These FAQs have been developed to answer the most common questions about the University's ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These will be updated and new FAQs added as needed.
For specific questions related to admissions, please visit our COVID-19 FAQ for Prospective Students.
General COVID-19 FAQs
The widespread adoption of vaccines is considered the primary method of bringing the coronavirus pandemic to an end.
Due to the incredible, decades-long work of scientists and pharmaceutical companies on coronaviruses and mRNA research – and with the massive financial support of the federal government – COVID-19 vaccines are now a reality.
To learn more about COVID-19 vaccines, visit the CDC vaccine website as well as the FAQs about the COVID-19 vaccines.
Students and employees, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, should not come to campus if they are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms.
Students must report symptoms of or known exposure to COVID-19 to Gonzaga University Health & Counseling Services at (509) 313-4052. Testing can also be accessed through Health and Counseling Services, a local healthcare agency, or pharmacy.
Employees with symptoms are to isolate and test for COVID-19 immediately, regardless of vaccination status. Employees can access testing through their health care provider or pharmacy.
Students and employees, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, should monitor for symptoms and should not come to campus if they are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms.
Students must report symptoms or known exposure to COVID-19 to the COVID-19 Hotline at (509) 313-7070 ext. 1. Students can access testing through Gonzaga University Health and Counseling Services (509) 313-4052, a local healthcare agency, or pharmacy.
Employees with symptoms are to isolate and test for COVID-19 immediately, regardless of vaccination status. Employees can access testing through their health care provider or pharmacy.
If you test positive for COVID-19, please see "What should I do if I test positive for COVID-19?" for more guidance.
Students
- Call into GU Health & Counseling Services at (509) 313-4052 to report your positive test and begin the contact tracing and isolation process.
- IMPORTANT: On-campus students who test positive sdd are directed to call Campus Security & Public Safety at (509) 313-2222 and request to speak to the on-call Residence Director (RD).
- Notify your professors that you will be absent from class and discuss options for staying engaged in class and keeping up with course work.
- Follow the health and safety instructions provided by your contact tracer.
- Review the What to Expect During Isolation and How to Isolate-In-Place guides for more resources and support.
Employees
- Stay home, except to get medical care.
- Notify your supervisor that you will not be coming to campus. You do not need to tell them you are COVID-19 positive.
- Follow the health and safety instructions provided by your health care provider.
- If you feel well enough, make arrangements to work virtually (if possible and/or approved by your supervisor). If you are unable to work while you are sick, enter sick leave on your timesheet.
Individuals who test positive can return back to campus when all of the following conditions are met:
- It has been at least 5 days since testing positive and individuals were asymptomatic or symptoms have diminished; and
- At least 24 hours have passed with no fever without fever-reducing medication; and
- Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving (Note: loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation); and
- They continue diligent masking (using high-quality KN95 or N95 masks/respirators) around others for 10 days after their initial positive test.
We are requiring vaccination of students at this time. Vaccinations for employees are strongly encouraged. Visit our COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements page for more information on vaccine requirements, including how to upload your vaccine status.
Vaccinated students, faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to receive a booster shot within 14 days of becoming eligible.
All eligible, vaccinated campus-based students (if you are required to visit campus at any time during the academic year) should update their Medicat status with vaccine information as soon as possible prior to the beginning of the semester they start at GU.
Employees may update their vaccination status and submit proof of vaccination through the Benefits portal.
Indoor use of masks is not required at Gonzaga University. Students, faculty, staff and contractors are advised to carry a mask at all times on campus in case it is needed to enter a specific location or space. The University will continue to make masks available in numerous locations as well. Any individual has the right to wear a mask for any reason, without explanation, in or on any campus facility or location, free of harassment or questioning, in accordance with State law. This includes any environment where the wearing of masks is considered optional by others.
More details about the University's masking approach can be found in President McCulloh's masking policy message from March 2022.
Testing is a vital part in determining COVID-19 infection and mitigating spread. We will continue to use best practices around testing students for the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.
Testing strategies include:
- Signs/Symptoms/Exposure Testing (SSE) – You should be tested for current infection of COVID-19 if:
- You have signs or symptoms of COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status or prior infection.
- You have had close contact (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period) with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
- Close contacts: If you have have come into close contact with someone with COVID-19 should be tested no sooner than 5 days following the date of their exposure and wear a mask in public indoor settings for 10 days or until they receive a negative test result.
- Targeted Testing: Is the testing of close contacts of a confirmed case (both symptomatic and asymptomatic) and is performed by Health and Counseling Services in collaboration with the Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) Further targeted testing occurs based on the test results of close contacts and other epidemiologic factors surrounding each specific case.
- Surveillance Testing on campus will persist only for special populations as needed (e.g., student athletes per NCAA guidelines, nursing students per requirements of clinical site or WA DOH). At this time, we do not plan to have open walk-in testing on campus for Fall 2022. On the advice of Spokane Regional Health District, focused random testing for COVID-19 may be introduced should circumstances warrant it.
The following individuals DO NOT need to be tested for current COVID-19 infection:
- People who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 3 months and recovered. You do not need to get tested following an exposure, as long as you do not develop new symptoms.
Students with symptoms of or known exposure to COVID-19 can access testing at Gonzaga University Health and Counseling Services or a local healthcare agency or pharmacy.
If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or who get tested and have symptoms should isolate pending test results and follow the advice of your healthcare provider.
The university offers a number of mental health resources including:
- Mental health care for individuals
- Careful attention/response to suicidal thoughts and behaviors
- Mental health crisis response
- Support/coordination for students testing positive for COVID-19
- Support for students whose mental health does not require clinical intervention
- Resource brokering for on campus and community resources
- Consultation for staff, faculty, students, and families
- Outreach to students of concern
For mental health emergencies, dial 911 or contact Campus Security and Public Safety at (509) 313-2222. For 24/7 access to a licensed mental health clinician, call StudentLinc at 1-888-893-5462 or visit zagsupport.mysupportportal.com.
For mental health support during business hours, contact the Center for Cura Personalis at (509) 313-2227 and/or Health and Counseling Services at (509) 313-4052. You can also refer a friend using the online University’s Refer form. Visit the Wellness Toolbox for additional well-being resources.
Donating to the Fund for Gonzaga helps students and our campus with support to the greatest needs. Your donation will provide flexible support for scholarships, learning resources, student and campus needs as they emerge, and important provisions for the health and safety of our entire community. You can also share stories of Zags doing good during this time and stay connected with Zag Nation at our Zags Alumni and Friends site.
Please contact Erin Shields, Director of Alumni and Employer Engagement, at shieldse@gonzaga.edu if you have internship or job opportunities for our graduates.
To learn more about how you can support our students, visit Gonzaga Give.
For the latest information about COVID-19, visit the CDC website, the Washington State Department of Health website, and the Spokane Regional Health District website.
We recognize the inherent dignity of all individuals and expect professional conduct in activities and programs and in the relationships we share with students, faculty, staff, and the public.
During this pandemic, where there are so many unknowns, taking care of each other is just as important as taking care of ourselves. Cura Personalis, or care for the whole person, and Cura Apostolica, or care for the work or institution, go hand in hand and are integral to our mission. We are committed to continuing to maintain an educational, working, and living environment free of all forms of discrimination or harassment. Making assumptions about or engaging in negative treatment of others based on perceived COVID-19 symptoms, medical conditions or abilities, national origin, racial and ethnic characteristics, or any other protected status hurts our community and will not be tolerated. Any acts of discrimination or harassment run counter to our University values and policies, including our Harassment and Non-Discrimination Policy.
We also recognize that every student has had very different experiences during the pandemic and that COVID-19 has had disproportionate impacts among people of color. We are here to support you and provide the resources necessary to allow your experience at Gonzaga to be the best it can be. The Office of Diversity, Inclusion, Community & Equity (DICE) utilizes the principles of critical dialogue, reciprocity, and solidarity to facilitate learning that cultivates cultural engagement, enriches mindfulness, fosters a sense of belonging, and challenges systems of privilege and oppression. To connect with the DICE team and learn more about resources and support systems available during this time of uncertainty and challenge, call (509) 313-4100.
As shared by the CDC, stigma and discrimination can occur when people associate a disease, such as COVID-19, with a population or nationality, even though not everyone in that population or from that region is specifically at risk for the disease. Stigma can also occur after a person has been released from COVID-19 quarantine even though they are not considered a risk for spreading the virus to others.
Stigma hurts everyone by creating more fear or anger towards ordinary people instead of the disease that is causing the problem. We can fight stigma and help not hurt others by providing social support. We can communicate the facts and prevent the unnecessary harm of stigma.
Information about stigma can be found on the CDC's Reducing Stigma website.