Health and Safety

• Mandatory Reporting and Health Screening
  All Maryville Community Members are responsible for personally assessing their own health and reporting any COVID-19 diagnosis, symptoms, and exposure to the University by completing the required online Health Screening Survey.

  Community Members who are fully vaccinated (as defined by the CDC at the end of this policy) and have completed the vaccine reporting form, will no longer be required to complete the Health Screening Survey on a daily basis. However, fully vaccinated Community Members should complete the Health Screening Survey if they:

  • Are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19; and/or
  • Have been diagnosed with COVID-19 either through a positive test result or presumed positive.

  Community Members who are not fully vaccinated are required to continue completing the Health Screening Survey daily, even if they will not be on campus. The survey must be completed no later than 12:00p.m. (Noon) each day or before arriving on campus or before leaving your residential room/apartment, whichever is earlier. A personalized version of the daily Health Screening Survey will be emailed to Community Members each morning. The link in the email is unique to each person and should not be shared. Alternatively, you can go to the SaintStrong website and find a link to the survey should you not have access to your email link.

  Community Members who are not fully vaccinated are required to notify the University through the daily health screening survey if they:

  • Are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
  • Have had close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 (Closer than 6 feet for any length of time) within the last 14 days.
  • Have been diagnosed with COVID-19 either through a positive test result or presumed positive.

  Individuals are expected to check their own temperature and report if they have a fever as part of the health screening survey. Information provided in the health screening survey must be honest and accurate. Maryville will continue to monitor public health guidance and may adjust health screening questions accordingly.

  Community Members reporting COVID-19 symptoms and/or close contact (closer than 6 feet for any length of time) with an individual diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last 14 days must remain off-campus or in their residential space until contacted by the University’s Health and Wellness Office, the Office of Human Resources, or other University officials.

  Health Professions faculty and students following the health and safety requirements at their workplace do not need to notify the University of potential workplace exposure to COVID-19; however, individuals are required to report development of COVID-19 symptoms or diagnosis consistent with the University’s reporting requirements.

  In circumstances where a Community Member is unable to complete the health screening survey, notification may be provided by contacting Maryville’s Health and Wellness Office at (314) 529-9520 or healthandwellness@maryville.edu.
  Maryville intends to communicate with state and local health agencies about reported symptoms, exposures, and diagnosis of COVID-19.
  According to the CDC, people are “fully vaccinated”:

  • 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines; or
  • 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.
• Community Members With COVID-19 Exposure, Symptoms and Diagnosis

  Exposure

  Per CDC guidance, Individuals who are fully vaccinated are no longer required to quarantine for exposure. Individuals, who are not fully vaccinated, with close contact to someone with COVID-19 may be required to complete a 10 to 14-day quarantine before returning to Campus Activities and monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. The exact quarantine period will be determined by the Health & Wellness Office or the individual’s primary care provider based on a review of their individual circumstances.

  Campus Activities include, but are not limited to:

  • On-campus activities such as reporting to work on campus, attending classes in-person, socializing on campus, participating in any athletics, recreation or student organization activities, utilizing any campus facilities such as the library, exercise facility, dining center, etc.
  • Off-campus activities such as athletics, recreation or student organization events and University-sponsored or sanctioned activities
  • For residential students, you should quarantine in your residential room AND contact the Health and Wellness Office

  If you are not fully vaccinated and learn you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 you should:

  • Notify the University using the Health Screening Survey.
  • For non-residential students and employees, you should leave campus immediately and/or not return to campus until the quarantine period has concluded, and you have no COVID-19 symptoms; however, this could be extended if you are diagnosed with COVID-19;
  • For residential students, you should quarantine in your residential room AND immediately contact the Health and Wellness Office at (314) 529-9520 or healthandwellness@maryville.edu to determine appropriate protocols.

  Students will be able to continue to participate in their courses remotely. The University will notify a student’s instructors about their need to participate in courses remotely, but students should also make contact with each instructor to discuss specific requirements for each course affected by their remote attendance.

  Employees should contact Human Resources to discuss work expectations.

  Symptoms and Diagnosis

  If you develop COVID-19 symptoms or are diagnosed with COVID-19, you must:

  • Immediately leave campus (non-residential students and employees) or quarantine/isolate in your residential room (residential students), unless provided with other instructions.
  • Contact your primary health care provider to determine if testing is warranted. You can also call the St. Louis County COVID-19 Hotline at 314-615-2660. Students can also contact Maryville’s Health and Wellness Office.
  • Follow your health care provider’s directives.
  • Notify the University using the Health Screening Survey.
  • Individuals experiencing symptoms or who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 must remain off-campus (employees or non-residential students) or in on-campus quarantine/isolation (residential students) until meeting the following conditions as recommended by the CDC and are cleared to return to Campus Activities by Maryville’s Health and Wellness Office:
  • Fever-free without the use of fever reducers for 3 consecutive days;
  • Symptoms have improved and
  • 10 days since symptoms first appeared.

  Maryville may require individuals to provide documentation from their local county health department (required in St. Louis County) or a healthcare provider before returning to campus or lifting residential isolation requirements.

  Maryville will work with public health officials to determine whether alternate housing should be provided for any residential students who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or are diagnosed with COVID-19. Residential students may be able to isolate in their current living space, may be required to relocate to alternative housing for the isolation period, or may be asked to return home if their permanent residence is within 150 miles of Maryville. Residential Life and the Health and Wellness Office have developed protocols so that isolated residential students will continue to have access to services such as meals, mail/package delivery, and trash removal.

  Students will be able to continue to participate in their courses remotely. The University will notify a student’s instructors about their need to participate in courses remotely, but students should also make contact with each instructor to discuss specific requirements for each course affected by their remote attendance.

  Requests for additional accommodations related to short-term or long-term disabilities associated with COVID-19 should still be submitted through the Office of Disability Support and Success at (314) 529-9347 or afuller2@maryville.edu.

  Employees should contact Human Resources to discuss work expectations.

  Contract Tracing and Communication

  Maryville will report any positive cases of COVID-19 to county health officials and follow their directives regarding notifications and mitigation efforts. Maryville will consult with public health officials regarding appropriate next steps, which may include contract tracing, individual and community notifications, and specialized cleaning. All community members are expected to fully cooperate with contract tracing efforts. Additionally, Maryville will work with public health officials to identify any individuals who were exposed and need to be personally notified or any additional actions to be taken.

  Our SaintStrong website provides a log of confirmed positive cases of COVID-19. Due to privacy laws, there is limited information we can provide in relation to positive cases of COVID-19. MU provides weekly updates of confirmed on-campus COVID-19 cases (individual was on-campus within 5 days prior to a positive test result).

• Vaccinations
  With all Missourians now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, we hope you’ve made plans to get vaccinated. There are now many options for both scheduled appointments and walk-ins in the St. Louis area and across the state.

  Maryville expects all community members to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before returning to campus for the fall semester. Individuals who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to returning to campus for the fall semester will be subject to additional health and safety requirements. In order to be exempted from additional health and safety requirements, community members must submit proof of vaccination by August 15, 2021.

  Community members who are not fully vaccinated will be required to:

  • Complete a COVID-19 test before returning to campus for the fall semester
  • Complete minimum weekly COVID-19 testing during the academic year
  • Complete a daily health screening survey

  We acknowledge that some individuals have health, religious and other reasons why they cannot get vaccinated. For those individuals, the COVID-19 testing, daily health survey and face coverings will be required.

  While Maryville does not require COVID-19 vaccination, students should be aware that some third-party external sites, such as clinical sites, study abroad programs, student teaching or internship sites, may require vaccination. Per Maryville’s affiliation agreements with these third-party sites, we are required to comply with the standards implemented by the site. Maryville will work with students to identify alternative options should external vaccination requirements present a barrier to a student’s participation; however, Mayville cannot guarantee the availability of alternative sites or that alternatives will be comparable to the student’s preferred site. Getting the vaccine is the surest way to help avoid any disruption to your academic progression.

• Face Covering Requirements

  Consistent with CDC and St. Louis county guidance, the University requires all Community Members to wear a face covering in the following settings on campus:

  • Fitness Centers/Gyms – Face coverings are required at all times in all indoor fitness centers/gyms, including when exercising.
  • Athletics – All athletes participating in a sporting event while not actively playing.
  • Dining Facilities – Face coverings are required while picking up food orders, walking through the dining hall, disposing of food waste and in all general areas of dining facilities. Once seated, face coverings can be removed while actively consuming food or beverages.
  • All other Indoor Spaces – Face coverings are required at all times in all indoor spaces unless students are in their residential room/apartment without guests or employees are alone in their office.
  • Attending Maryville Meetings, Events, and Gatherings – Face coverings are required for all individuals attending Maryville meetings, events, and gatherings, including indoor and outdoor, and on and off-campus meetings, events, and gatherings.

  Face coverings are not required outdoors; however, face coverings are strongly encouraged when outdoors and social distancing cannot be maintained.

• Social Distancing
  Consistent with St. Louis County guidelines and CDC guidelines, Community Members who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are encouraged to continue to practice social distancing by maintaining 6 feet of physical distance from others. Community Members who are fully vaccinated are no longer required to practice social distancing or maintain 6 feet of physical distance in public spaces.

  Maryville will continue to monitor public health guidance and may adjust social distancing requirements accordingly.

• Guest/Visitor Policy
  External guests and visitors are permitted on campus; however, guests and visitors must comply with all of Maryville’s health and safety policies in. All external guests and visitors regardless of vaccination status are required to complete the health screening survey before arriving on campus. Guests and visitors are required to wear a face covering while on campus and strongly encouraged to practice social distancing.

• Gatherings, Meetings and Events
  Consistent with St. Louis County guidelines, Maryville is no longer limiting capacity at gatherings, meetings and events, but is requiring face coverings at all Maryville gatherings, meetings and events To permit appropriate cleaning and set-up, all gatherings, meetings, and events must be requested and approved in advance. Spontaneous events will not be permitted.

  • For gatherings, meetings and events organized by students or student organizations, requests must be submitted to the University Events Office at least four weeks before the date of the gathering, meeting, or event and must be approved by the University Events Office and Student Life.
  • For gatherings and events organized by employees and departments, requests should generally be submitted at least four weeks before the date of the gathering or event and must be approved by the University Events Office. For in-person meetings, which may occur with less advanced notice, requests should be submitted at least two business days before the meeting.
  • The University Events Office will consult with event organizers to provide tips and guidance to support physical distancing, good cleaning/disinfecting practices and catering arrangements that are considerate of the public health situation. Consistent with univeristy policy, face coverings are required for all individuals attending Maryville meetings, events, and gatherings, including indoor and outdoor. As outlined in the university policy, events should be scheduled in spaces large enough to permit physical distancing for guests who choose to do so. Additionally, event organizers should consider hosting events virtually or livestreaming in-person events so guests may choose to participate remotely.

  Although there are no longer county guidelines limiting the capacity for events, we encourage Community Members to consider hosting events in spaces large enough to provide opportunities for social distancing for individuals who are not fully vaccinated and to offer virtual options for individuals who are uncomfortable attending in-person.

  The University Events Office will also inform the individual booking the space of any cleaning requirements; however, generally speaking it is recommended that community members use available cleaning supplies in the space to wipe down the space before and after use. Room assignments and outdoor location assignments will be based on anticipated event attendance and Maryville’s health and safety guidelines. Maryville will continue to monitor public health guidance and may adjust gathering limits accordingly.

  All events must require registration/check-in including name and contact information for all attendees. Where possible electronic or contactless registration/check-in should be utilized. External guests/visitors are permitted to attend on-campus events; however, external guests/visitors must adhere to all of Maryville’s policies and protocols, including wearing a face covering and completing the health screening survey before arriving on campus.

  The University may impose additional requirements beyond those directed by public health officials to limit gatherings, meetings, and events.

  Best Practices for Event Organizers

  • Consider larger spaces and outdoor spaces for your event when available
  • Consider adding live streaming services as an alternative option when appropriate
  • When planning an event with catering consider the following options:
    • Individually packaged items
    • Boxed Meals
    • Adding servers to serve from the buffet
    • Provide gloves for guests to help themselves at a buffet
  • Add sanitation items at your location, available upon request
    • Disposable masks
    • Hand sanitizer stands
    • Sanitizing wipes
    • Social distancing signage
    • Acrylic barriers (limited quantity available)

  Best Practices for Guests

  • Wash your hands often and use hand sanitizer
  • Social distance when possible – spread out in larger rooms, sit in more open areas, utilize outdoor space when possible
• Guidelines for Athletics and Recreation
  The Athletics and Recreation Department will provide students participating in recreational activities, student athletes, coaches, and staff with policies and protocols to help lessen the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission and support efforts to return to competition and recreational activities.

• COVID-19 Testing
  Community members returning to campus who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be required to complete a return to campus COVID-19 test upon returning to campus. Community members who have not submitted proof of vaccination by August 15, 2021 will be contacted through their Maryville email with additional information on the University’s testing program. Alternatively, community members may choose to obtain a PCR COVID-19 test from the healthcare provider of their choice and submit the test results to the University. The test must be completed within 3 days of the student/employee’s return to campus and the results must be provided to the Office of Health and Wellness. Additional information on acceptable alternative tests and how to submit results will be included in testing program communications.

  Consistent with CDC guidance, community members who are not fully vaccinated will be required to complete periodic COVID-19 surveillance testing at least weekly. Following CDC guidance, this could increase to twice weekly testing based on the rate of transmission in the broader community. Maryville will contact Community Members using their Maryville email to provide additional information on the University’s testing program. Failure to complete a weekly test will result in a referral to the Dean of Students or Office of Human Resources. Please contact the Office of Health and Wellness with any questions at healthandwellness@maryville.edu or the Office Human Resources at hr@maryville.edu.

  Students

  We offer on-campus COVID-19 testing to students through Maryville’s Health and Wellness Office in circumstances where healthcare officials determine that testing is warranted. The availability of testing may be limited based on the availability of testing supplies and staffing capacity within the Health and Wellness Office. In cases where Maryville is unable to provide on-campus testing for students, referrals to other healthcare providers may be provided.

  Students are required to notify the Health and Wellness Office using the Health Screening Survey if they receive a positive COVID-19 test result or if a healthcare provider notifies them that they are presumed positive.

  Employees

  Employees with symptoms related to COVID-19 or who believe they need to be tested based on potential exposure are encouraged to contact their primary care physician or the local health department to locate COVID-19 testing sites in their area.

  Employees are required to notify the Office of Human Resources using the Health Screening Survey if they receive a positive COVID-19 test result or if a healthcare provider notifies them that they are presumed positive. All medical information provided by employees will be kept confidential by the University.

• Health and Wellness Services for Students
  Our Health and Wellness Office is being expanded and redesigned to allow us to continue offering standard healthcare services from our nurse practitioner while also providing greater separation of patients and reduce possible exposure to COVID-19 or other diseases. We are also expanding staffing to provide the necessary resources to assist the office. To limit contact, all visits to the Health and Wellness Office will be by appointment only. Students with appointments will be pre-screened. Virtual appointments will be available through private, secure video conferencing.
• Flu Vaccine
  All students and employees are strongly encouraged to get the flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available.

  Contact the Health and Wellness Office for additional information about flu vaccine availability on campus: healthandwellness@maryville.edu.

• Preventing the spread of COVID-19
  We encourage all Maryville community members to become familiar with the CDC recommendations for prevention, including:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick, even inside your home or housing unit.
  • Put distance between yourself and other people outside of your home or housing unit. Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering when around others.
  • If you are around others and do not have on your cloth face covering, remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow and do not spit.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets and sinks.
  • Monitor your health and be alert for symptoms. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath or other symptoms of COVID-19.

  As we continue to navigate the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, Maryville is committed to providing COVID-19 mitigation and prevention strategies to support community members who are not fully vaccinated and those who are fully vaccinated but choose to continue taking precautions. On our SaintStrong page we have outlined options for our community members consider as you seek ways to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in different spaces on campus.

  Maryville will continue to practice enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols as outlined here. Community Members are also encouraged to follow best practices for events, meetings and gatherings as outlined here.

  Classroom spaces
  • In most classroom spaces, students will have the opportunity to move their seat to provide additional physical distance if desired. However, some classrooms offer fixed seating where moving furniture may not be an option. Given this, we encourage all students to be mindful and attempt to leave open seats to allow others to distance. Specialized learning spaces such as labs, studios and clinical spaces may present limited options for physical distancing; however, additional protective equipment such as disposal masks and gloves as well as face shields may be available.

  Common Spaces
  • Many common spaces on campus, such as the Library, Walker Commons, the Donius University Center and Gander Dining will continue to provide seating options for individuals who wish to use the spaces and maintain physical distance from others. Distanced seating will also be available in some residence hall lounges. In addition, we will continue to provide outdoor seating and dining spaces. Students may also continue to choose to have food from Maryville’s dining facilities delivered to their residence hall or may choose carryout.

• Enhanced Cleaning Protocols
  Enhanced cleaning protocols will be implemented throughout public spaces on campus paying special attention to high-touch surfaces in high-traffic areas. Our sanitation staff has undergone professional coronavirus prevention training and are using CDC recommended disinfectants. We’ve added hand sanitizing stations across campus.

  To help limit disruptions, classrooms, labs and studios will be deep-cleaned each evening. Maryville is implementing a disinfectant wipe system in each classroom, along with gloves, (as long as such supplies remain available) so students and faculty can disinfect their own seat and table. Helping to mitigate COVID-19 transmission is a shared responsibility so we expect all Community Members to do their part.

• Community Support Resources
  Maryville students always have access to counseling support. We offer a 24-7 Counseling Center Support Line for students. You can call the line to speak with a mental health professional free of charge anytime of the day or night. Reach the Counseling Center Support Line at 314-529-6630. At any time, if you or someone you know is in crisis, you can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text the National Alliance on Mental Illness at 741741. Other mental health resources can be found at: https://www.maryville.edu/studentlife/services-programs/personal-counseling/resources/crisis-resources/.

  Employees continue to have access to the confidential Employee Assistance Program. Counselors are available 24/7/365 at 1-800-96-HELPS (1-800-964-3577). For more information visit: www.guidanceresources.com. Use the organization ID: HLF902 to access the site.

  If you have additional questions, please contact the Counseling Center staff at jhenry@maryville.edu.