If a student exhibits symptoms or is notified that they have been exposed, they will be directed to stay in their residence and contact the Health and Counseling Center, who will triage via a telehealth consultation. If the Health and Counseling Center determines the student needs to be tested, an in-person visit for the test will be arranged. Please note: The Health and Counseling Center has a separate COVID testing waiting area and treatment room. Students who need to be tested should not make their way to the Health and Counseling Center until directed by a member of the Health and Counseling Center team.

At this point, we are only testing those who are exhibiting symptoms, however, we are moving toward testing students while they are in quarantine. Though the CDC is now recommending only testing those who are symptomatic, we believe it is necessary to do more. In fact our local health department does not agree with this recommendation. We feel strongly about the need for more rigorous testing.

There are nearby hotels interested in housing our students as a fall-back. We have 102 beds on campus, which so far has been more than adequate for our needs.

There is no single metric that is robust enough to be used to adequately predict the trajectory of the virus. It is not a tidy “if/then” algorithm. There are actually multiple variables monitored by our response team. Each variable has the capacity to shift daily and requires careful analysis to determine if one or another is becoming a stressor for any particular segment of our campus. Are we filling our quarantine and isolation space too quickly? Is there an outbreak in a particular residence hall? How ably is our campus dining, faculty, housekeeping and other operations meeting daily needs? What does the region’s testing and positive case data look like? Each day, the response team analyzes these factors and others to determine the appropriate mitigation strategy. Our belief is that our response should not be an all-or-none situation.

Just as there is more than one variable that we assess each day, there are also multiple mitigation strategies that can be employed before fully sending students home to complete the semester. For example, we could move to online classes while remaining in residence. Or we could temporarily close one residence hall if the infection seems to be impacting a single location. The only way we would immediately be forced to send students home is if the state (or federal) government mandates a shut-down.

We have talked with ND and Holy Cross and have all agreed that any major change will include a conversation with each other to ensure we are aware of the other’s decision, and what impacts it would have on the tri-campus students. Having said that, Saint Mary’s is independent from our tri-campus partner institutions. Any decision to change our operation is ours to make.

Following CDC recommendations, we have increased cleaning of high touch and public areas, mandating students to wear masks in all public spaces, not permitting non-essential outside visitors, modifying use of community kitchens, and increasing educational training for all members of the Saint Mary’s Community.

No guests, including family members, students from Notre Dame and Holy Cross, or Saint Mary’s students who are living off campus, are allowed in private residence hall spaces. Each residence hall has a designated lobby where guests may wait, but they must wear a mask at all times. Saint Mary’s students living on campus are allowed to visit one another in their residence halls, but must wear a mask at all times.

In an effort to reduce the extent to which students leave campus and expose themselves (and, by extension, the rest of the community) to public off-campus venues, the College will be requiring full meal plans for all students living on campus for the 2020-2021 academic year. In an effort to offset some of the concerns for our seniors, Saint Mary’s has enhanced the Flex Point Program, created a meal exclusive for seniors called the Belles at Home option, and reduced the room rates in Opus Hall. Each senior received an email on June 11 outlining these features in greater detail.

Please contact Cyndie Horton-Cavanaugh in the Health and Counseling Center at chorton@saintmarys.edu  if you have additional questions or concerns not raised in this list.

All faculty and staff who are working full or part time on campus, as well as those who continue to work from home but visit the campus occasionally, are expected to adhere to the health and safety standards established by the College as it relates to pandemic operations. While there is no mandate to test every employee prior to coming to campus, all employees should self-monitor for any symptoms that could pose a risk to the campus community. Any employee who believes they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, and is on the College insurance plan through Christian Brothers, can be tested for free at one of several testing sites in the area. For further details on free testing for employees, please contact Human Resources or visit My Saint Mary’s employee portal.

Vendors and other campus visitors essential to the operation of the College (delivery personnel, employees of 1st Source Bank, ECDC, Shaheen Bookstore, ND Campus Dining, etc) follow the testing requirements of their employer, and not Saint Mary’s College. They will be required to adhere to College policies that require the use of masks and, to the extent possible, maintain appropriate physical distance while on campus.

The test kits at the Health and Counseling Center are not available to employees. Employees must obtain a test through their family physician, or by visiting the South Bend Optum testing site where they can get tested for free with no doctor’s order. Please note: Co-pays are waived for those employees on the College health insurance plan administered through Christian Brothers. The majority of testing sites provide a polymerise chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic test. Locally, there is a CVS Minute Clinic at 51467 State Road 933 that offers drive-through PCR testing.

Not at this time. However, we will continue to revisit this to determine the best course of action for our campus community. 

Through contact tracing, we will assess the level of potential exposure for every person in the classroom, and notify those who may be at risk. The same will occur for those who work in residence halls and other buildings on campus. At the time of notification of possible exposure, health instructions will be provided to guide the individual through the next phase, which could range from increased self-monitoring to self quarantine, depending on the level of risk.

Yes. We will not be making assumptions about physical distancing. If a student from your class is moved into quarantine or isolation, you will receive a notice from Academic Affairs. In addition, if the student reports that everyone in your class has remained masked and six feet apart, then you will not be contacted by the contact tracing team.

Student contact tracing is up and running. We are also contacting any employee who indicates through their daily health check a “trigger” (i.e. possible exposure or are experiencing symptoms) using the same methods as for students.

The College has accelerated the academic calendar by beginning early, eliminating fall break, and finishing the semester on November 20 in order to reduce the opportunity that the coronavirus could be brought back to campus due to travel. Therefore, we discourage all non-essential travel, including trips home. However, students are not barred from such travel. We do ask that students who choose to leave campus for the weekend adhere to the health and safety guidelines established by the College to reduce the risk of exposure and spread of the coronavirus.

As a general rule, no. However, if you believe you have been exposed to COVID, or are notified that you have been exposed by contract tracers or others, please contact the Health and Counseling Center for further instructions. Furthermore, if you have any symptoms upon your return, please contact the Health and Counseling Center.

Non-essential personal and professional travel is discouraged at this time. Please reach out to Human Resources if you have questions regarding your specific circumstances. If you choose to travel for personal reasons, and believe you may have been exposed to COVID, the health and safety standards established by the College require self-isolation and possible testing. For more information, please contact Human Resources or visit My Saint Mary’s employee portal.