Feb 12: For on-campus students - MSU to lift enhanced physical-distance directive in phases

Dear Residence Hall and Apartment Residents,  

We’d like to thank you for your cooperation during this period of enhanced physical distancing. We recognize this has not been easy, and it certainly has not been fun, but it was necessary. Though we are beginning to see a slight reduction in positivity rates within the on-campus community, we have not met a level deemed safe to fully lift the enhanced directive. As a result, we will take a phased approach to lifting the directive.

During this first phase of reopening:

  • Dining halls will reopen for in-person dining, one person per table.
  • Campus IM facilities will reopen for physically distanced exercise.
  • You may not have any visitors in your residence hall room or apartment.
  • You may not gather in groups in lounges or dine together — this includes suitemates, “pod mates” or “bubble mates.” 

We know how important it is to connect with others and engage in the Spartan experience. We want to provide as much of that as possible — but we also have a responsibility to keep you and the community safe. All public seating areas in the residence halls will remain closed, including floor lounges. Laundry rooms and computer labs will remain open with enforced capacity limits. The MSU Union and Student Services buildings will return to normal building hours.

We encourage you to continue to use caution as you engage in daily activities outside of your residence hall or apartment. This is not an opportunity to break the MSU Community Compact. The compact is not a list of guidelines; it’s a list of required preventative measures that all Spartans must follow. Students who do not follow the compact may face university disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the university. 

Remember: You also must continue to complete a daily health screening form and participate in the COVID-19 Early Detection Program. 

If students begin to engage in unsafe behaviors, our positivity rates will spike again, and MSU will be compelled to enact another period of enhanced distancing. We do not want to do that, but we will if it helps us keep the campus community safe.

Help us by encouraging your friends and peers to continue to wear face coverings, maintain physical distance and adhere to health and safety standards. It is crucial that we continue to work together. We all have a responsibility to protect this community and each other.

Thank you for doing your part.

Sincerely,

Vennie Gore  
Senior Vice President for Residential and Hospitality Services and Auxiliary Enterprises
Interim Vice President for Student Affairs and Services

Dr. David Weismantel
University Physician

Communications