In the spring of 2020, Drury established the Student Health and Public Safety Committee and the Coronavirus Task Force to drive the rapid implementation of The Panther Plan as we returned to in-person learning. This team has worked directly with students, faculty, staff and administration to develop plans that will allow us to learn in person. 

Among the many COVID-19 mitigation measures that have been implemented:

• Shifted all residence halls to single rooms.
• Intense and thorough sanitization of all public spaces including classrooms and computer labs throughout the day and each evening.
• The number of hand sanitizer and soap stations has been increased across campus. Sanitizing spray or wipes have been placed in academic spaces for all users.
• Assigned specific entry and exit doors in every building to reduce contact. Identified egress and ingress points are informed by ADA compliance.
• Social distancing measures in academic classrooms including reducing class sizes, arranging desks to permit better distancing, using larger academic spaces and outdoor classroom spaces as weather permits.
• More robust use of electronic learning materials to reduce the need for handing out hard copies of assignment or readings in class.
• Providing teaching faculty with face shields to supplement mask use.
• Installed more than 20 plexiglass shields at various points of contact around campus, including the Commons, Olin Library, the Business Office and the Human Resources office.
• Adjustments to meal service in the Commons, including limiting the number of students in the space, utilizing staff-service instead of self-service and greatly expanded use of grab-and-go meals; as well as increased front-of-house and back-of-house sanitization.
• The CX will only offer carry out service.
• Provided infrared thermometers to more than 40 sites for regular temperature checks when necessary.
• Eliminated overnight stays in university housing for prospective students on campus visits.
• Reduced and/or shifted athletics competition schedules for NCAA sports, in accordance with NCAA rules.
• Following guidelines by the Greene County Health Department and CDC, guests are currently not permitted in any campus housing. This applies to visitors to students’ room and students visiting each other’s rooms.

Any model we develop will include some risk of COVID-19 transmission, but together, we can minimize it.

A key requirement for reducing the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission involves significantly reducing the number of close people-to-people encounters. To accomplish this we need everyone to do their part:

• Masks or other face coverings are required for everyone inside campus buildings unless alone in a single office or room, while in class regardless of whether it is held indoors or outdoors and everywhere on campus when social distancing of at least 6 feet is not possible. Please note that neck gaiters and bandanas are not an acceptable face covering.
• Maintain physical distancing of at least six feet when possible.
• Frequently wash your hands for at least 20 seconds.
• Pay attention to how you are feeling. If you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 or have a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher, please quarantine and contact the Panther Clinic or your primary care provider for further guidance. Do not go to class or other campus buildings. If you live on campus, please remain in your room. Faculty will work with you to accommodate absence due to sickness.
• Have patience with one another as we all work to do what’s best for our campus community.
  
  
  
  

If a student, faculty or staff member is exposed to COVID-19, they will work with a health department official or a Drury contact tracing representative to determine if they will need to quarantine. Individuals who are fully vaccinated (2 weeks after their final shot) do not have to quarantine if exposed to someone with COVID-19 if they are less than three months out from receiving their vaccination. Guidance may change once more data on the duration of a vaccine’s efficacy is available.

If it is determined that an individual should quarantine, they must complete a 10 day quarantine. Individuals will only be released from quarantine if not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms. Quarantine can be shortened to seven days with a negative test collected within 48 hours of an individual’s planned release from quarantine. He or she must quarantine the full seven days even if their negative test comes back sooner.

Any student travelling internationally will be expected to quarantine for 7 or 10 days in their residential location (on or off campus) upon their arrival to the United States in accordance with the general quarantine protocol stated above. This applies to all students, no exceptions.

While in quarantine, students are expressly prohibited from leaving their assigned apartment or assigned residence hall room/bathroom for any reason other than medical appointments as directed by a physician. Additionally they are prohibited from participating in University co-curricular activities (athletic practices, rehearsals, student organization events, Greek activities, etc.).

If quarantining will prevent a student from attending in-person classes, they must contact their instructors to make arrangements to receive their assignments and turn in work until they are able to attend class in person.

A team will be in place to ensure all students who are quarantining receive delivery of food and other necessary items, as well as have the opportunity to socially connect with the broader Drury community.

Complete the form at drury.edu/covid-result to confidentially report to campus officials that you are in quarantine.

We know each person plays an essential role in protecting our community and respecting the rights of all individuals. When students returned to campus this fall, we asked all students to sign the Drury University Community Health and Safety Pledge.

We can continue to learn on campus and protect each other by meeting the following conditions:

• Act intentionally and diligently to limit the spread of COVID-19.
• Do my part to create a community where all students, staff, and faculty can safely assemble, learn and live together.
• Protect and support each individual’s rights to good health.
• Follow the community health practices and protocols recommended by local health professionals.
• Adhere to the health and safety policies and procedures developed by Drury University.
• Hold others accountable and be held accountable for following all health and safety guidelines, recommendations and policies.

If you have been advised by a contact tracer that you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or you have symptoms of COVID-19, immediately begin to self-isolate or quarantine.

Call the Panther Clinic at (417) 873-6300 to make an appointment Monday-Friday or utilize CoxHealth’s no-cost virtual visits in the evenings or on weekends. Testing is available Monday-Friday from 2:00-3:30 at the Panther Clinic on campus. They are open from 9:00-2:00 each weekday for non-COVID-19 visits.

Follow the instructions from your health care provider to get tested as soon as you can. Students, inform your RA (if you live on campus) and professors you are self-isolating. Faculty and staff, inform your supervisor. Remain in self-isolation until you receive your test result.

Complete the form at drury.edu/covid-result to confidentially report to campus officials that you are in quarantine.

If your test comes back positive, let your RA, professors and/or supervisor (depending on your campus role) know you are required to self-isolate and complete the form at drury.edu/covid-result to confidentially report your positive test to aid in contact tracing. If you live on campus, food and necessities will be delivered to your room. A health department official or Drury contact tracing representative will contact you to assess potential community COVID-19 exposure and advise you on next steps.

Drury guidelines require that you self-isolate for 10 days after the date you were tested and be fever-free for at least 24 hours without the aid of fever reducing medication before you return to on-campus activities.

A downloadable flow chart outlining this process is available in the resources section of this page.

If an individual exhibits symptoms of COVID-19, they can make an appointment at the Panther Clinic or utilize CoxHealth’s virtual visits on demand using the code COVID for a no-cost consultation. The individual should follow their directions regarding if they should seek additional medical care or be placed in self-isolation in their own residence.

Students will self-isolate in their residence room for the recommended time, since all students have single occupancy rooms. We will deliver food and other necessities to their residence.

We will work directly with the Springfield-Greene County Health Department to conduct contact tracing to identify anyone this student may have come into prolonged contact with and notify them of their next steps.  

Drury GO students should contact their local healthcare provider for guidance.

Any individual who tests positive must and self-isolate for 10 days after the date they were tested and be fever-free for at least 24 hours without the aid of fever reducing medication before returning to on-campus activities.

All individuals who test positive should complete the form at drury.edu/covid-result to confidentially report their test results to campus for contact tracing and student support purposes.

The spring semester began January 25 after an extended six week winter break. A-block concluded on March 17 with a four day spring break. B-block began March 22 and the rest of the semester will proceed as originally planned with finals week May 10-14.

As with all other schedule changes, these were made with the goal of keeping our students, faculty and staff safe while fulfilling our educational mission in the most effective way possible.

Full details on these dates can be found in the academic calendar.

A number of changes have been made to the classroom experience to ensure safety and to help facilitate in-person learning:

• Classrooms have been arranged to create more distance between desks and between the students and their professor.
• Everyone is required to wear masks at all times in the classroom, even while seated at desks. Please note that neck gaiters and bandanas are not an acceptable face covering.
• Faculty members may wear a face shield instead of a mask while teaching as long as they can maintain at least six feet of distance from their students. This will allow for clearer communication with the class.
• Technology has been updated in classrooms throughout campus to make it easier for students who must self-isolate or quarantine to learn even if they are not present with their peers.
• Students will not be allowed to eat food in their classrooms.

Class attendance policies reflect the current situation. Students should contact their faculty to receive instructions on how to continue learning while in quarantine or self-isolation.

It is important students communicate early and often with their professors to ensure they can make up any work they may miss. 

All students will live in single rooms this academic year. This will allow for better social distancing and gives private space where students can quarantine or self-isolate if needed. By assigning single rooms to all students, we are committed to enabling students to live safely on campus for the duration of the year, even if there is ever a need for classes to move online. 

To keep everyone safe, there will be a few additional guidelines our residents need to follow:

• Students are allowed to visit one another within their own residence hall common spaces, but may not visit other residence halls.
• No guests are allowing in university apartments.  Students are not allowed to visit apartment units other their own residence.
• Face coverings must be worn when more than one student is in the same area of their residence hall and less than six feet from another resident. Please note that neck gaiters and bandanas are not an acceptable face covering.
• Students must keep their shared spaces clean and to disinfect them more often than they would in a typical year.

The Commons and CX will both be open this fall. The Commons will still have buffet-style dining, but Fresh Ideas staff members will serve the food instead of students serving themselves. Seating in the Commons will be available but limited to promote social distancing.  Additional seating has been added in the FSC upper lobby and the patio outside of the Ballroom. Grab and go options will be available as well.

The CX will have carry out items, and Fresh Ideas has implemented delivery services. Seating will not be available inside Springfield Hall for dining.

We are happy to welcome visitors to Drury’s campus. The university offers two campus visit times per day for a limited number of attendees. So we can best accommodate our guests, we ask that guests pick a few dates that would be suitable for a visit when scheduling.

Please arrive at Bay Hall 10 minutes early. Upon arrival, all campus visitors will be greeted at the welcome desk, have their temperature taken and given a small bottle of hand sanitizer and visit guidelines. If a person has a fever of 100.4 or greater, they will be asked to reschedule their visit.

For the health and safety of the Drury community, all campus visitors will be asked to comply with the following guidelines:

• Wear a mask or face covering. If someone refuses to wear a mask, they will be asked to leave.
• We ask that guests provide their own mask, but some masks will be available if guests do not have a mask.
• Practice social distancing of 6 feet or more, following markings across campus.
• Limit yourselves to parties of three; a student and up to two family members.
• Walk-in visitors will be welcome; however, their visit might not include all aspects of a normal campus visit.
• Plexiglass shields are installed at welcome desks. We ask guests stand behind these and maintain social distancing if there are others in line with as well.
• Our residence halls are open for tours; however, we ask guests limit their interactions within the residence halls.
• In order to aid in contact tracing in the event of a COVID-19 case on campus, we will collect all campus visitor names and contact information. This information will be stored as a hard copy and destroyed after 30 days.

Per social distancing guidelines, we will discourage personal contact. Don’t worry, we won’t interpret the lack of handshake as rude.

Student organizations are a great way to connect with the Drury community and we encourage students to stay involved. As with all activities, student organization leaders will need to consider how to conduct their activities safely.

Enjoying the company of fellow Panthers is one of the best things about our Drury experience. While that will certainly look different right now, we can still find ways to come together.

There are a few basic things to remember when making plans with friends, classmates and colleagues.

• Outdoor socializing is best.
• Smaller groups are less risky than larger groups.
• Don’t share cups or utensils.
• Avoid physical touch like hugs, handshakes and high fives when greeting each other.
• Wear your masks and social distance.

Even with these safety guidelines, there are plenty of fun things you can do to enjoy each other’s company in a lower risk way. Ideas include:

• Enjoy the beauty of the Ozarks by going on a hike, floating on a river or camping.
• Get physical with a game of tennis, a bike ride or even just a long walk.
• Visit one of our local museums, Wonders of Wildlife (just voted America’s best aquarium!) or Dickerson Park Zoo.
• Grab take out from your favorite local restaurant, pack a basket or get a grab-and-go meal from the Commons or CX and have a picnic on campus or in one of Springfield’s beautiful parks.
• Find your favorite restaurant patio spot to enjoy a meal with friends.
• Explore free outdoor art on the Sculpture Walk.
• Road trip to Aurora for a drive-in movie at the Sunset Drive-In Theater.
• Get competitive with a fierce game of mini-golf at places like the Springfield classic Fun Acre or the more modern Getaway Golf.
• Create great Instagram content by finding over 40 outdoor murals around town.
• Set up a hammock or bring a blanket and read a good book outside when the weather is nice.
• Try a little bit of everything at the Route 66 Food Truck Park.
• Visit a local nursery and pick out a plant – or seven – to liven up your room.
• Enjoy a frozen treat from a Springfield staple like Pineapple Whip or Andy’s Frozen Custard.

Community testing, also known as surveillance testing, is the ongoing sampling of a percentage of a population to infer how many people in the population likely have active cases of COVID-19. This will help us slow the spread of COVID-19 by allowing us to identify and isolate current cases, while also allowing us to know if its presence on our campus is growing. 

Drury will test 10% of students, faculty and staff each week. Based on ongoing education from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and in consultation with CoxHealth CEO Steve Edwards – a member of our Board of Trustees – we decided this was an appropriate step for our campus at this time. If information or recommendations change, we will adjust the percentage of the Drury community we test accordingly. 

Dean Julian, Provost Harville and CHRO Marilyn Harris randomly select 10% of students, faculty and staff respectively to be tested. Selection is completely random so you may be selected more than once or you may never be selected at all. They contact anyone selected for a test directly via email prior to your test date. Tests are typically conducted on Tuesdays. 

Anyone on campus may request to opt into community testing at any time by contacting either Dean Julian, Provost Harville or CHRO Marilyn Harris.

The email you receive notifying you of your selection for testing will contain instructions for the time and location of your test, as well as a form you need to complete. Tests will be administered throughout a specified window of time on your selected day. Appointments are not needed.

On your test day, bring your completed form with you to the testing site. After checking in, you will be directed to self-administer your test under the supervision of a trained tester.
Once you take your test, you are free to go. If you do not hear from one of our testers, your test was negative. If your test comes back positive, we will call you immediately to return for a PCR test that will confirm your diagnosis.

We do not require individuals who have been fully vaccinated to participate in community testing. Students and staff members may opt out by sharing a photo of their vaccine card with Dean Julian (students) or Marilyn Harris (staff). Faculty members may email Dr. Harville to opt out.

Both rapid antigen and PCR tests are administered at no cost to you. Your insurance will not get billed for rapid antigen tests. If you are asked to take a PCR test, this will be prescribed by a doctor and, as such, covered by your insurance. You will receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your insurance provider, displaying allowable amounts that will be covered by insurance. This is not a bill.

Regardless of the amount displayed on your EOB, you should not receive a bill from our lab. In the unlikely event that this does occur, however, please contact Marilyn Harris, our CHRO, at mharris016@drury.edu and we will correct the issue immediately.

If you do not have insurance, CARES Act funding will cover the cost of your PCR test.

This plan is subject to change as new information and testing technology comes to light.

• Springfield-Greene County Health Department
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• CoxHealth Virtual Visits
• Jordan Valley Community Health Center
• Download the "What steps should I take" flow chart

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020. It establishes and funds the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), providing emergency funds to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus. Drury University will receive a total of $120,724 under 18004(a)(2), the Strengthening Institutions Program section of the CARES Act.

Drury will provide funds to students who demonstrate financial need and wish to continue their education in the 2020-2021 academic year. To demonstrate financial need, students must be Pell eligible and owe a balance to the university from the Spring 2019 semester. Funds will be credited to their account on or before July 15, 2020.

 Student Portion of CARES Act Funds        Intuitional Portion of CARES Act Funds

• Fever of 100.4+ 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

COVID-19 tests are offered through the Panther Clinic on campus from 2:00-3:30 each weekday. You must call them at (417) 873-6300 to make an appointment before your visit. CoxHealth virtual visits are still available any time and they can refer you to offsite testing.

With significant travel restrictions in place globally, study abroad opportunities are not available this academic year.

Yes. Through our partnership with Burrell Behavioral Health, students can access behavioral health consultation services at no cost. Students also continue to have access to our two Drury mental health counselors.

Yes. Until there is more information on how the vaccine affects transmission of the virus, current quarantine and testing policies still apply to everyone – whether vaccinated or not. 

We know that, while very effective, the vaccine does not offer 100% protection. Also, it isn’t known if a fully vaccinated person can still pass the virus even if they show no symptoms. We will evaluate all policies as the science progresses.

• April 29: The Final Countdown
• April 15: Vaccines Available for All
• April 8: Updated Cleaning Procedures
• April 1: Vaccines on Campus and Testing Changes

• March 18: Vaccines and Testing
• March 4: Looking Toward Brighter Days

• February 4: Testing Updates

• January 21: Welcome back!

• December 10: See you in 2021
• December 3: Updated guidelines

• November 19, 2020: Celebrating safely
• November 12, 2020: Testing, travel and other updates
• November 5, 2020: General Update

• October 29: Revised Calendar
• October 22: Take Care of Your Mental Health
• October 15: Stay Safe
• October 8: Pre-fall break updates
• October 1: The Importance of Reporting

• September 24: Long Road Ahead
• September 17: Keep It Up
• September 10: Getting Good Information
• September 3: Community Testing and the COVID-19 Dashboard

• August 27, 2020: Community Testing
• August 20, 2020: Welcome Back!
• August 13, 2020: Ready to Return
• August 7, 2020: Residence Halls and Dining

• July 30, 2020: Current State of COVID-19 in our Community
• July 23, 2020: Tips for Socializing Safely
• July 16, 2020: What to Do if You Have Symptoms
• July 9, 2020: Back to Campus

• June 17, 2020: The Panther Plan - Clarification
• June 15, 2020: The Panther Plan