Madonna University’s Public Health Policy

College and university classrooms, residence halls, and event spaces, support numerous, classes, activities, and events where students, employees, and community members interact, which are opportunities for the transmission of illness.

The most recent information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) addresses specific guidance for these settings.  As additional CDC and MDHHS guidance is provided or public health conditions change, updates to Madonna University’s procedures and policy will be made and will be published on the University website and in the Student and Employee Resources areas of MYPortal, as appropriate. 

Communicable Disease Protocol

Communicable diseases are illnesses that spread from one person to another or from a surface or a food to a person.  Examples include influenza, norovirus (stomach flu), and COVID-19.

Prevention

For conditions in which a vaccine is available, getting vaccinated when possible is one of the best methods to reduce the likelihood of illness. Additionally, there are actions that can further reduce the risk of illness including:

• What you can do personally: Stay home when you are sick. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue. Wash your hands often with soap and water.
• What everyone can do to keep the environment germ-free: Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects like door knobs.

Reporting

Those who serve in the following roles,

• Faculty
• Supervisors
• Coaches
• Advisors of Student Organizations
• Resident Assistants

and who observe three or more individuals in a specific class, workgroup, student organization, or athletic program showing similar symptoms of illness over a seven-to-ten-day period, should report this using the Communicable Disease Reporting Form on MYPortal. You must be logged in to MYPortal to access the link.

Suspected Communicable Disease Response

• Isolation - if you are ill, stay home, or if you are a residential student, stay in your room until symptoms resolve.
• Medical Assistance - monitor yourself and seek medical care if symptoms become worse or do not improve.
• Residence Hall Monitoring - students who are isolated need to be monitored to ensure safety.
• Cleaning of surfaces – frequently-touched surfaces should be regularly cleaned with a recommended antimicrobial solution.

Additional Requirements are required for COVID-19.  Below are additional considerations and responses to COVID-19.

COVID-19 Protocol

Masks

Masks are optional when on campus, with the following exceptions:

• We ask that everyone demonstrate care for others, especially those who are vulnerable to severe illness or who are caring for vulnerable individuals, and encourage mask-wearing if you feel at risk or when you are near others who communicate they are at risk.
• Faculty may require masks in classes, and if so, will communicate this information in advance via Blackboard.
• Masks also may be required by faculty and staff in certain offices, areas, or events where there is elevated risk. If masks are required, the requirement will be clearly communicated.
• Masks are optional but highly recommended for indoor athletic events or performing arts performances.

This masking policy may be updated based on CDC or MDHHS guidance.

COVID Testing

COVID-19 testing or vaccinations are no longer provided through the University. Students, faculty, and staff who believe they have been exposed or who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should seek testing services and/or vaccinations from their healthcare provider, or another off-campus provider that offers these services. Individuals should also follow up with their healthcare provider to determine when they should quarantine and/or isolate, and when it is safe to return to campus.

For employees, if it is determined that they should remain off-campus, employees must contact their supervisor and human resources immediately.

The Campus Health Advisor will advise the University administration on matters related to managing cases of COVID on campus.

Isolation

Isolation is used to separate people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 from those without COVID-19. Those who are in isolation should stay home, or if they are residential students, stay in their room until it is safe for them to be around others. At home or in the residence halls, anyone sick or infected should separate from others, or wear a well-fitting mask when they need to be around others. Students in isolation should not attend in-person classes and should arrange with their faculty to attend classes remotely whenever possible. They also cannot participate in in-person extracurricular activities, including athletic practices, competitions, performing arts practices or performances, or in-person student organization meetings.

COVID-19 reporting and management

Faculty, staff, and students should continue to self-monitor if they have any symptoms or believe they have been exposed.

Follow the decision trees below: if you believe you have been exposed, if you have COVID-19 symptoms, or if you have tested positive for COVID-19. There are different reporting protocols for faculty, staff, and students. These protocols are described in detail below.

Highlights from the Decision Trees

• If you believe you may have been exposed, but are not showing symptoms, you should wear a well-fitting mask everywhere for 10 days after the date of exposure, and test for COVID-19 on day 5 (day of exposure is day 0).
• If COVID-19 symptoms are present, faculty, staff, and students must test immediately and isolate pending results.

Decision Trees

• If you have been exposed
• If you have symptoms
• If you have tested positive

There are different reporting protocols for faculty, staff, and students; described in detail below.

Protocol for Faculty and Staff

If a faculty or staff member tests positive, regardless of vaccination status, they should take the following steps:

• Promptly report your positive test to your departmental supervisor and Human Resources to discuss your time away from the workplace. Use the new HR (Human Resources) e-mail address to report a positive COVID test result at campushealthemployee@madonna.edu.
• Complete and submit the Employee Communicable Disease Reporting Form on MYPortal. You must be logged in to MYPortal to access the link.
• Isolate: Faculty and staff should isolate at home for 5 days following an initial positive test (the date of the initial test is day 0). Whether you have symptoms or not, seek healthcare advice from your healthcare provider.
• On Day 5, if symptoms are not present or are improving, faculty and staff may return to campus, but must always wear a well-fitting mask when around others until Day 10, or until symptoms are completely gone, whichever is later. Social distancing is especially encouraged in these cases, and individuals should avoid high-density environments (crowded areas) as much as possible. If there are special circumstances, such as someone who is immunocompromised or has a coworker in proximity who is immunocompromised, faculty and staff should discuss their options with their supervisor and HR.
• On or after Day 5, if symptoms have NOT improved, faculty and staff should wait to end isolation until 24 hours after symptoms have improved or as directed by a healthcare provider. Faculty and staff should contact their healthcare provider if they have questions, and in situations of a work absence beyond 5 days, and depending upon the situation, may be required to provide HR with documentation from their healthcare provider for continued work absences.

Normal PTO and/or Short-term Disability/FMLA policies will be followed for eligible employees. Please note: In some cases, an employee may be allowed to work from home. The option to work from home must be approved by the supervisor. Supervisors must contact Human Resources to discuss options for absences.

Protocol for Students

If a student has been exposed to COVID-19 and exhibits symptoms, they should get tested. If they test positive, regardless of vaccination status, they should take the following steps:

Step 1: Complete the decision tree for testing positive.

Step 2:  Complete and submit the Communicable Disease Reporting Form on MYPortal and notify your instructor/advisor.  You must be logged in to MYPortal to access the link.

Step 3:  Isolate for 5 days following an initial positive test (the date of the initial test is day 0). Whether you have symptoms or not, seek healthcare advice from your healthcare provider.

Step 4:  If you have questions, contact the Campus Health Advisor (CHA) at campushealthadvisor@madonna.edu. The CHA also can be contacted via phone at 734-432-5450.

Notwithstanding the general guidance contained in the decision tree above, the Campus Health Advisor will provide final guidance based on each student’s situation and what is best for the health of the University community.

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