University Travel Guidelines COVID-19

 

Travel Exception Process and Required Approvals during COVID-19 - Fall 2020

July 23, 2020

Effective immediately, University travel outside the state – both domestic and international is restricted until further notice due to UNC System directives and public health concerns. In-state travel is permitted under certain circumstances.

All travel is considered an exception and must be approved by both the Department Head and the Chancellor or the Chancellor’s designee. Travel exception approvals are required before booking and expending funds. Otherwise, expenses will be not be reimbursed.

All travel exception requests must be submitted via the Travel Exception Form.

Exception approval process:
  • Faculty (including visitors), post docs, graduate students, researchers – Approved by the Dean, VC of Research (if Grant funded), and finally Provost or designee.
  • Staff – Approved by the respective Vice Chancellor and then the Chancellor or Designee
  • Athletics Team Travel – Approved by the Athletics Director and then the Chancellor or Designee
  • Student Travel – Approved by the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, Chancellor or Designee
  • Upon return, students, faculty, and staff may be asked to self-quarantine.
 
In-State Travel
  • Permitted if event is consistent with state guidance on large gatherings or University travel authorizations.
  • If not consistent, the travel is not permitted, unless approved via the approval exception process.

The travel exception process is a preliminary step to, not in lieu of, the standing travel authorization process. Approvers are expected to review, and approve or deny, travel authorization requests per their normal standard operating procedures. 

Approved exception requests should be uploaded into Chrome River as part of the required documentation. Approval of travel exceptions may be reversed or adjusted at any time as deemed appropriate by university leadership due to changes in risk locally, the area in which travel is planned, and travel conveyances; and will be communicated to the traveler as appropriate.

COVID-19 has been declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization and is becoming more widespread, including spreading in the community. COVID-19 is extremely contagious and believed to be spread mainly from person-to-person contact.  Although the University has instituted reasonable practices in an attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19, NC A&T cannot guarantee that you will never get exposed to the virus or get sick from it.  Further, undertaking travel could increase your risk of contracting COVID-19.  You must review and comply with any federal, state, or local travel restrictions or requirements related to COVID-19 that apply to your travel destination.

Please review any and all travel guidance and advisories for your destination, including the Centers for Disease Control’s “Considerations for Travelers” resource at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html prior to your travel.

The CDC, state and local health departments, are reviewing and updating their respective guidance on the pandemic and its impact nearly every day.  As a result, NC A&T reserves the right to restrict your travel if necessary to protect campus health and safety.  Further, based on your travel destination, and government order or guidance, the University may restrict your access to campus for a certain period of time following your return in order to lessen the risk of possible COVID-19 transmission.