A few updates and reminders:
- Keep reviewing smumn.edu/covidplanning as we continue to update and add items frequently. We’ve added helpful videos from the CDC this week.
- As you are packing, remember to review one last time the “what to bring with you” list including: two masks, liquid hand soap, personal hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, a thermometer, a bottle to refill sanitizer, a reusable water bottle, tissues, and a bag for your mask.
- Although we have sanitation stations set up in common areas, having your own sanitizing supplies for your own room will be very helpful.
- If you have a maintenance request in your residence hall room, please contact the Residence Life staff and they will submit a request for you. When the staff member comes to your room to fix the item, you will be asked to temporarily leave until they are finished with the job for safety reasons.
- Please remember to wear your masks properly over your nose and mouth pretty much any time you are away from your sleeping room and not alone.
- According to MDH, surface transmission is low risk, but we should still clean surfaces as much as possible. Wipe areas before and after you eat, work out, attend class, or study.
- In the classroom, do not move chairs around and adhere to the 6-foot rule at all times. Faculty will not be moving around the classroom as much so they can also adhere to this rule.
- Please make sure you are cleaning your masks regularly. Cleaning mask guidelines are posted throughout campus.
- We are developing a COVID-19 dashboard for the university website to show weekly numbers of positive COVID-19 cases on our campuses, as well as how many individuals are being tested. Once completed, we will share this link with the Saint Mary’s community. This will help keep everyone updated on how we are doing.
- While in food service, please be mindful of the following:
- Approximately 100 students can sit in the main dining room.
- Other spaces available are the plaza, game room, gym lobby, Toner Student Center lounge, President’s Room, and your residence hall.
- Do not bring your own containers for food or drink; use what is provided.
- Take only the amount of food you will eat and make sure you are taking enough, as seconds will not be an option at the moment.
- Use hand sanitizer when you come into the main dining room, Cardinal Coffee, or Cardinal Club.
- Stand on the red floor decals (either the 6-foot social distance decal or the arrow).
- Each residential student should read the letters — which reference a number of COVID-19-related guidelines — that have been placed in your sleeping rooms. Commuter students will also get this letter shortly.
- Please continue to be flexible and patient. Things continue to change quickly, and we do not always have the answers to every question. But I can assure you we are working hard and will respond to you in a timely manner.
- I encourage each of you to politely remind your peers, faculty, and staff to adhere to social distancing and COVID-19 guidelines. It is important we all take responsibility for keeping our education in person this semester.