Frequently Asked Questions

Effective Monday, October 4, face masks are optional on campus in all indoor and outdoor settings, except that DBU will allow faculty to decide whether to require students to wear face masks in their classrooms for the duration of a class period. For all other settings, face masks are optional, and faculty, staff, and students may choose to wear or not wear face masks based on their individual preferences or health and safety needs. (updated October 1, 2021)

DBU's Interim Flex Policy will end, and faculty and staff are required to return to campus or obtain ADA accommodations from Human Resources prior to Monday, May 31, 2021.

DBU is lifting all capacity limits for on-campus buildings and classrooms.

DBU will not require faculty, staff, or students to complete the Daily Health Survey.  However, all faculty, staff, and students must complete the “Fall 2021 Health Check and Acknowledgement of Risk” form once now or at the start of the semester. (updated August 12, 2021)

DBU will not offer COVID waivers for courses, and students must attend classes in the manner in which they are prescribed unless DBU has required those students to quarantine or isolate due to COVID. 

The DBU Health Services Department continues to provide vaccinations to DBU Faculty, Staff, Students, and family members of anyone in these groups.

Though some organizations have made the move to require vaccinations, DBU has maintained the position that we will not require vaccinations.

DBU does kindly ask that individuals voluntarily inform the institution if they have been vaccinated by filling out this form.

A respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in China and which has now been detected worldwide, including in the United States. The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”).

COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person:

• Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
• Via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and landing in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly inhaled into the lungs.

It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest). Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; there have been reports of this with this new coronavirus, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

Learn what is known about the spread here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/transmission.html.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms of COVID include:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Read more about symptoms from the CDC website.

Social distancing is designed to limit the spread of a disease by reducing the opportunities for close contact between people and includes: Reduce face-to-face exposure by using telephone/conference calls, email, and tools, such as Microsoft Teams, including but, not limited to, student organization meetings. The Student Affairs team will provide more detailed guidance soon.    

• Avoid mass gatherings.
• Keep at least six feet between yourself and another person in all public places.
• Avoid close contact, including handshakes and hugging. Use other non-contact methods for greeting.
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Practice good hygiene.
• Limit food sharing.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow if you do not have tissue.

Click here for more information.

According to the Center for Disease Control, "Isolation is used to separate people infected with the virus (those who are sick with COVID-19 and those with no symptoms) from people who are not infected. People who are in isolation should stay home until it’s safe for them to be around others. In the home, anyone sick or infected should separate themselves from others by staying in a specific 'sick room' or area and using a separate bathroom (if available)."

Self-isolation serves to temporarily separate people who have been in an area of public health concern to help protect their health and that of their community. Day zero of the 14 day isolation period is the day you leave a restricted location.

If you are an on-campus residential student, you will be required to self-isolate or quarantine off-campus unless extenuating circumstances exist.

Individuals required to self-isolate:

• May not return to class, work, activities or university events until 14 days have passed. Students needing assistance finding accommodations for self-isolation should contact Student Affairs for support and guidance.
• Stay home except to get medical care and call ahead before doing so.
• Report your health status daily to university health staff.
• Separate yourself from others who also share their residence.
• Monitor your temperature twice a day for fever. Fever is defined as ≥100.4F or 38C.

According to the Center for Disease Control, "Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. Quarantine helps prevent spread of disease that can occur before a person knows they are sick or if they are infected with the virus without feeling symptoms. People in quarantine should stay home, separate themselves from others, monitor their health, and follow directions from their state or local health department."

Since the summer of 2020, the DBU campus has been open to visitors. Please visit dbu.edu/visit to learn more.

Yes, the DBU Library and the University Writing Center will be available for research, study, and assistance both in-person and online. Please visit http://libguides.dbu.edu/library/home and www.dbu.edu/writing-center/contact.html for more information.

For any follow-up questions, please send an email to the Coronavirus Taskforce ctf@dbu.edu or Student Affairs at studentaffairs@dbu.edu. Your question will be routed to the appropriate DBU departments.

The DBU Counseling Center offers counseling at no charge to DBU students, faculty, and staff. To make an appointment, talk with a counselor, or get more information, please call 214 333 5288, or email us at counselingcenter@dbu.edu.

• Center for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
• World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
• Texas Health and Human Services: https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/
• Dallas County Health and Human Services: https://www.dallascounty.org/departments/dchhs/2019-novel-coronavirus.php

As of March 23, 2020, DBU will be extending online instruction for the remainder of the Spring semester. This applies to all students and all programs.

The University will remain open in order to service those students residing on campus and perform other functions necessary to maintain the essential operations of these residences.

Faculty should meet with students during office hours by phone or online conferencing.

No, the online instruction period will not have any impact on degree plans or hours earned.

Our standard May Commencement services which are held in Pilgrim Chapel have been postponed, and May 2020 graduates are invited to walk in an upcoming ceremony held in August 2020, December 2020, or May 2021. DBU will still confer degrees in May for those who satisfy academic requirements.

In place of our normal Commencement services, DBU is planning to host a Commencement Parade that will take place on Friday, May 15.  More details about this event, as well as information on how to participate in an upcoming service, can be found at www.dbu.edu/commencement.

At this time, there are no changes to the finals schedule. The Academic Calendar remains on schedule.

During the Spring 2020 semester, DBU implemented a Credit/No Credit Policy for final grades in response to the disruption to that semester caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. These policies do not apply to other semesters.