Mount St. Joseph University has been carefully monitoring the COVID-19 situation. At this time, there are no known cases at the University, and we are taking the following precautions to keep our community safe.
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,
As I shared with you on February 26, 2020, Mount St. Joseph University (University) has been closely monitoring the worldwide spread of the respiratory illness COVID-19 (caused by coronavirus). As of Monday, March 9, 2020, we know that there are at least 3 Ohioans who have tested positive for coronavirus and Governor DeWine declared a State of Emergency in Ohio. At this time, there are no known cases of COVID-19 at Mount St. Joseph University.
This is an evolving situation, with new COVID-19 cases being reported daily. Consistent with the University’s Disaster, Emergency Response, and Notification Plan, the University continues to review guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html) and other city, state and federal health agencies to plan and coordinate our response to COVID-19. Our highest priority is and will remain the safety of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors as we address this rapidly changing situation.
The immediate risk to the University community remains low. However, one of the best methods to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to minimize the ways in which individuals may interact and transmit the disease. The University is being proactive in an effort to prevent the spread of illness and to continue normal business operations.
The following are important safety guidelines regarding continued University operations and remote classes, mandatory reporting of illness, mandatory reporting of certain personal travel, campus hygiene protocol, student and employee travel, telecommuting opportunities for employees, and campus events that will support the safety of the entire campus community and the continued education of our students.
These guidelines are effective immediately and will remain in effect until further notice. The University will evaluate these guidelines on an ongoing basis and they may be modified at any time should the COVID-19 situation change.
MOUNT ST. JOSEPH UNIVERSITY COVID-19 SAFETY GUIDELINES:
University Remains Open for Business with Remote Classes Beginning Monday, March 16, 2020
Beginning Monday, March 16, 2020, face-to-face classroom instruction on campus will be suspended and remote classes will commence. Clinical placements, field placements, laboratory classes, student teaching, and other performance classes continue to be evaluated. The University will provide specific guidance on the delivery of remote classes with instructions for faculty and students as soon as possible.
As a result of the implementation of these COVID-19 safety guidelines, the University’s campus will remain open for business while remote classes are provided to students. Additionally, the Residence Hall will remain open for residential students and AVI Food Service will remain available on campus.
Mandatory Reporting By Students, Faculty and Staff of Signs or Symptoms of COVID-19
Health agencies have identified the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 as follows:
- a fever greater than 100.4℉; and,
- “acute respiratory illness” defined as:
- cough, and
- difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
Residential students who exhibit these COVID-19 signs or symptoms must immediately report to the University’s Health Services Manager, Amy Demko, at the University’s Wellness Center located in the Jean Patrice Harrington Student Center, first floor, track level, for a medical evaluation. Outside of the normal business hours of the Wellness Center, residential students who exhibit these COVID-19 signs or symptoms must immediately (i) call their healthcare provider or the Tri-Health Emergency Room at 513-246-9800 for instructions, and (ii) report their diagnosis to the University’s Health Services Manager, Amy Demko, by phone at 244-4769.
Commuter students who exhibit these COVID-19 signs or symptoms must not come to campus or any University event and must immediately (i) call their healthcare provider for instructions, and (ii) report their diagnosis to the University’s Health Services Manager, Amy Demko, by phone at 244-4769.
Additional healthcare information for students regarding COVID-19 can be accessed at: https://mymount.msj.edu/ICS/Mount_Community/Wellness_Center/Health_Services.jnz
Faculty or staff who exhibit these COVID-19 signs or symptoms must not report to work and must immediately (i) call their healthcare provider for instructions, and (ii) report their diagnosis to the University’s Director of Human Resources, Lisa Kobman, by phone at 513-244-4979.
Mandatory Personal Travel Reporting
Prior to returning to campus, work, or attending any University event, any students, faculty, and staff who travel outside of the continental United States must report their travel as follows:
- Students: by calling or emailing the Health Service Manager, Amy Demko, at 513-244-4769 or at demko@msj.edu.
Faculty and staff: by calling or emailing the Director of the Office of Human Resources, Lisa Kobman, at 513-244-4979 or at lisa.kobman@msj.edu.
This mandatory personal travel reporting requirement includes current travel during the University’s 2020 spring break as well as any qualifying personal travel since February 10, 2020.
Campus Hygiene Protocol
Students, faculty, and staff who are on the University’s campus are expected to follow basic hygiene rules that help to reduce the spread of COVID-19:
- Wash your hands frequently, especially after using the bathroom or touching items in a public space. Hand sanitizer, while useful, is no substitute for good hand washing.
- Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Wash your hands immediately afterward.
- If you are ill, do not come to the University’s campus and follow the mandatory reporting requirements and guidelines above.
- Do not shake hands and otherwise avoid direct person-to-person contact.
- When possible, keep a social distance of at least 6 feet from other persons to help prevent the transfer of COVID-19. For example, hold meetings by phone versus in person whenever possible.
For more information about helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/index.html.
All Student Non-Athletic Travel Immediately Suspended
Effective immediately, all student travel—domestic or international—is indefinitely suspended, except for athletic travel that is being evaluated and approved on a case-by-case basis by the University’s Athletic Director in collaboration with the Emergency Response Team. This prohibition on student non-athletic travel includes future travel as well as currently booked trips.
All Employee Travel Outside of Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Region Immediately Suspended
Effective immediately, all non-essential employee travel outside of the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region—domestic or international—is indefinitely suspended. This prohibition on employee travel includes conferences, seminars, visits, future travel and currently booked trips. This prohibition does not apply to athletic travel approved by the University’s Athletic Director in collaboration with the Emergency Response Team.
Telecommuting Opportunities for Faculty, Staff, and Student Employees
With the University remaining open for business, staff are expected to report for work. Due to the risks to certain populations, the University will attempt to provide telecommuting opportunities for faculty, staff, and student employees on a case-by-case basis as appropriate. The Centers for Disease Control has provided the following guidance for people at higher risk or in a special population: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/index.html.
To seek telecommuting opportunities, high-risk or special population faculty, staff and student employees should contact the Director of the Office of Human Resources, Lisa Kobman, at 513-244-4979 or at lisa.kobman@msj.edu.
Managers are expected to be flexible in allowing all employees who are able to do so to work from home if job responsibilities permit. Managers should contact the Director of the Office of Human Resources, Lisa Kobman, at 513-244-4979 to discuss telecommuting opportunities for employees as appropriate.
University Events
Beginning immediately, no new, non-essential events will be scheduled on the University’s campus or elsewhere. This prohibition includes non-essential meetings, performances, tours, etc. Event organizers for currently scheduled non-essential events occurring on campus are encouraged to immediately evaluate whether these events are necessary to occur in person.
As mentioned, this COVID-19 situation is evolving daily, and all guidelines are subject to change. In this time of growing uncertainty, it is important for our community to come together and support each other. Please be vigilant about your own personal health and do your part in helping to keep our University community safe.
Sincerely,
Diana Davis
Provost
Mount St. Joseph University