FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas learned over the weekend that the first member of its university community, a student living away from campus, has tested positive for COVID-19.

University of Arkansas Chancellor Joe Steinmetz updated the students, faculty and staff on Monday, March 23. His message to the campus and other updates can be found on the university's Coronavirus Update site.

"The student, who had recently been in contact with someone who had visited from out-of-state, is symptomatic and is in self-isolation off campus," Chancellor Steinmetz said. "This is the case for anyone who receives a positive test result or is awaiting test results. Please keep this individual and all the others battling the virus across the nation and worldwide in your thoughts. We wish them a speedy recovery."

The student does not live in university-managed housing (residence halls, Greek houses, apartments). 

The university shifted to online classes on March 12 and reduced on-campus operations March 19 to essential services only with the majority of employees working remotely. 

PAT WALKER HEALTH CENTER UPDATES

Pat Walker Health Center remains open for medical services but please be aware of the following temporary operational changes to help protect the health of patients and staff:

• All appointments must be scheduled by phone: 479-575-4451
• No walk-in appointments or online appointment scheduling
• Only one entrance (West entrance - parking lot)
• External temperature checks required for all before entry
• Evening and Saturday clinic hours suspended
• After-hours COVID-19 screening, testing, care or questions should be directed to Washington Regional Medical Center: 479-463-2055.

In addition, Pat Walker Health Center's Counseling and Psychological Services has transitioned all its mental health services online in an effort to align with social distancing precautions. Counseling and Psychological Services remains committed to ensuring crucial mental health services are available for all students when they need them. Students can call 479-575-5276 for tele-mental health services or visit health.uark.edu for more information.

ESSENTIAL OPERATIONS ON CAMPUS

Most of our students are not on campus during Spring Break. Others are in the process of moving out of university-managed housing by April 3 or have already moved home to finish the semester remotely. Housing-related questions should be sent to housing@uark.edu and housing-specific FAQs are available at housing.uark.edu.

Faculty and staff are now working remotely with the exception of a limited number of employees required to maintain essential services on campus including health care, public safety and food-to-go for the limited number of students still on campus.

For the latest updates and information, please visit the university's Coronavirus Update site. You can also send questions to feedback@uark.edu.

The U of A will continue to coordinate efforts with public health organizations at all levels and will continue to provide new information and updates as soon as they are available. 

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among fewer than 3 percent of colleges and universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.