Campus COVID-19 Update

In addition to personal hygiene and social distancing safety measures, students, faculty, and staff should avail themselves of any other preventive measures to help lessen their risk of contracting COVID-19 and to reduce the severity of the virus if contracted. The Madonna University Chief Health Officer and Administrators strongly recommend that all members of the university community be vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible, and that they also get the annual flu vaccination as soon as it becomes available.

The University will monitor and appropriately respond to all potential instances of COVID-19 exposures and outbreaks on Madonna University’s campus. The University will follow all federal, state, and local health department mandates and guidelines to help keep members of the campus community safe. Key elements from the Madonna Cares Pledge and safety recommendations will be posted on campus.

Hand sanitizer stations are available at all entries, exits, elevators, stairwells, and public spaces. Frequently touched surfaces (e.g., door handles, sink handles, drinking fountains, grab bars, hand railings, bathroom stalls, and gathering space tables) will be cleaned and disinfected frequently by the facilities department. All common rooms and classrooms will be cleaned and disinfected frequently, per applicable guidelines and University policies.  All computer and lab equipment are required to be self-cleaned by the user before and after each use, with supplies available in the room. Sanitizer wipes are available in all classrooms, laboratories, and office areas.

All individuals coming to campus are required to follow these safety measures:

• Only come to campus if you are free from COVID-19 symptoms.
• Anyone experiencing signs or symptoms of COVID-19, or who has been exposed to an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19, must contact the Campus Health Office immediately for further instructions, regardless of vaccination status. The Chief Health Officer will determine if testing or self-isolation is necessary.
• Frequently wash hands or use a hand-sanitizer station, which are available at all entrances, exits, elevators, stairwells and other public areas.
• If you are not vaccinated or are at elevated risk, you are required to wear a mask/shield and to practice social distancing.
• It is especially important that all individuals be honest and report any/all signs and symptoms, even if they think they possibly can be attributed to another condition (such as allergies, the common cold, etc.). It is especially important that all individuals be honest and forthcoming about close contacts and exposures, and fully cooperate in contact tracing interviews.

COVID-19 testing will be administered by the Campus Health Center personnel upon request. Faculty, staff, or students who report symptoms will be required to test on campus (billed to insurance), or to obtain testing from their health care provider and report the results to the Health Center.

Health Center personnel will monitor all reports of COVID-19 cases. Anyone on campus who tests positive for COVID-19 will be interviewed and data will be gathered to determine other individuals with whom they may have had contact, so that they can self-isolate, complete a COVID-19 test, enable contact tracing, and comply with other health and safety measures. Failure to comply with this protocol can result in the person being removed from campus and/or suspended from all University activities. 

Faculty and staff who test positive for COVID-19 must leave campus to self-isolate per CDC guidelines and be cleared by the Campus Health Center before returning to campus.

Students who test positive for COVID-19 should leave campus and return home or self-isolate on campus. On campus self-isolation space is subject to availability and is issued at the discretion of Residence Life staff in consultation with the Campus Health Center. Students will remain in isolation until cleared by the Campus Health Center.

Faculty and staff will reasonably accommodate students who are self-isolated.

The University will be conducting on-campus class sessions for Fall Semester 2021, unless otherwise required to comply with federal, state, and local health department mandates and guidelines. Madonna’s comprehensive, in-person educational community experience will resume. Courses and programs that were offered online before the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to be offered in that format. Unless otherwise prevented by state or federal orders or CDC guidance, all classrooms and academic support spaces (e.g., Library, Writing Center, Center for Personalized Instruction/TRIO, and Counseling and Disability Resources Center) will return to a full-capacity configuration. The faculty and staff will accommodate requests for social distancing within those spaces, based on room configuration. Masks are recommended in any classroom and academic support space. Use of hand sanitizers and thorough hand washing should continue.

For classrooms and other areas in which surfaces are frequently touched, the faculty, staff and students are required to self-clean their respective space at the beginning and end of each class session, using the disinfectant supplies provided in the room. Faculty or staff who identify individuals who report or are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms shall immediately direct those individuals to the Campus Health Center.

Athletics

Madonna University Athletics plans to resume the full practice and competition schedule. All student-athletes, coaches and staff must follow guidelines and policies set forth by the NAIA, the WHAC and the University.  All individuals must also follow state, federal and CDC guidelines when applicable. This includes any indoor and outdoor capacity restrictions and/or limitations, such as mask wearing and social distancing. It is anticipated that full-capacity fan attendance will be allowed for all competitions.

When traveling, Madonna University athletic teams must comply with the home team’s policies and procedures, including fan policies, and the policies and procedures of the venues hosting the competition. Specific off-campus facility policies and protocols also may be in place, and it is expected that all Madonna University affiliated individuals comply with said requirements when using these facilities.

Student-athletes should avoid sharing items and/or equipment, when possible. Student-athletes, coaches, and staff are responsible for bringing their own water bottles to and from practices and games, as water cups are available on a limited basis only. Student-athletes are responsible for bringing and washing their own bench towels, practice jerseys and game day uniforms, as well as any personal athletic equipment. Coaches and student-athletes are responsible for ensuring all equipment is properly cleaned before and after use, including the weight and athletic training rooms. Facilities will clean and sanitize all locker rooms and athletic spaces before and after use.

Fans and spectators attending athletic events where Madonna University is the home team must follow the guidelines and policies set forth by the University and by the venue. This includes games being played at off-campus venues, including but not limited to the Legacy Center in Brighton, Mich. and the Total Sports Center in Wixom, Mich. Visiting teams must comply with all University and venue policies, as well as federal, state and local health department mandates and related guidelines. Requirements will be communicated with visiting teams prior to their arrival on campus. Visiting teams must provide their own equipment and supplies. Visiting teams are requested to travel with their own water bottles, although water cups will be made available if necessary.

Athletics will codify and update the status of those athletes who have been vaccinated.

Performing Arts

Performing Arts (PA) plans to resume a full practice and performance schedule. Faculty and students involved with Madonna’s many PA ensembles will follow federal and state guidelines for social distancing, wearing face masks/shields, and capacity limits, and will relocate practices to outdoors or to larger spaces, as appropriate. It is anticipated that full-capacity patron attendance will be allowed for all performances.

Other measures to ensure the health and safety of performers and faculty include (a) limiting physical contact between student-performers/faculty members, including partnering, or sharing of instruments, props, and ballet barres; and (b) frequent cleaning and disinfecting between use of the dance studio, rehearsal hall, music wing, and band room.

Patrons of performing arts events at Madonna University must follow the guidelines and policies set forth by the University and the venues. This includes performing arts events conducted at off-campus venues.

Residential students must complete and provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test completed within five days before moving on to campus for Fall 2021. The Campus Health Center will be available for testing if necessary.  Only registered Madonna University students can visit the University’s residence halls as guests. The standard policy of no guests during semester breaks remains in effect. Periodic testing of residential students may be required to comply with state regulations or CDC guidelines. 

Residence Life Staff and Front Desk Staff who are not vaccinated will wear a mask while on duty.

Move-in Days

Early move-in begins Sunday, August 1 (fall student athletes).

International student early move-in begins Monday, August 23.  First-year student move-in begins Thursday, August 26. Returning student move-in begins Friday, August 27. 

Student move-in is scheduled by appointment blocks that are staggered over multiple days. Students may bring up to five family members into the residence halls to assist with move-in, but family members must wear masks while in the residence halls.  Madonna University recommends that students and their family members monitor their health prior to coming to campus and they must complete the COVID-19 Self-Screening Survey online (www.madonna.edu/coronavirus) prior to arriving on campus.  Individuals having any symptoms of illness or who have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 should not participate in move-in. Students with symptoms or exposure should request an alternate move-in date. 

Residential student check-in is in the Franciscan Center Gathering Space.  Residence Life staff are available to answer any questions about assigned rooms and Campus Health Center staff can answer health and safety questions.

If a student arrives early or late for their assigned move-in time, Residence Life staff can make accommodations, based on availability.  If students find that they cannot arrive at their assigned move-in time, they should call 734-432-5520 to request an alternate move-in day/time.

Seating in all dining locations will return to normal capacity with no restrictions, unless otherwise required by state or county regulations or CDC guidelines, or Sodexo. Take-out will be limited to the “green box” option available pre-pandemic. Beverage stations will be self-serve, with frequent cleaning by Sodexo staff. The “Bite” application will continue to be available for advance ordering. The table check card system will remain in place, with tables being disinfected between each use by Sodexo staff. The menus of food to be served will return to normal, with self-serve stations and on-site cooking at the exhibition station in the dining hall. Take 5 will return to normal hours with its original menu. All Sodexo staff who are not vaccinated must wear masks. All dining locations will have sanitizer stations available.

Catered events will have a broader number of options, including self-serve buffets or passed food, with shielding and additional safety protocols, based on the context of the event.

Computer labs and classrooms will return to normal capacity, unless otherwise prevented by state or local regulations or CDC guidelines. All web cameras, microphones and other technology used to support split classrooms and hybrid learning will remain in place in all classrooms, to enable accommodations and alternative instructional methodologies as needed.  The University has Zoom web conferencing and the Panopto lecture capture solution, fully integrated into the Blackboard learning management system, to immediately adapt to alternative modes of instruction should they be required. Madonna continues to enhance cybersecurity to protect student information.

All events and gatherings - indoor and outdoor, on- and off-campus - will comply with federal, state and local health department mandates and CDC guidelines. Currently there are no capacity limitations for events. Events may be held in-person or as hybrid (a mix of both in-person and virtual elements).

Face masks currently are not required at events. Reasonable accommodations will be made to meet social distancing requests. Guest screening for COVID-19 will align with current guidelines, including records of attendees for the purpose contract tracing.

Invitations and/or confirmations will include agreement to an assumption of risk notice, as well as information making it clear that guests who have symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19 should not attend.

Depending on the type of event, food and beverages served at events will be individually pre-packaged, single-serving items, and single-sided buffets with catering attendants serving the food. As usual, food service staff will maintain a hygienic environment.

If a guest becomes ill or displays COVID-19 symptoms at an event, a designated campus representative will assist the guest in exiting the event and in seeking appropriate medical attention.

Guests who experience symptoms following an event, should contact campushealthofficer@madonna.edu. The Chief Health Officer will implement contact tracing as needed.

In order to ensure the health and safety of all Madonna students, we must demonstrate care for ourselves, care for others, and by extension, the entire Madonna community. The health, welfare, and safety of students, faculty, staff, and visitors are our top priorities. Therefore, we will adhere to the policies of the University, while maintaining compliance with current federal, state, and local health department mandates concerning any health- or safety-related situations.

Madonna University’s Franciscan core values guide our decisions:

• Respect for the Dignity of Each Person
• Peace and Justice
• Reverence for Creation
• Education for Truth and Service

Therefore, we ask all members of the Madonna community to agree to the following:

1. Taking precautions according to my comfort level as it relates to wearing a mask and social distancing
2. Staying home if I feel ill, have been exposed to someone who is ill, or who tested positive for the flu, pneumonia or COVID-19
3. Offering help to others around me who may need support
4. Participating in testing, contact tracing, and vaccination to preserve the wellness of my fellow Crusaders
5. Washing my hands frequently with soap and water, or utilizing the hand-sanitation stations
6. Observing any health and safety signage and directions placed throughout campus
7. Reporting information that may preserve the health and safety of my community

While the University fully expects that its students, faculty, and staff will comply with this plan, the University reserves the right to take disciplinary action, including removal from campus and/or suspension from all University activities/employment, for failure to comply with the foregoing.