COVID-19 Guidance

MSU has created the information below for students, faculty, graduate and undergraduate student instructors, and staff on what steps to take in various scenarios related to COVID-19 exposure, testing and confirmed cases. Please note, these protocols have changed over the past few months and likely will continue to change into the future based on federal, state and local public health guidance. Please check back here regularly for the latest guidance.

 

Students

If you have any questions about the following information, including regarding symptoms, testing or guidance, students can call 888-353-1294.

  • If you have symptoms of COVID-19
    1. If you have symptoms and reason to believe you have COVID-19, please isolate and do not go to class or any social event for 5 days or while you are experiencing symptoms. This applies regardless of vaccination status. 
    2. You must contact and work with your instructor to ensure all coursework is completed in a timely manner. You do not need to tell your instructors specifically why you are ill or self-isolating if you do not want to tell them, but you should make clear to them the number of class periods you expect you will miss.
    3. Get a test for COVID-19. Students experiencing significant symptoms can request a medical appointment at Olin Health Center.
  • If you have a positive COVID-19 test result
    1. Regardless of vaccination status, stay at your place of residence and self-isolate for at least five days from the onset of symptoms or the date of your test. If you test positive but do not have symptoms, you must isolate for 5 days from the day you tested. There is no requirement to report your case to the university.
    2. You must contact and work with your instructor to ensure all coursework is completed in a timely manner. You do not need to tell your instructors specifically why you are ill or self-isolating if you do not want to tell them, but you should make clear to them the number of class periods you expect you will miss.
    3. Please contact your primary care physician or call the Olin Health Center if your symptoms worsen. Seek emergency medical attention if you are experiencing warning signs as outlined by the CDC.
    4. Return to normal activities after five days only if you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving, and you do not have a fever. During isolation and for the first five days after returning to normal activities, it is recommended to wear a mask around others, including in your residence and around roommates.
  • If you were exposed to COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status
    1. Carefully monitor yourself for symptoms for at least five days and then get tested.
    2. The CDC also recommends wearing a mask for 10 days.
    3. If you are not exhibiting symptoms and test negative, you do not need to quarantine and can attend class.
    4. If you develop symptoms at any point, get tested and isolate until you receive your results.

     

     

  • What if I live on campus?

    MSU is unable to provide quarantine and isolation housing for on-campus residents in 2022-23. Students should have a plan of what they do if they test positive or have close contact with someone who tests positive. There is no requirement of notifying the university.

    Expectations for students who must isolate or quarantine:

    1. Isolate yourself and limit non-essential contact with others
    2. Do not attend in-person classes or activities
    3. Utilize takeout, grab-and-go dining or mobile ordering
    4. Contact medical personnel if symptoms worsen or do not improve

     

    Expectations for students whose roommate tests positive:

    1. Self-monitor for symptoms, and leave the room when possible
    2. When in your room, limit contact with your roommate and consider wearing a mask

Faculty, graduate or undergraduate student instructors and staff

  • If you have symptoms of COVID-19
    1. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, please isolate and do not come to campus for 5 days or while you are experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19. This applies to fully vaccinated, partially vaccinated and unvaccinated people.
    2. Get a test for COVID-19.
    3. Contact your supervisor to make accommodations. You do not need to tell your supervisor specifically why you are ill or self-isolating if you do not want to tell them, but you should make clear to them the number of days you expect you will miss. For instructors who are ill, the unit and college will work with you to provide appropriate coverage for class instruction.
  • If you test positive for COVID-19
    1. Regardless of vaccination status, self-isolate for five days from the onset of symptoms or the date of your test. If you test positive but do not have symptoms, you should isolate for 5 days from the day you tested. There is no requirement to report your case to the university.
    2. Contact your supervisor to make accommodations. You do not need to tell your supervisor specifically why you are ill or self-isolating if you do not want to tell them, but you should make clear to them the number of days you expect you will miss. For instructors who  are ill, the unit and college will work with you to provide appropriate coverage for class instruction.
    3. Please contact your primary care physician if your symptoms worsen. Seek emergency medical attention if you are experiencing warning signs as outlined by the CDC.
    4. Return to normal activities after five days only if you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving, and you do not have a fever. During isolation and for the first five days after returning to normal activities, it is recommended to wear a mask around others, including in your residence and around roommates.
  • If you were exposed to COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status
    1. Carefully monitor yourself for symptoms for at least five days and then get tested.
    2. The CDC also recommends wearing a mask for 10 days.
    3. If you are not exhibiting symptoms and test negative, you do not need to quarantine and can come to the workplace.
    4. If you develop symptoms at any point, get tested and isolate until you receive your results.

     

     

     

     

  • If you are informed by a student or employee that the student has tested positive for COVID-19
    1. Instructors should not identify a student to anyone else if they learn that a student has tested positive. Supervisors should not identify an employee if they learn an employee has tested positive.
    2. The student or employee informing you of their positive status may report what actions they are taking or ask for what actions to take. If they ask for guidance, please let them know that regardless of vaccination status, anyone testing positive for COVID-19 is instructed to isolate for 5 days from the onset of symptoms or date of test if asymptomatic.
    3. Faculty are not obligated or expected to change course modalities to suit an individual student’s needs or preferences. Instructors and their departments should work together to help students who are impacted by the pandemic.
    4. Attendance policies and the repercussions for non-attendance are the prerogative of class instructors. MSU suggests the following guidance related to COVID-related absences. For the protection of the health of individuals and the public generally, faculty should be generous about attendance issues related to student self-reports of exposure or illness.

COVID-19 Guidance