Frequently Asked Questions

To assist you in finding the answers to your questions, we have broken our FAQs into categories. If you have questions regarding COVID-19 and related topics, please email health@bgsu.edu.

Face Coverings and Physical Distancing

BGSU does not require face coverings on its campuses, but individuals may choose to wear face coverings at any time. If you have questions email health@bgsu.edu.

There is no requirement for physical distancing on campus indoors or outside, but we encourage physical distancing as much as the location allows to reduce the risk of exposure or contracting COVID-19. We will work to provide physical distancing options whenever possible for those who wish to continue with this practice.

As you interact with others on BGSU campuses, we ask that you be respectful and compassionate to one another, building a community of care.

Our goal is to maintain all in-person classes, activities, and events for students at full capacity.

Testing and Positive Cases

If you receive a positive COVID-19 test result, please immediately isolate yourself from others. Read more on our University Protocols page. If you have questions, please email health@bgsu.edu

You can learn all about the isolation protocols on our COVID-19 University Protocols page. Email health@bgsu.edu if you have questions.

Student Experience

BGSU will follow recommendations from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance in regards to isolation for students, faculty and staff.

  • Start a conversation now with your roommate(s) about how you will handle illnesses and the possible need to isolate. Students may isolate in their rooms if they choose to.
  • You and your roommate(s) should discuss if you would like to remain in your room(s) together if one or all of you are sick.
  • Students who feel sick, test positive for COVID-19 or prefer to avoid illness are encouraged to return home, if they are able to.
  • Students should have a plan if they test positive or come into close contact with others who are sick during the school year. The university will not be able to provide isolation or quarantine housing for COVID-19 during the 2023-24 academic year.
  • Students will be expected to secure meals on their own. The Starship delivery robots are available for on-campus food delivery, as well as several food delivery options such as Uber Eats or DoorDash. For those in isolation who need to secure food or items, please wear a face covering when leaving your room and choose to-go options for meals during the isolation period.

For sick or COVID-19 positive students in single-occupancy rooms, a student may choose to isolate in their room on campus or return home, if they are able.

We recommend you contact BGSU International Programs and Partnerships at 419-372-2247 or international@bgsu.edu.

Faculty and Staff

Based on many different factors around vulnerable family members, we would encourage you to have a direct conversation with the individual’s healthcare provider to get specific advice based on their risk level. The provider can recommend the best strategies based on factors such as vaccination status of all individuals in the household and the family members' particular medical condition.

You should recommend your student go to the Falcon Health Center or contact their primary care provider. While the student or co-worker is feeling ill, but not testing positive for COVID-19, they should stay home from class. If the individual tests positive for COVID-19, they should follow recommended isolation guidelines.

Advise this individual to email health@bgsu.edu or the Wood County Health Department COVID-19 Hotline at 419-292-6100 for any questions. Positive at-home COVID tests can be self-reported online.

You may notify your class or co-workers that there was a positive case but do not identify the individual’s name.

Faculty members should have in-person office hours as needed to accommodate student schedules, but they can choose to still wear a face covering, maintain social distancing, and have a plexiglass barrier if desired.

If you need additional supplies or new supplies please fill out this form. Campus Operations will deliver your requested products as soon as possible. If you are bringing in new or additional staff and have questions or need to conduct a second workplace assessment, please contact Campus Operations at facilities@bgsu.edu. For more information, please visit the Campus Operations website.

As they have done before the pandemic, faculty should take reasonable measures to minimize the impact on learning for individual students who must miss class. Such measures include posting lecture presentations and discussion materials in Canvas, engaging students virtually during office hours to discuss course material, and uploading recorded lectures.

Instructors are not expected to provide students who are unable to attend class with a synchronous virtual option to participate.

Instructors who need to miss class due to a sick leave event should first contact their chair or director and then make a good faith effort to contact students, and when possible, arrange an alternative learning experience (e.g., assign readings or online exercises, post course materials for students to review asynchronously, or work with your chair/director to identify someone to cover class(es), such as a faculty colleague or teaching assistant).

If instructors are isolating and choose to continue teaching, they should collaborate with chairs/directors and deans to enact short-term changes to their course delivery mode, which may include teaching remotely.

The information Accessibility Services reviews to determine a student’s eligibility for accommodations contains confidential, protected medical information. For that reason, that office cannot publish guidelines regarding who is or is not eligible for accommodations or what accommodations would be appropriate. Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis.

If an approved accommodation by Accessibility Services prohibits student participation in an in-person class, alternative solutions are typically considered in the following order: 1) identify a remote or online section of the same class; 2) in consultation with an advisor and the college or academic unit, identify an equivalent class in a remote or online format that will allow the student to make progress toward their degree; and as a final option, 3) Accessibility Services will request that the instructor provide virtual access to allow the student to complete the course. Accessibility Services, working with the instructor and ITS, would then collaborate to develop a technological solution that works for all parties.

No. Faculty members should not ask for any personal health information.

Students continue to overwhelmingly share their preference for an in-person learning experience. With that in mind, and in recognizing the pedagogical importance of in-person learning, we will utilize the tools and lessons learned over the past year to support all students and will adapt as needed.

Throughout the global pandemic, we have remained flexible with the understanding that we may need to modify plans based on current trends. Because of the projected increase in the number of students who may be unable to attend in-person classes due to isolation and quarantine requirements, we will be implementing increased flexibility with course delivery to engage and support students.

As indicated in the message from Provost Whitehead dated January 6, faculty members will work collaboratively with chairs/directors and deans to enact short-term changes to course delivery modes when a significant fraction of students in a particular class need to isolate or quarantine. Faculty will clearly communicate any changes to students via BGSU email and Canvas.

Faculty should consult with their chairs/directors and deans about the process for making these requests. Priority will be given to classes that have both large enrollments and high seat fill rates. Other requests will be accommodated as space allows.

Wearing a face covering is an individual choice. Anyone may choose to do so in a classroom, but it will not be required.

Updated: 03/11/2024 12:22PM