2022 Fall Semester Prevention / Risk Management

We believe in the St. John’s College community, and believe that students who return to campus will do so with a spirit of care and concern for others. If you intend to join us in the fall, we will need your commitment to following a wide array of health and safety protocols, and your patience in understanding that the openness of the on-campus environment will shift with the tides of our public health conditions.

Arrival to Campus

All students are required to test prior to their arrival to campus this fall. If positive, students should notify Danielle Lico, Executive Director, Campus Wellness, and delay their arrival to campus and isolate at home until the 5-day isolation period has ended. Upon arrival, students who tested positive will be required to wear a mask for an additional five (5) days after isolation.​​​​​​

COVID Vaccination Requirement

All new students are required to provide us with proof of COVID vaccinations, including the booster, prior to the start of the fall semester. Any student who is returning after a period of time away from the college is also required to provide this information provided they have not done so already. All student medical information should be submitted via the student health portal. Questions about how to upload your documentation should be directed to the Student Health and Wellness Center via email at annapolis.studenthealth(at)sjc.edu. Students seeking a medical or religious exemption should complete the exemption form available within the Student Health Portal.​​​​​​​

Masks

We have adopted a mask-optional policy, which allows all members of the community to use individual discretion in all campus settings with the exception of the Student Health and Wellness Center. Individual departments may continue to require masks within their office space and individual tutors may continue to require masks in their classes. Departments holding events and/or large gatherings may also require masks for all attendees. This information in required to be included on the advertisement for the event and communicated in advance. Masks are available throughout campus, but specifically in the Student Health and Wellness Center and on the table outside the President’s Office.

While keeping a physical distance of at least six feet from other people, practicing good hygiene measures (e.g., frequent hand washing, avoiding touching the face, covering coughs and sneezes), and staying home when ill are the best-known protections against COVID-19, wearing a face covering that covers the nose and mouth also provides protection.​​​​​​​

Testing

The college does not plan to conduct any surveillance testing unless there is a dramatic change in the prevailing public health conditions. This includes surveillance testing for unvaccinated students and employees. At-home rapid antigen tests will continue to be available from the Student Health and Wellness Center, from the Executive Director of Campus Wellness, and in the Public Safety Office.

The Student Health and Wellness Center will continue to perform COVID testing for symptomatic students. Employees should contact their individual healthcare provider for symptomatic testing or obtain testing at the state testing site on Bladen Street, through CVS, or other local testing resources.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Isolation Requirements

The Centers for Disease Control does not consider higher education institutions to be high-risk congregate living environments and therefore only recommends five (5) days of isolation. We will follow their recommendation: students and employees who test positive will be required to remain in isolation for five (5) days. On the sixth day, individuals can resume their regular routine and are required to remain masked for an additional five (5) days.

Students who test positive will isolate in their assigned room—isolation and quarantine housing are not available on-campus. Students who have been identified as high-risk based on pre-existing medical conditions are highly encouraged to have an identified alternate housing plan should their roommate test positive.

Students in isolation will pick-up grab and go meals from the Dining Hall in “greenies” and eat back in their assigned room.

We will continue to provide medical support for students in isolation via telehealth appointments. Students should contact the Student Health and Wellness Center to arrange for telehealth services.

Any families who prefer to pick up their COVID-positive student and transport them home for self-isolation are welcome to do so. Should a student leave campus for isolation, they are required to notify Danielle Lico, Executive Director Campus Wellness.​​​​​​​

Contact Tracing and COVID Exposure

If an SJC student tests positive, a notification will be sent to tutors and classmates, making them aware that an individual tested positive in a particular class. Community-wide notifications will only be sent should the campus experience a significant outbreak. Individuals are encouraged to refer to the dashboard for updates on positive case counts. Community members who test positive are encouraged to notify their contacts outside of classes and are required to notify Danielle Lico, Executive Director Campus Wellness immediately.

Community members who are identified as a close contact and who are without any symptoms should wear a mask and test 3–5 days after exposure. Students should continue to attend classes during this time and employees should continue to report to work and/or discuss telework options with their supervisor. Students who are identified as a close contact and are experiencing symptoms should test immediately and contact the Student Health and Wellness Center for follow-up testing and/or treatment. Employees who are identified as a close contact and are experiencing symptoms should test immediately and contact their healthcare provider for follow-up testing and/or treatment. Community members with questions about steps to take when exposed should contact Danielle Lico, Executive Director Campus Wellness.​​​​​​​

Medical Accommodations

Students requesting a medical accommodation should reach out to Danielle Lico, Executive Director of Campus Wellness. Employees requesting a medical accommodation should reach-out to Sue Gelenter, Director Human Resources.