarantine and Isolation Spaces refers to any room designated for students to use when they are required to go into quarantine or isolation duetoCOVID-19. This includes:
    • Testing positive for COVID-19.
    • Being identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
    • Travel related quarantines.
    • Someone being tested for COVID-19 and awaiting results.
  • UND Quarantine and Isolation Spaces are typically located in Grand Forks hotels. Some rooms are available on-campus in specifically dedicated facilities / areas.
  • UND Quarantine and Isolation Spaces are only available in Grand Forks unless a specific program has set up UND Quarantine and Isolation Spaces in advance.
  • OSRR / Care Team will contact students needing isolation or quarantine, but not living in a residence hall, University Place, or a Fraternity or Sorority house during normal business hours unless requested by the student (through the online reporting submission, UND Operations Center, or a specific department).
  • If a student tests positive they have presumed immunity for 90 days following the positive test. Cases who have tested positive within the past 90 days:
    • Should not retest for 90 days.
    • Are not required to isolate again unless told to do so by the  NDDoH, a public health official, or a health care provider.
    • Additionally, individuals considered to be close contacts are not required to quarantine again unless told to do so by the NDDoH, a public health official, or a health care provider.
    • Persons experiencing new symptoms within the past 90 days should consult a medical provider.
  • Any person reported to need to isolate or quarantine to OSRR / Care Team will be treated as such until the OSRR / Care Team is informed otherwise.

Meals Provided During Quarantine or Isolation

Students who go into UND Quarantine and Isolation Spaces are eligible to receive UND Dining at no additional cost to them. 

  • If a student does not have a meal plan, meals are covered by the University. If a student has a meal plan, the cost of meals is covered by their meal plan. A meal swipe will be taken for each meal delivered.
  • Meals start the day following checking into the space and stops with breakfast on the day of check-out.
  • Meals ordered through hotel room service will not be allowed to be charged to the room and must be paid by the individual and not by the University.

Meal Request Form

Meal Delivery to Hotels or On-Campus Housing

  • Students entering quarantine or isolation at a UND-designated hotel will receive three meals per day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) from UND Dining. Meals will be delivered twice per day, at lunch and dinner time. Breakfast for the subsequent morning will be delivered with the dinner meal.
  • Once dining services receives notification of a student in quarantine or isolation along with the needed information, dining services will automatically start meal service. Students will need to provide their dietary needs and related information to dining. Students will not fill out a daily order, as meals will be based on the dining center’s menus. Dining Services will consider declared food allergies, special diets, vegan, and vegetarian diets.
  • Regular lunch meals will consist of a salad, sandwich/wrap, fruit, and a beverage. Dinner meals will consist of a hot meal with the appropriate accompaniments and a beverage. A non-perishable continental breakfast will be provided.
  • All meals will arrive in disposable containers with disposable utensils. Meals will be delivered to the room. The person delivering the meals will knock on the door to notify the student of the delivery and leave the meal in front of the door to avoid physical contact. Deliveries will occur between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Times are subject to change based on the availability of delivery staff. Deliveries include dinner for the day of the delivery and breakfast and lunch for the following day.
  • In the case of International students, who are required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, the university is covering the cost of meals.
  • Students can use meal delivery services from local establishments, at their own expense, and the hotel staff will deliver items to their door.

Off-Campus Students With Meal Plans

Students living off-campus with a meal plan may not enter the dining facility if they are quarantined. If a student wishes to use their meal plan during their quarantine period, they will be charged three meals per day until they are no longer quarantined or until they run out of meals and/or dining dollars. Please designate someone to pick up and deliver their items from Dining Services on their behalf.

What to Bring to Hotel?

Students can use their personal vehicles, ride share or university police can assist in getting to and from the rooms.

If students have to isolate or quarantine in a hotel room, they should collect their items and then will be moved into the room. It is important for them to collect their computers and school work in order to continue classes remotely. If they forget items, they can have friends or family members drop items off at the front desk and employees of the hotels will deliver the items to their door.

Expectations While in UND Quarantine or Isolation Spaces

The following expectations pertain to all students who choose to stay in UND Quarantine and Isolation Spaces.

  1. Students are not allowed to have visitors to their hotel room during the quarantine or isolation period.
  2. Students are expected to complete the UND Dining form. Students who do not complete the form will not receive meals.
  3. Students will be assigned based on room availability. All room assignments are final. Requests will not be considered when making assignments.
  4. Only one person will be assigned to a room and roommates will not be allowed.
  5. Students are expected to follow the guidelines given to them by the state of North Dakota or other health official.
  6. If a student checks-out of their assigned room prior to the conclusion of their quarantine or isolation time, the student is ineligible to be assigned to another room.
  7. The room rental rate and meals through UND Dining will be paid for by UND. Students are responsible for any additional charges incurred during their stay.
  8. Students are expected not to utilize any of the amenities or common spaces including pools, exercise rooms, etc.

Students in isolation or quarantine:

  1. Can leave their assigned room if:
    • They have a medical appointment or emergency. Call ahead first.
    • They follow the instructions given to them by a Public Health Official, UND, or local hotel management.
    • They do not come in contact with anyone else.
    • They wear a face covering.
    • They use stairwells versus elevators to avoid close contact in confined spaces.
    • They are getting tested for COVID-19.
  2. Can go outside for exercise and fresh air (drive a car, ride a bike, take a walk or run, etc.) if:
    • They go on a walk either early in the morning, or late at night, when there are fewer people outside.
    • They avoid playgrounds or any place with equipment you might touch.
    • They avoid public places or places people may gather.
    • They avoid anyplace that is crowded or has high traffic.
    • They remain alone.

Disciplinary Actions

Possible disciplinary actions include, but are not limited to:

  1. A referral to the OSRR for review under the Code of Student Life.
  2. Review by the Behavioral Intervention Team to determine if immediate temporary suspension is warranted.
  3. Suspension from the University of North Dakota.
  4. Loss of privileges to utilize UND quarantine and isolation facilities.
  5. Status sanctions (conduct probation, warning probation, or written reprimand).
  6. Required educational items.
  7. Notification of family members of the violation of UND’s Quarantine and Isolation policies.

The University will respond immediately to students who choose to quarantine or isolate at a UND designated location but do not follow these guidelines and instructions.

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