The health and safety of the campus community remains our first priority. As we plan for the return of the community to campus, the college is committed to implementing a set of universal health prevention and risk mitigation strategies focused on preventing the spread of the virus, quickly isolating those who have been exposed, and limiting their contact with the rest of the campus community. Our approach is dependent upon the cooperation of the entire campus community.
The links below provide you with additional details on the college’s plans. It is important that you review this information and are comfortable with the expectations as you consider your plans for the spring semester.
Those not adhering to the required college guidelines and public health practices are reminded that their actions could endanger other community members. While taking disciplinary action against those who do not comply is not our highest priority during these times, they still may be subject to the student conduct process or employee disciplinary action.
Please note that this information will continue to be updated to ensure compliance with local regulations and evolving best practices in responding to COVID-19.
The college has partnered with Get Inclusive to provide COVID-19 training for students, faculty, and staff. In early January all members of the community will receive an email link to the training. The required training includes a link to our expectations for all members of the college community, as well as a disclosure statement around assumption of risk. This includes compliance with any requests for contact tracing or other efforts to gather information to ensure the safety of our campus and community members. In-person training for students will be held upon return to campus in the spring, and in-person employee training is being implemented within each department.
In order to help protect the health and safety of the St. John’s College campus community and the public, face coverings are required to be worn on site:
This requirement is in accordance with the regulations of the state of Maryland and Anne Arundel County. This policy is in effect until otherwise communicated.
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 can help protect others.
For the purposes of this policy, a face covering must:
This policy applies to all college personnel, students, contractors, and visitors.
Face coverings are not required when:
Face coverings do not replace required job-specific PPE, such as medical/procedure masks, face shields, or respirators.
Infants and toddlers under age two (2) should never wear cloth face coverings due to the risk of suffocation. Children ages two to four (2–4), with the assistance and close supervision of an adult, are strongly recommended to wear face coverings. All children aged five (5) years and older should wear a face covering unless medically directed to do otherwise.
For students requesting a medical or health risk accommodation, determination of the accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Students may be required to provide documentation to substantiate their need for an accommodation. An accommodation may not include allowing someone to not wear a face covering where it is required. Requests should be made to the executive director of campus wellness.
For college personnel requesting a medical or health risk accommodation, determination of the accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Personnel may be required to provide documentation to substantiate their need for an accommodation. An accommodation may not include allowing someone to not wear a face covering where it is required. Requests should be made to the Personnel Office.
Students are required to follow the face covering requirements at all times when on campus. If a student is without a face covering, in accordance with this policy, begin with a polite verbal request for compliance to educate and persuade the student to wear a face covering. If a student refuses to comply with the policy, please contact the Assistant Dean’s Office or Public Safety for additional support. Students DO NOT need to wear a face covering when inside a private on-campus residential unit; however, face coverings are required in common areas of residence halls.
Personnel are expected to comply with the face covering requirement as a condition of employment, as well as for the health and safety of themselves, their colleagues, and the campus community. Supervisors are required to ensure all their personnel have a thorough understanding of the requirements outlined in this policy. Personnel who do not comply should be reminded of the policy by their supervisor and provided additional education and training as needed. If, after additional education and training, personnel refuse to comply, contact the Personnel Office.
St. John’s College is committed to maintaining a respectful, productive, inclusive, and equitable environment, and discrimination and other conduct that is inconsistent with our values will not be tolerated.
St. John’s College understands that a robust testing plan is a vital part of our return to campus plan. We have partnered with a local company to conduct on-campus COVID-19 testing for all members of the campus community on an ongoing basis for the duration of the spring semester.
All students who are approved to be on campus are required to be tested on a weekly basis, starting with move-in. Students will be assigned a specific day of the week and time block for your weekly test; this will remain the same for the duration of the spring semester. Test results will be available within 24 hours, if not sooner. Students who test positive will be contacted by contact tracers via phone. Students are required to sign a waiver permitting test results to be shared with the college. Students under the age of 18 must submit a signed parental consent form prior to the start of the spring semester.
Employees (staff and tutors) who will be working on campus will also be required to be tested weekly. Employees will be assigned a specific day of the week and time block for your weekly test; this will remain the same for the duration of the spring semester. Test results will be available within 24 hours, if not sooner. Employees who test positive will be contacted immediately by telephone. Employees are required to sign a waiver permitting test results to be shared with the college.
Students who are taking all online classes are not approved to be on campus and are exempt from the testing requirements. Employees (staff and tutors) who will be working or teaching 100 percent remotely and who will not be accessing campus are also exempt from the testing requirements.
Additional specifics about the testing plan will be released in the coming weeks.
Students who begin to experience symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should contact the Harrison Health Center and schedule a telemedicine appointment. DO NOT JUST GO TO THE HEALTH CENTER. Depending on your specific circumstances, COVID-19 testing will be performed at the Harrison Health Center or you may be referred to a local testing site. Staff at the Harrison Health Center will advise students of any next steps that may be required.
Employees who begin to experience symptoms should consult with their health care provider for additional guidance.
The decision to quarantine or isolate a student will be made by the medical staff within the Harrison Health Center. Students experiencing symptoms should contact the Harrison Health Center and follow the directions they are given. Students who are directed to report to the health center to be tested should arrive with the belongings they will need for quarantine/isolation pending test results (see “Items Needed for Quarantine/Isolation”). Once tested, students will be transported to the quarantine/isolation location. Students will be provided with basic medical supplies and other relevant information from the health center.
Staff will advise the students’ tutors that the students should plan to participate in classes and academic assignments remotely during the required isolation/quarantine period. Students should also contact tutors to ask about how to connect and continue coursework during this period.
Please note that the college will not provide isolation or quarantine space for students who are residing off campus. Students who are residing off campus are encouraged to discuss quarantine and isolation plans with roommates so as to be prepared should somebody test positive or be exposed. The hotel being used by the college for isolation space is available to students residing off campus. Students should reach out to ********** for additional information about the services available and costs.
Understand that these protocols may change prior to your arrival or after student arrival on campus as the CDC and our local health officials update requirements.
It is very important to not stigmatize anyone who requires isolation or quarantine. These procedures are for the health and safety of everyone in our community. Stigmatizing, identifying, or profiling anyone placed in isolation or quarantine verbally, electronically, by way of social media, or otherwise has no place on our campus and, in some cases, may be a violation of conduct policies.
Students who test positive for COVID-19 and have symptoms will be required to either go home or remain in isolation until ALL of the following criteria have been met:
Students who test positive for COVID-19 but DO NOT have any symptoms will be required to either go home or remain in isolation until ALL of the following criteria have been met:
Students who wish to return home will be permitted to do so only if they are able to be transported in a manner that does not expose others (via private vehicle and not through public transportation).
Students who test positive, either with or without symptoms, who are unable or choose not to return home will be relocated from their on-campus housing assignment to a hotel within a few blocks of campus so that they will have access to a private bathroom. As a matter of precaution, students in isolation should not have direct contact with others, except in a medical emergency. Students will be set up with telehealth appointments with the Harrison Health Center during their time in isolation; the number of appointments will vary based upon clinical factors. The college and hotel will work with students to deliver meals to them while they are in isolation.
Students who have had close contact (defined as closer than six feet for 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period without the use of masks) with a COVID-19 positive person with or without symptoms will be provided with additional information from the Harrison Health Center medical staff, college contact tracers, and/or staff from the Anne Arundel County Health Department.
In most cases students who have had close contact with another person who has tested positive for COVID-19 will be required to quarantine. Students residing on campus who are unable or choose not to return home for the period of quarantine will be relocated to Spector Hall until they are released from quarantine. Students will be set up with telehealth check-ins with the Harrison Health Center during their time in quarantine; the number of appointments will vary based upon clinical factors. The college will work with students to deliver meals to them while they are in quarantine.
While living in Spector Hall, students are required to wear a mask at all times they are outside of their assigned room. Students should not be within six feet of others while accessing the common areas, kitchenettes, balconies, or bathrooms. Students will be provided with cleaning supplies and should wipe down any common surfaces touched when using the bathroom or kitchenettes.
Buildings and Grounds staff will continue to provide cleaning services to Spector Hall, but students should take care to clean areas they are using after each use. This includes routinely cleaning high-touch surfaces in your room (cell phone, counters, tabletops, doorknobs) and the bathroom.
The college has identified a resident assistant who will serve as your point of contact for engagement opportunities while you are in isolation/quarantining. This person will reach out to you shortly after you are relocated.
To ensure that students are best prepared in the event that they need to enter isolation or quarantine while on campus, we ask that each resident prepare a “Go Bag” with things you may need. Remember that you may be in isolation/quarantine for up to 14 days with limited access to laundry facilities, so please plan accordingly.
Suggested items for a student’s go bag include:
Once the college is notified of a positive student case, a contact tracer will contact the positive student directly. The contact tracing process includes asking about the type, the extent, and the length of contact to assess risk levels. All persons providing contact tracing services for the college have completed the COVID-19 Contact Tracing course offered through Johns Hopkins University.
The contact tracer is responsible for identifying and, when necessary, contacting individuals who have been in high-risk close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. If the person is symptomatic, the contact tracer will try to identify who they have been in contact with in the last 48 hours. If the person is asymptomatic, the contact tracer will likely ask who they’ve been in contact with for the last two weeks.
Anyone identified through contact tracing who has had high-risk contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 will be provided with health-related direction (e.g., self-quarantine, required COVID-19 testing, etc.). The contact tracer will not reveal the identity of the person diagnosed with COVID-19.
High-risk exposure is being within six feet of an infected individual for more than 15 minutes within any 24-hour period without a mask. Low-risk contact is typically described as limited and protected exposure to an infected individual. Those who have had low-risk exposure will not be contacted.
Students can expect to hear from a contact tracer, the Harrison Health Center, and either a staff member from the Campus Wellness team or Assistant Dean’s office, who will help facilitate relocation and ensure the student is able to make continued academic progress.
Once the contact tracer has collected the data they need, the college may turn that information over to the state of Maryland. Students can expect to hear from an Anne Arundel County contact tracer in addition to the contact tracing being provided by the college.
Daily self-monitoring will need to become part of your daily routine, as it is one important way that we can help keep ourselves and our community safe. All members of the college who plan to live, attend classes, and/or work on campus are expected to complete a daily tracker of exposure to and symptoms of COVID-19.
It is expected that students will complete the tracker each morning before attending class, on-campus employment, or any other activity in which they may leave their residence hall or come to campus. All employees, including tutors, who will be working on campus will be expected to enter their information before they arrive to campus. It is important that students complete this daily, even if they will not be on campus that day. This helps establish a daily pattern of health that will be used to determine when there is a change in symptoms that may require additional medical consultation.
Should you enter any information that indicates you are symptomatic for COVID-19, or if there is a change in your general health status, you will be provided with additional direction about conferring with a medical professional.
Students, staff, and tutors will also be required to enter COVID-19 test results into the app. This information will be used to initiate college contact tracing (for students) and leave tracking (for employees).
Additional information about the daily symptom tracking app will be shared in the coming weeks.
