Information for Students

As we move through the fall semester, our primary focus is offering in-person class experiences as much as possible while still providing a safe environment during COVID-19. Fall classes began Aug. 24. A few things for you to note:

  • To safely accommodate in-person classes, we identified additional classroom space for courses so we are able to teach more students face-to-face. We also are engaging in social distancing, which is limiting the number of students in each classroom space. These steps, among many others, will help support the health of our Mean Green Family.
  • Students will not be required to return to campus for face-to-face classes after the Thanksgiving holiday. The end of the semester and final exams will be conducted remotely as originally scheduled.

We anticipate the fall will pose a number of challenges as conditions evolve across our state and nation, and we will continue working to mitigate those challenges as best we can to help our students encounter a rich UNT experience. We also anticipate that the spring semester will proceed normally, and we will communicate any course delivery updates related to Spring 2021 as we know more.

Providing a healthy and safe learning environment is important at any time for UNT, and it is of paramount concern during the COVID-19 global health crisis. We are committed to providing updates on the latest developments and how they impact our students. Below you’ll find answers to a few common questions. We will share answers to more of your questions in the coming days as additional information and guidance becomes available.

For specific questions regarding individual offices and services provided by Student Affairs and Academic Affairs, please use this resource sheet to contact them directly.

Latest campus updates

What UNT students can expect this fall

Students returning to or arriving on campus this fall can learn more about what to expect – and what is expected of you to help keep our community safe and healthy.

  • Personal Safety

    COVID-19 Safety Training Course

    To help ensure the safety of the UNT community, the university developed a COVID-19 Safety Training for students to explain how to keep yourself and those around you safe when you return to campus this fall. This training course is available through Canvas, and all students must complete it before returning to campus. For students already on campus, it should be completed as soon as possible.

    Masks Are Required

    Appropriate use of face coverings is critical in minimizing risks to yourself and others near you. Texas Governor Greg Abbott mandated that masks be worn in counties with more than 20 COVID-19 cases. The CDC recommends the wearing of face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

    Please visit our mask overview page to learn more about proper face cover etiquette at UNT. UNT will be providing masks to our campus community when necessary. UNT students in need of a mask can stop by numerous campus buildings to pick up a mask.

    For those wondering how the requirement will be enforced, we have outlined our non-compliance plan.

    Accommodations

    The Office of Disability Access will work with you and your instructors to be sure any needed accommodations are provided, including but not limited to accommodations for students whose disability prohibits the wearing of a mask and the provision of sign language interpreters for deaf students. You can find more information here.

  • Campus Life

    Common Areas

    Common areas will remain open and arrangements, such as moving furniture, have been made to allow for appropriate social distancing. Campus buildings are cleaned each evening by Custodial Service staff. This service includes cleaning and disinfecting all restrooms, disinfecting touch surfaces such as door handles to restrooms and entrance doors and disinfecting common use areas. Additionally, restrooms in high-traffic buildings are serviced twice each business day and all high-touch surfaces within occupied areas will be regularly disinfected. In addition, each classroom will have a cleaning kit for students and faculty to use as needed.

    Student Services

    At this time, we plan on having all student services available both virtually and in-person to provide our students options. The Pohl Rec Center, Student Health and Wellness Center, University Union and student activities, residential and dining services as well as athletic and other events are all planning to be operational, in addition to all of our student support services.

    We will require social distancing and masks while accessing these services and events, which certainly means things will be different than they were, though the services still will be provided.

    Parking

    You will need a parking permit to park on campus. If you aren’t parking on campus regularly, UNT community members can purchase a day use permit for Eagle parking lots or use the ParkMobile app to find a pay-by-the-hour parking lot or a SmartMeter area – both noted in this map. Please direct questions to 940-565-3020 or by email at transportation.services@unt.edu.

  • Academics

    UNT’s primary focus is offering in-person class experiences as much as possible while still providing a safe environment during COVID-19. Fall classes will commence Aug. 24, so please register if you haven’t already.

    Student Fees

    Student fees are used to cover the long-term cost of various necessary services, including equipment, maintenance and staffing. These services will be offered both in-person and virtually this Fall in an effort to give our students options for what works for them. Learn more by reading our explanation of tuition and fees.

    Distance Education Fee

    The Distance Education Fee is assessed to all distance education courses to support and enhance instructional design, management, delivery, maintenance, coaching and technology for distance education courses.

    Courses that would have been delivered as online offerings are assessed the distance education fee. The location for these courses is listed as INET. Courses that were modified to be taught remotely but would have been in-person classes are not assessed that fee.

    Learn more by reading our explanation of tuition and fees.

    Accommodations

    The Office of Disability Access will work with you and your instructors to be sure any needed accommodations are provided, including but not limited to accommodations for students whose disability prohibits the wearing of a mask and the provision of sign language interpreters for deaf students. You can find more information here.

  • Housing and Dining

    This year's move-in is being staggered over a five-day period to allow for social distancing. Housing will be emailing residents this week with more detailed information.

    The residence halls will remain open in the Fall 2020 semester, including after Thanksgiving break when classes go remote. All offices and services will continue to be available for students through the end of finals. Students who wish to cancel housing due to classes being moved to remote delivery may still be subject to the university’s first-year live-on requirement.

    You can learn more information on UNT’s Housing COVID-19 Info page. Please contact housinginfo@unt.edu or 940-565-2610 to discuss options.

    Dining Services will open for full operations for the Fall 2020 semester. Dining can be contacted at Dining@unt.edu or 940-565-2462.

  • Positive Cases and Contact Tracing

    COVID-19 Testing

    In the latest testing guidelines from the CDC Friday, people who do not have symptoms of COVID-19 should still be tested if they have been in close contact with someone who is infected. UNT’s Student Health and Wellness Center offers testing to faculty, staff and students who have been identified by UNT’s Contact Tracing team as a close contact of a UNT positive COVID-19 case. Close contact is defined as being within 6 feet of a COVID-19 patient for at least 15 minutes. Call UNT's COVID Hotline at 844-366-5892 or email COVID@unt.edu for guidance regarding symptoms, testing and what to do following potential exposure.

    UNT is using a rapid test at the Student Health and Wellness Center (SHWC) for symptomatic students and for campus community (faculty, staff, students) identified as close contacts through the contact tracing process. The intention of this process is to isolate instances of the virus on campus so that as few persons and as few classes are impacted as possible.

    The test is available at a cost of $30 for students. The SHWC will file with a student’s insurance, as appropriate. No student will be turned away who is unable to pay, which is always the case at the SHWC.

    If a student, staff or faculty member tests positive, we will conduct an extensive investigation with that person. Part of that investigation involves asking people to identify any “close contacts." If someone is identified as a close contact, they will be notified and instructed to quarantine for 14 days from last exposure to the infected person. If someone is not considered a close contact, they will be given guidance to self-monitor for symptoms.

    A close contact is defined as any individual that is within 6ft of an infected person for 15 minutes or greater during the 2 days prior to developing symptoms.

    Should a Student Test Positive for COVID-19

    Housing will remain available throughout the academic year regardless of a student's COVID status.

    Should a student test positive for COVID-19, the student will have the option to return home if they wish for their quarantine period or they can remain on campus where they will be quarantined in a separate space for the health and safety of our campus community.

    From an academic standpoint, if there is classroom instruction taking place faculty will have the capability to live stream the lecture, in many cases, so isolated students can log on remotely.  Otherwise, faculty, as much as possible, will work with students with alternative arrangements that are appropriate for the course.

    Mass COVID-19 Testing

    UNT does not plan on mass COVID testing but will be conducting random sample testing in the residence halls to establish and monitor a baseline of infection. The SHWC will be testing for symptomatic students and for campus community members (faculty, staff, students) identified as close contacts through the contact tracing process. You can read more about our comprehensive contact tracing and testing procedures.

Virtual and In-Person Services

Here is a list of key services and their virtual offerings that will help you make your fall semester a success:

Student Financial Services

  • Virtual services: Payments by check and/or credit/debit card, general customer service questions, scheduling virtual appointments, submitting documentation and authorizing refund preferences
  • In-person services: Payments by cash or money order, securing a *UNT ID card and appointments for assistance with billing issues for those outside Denton

* If you are a student needing a new UNT ID card, submit your request online. You will be notified when your ID card is ready for pick-up.

Office of the Registrar

  • Virtual services: Registration, transcript requests, enrollment verification, undergraduate graduation information, submitting documentation, obtaining records and proof of residency.
  • In-person services: Currently, all Registrar services can be conducted virtually except for changes to personal, biographical information such as name changes, change of gender, Social Security numbers, and requests for notarized transcripts or diploma.

Student Financial Aid and Scholarships

  • Virtual services: How to apply for financial aid, types of aid/scholarships, eligibility, submitting documents and the Ask Scrappy chatbot.
  • In-person services: Scholarship check endorsements. All other Student Financial Aid and Scholarship services can be conducted virtually.

Undergraduate Admissions

  • Virtual services: Engaging in the live chat feature, scheduling a virtual appointment, submitting documentation (meningitis), Apply Texas, admission requirements, and questions specific to freshmen and transfer students.

Graduate Admissions and Toulouse Graduate School

  • Virtual services: information on the variety of needs for new and continuing graduate students.

Academic Services

  • Our Tutoring and Advising offices offer virtual appointments but if you need to go in-person, please keep in mind that Thursdays are when their team will be available.
  • All in-person, student-facing services will be open for at least five hours on Thursdays. Please make sure to call ahead to schedule an appointment and confirm their hours.