New or Returning to Campus

Vaccines at the Health Center

All students, employees, and their families age 12 and older are eligible to receive the vaccines at the health center at no cost.

Upload Vaccination Record

Please upload a record of your vaccination to the SMU Health Portal. If you were vaccinated on campus, no further action is required.

Symptoms, Exposed, or Sick?

Book an appointment through your SMU Health Portal or call 214-768-2141 to discuss booking a sick appointment. The Dr. Bob Smith Health Center will not provide medical health excuses, please refer to the Class Excuse Policy for more information.

Mustang Strong

As of May 15, 2022, SMU has sunset most pandemic protocols. Visit the Mustang Strong website for the latest information on COVID-19.

Vaccines

Getting vaccinated protects both you and those around you. COVID-19 vaccinations are available at the Dr. Both Smith Health Center. All students, employees, and their families age 12 and older are eligible to receive the vaccines at the health center.

Boosters

Here is when the FDA and CDC recommend boosters, based on your age and which vaccine(s) you've already received:

  • Ages 12+ can get a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine at least five months after their second dose. If they are immune-compromised, they can get a second booster four months after their first booster. 
  • Ages 18+ can get a booster dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least five months after their second dose. If they are immune-compromised, they can get a second booster at least four months after their first booster. Those who received the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine may get a booster of any COVID vaccine at least two months after their first dose.
  • Ages 50+ can get a second booster of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least four months after their first booster.

Additional Doses for Immunocompromised Individuals

Receiving an additional primary dose only applies to moderately to severely immunocompromised people who have received an mRNA COVD-19 vaccine primary series (Pfizer BioNTech or Moderna).

  • Moderna - Immunocompromised people ages 18 years and older who completed their Moderna vaccine primary series should plan to get an additional primary dose 28 days after receiving their second shot.
  • Pfizer – Immunocompromised people 12 years and older who completed their Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine primary series should also plan to get an additional primary dose 28 days after receiving their second shot.

In addition first and second boosters are now authorized and recommended for people ages 12 and older who are immunocompromised.   Immunocompromised Individuals 12-17 years are eligible for another dose of Pfizer.   Individuals 18 and older may receive the Pfizer or the Moderna vaccine. 

Resources

 

Stay Safe

Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds.
Disinfect surfaces around your home, school, and work.
 Sneeze or cough? Cover your mouth.
 
  

If you are sick, stay home.

Testing

SMU Students have several options to test for COVID-19.

COVID-19 testing is available at the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center for students. You can schedule your test by visiting the SMU Health Portal or by calling 214-768-2141 (option 1).

Please refer to our Cost of Services page for fee information for COVID-19 testing.

At Home Test Kits

The SMU Pharmacy has at home COVID tests to purchase over the counter. Tests may be purchased with cash, card, bursar charge, or covered by most insurance companies.

Employees and Dependents

SMU continues to provide access to convenient COVID-19 testing for employees and their families, including adjunct faculty and their families. Please visit the Human Resources website for more information.

COVID-19 Positive, Symptomatic, or Exposed

If you are feeling ill, experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, or have tested positive, stay home and rest until you are well and prepared to return to campus. Please refer to the Isolation Calculator created by the CDC to determine the amount of time you should isolate.

Students should contact their professor and make-up any lost work.The health center does not provide class excuse notes,  for more information read our Class Excuse Policy. Please refer to the Caring Community Connections program for assistance if you are experiencing challenges in class related to COVID-19.

Faculty and staff can alert their dean or supervisor if they plan to miss time due to illness. The University discontinued its case management program and no longer requires individuals with a confirmed case of COVID-19 to report it to SMU. For more information on COVID-19 at SMU, visit Mustang Strong.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers useful isolation and quarantine guidance.

The Dr. Bob Smith Health Center has compiled tips for isolating on and off campus, please view our isolation guidelines below.

Isolation: In Student Housing or At- Home

The Dr. Bob Smith Health Center has developed a set of guidelines to help you understand what you need to do during your isolation.

Please refer to the Isolation Calculator created by the CDC to determine the amount of time you should isolate.

Stay in Your Room
Help Protect Others

 - Don't Go Out

During this period, it is important that you do not leave your room or apartment except for an emergency or to seek medical care (or required testing). If you must leave your room, wear an acceptable and well-fitting mask while you are out.

If you are isolating in a share suite, you should remain in your room unless you need to use the suite facilities (kitchen, bathroom, etc), and be sure to maintain physical distance and wear a mask when you do.

Please do not leave to go to the gym or shopping.

- Follow the guidelines

Avoid contact with others in your room/suite, as much as possible. You and your roommates should not invite visitors to your room/suite until your isolation period is over.

Wear an acceptable and well-fitting mask at all times when you are around other people in your room/suite.

Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.
Food
Communicating with Others

- Meals and Groceries

  • Order through a food or grocery delivery service (GrubHub, Seamless, Instacart, Fresh Direct, etc.)
  • If you have a meal plan, we recommend you give your SMU ID card to a friend or roommate to pick up food for you at one of our dining locations. Tell your friend to let the cashier know they are purchasing for someone in quarantine/isolation.

 

- Roommates and Academic Contacts

If you test positive, it is your responsibility to inform your roommates and suitemates.

Please notify your professor if you need to miss class to determine next steps.