It’s the university’s main priority to provide you a meaningful campus experience in the safest environment possible. We’ve been working with public health officials and medical experts to develop a comprehensive set of guidelines to help protect the health and safety of our community. Here’s what you need to know as you prepare to return to campus as well as what you to expect on campus to help keep UMKC safe for our Roos.
To help keep our campus community healthy, follow these tips and more on the Health and Safety page:
Finally, we recognize that during this unprecedented situation, it is normal to be anxious and want clear answers. If you have any questions about resources or campus policies, please call the UMKC Student Helpline at 816-235-2222.
Academic advisors will still be on campus and can meet with you in person or via Zoom.
During the fall semester, students will be able to take the exam remotely from their own computer, or from a computer lab. All they need to do is send an email from their UMKC email account to testingservices@umkc.edu asking for the instructions.
The School of Education is currently in discussions regarding how practicums will be delivered in Fall 2020. At this point in time, school districts are planning that PK-12 students will return to school, in-person, in August. Therefore, UMKC Block 3 and student teaching practicums are set to begin the week of August 10. At this point, Block 1 practicums will begin via Zoom the week of August 24 (during the course time set in Pathway) and practicum students will be physically in PK-12 schools the week of September 7. Practicum students and student teachers are expected to follow the health and safety procedures of practicing teachers. Specific information about these procedures will be communicated to UMKC students closer to the start dates.
Students requesting COVID-related academic accommodations should Scott Laurent at 816-235-5696 or laurentr@umkc.edu in the Student Disability Services office.
Students are expected to participate and meaningfully engage in classes, regardless of class format. Faculty require participation and engagement, but cannot require physical presence for face-to-face coursework. Faculty can, however, require attendance in synchronous online coursework. In order to comply with federal regulations associated with eligibility rules for federal financial aid, students not attending/participating in a course during the first three weeks of the term will be administratively dropped from that course.
Barring unanticipated circumstances, your schedule will not change. If you want to making any changes to your schedule, please consult your academic advisor.
Class sizes were determined and classrooms were scheduled to ensure six feet of distance between students in lectures or labs as recommended by physical distancing guidelines.
Please log in to Pathway and check the location of your class to determine if the class is online, hybrid or face-to-face.
UMKC is not planning to make any changes to the Fall 2020 Academic Calendar. At this time, classes and finals will be held after Thanksgiving. If the regional COVID situation changes, we will adjust this schedule based on guidance from local health and government officials.
We have set a goal to conduct 50% of Spring Semester 2021 courses online and the other 50% in a face-to-face or hybrid format, with an emphasis on providing a larger percentage of lower division and professional program courses face-to-face. Factors such as enrollment, class registration patterns, classroom and faculty availability and public health recommendations will all impact the final breakdown of class assignments.
We will make every effort to provide accommodations for those in high-risk categories. We will work with you and your instructor to ensure your safety so you can progress in your program. Please contact Scott Laurent in Student Disability Service, at 816-235-5696 or by email at laurentr@umkc.edu to follow up on any concerns you have.
For the Fall 2020/Spring 2021 semesters students in 100% online degree programs will be charged the Online Course Fee, the Information Technology Fee and the Library Fee. Students in traditional degree programs will be charged the traditional ancillary fees. The assessment of the fees is based on your academic program (online degree or traditional degree), not how the class is delivered or whether or not you can attend in person. More information about fees can be found here.
Yes, UMKC Dining Services delivers pre-packaged breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Instructions for ordering will be provided to students when they are placed in quarantine or isolation.
Students whose entire class schedule has moved online may cancel their contract and receive a waiver for their cancellation fee. All other students will be changed a cancellation fee according to the schedule in your contract.
Housing assignments were made on June 22. If you have questions, please email umkchousing@umkc.edu.
Main lounges and floor lounges will be locked at the start of the fall semester. Kitchens will be locked, but can be accessed by checking out a key at the front desk.
Yes, UMKC has a food pantry on campus and there are several other food resources through Harvesters and other regional food banks. There is also a list of area restaurants offering carryout and delivery.
Sign in to the Roo Rez portal.
You can contact your city or county health department for information on testing availability. In some cases, you may need to reach out to a neighboring higher-population city or county health department.
In some areas, testing can also be obtained at your local CVS drug store. Many hospitals also offer testing if you can get an order from your Primary Care Provider.
Here is a list of Kansas City-area testing options. Here are St. Louis-area options.
For students who are having testing issues because they are asymptomatic, we have prepared a letter from the Provost stating the university’s requirement that residential life students be tested before move-in. You can print or download the letter.
We are working to arrange for a limited capability for on-campus testing as a last resort for those students who have no other options. Students should continue to pursue obtaining tests before their arrival. Information on on-campus testing will be provided once arrangements are completed.
You must be tested within 7 days of your move-in date. If you do not receive results in time, you should delay your move-in until you have results in hand.
Students who arrive to move-in without a negative test will be handled based on their individual circumstances. In most cases they will need to identify an alternative place to stay until they meet the criteria. For students without any alternatives there are a very limited number of quarantine and isolation spaces that may be used in the residence halls.
If you need to reschedule your move-in appointment due to delayed test results, then you can do so through the Roo Rez portal. The latest move-in appointment is 6:30 p.m. Aug. 22, and all appointments must be booked at least 24 hours in advance.
Antibody tests will not be accepted for move-in purposes. Rapid response tests are acceptable.
Contact your local health department for assistance if you need help paying for the test. Students who will be living in the residence halls can also apply for financial assistance up to $85 through the Student Emergency Fund.
Yes, as long as all members of your party follow recommendations for masking, physical distancing and hand-washing.
Our goal is to minimize, as much as possible, the risk of students introducing COVID-19 into the residence halls during move-in. If students are COVID-free when they move in, and they and their helpers strictly adhere to masking, distancing, hygiene and other virus-suppression recommendations during move-in, the risk of transmission should be mitigated significantly. Research has shown that brief interaction, while all parties are wearing masks, has been found to present a very low risk of transmission.
Once move-in is completed and classes begin, we expect to see at least a few cases of COVID-19 on campus. It is unrealistic to expect that a college campus can remain COVID-free under current conditions. We have policies and procedures in place to deal with these cases as they occur and minimize the spread. All students, faculty and staff are required to notify the university within four hours of a positive test result for COVID-19. Students should call the UMKC HelpLine at 816-235-2222 during business hours or 816-235-COVI after business hours.
At this time, UMKC is planning to open the gym with social distancing guidelines and protocols in place. Please visit the Campus Recreation and the Swinney Center website for up-to-date information.
The university is working to thoroughly clean each building through the day and evenings. Furniture will be limited in high-traffic areas like the library in an effort to minimize group gatherings and to promote social distancing.
At this time, the university plans to have all libraries open with social distancing guidelines and protocols in place.
Both UMKC Career Services and Bloch Career Services will maintain normal business hours Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. through a combination of virtual and on-campus availability.
Career coaching is available outside of normal operations upon request. The office staff will rotate between working remotely and in person. One-on-one career coaching appointments are available via telephone or Zoom and can be scheduled through Handshake (login with SSO). Plexiglass has been placed at the front desk to serve as a protective barrier, six-feet social distancing and face masks will be required, hand sanitizer will be available and enhanced cleaning of commonly used items and spaces will be observed.
Most events, workshops and programs will be held virtually; and for those held on campus, six-feet social distancing and face masks will be required. Career fairs will be held virtually and student pre-registration will be required. A full schedule of programming and fairs, additional information and resources, and event registration is available on Handshake.
For more information, contact Tess Surprenant, surprenantt@umkc.edu.
Health professional schools are regulated by state and national accrediting bodies, and during the pandemic are in communication with these bodies as well as professional organizations. Clinical experiences will vary by clinical clerkship. Please contact your Academic Unit to learn more about guidelines, policies and safety measures for enrollments in these classes.
Conservatory leadership is currently planning for safe and engaging fall classes and performances. Modifications to ensure social distancing will vary based on the course (e.g., individual less vs. ensemble). Please contact your program director or the Conservatory for information about specific courses.
Yes, the Kansas City Public Health Department has a list of options during the week.
Yes, federally funded work studies will be working on campus via social distancing.
Yes, you will still be offered scholarships if the COVID-19 disrupts performances or events tied to a specific award. In many cases, the Academic Unit will find alternative technology methods like Zoom to allow for these types of interactions.
The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Our staff is ready and available to assist in several formats. If you have general questions or follow up, check out our Contact page; our staff may be able to help you via or set up an online or in-person appointment.
Main Line: 816-235-1154
Email: finaid@umkc.edu
Online appointments will be held via Zoom meetings. In person meeting space is limited to ensure appropriate space for social distancing. Plexiglass has been installed to serve as protective barrier and hand sanitizer will be readily available. If you make an in-person appointmentm, please note that face masks will be required and be sure to maintain appropriate social distancing.
We also know many students simply need to drop off forms or documents for our office to review. If you are on campus, you can use the drop box located outside of our office. We highly encourage students to submit documents using the new Secure Document Uploader tool in Pathway (which should be available for students who have already been admitted to UMKC and have set up their UMKC accounts).
To access the tool:
A confirmation email will be sent once your document has been received.
Please contact the Financial Aid Office directly at 816-235-1154 or at finaid@umkc.edu if you have any questions.
Due to unprecedented budget cuts as the result of COVID, some academic units have had to reduce the number of reduced graduate assistantships they offer. Please contact your department for more information.
There will be a virtual celebration December 19. There are more details about the festivities.
As a result of the COVID-19 response plans, in-person student organization activities and events will be modified for the Fall 2020 term. We are committed to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our UMKC community. We are providing guidance and resources to help student organizations build community and a sense of belonging while still observing all relevant guidelines. All events must be submitted via the RooGroups event form a minimum of one week prior to the event.
Each event request will be reviewed and must comply with the university’s Roos Re-Imagine event policies. Check out the event policy[PDF] and event best practices[PDF] for more information. Room capacity and availability will be limited and restricted due to physical distancing and sanitization requirements. Please review the guidelines and best practices to evaluate the best format for hosting your student organization event/meeting: in-person, virtual or a hybrid model (both in-person and virtual).
Detailed information regarding Fall 2020 Student Organization event planning is available online.
Stay calm. Do not walk into a hospital or clinic; call first so you don’t unnecessarily put others at risk. If you have any concerns about exposure, please contact the UMKC Student Health and Wellness Center at 816-235-6133 or the Kansas City Health Department at 816-513-6008.
Student Health and Wellness
Counseling Services
Students, faculty and staff are reminded to utilize the free Sanvello app available to anyone with a UMKC email address and which can be downloaded from your cell phone. For additional updates and coping resources to deal with the stress associated with COVID–19 please visit the Counseling Services website.
We will make every reasonable effort to provide accommodations for those in high-risk categories. We will do our best to work with you and our faculty to make sure you are safe and can move forward in your program. Please contact Student Disability Services, Scott Laurent at 816-235-5696 or by email at laurentr@umkc.edu.we will work with students on a case-by-case basis.
Campus Facilities Management follows all CDC guidelines for cleaning and uses a hospital-grade disinfectant that is approved by the EPA as effective against COVID-19 and many other viruses.
UMKC will offer classes in multiple formats in the fall semester – face-to-face, hybrid/blended, and online – providing our international students with options to meet the requirements set by the U.S. government to remain in the U.S. and continue studying. We recommend that international students review their current fall enrollment with their academic advisor to be sure they are taking the right course options to remain in compliance with the rule.
Homeland Security has always limited international students to counting three credit hours each semester toward their full course load of 12 hours as an undergraduate or 9 hours as a graduate student. An exception was officially made to that policy for Spring 2020. We are awaiting an official announcement of whether such a 3 credit hour limit will be reestablished for Fall 2020 and beyond.
Yes, International students outside the United States may take as many online courses as they wish.
International students are not eligible to apply for CARES Act funding, but they may apply for the COVID Emergency Fund created through 2020 donations.
UMKC does not have funding available to cover the costs of the mandatory international student insurance, but assistance may be available in the COVID Emergency Fund. The cost of the mandatory health insurance is negotiated by the UM System annually to ensure the best rates possible for premiums that also meet visa requirements.
As of Monday, June 29, wearing face coverings or masks will be required inside all areas of public accommodation. This means UMKC will require this of students, faculty, staff and visitors to our campus, including our classrooms.
The newest Kansas City emergency order was enacted to keep all of us safe as COVID-19 cases continue to spread here and nationwide. It is something we all must do to respect our own health and the health of each other.
Kansas City has a Frequently Asked Questions page about the newest emergency order, including more about the face-covering requirement. The order also reinforces other guidelines that our university has been following since the pandemic began:
We will continue to review this new order as well as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for our campus, and will keep you updated with the newest information
At this time, travel is not allowed (any mode) for any outside conferences or meetings. Please check back with the Office of Student Involvement for more information as these policies may change as the semester begins.
At this time the Greek life houses will be open with recommended social distancing guidelines in place.
UMKC has a variety of online courses and courses with online components. They are: (1) Online Asynchronous, (2) Online Synchronous, (3), Online-Campus, (4) Blended and (5) Video. The distinctions between these types of online courses is available here.
No, asynchronous online courses do not/cannot require meeting at a specific time. Deadlines for course assignments, exams, etc. are available in the course syllabus or on the course’s Canvas site.
Yes, just as faculty have office hours and may offer additional opportunities for engagement in face-to-face courses, faculty may schedule additional virtual, optional opportunities.
If you are having difficulty attending the additional sessions and still have questions, be sure to reach out to your instructors directly. Check your course syllabus for the preferred method of contact.
Yes, instructors have the expertise and discretion to determine course requirements, assigned readings, videos, etc. For each credit hour, students should expect to dedicate approximately 4 hours per week of work, which will include varying distributions of class lectures, discussions, readings, self-study, supplemental instruction, etc. For a 3-hour course, students should plan to dedicate on-average 12 hours of time dedicated to the course each week.
Yes, your instructor is responsible for determining the optimal set of expectations and homework to assist your learning.
Student questions during live sessions can assist in understanding the content. If you are unable to attend live sessions and have questions after reviewing the content, be sure reach out to your instructor as noted in the syllabus.
UMKC Tutoring is available online via Zoom supporting a variety of classes including math, biology, chemistry, criminal justice, environmental science, physics, Spanish, and French. Students can make appointments through Connect (Starfish) 7 days per week or by emailing umkctutoring@umkc.edu. Virtual drop-in hours are also available Monday-Friday 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.; and Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. A complete list of courses supported by UMKC Tutoring will be available soon online.
Writing Studio consultants will be available to assist students with papers and presentations 7 days per week to video conference via Zoom. In addition, students can submit papers by email. Students can make virtual appointments using Connect (Starfish) or by emailing writingstudio@umkc.edu. In addition, students can drop-in via Zoom during the following hours: Monday 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; and Saturday-Sunday 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Supplemental Instruction, or SI, is available in many of the most challenging courses at UMKC. This fall, SI will be offered in three ways: in-person, hybrid (both in-person and online), and online. For in-person, or face to face, sessions, space will be limited to ensure appropriate distancing and masks will be required. For students unable to attend in person, either due to space limitations or per their preference, the in-person session will be offered at the same time online. For some courses, particularly online courses, sessions will be offered only online. Check out the complete list of sessions and times.
RooUp Seminars are brief video seminars on topics relevant for student success such as creating a study plan, note-taking, and success in an online course. RooUp Seminars are accessible to students 24/7 via the RooUp Seminar Canvas page. Instructions for accessing the Canvas page can be found online.
Check out this A-Z list of student services at UMKC and what they're offering virtually and in-person this year.
Contact Eric Gormly, assistant director of Veteran Student Support Services (VSSS), at gormlyea@umkc.edu with the projected dates of activation, Student ID number and signed orders if you have them. VSSS will work with the Dean of Students office to notify your professors of your absences. It is your responsibility to let VSSS and your professors know when you have returned, and talk through options on returning to class.
We’ve received confirmation from our VA representative in St. Louis, as well as our liaison with the State Approving Agency, that all of the programs offered at UMKC are approved for delivery through an online modality. All benefit payments (including the Monthly Housing Allowance under the Post-9/11 GI Bill) will remain unchanged for the remainder of the term.
The VA has extended their exception for residential/online courses through the upcoming summer semester. If you enroll in a summer course that would have been classroom based but is now being taught online the VA still considers this course as residential and it will not impact your monthly housing allowance.
Please contact the Information Services Technology Support Center, techsupportcenter@umkc.edu, 816-235-2000.
The University of Missouri system is working to help secure the resources students need. For more information on resources for internet access, check out this page.
In order to better provide resources to those not on campus or using personal laptops we are introducing Roo Labs Online! This is a new service that will enable students to remotely access physical Windows lab computers from anywhere and from most computing devices. Students will have access to all standard and specialized software currently installed in the computer labs.
You can find more information about Roo Labs Online here.
All university-related non-essential international and domestic travel is suspended until further notice. This includes travel connected to university activities or programs for all faculty, staff and students, whether that travel is funded by the university, an external grant, or any other sources. Requests to engage in essential travel must be approved by deans, vice chancellors or vice provosts and may require quarantine and/or negative COVID test results prior to returning to campus.
Ride KC is currently fare-free for all, so you don't have to have your student ID with you. Ride KC has taken several safety measures on their buses, including requiring masks and social distancing. Learn more about the changes Ride KC has made for COVID-19.
For the Fall 2020 semester students in 100% online degree programs will be charged the normal approved Tuition rate per credit hour and the Online Course Fee, the Information Technology Fee and the Library Fee. Students in traditional degree programs will be charged the normal approved Tuition rate per credit hour plus all ancillary fees except for the Online Course Fee. To be clear, the assessment of the fees is based on your academic program (online degree or traditional degree) and not necessarily how the class is being delivered. The ancillary fees are used to pay the year round cost of the services and units which they support—even if virtual.
Yes, parking rates remain unchanged.
UMKC works hard to minimize tuition and fee increases and is increasing undergraduate and graduate tuition by 2.3%, the adjusted Consumer Price Indez (CPI). This follows statutory guidelines. Most other fees such as activity and ancillary fees and supplemental course fees were also increased only by CPI while other fees were held flat. The increase is needed to help support the university deliver on its mission of teaching, research and service. We are working hard to find ways to be more efficient, reduce costs and streamline processes so we can continue offering quality programs that are accessible to students, all within the context of reduced state funding.
