Campus COVID-19 Update

Update: August 25, 2022

Madonna University’s updated COVID-19 response procedures, outlined below, are effective immediately. These align with the most recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).

As additional guidance is provided, updates will be published on the University website coronavirus page, and in the Student and Employee Resources areas of MYPortal, as appropriate. The University’s procedures may change based on changing public health conditions or additional guidance from the CDC or MDHHS. All other policies with respect to the University’s COVID-19 response remain in place, including showing respect for the choices of others regarding mask-wearing, testing, vaccination, and other measures. Each of us has a personal responsibility to care about one another’s safety.

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 other off-campus provider, that offers these services. They 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. If it is determined that they should remain off-campus, employees must contact their supervisor and human resources immediately. The Campus Health Advisor (CHA), 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

Daily screening via ReturnSafe is discontinued. 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. 

Highlights from the Decision Trees

• If you believe you may have been exposed, but are not showing symptoms and you are fully vaccinated (defined as: Either you have been boosted, or in the last six months you have completed the primary vaccination series of Moderna, Pfizer, J&J, or Novavax), 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 Tree – If you have been exposed

Decision Tree – If you have symptoms

Decision Tree – 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 has been exposed and exhibits symptoms they should get tested. If they test 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.
• Upload your COVID test result. Go to MYPortal, click on the Employee Resources tab, click on the link titled COVID Test Result, and upload the test result.
• 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, 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.

PTO (Paid Time Off) will not be charged during the initial 5-day isolation period. However, normal PTO and short-term disability/FMLA policies may take effect starting after Day 5. Please contact Human Resources to discuss eligibility and/or other options for your absence. 

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: Promptly report your positive test using the COVID-19 test results form in MYPortal.

Step 3: If you have questions, contact the Campus Health Advisor (CHA) at campushealthstudent@madonna.edu. The CHA also can be contacted via phone at 734-432-5321 during office hours, which are posted at the Coronavirus/COVID-19 Webpage.

Notwithstanding the general guidance contained in the decision tree above, the Campus Health Advisor will provide final guidance based on each student’s situation, taking into consideration guidance from the student’s healthcare provider as appropriate.

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