Interim Guidance for Administrators of U.S. Institutions of Higher Education - Plan, Prepare, and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - Summary of Recent Changes

Oct 15, 2026

Interim guidance for administrators of U.S. institutions of higher education (IHE) explains how to plan, prepare for, and respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). It summarizes March 18 revisions clarifying mitigation strategies based on community transmission levels and presence of cases within the IHE. The guidance outlines who it applies to, why it is issued, and the role of IHE in collaboration with local health departments, including continuity planning and reducing stigma and discrimination for higher-risk groups.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Summary of Recent Changes

Clarifications and target audiences

Role of IHE and collaboration approach

Transmission levels and campus case scenarios

Protecting high-risk populations and preventing stigma

Interim Guidance for Administrators of U.S. Institutions of Higher Education Plan, Prepare, and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Summary of Recent Changes Revisions were made on March 18 to reflect the following: • Clarification of appropriate mitigation strategies, based on level of community transmission of COVID-19 and presence of COVID-19 cases within the IHE. • Who is this guidance for? • Why is this guidance being issued? • What is the role of IHE in responding to COVID-19? • How should IHE prepare for, and respond to, COVID-19? • When a confirmed case has been on campus, regardless of community transmission • When there is no community transmission (preparedness phase) • When there is minimal to moderate community transmission • When there is substantial community transmission CS 316111-A 03/23/2020 • Institutions of higher education (IHE), working together with local health departments, have an important role in slowing the spread of diseases, and protecting vulnerable students, staff, and faculty to help ensure a safe and healthy learning environment. • Guidance for IHE is organized into three categories based on the level of community transmission: 1) when there is no community transmission (preparedness phase), 2) when thereis minimal to moderate community transmission, and 3) when there is substantial community transmission. Consult with your local health department to determine what level of transmission is currently occurring in your community. • Guidance is also provided for when a confirmed case has entered an IHE, regardless of community transmission. • All decisions about implementing IHE-based strategies (e.g., class suspensions, event cancellations, other social distancing measures) should be made in collaboration with local health officials. Older adults and persons with severe underlying health conditions are at increased risk of more serious illness after contracting COVID-19 . Priority should be given to ensuring the safety of these groups of people. For more information on those at increased risk of more serious illness due to COVID-19, go to: [https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/)[ ](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/)[specific-groups/high-risk-complications.html](specific-groups/high-risk-complications.html.)[.](specific-groups/high-risk-complications.html.) [1](1 cdc.gov/COVID19)[ cdc.gov/COVID19](1 cdc.gov/COVID19) This interim guidance is based on what is currently known about the transmission and severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) . The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will update this guidance as needed and as additional information becomes available. Please check the following CDC website periodically for updated interim guidance: [https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html). Health officials are currently taking steps to prevent the introduction and spread ofCOVID-19 into US communities. IHE play an important role in this effort. Through collaboration and coordination with local health departments, IHE should take steps to disseminate information about the disease and its potential transmission within their IHE community. IHE should prepare to take steps to prevent the spread ofCOVID-19 among their students and staff should local health officials identify community transmission. IHE should continue to collaborate, share information, and review plans with local health officials to help protect the whole IHE community, including those with special health needs. IHE plans should be designed to complement other community mitigation strategies to protect high risk populations and the healthcare system and minimize disruption to teaching and learning and protect students, staff, and faculty from social stigma and discrimination. Plans should build on everyday practices (e.g., encouragi

FAQs

Who is this interim guidance intended for?

It is intended for administrators of public and private institutions of higher education, including presidents, deans, and provosts, who make policies and manage institutional programming.

Why is this guidance being issued?

It helps institutions and partners prevent transmission among students, faculty, and staff and react quickly to identified cases or community spread, including continuity of teaching, learning, and research.

How should IHE decide which mitigation strategies to implement?

Implementing IHE-based strategies should be done in collaboration with local health officials, guided by the level of community transmission and whether COVID-19 cases are present on campus.

Oct 15, 2026

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