Since the beginning of the pandemic University of Maryland Extension faculty, staff and administration have been working together to provide continued support and programming in a manner that provides a safe environment for all involved.  As UME offices and facilities can found in every county and Baltimore City, our programming re-opening guidelines and procedures and must take into account all the COVID-19 protocols that are in place at the state, university, county and town/municipality levels.  

Please keep in mind that all these protocols are changing rapidly and we will make every effort to modify our guidelines in a timely fashion.  

We appreciate your patience and we look forward to seeing everyone again.

  • All UME COVID-19 Resources

    Re-opening guidelines for all UME programming, with additional specific guidelines for Maryland 4-H, Master Gardener and Watershed Steward Academy Programs.

  • Daily Symptom Checker for Off-Campus Faculty & Staff

    UMD expects all faculty, staff, students, and affiliates reporting to an off-campus facility (this includes Extension offices) to self-monitor and report daily for symptoms that may be related to COVID-19.

  • Confirm Vaccination Status (UME Faculty & Staff)

    All UMD faculty and staff are required to be vaccinated by August 2, 2021. Medical and religious exemptions will be considered.

May 28th Addendum to UME Re-Opening Program Guidelines & UME Workplace Protocols

Capacity

  • Outdoor:
    • No restrictions on social distancing or capacity sizes.
  • Indoor:
    • No restrictions on social distancing or capacity sizes for adult programming.
    • K-12 programming, including 4-H, must maintain 3 feet of physical distancing between participants.

Masks

  • UME faculty, staff, program participants, and volunteers who are fully vaccinated will no longer be required to wear masks in all Extension offices/facilities except while on public transportation or school buses, and while participating in activities involving K-12 students; however, you may choose to wear a mask if you wish to, and we ask that you respect everyone who chooses to do so.
  • UME faculty, staff, program participants, and volunteers who are not fully vaccinated will be will be required to wear a face mask in all public indoor spaces, at all crowded outdoor venues, while on public transportation or school buses, and while participating in any activities involving K-12 students. You are strongly encouraged to wear a mask at all times for your own protection.
  • All workplaces and educational programs should continue to follow local restrictions should masks be required.

 

Volunteer Programming

  • Beginning June 1st, UME Volunteers will not be required to seek approval to hold in-person activities. Local offices may choose to continue the pre-approval process should this better align with local conditions.

Health Agreement/Symptom Survey

  • Health pledges/Symptom surveys will no longer be required by individual participants. Instead, the following statement should be included on all program attendance forms:
    • “By signing in for this UME event, you are affirming that you do not have any covid-19 symptoms as listed on the Health Certification document.”
    • The below Health Agreement/Symptom Survey should be visibly displayed at the registration table.

Health Agreement/Symptom Survey

By signing in for this UME event, you are affirming that you are responding “No” to the Health Certification statements below.

Have you experienced any of the following symptoms in the past 48 hours?

 
  • Fever over 100.4°F
  • Sore Throat
  • Chills or feeling cold for no explainable reason
  • A new or worsening cough not due to another health condition
  • Headache not normal for you, or not caused by another reason or health condition Difficulty breathing
  • Loss of taste or smell
  • Muscle aches not caused by another health condition
 

In the past 14 days, have you been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19?   

Is someone in your household currently quarantined because they were exposed to COVID-19?

 

Download a PDF of this Health Agreement/Symptom Survey

 

Food/Snacks/Water

  • The current guidelines regarding food, snacks and water remain in place.

General Updates

  • All other hygiene and sanitation requirements remain in place (i.e. handwashing, disinfecting surfaces and high touch areas).
  • All faculty, staff, and volunteers are required to continue the post-activity report.
  • Faculty, staff and participants should follow the program host, local, and state public health guidelines during any educational programming/meetings that are not hosted by UME.