
An ongoing symptom screening process (including testing) is required for all residential and commuting students who will be on-campus.
Testing Requirement to Return to Campus
All students are required to produce a negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than 7-10 days before moving back to campus. If a student has already taken a COVID-19 test, that negative test result will remain valid as long as the student quarantines a minimum of 14 days between the time of taking the test until returning to campus on their move-in day.
Students should use their @smcm email and password to access the health records and upload a negative test result. If there are any questions, contact the Wellness Center at 240-895-4289 or director Laurie Scherer via lkscherer@smcm.edu.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requests
Any student who received a SMCM PPE bag for the fall can request additional masks, sanitizer, and gloves for the spring semester. Residential students may request these from their Resident Assistant and commuters may request them from The Office of Student Activities. New residential students will receive a full PPE kit in their residence; new commuters will receive theirs at orientation.
SMCM Daily Symptom Check
All students should complete the SMCM Daily Symptom Check no matter their move-in status.
Continued Testing
Rolling random testing will take place throughout the semester as a means to monitor viral spread and potentially mitigate widespread infection. This is in addition to the baseline testing that all on-campus students are required to complete prior to returning to campus.
Student Pledge
All students are required to read and agree to the Student Pledge before returning to campus.
The St. Mary’s College of Maryland community is guided by the St. Mary’s Way which is an ethos of caring for ourselves, each other, and our environment. We are a community where people take individual responsibility for their work and actions. In these unprecedented times, taking greater responsibility for ourselves while demonstrating care for others is even more critical for the health of our community. We are all dependent on each other embracing this responsibility.
I pledge to keep myself and my chosen community safe and healthy by committing to the following expectations.
Face Coverings
- I will wear face coverings while on campus including buildings, grounds, classrooms, shared laboratory areas, conference rooms, elevators, hallways, etc.
- My face covering will cover the mouth and nose at all times, except when eating, or alone in a private room or private vehicle.
Social Distancing
- I will maintain at least six feet of social distance from others whenever possible.
- I will follow any signage or instruction regarding the use of common spaces, hallways, or pathways through campus.
Housing
- I will abide by reduced guest restrictions based on my type of residence.
- I will not host non-SMCM guests in my residence.
- I will refrain from engaging in activities that are not conducive to social distancing such as hosting and attending gatherings, including off-campus gatherings and events.
- If I host a gathering that violates social distancing and it is not conducive to CDC guidelines, I understand that I may be removed from campus housing and required to learn remotely for the remainder of the semester.
General Health and Hygiene Rules
- I will refrain from visiting campus or facilities if I am sick or have symptoms of respiratory illness.
- I will wash my hands frequently for at least 20 seconds, preferably with soap and warm water or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if I am not able to wash my hands.
- I will cough/sneeze into my sleeves. When using a tissue I will discard it properly and clean/sanitize my hands immediately.
Testing & Contact Tracing
- I will participate in COVID-19 testing and contact tracing, as necessary and instructed by campus and/or local authorities.
- I will follow the guidance of the SMCM Wellness Center and the St. Mary’s County Health Department if I have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Wellness Screening
- I will participate in the daily wellness screening to determine if it is appropriate for me to interact with the St. Mary’s College community and complete my daily responsibilities.
- If I am aware that I have symptoms of COVID-19, I will contact the St. Mary’s College Wellness Center or the St. Mary’s County Health Department.
- I will stay at home or in my residence hall room if I do not feel well or have symptoms of COVID-19.
Off Campus Travel
- All students should limit travel off campus as much as possible. If travel is necessary students should exercise caution, maintain social distancing from others and wear face coverings.
I have read, understand, and agree to comply with the Student Pledge. I acknowledge that this pledge is a condition of my participation in the 2020-21 academic year as a residential student, as a student participating in face-to-face instruction, and/or as a student who will be on-campus at any time during the academic year. My failure to comply may lead to removal from campus or restrictions from certain facilities.
Student Conduct Policies
For the health and well-being of our unique community, St. Mary’s College of Maryland may create campus standards that are tighter than CDC guidelines and/or state orders. If there appears to be a conflict between the College’s policies and regulations and those recommended/mandated by the Federal and/or State government, the student should exercise the more stringent guidance until clarification is made.
SMCM expects community members to adhere to the SMCM policies and may initiate an investigation and/or the Student Conduct process if reports of alleged violations are received. Immediate, temporary actions may be taken to maintain the health of the campus community while an investigation and/or Conduct process occurs. The following, if violated, are subject to disciplinary action, as provided for in the Student Handbook, “To the Point,” Code: A. Violation of published College policies, rules and regulations.
These policies cover student or student organization misconduct which occurs on College premises, contiguous properties, or which arises out of College-sponsored activities off the College premises, including study abroad, or which disrupts or endangers the College community, the College’s responsibilities, or its pursuit of its objectives, or which poses a threat to the safety and well-being of any individual. The following apply to all students, whether remote, residential, or commuters.
Face Coverings
Following guidance from the St. Mary’s County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the use of face coverings can potentially slow the spread of COVID-19 by preventing people who may have the virus but are asymptomatic from transmitting it to others.
- Students must wear face coverings, this includes in buildings, grounds, classrooms, shared laboratory areas, conference rooms, elevators, hallways, etc. Face coverings must cover the mouth and nose at all times, except when eating, or alone in a private room or private vehicle.
- Students who cannot wear a protective mask due to a medical issue, like trouble breathing or the inability to remove the cover without assistance, should contact Accessibility Services for accommodations.
Social Distancing Rules
- Maintain at least six feet of social distance from others whenever possible.
- Follow any signage or instruction regarding the use of common spaces, hallways, or pathways.
- Report locations or examples of social distancing congestion to the Office of Public Safety to assist with identifying potential problem areas by calling 240-895-4911 or by using the CampusShield app.
- Hosting a gathering that violates social distancing and is not conducive to CDC guidelines will result in the removal from campus housing and require the student to finish the semester via remote learning.
General Health and Hygiene Rules/Face covering guidelines
- Refrain from visiting campus or facilities whenever you are sick or have symptoms of respiratory illness.
- Wash hands frequently for at least 20 seconds, preferably with soap and warm water, particularly after coming into contact with high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs, handrails, and commonly used equipment.
- Cough/sneeze into sleeves, preferably into the elbow. When using a tissue, discard it properly and clean/sanitize hands immediately.
- Avoid touching your face — particularly your eyes, nose, and mouth — with your hands to prevent infection.
Students who arrive to attend SMCM from abroad or out-of-state are required to self-quarantine in their on- or off-campus residence for 14 days upon arrival.
Students should use a digital thermometer daily to track any rises in temperature prior to a fever being detected.
Students should notify the Wellness Center if they have tested positive for COVID-19, have been directed to quarantine, or, after recovering from a positive COVID-19 test, are returning to campus. These students must provide documentation from a medical provider and complete the SMCM Daily Symptom Check Survey before returning to campus.
Minimize Exposure
Exercise caution per public health guidelines when leaving campus.
- Students should exercise caution when procuring food. Curb-side delivery, delivery, take-out, and drive-through orders are recommended, while maintaining social distance and wearing face coverings.
- Students may participate in fitness activities off-campus when appropriate social distance is maintained and face coverings are worn indoors and/or with others.
Gatherings
Comply with gathering policies. Report noncompliance to the Office of Public Safety by calling 240-895-4911 or by using the CampusShield app.
- Indoor and outdoor gatherings, on-campus or off-campus, where social distancing cannot be maintained, are prohibited.
- Indoor gathering group sizes are limited to room capacity posted on facility signage, room furniture setup, and/or specific numbers provided for residential spaces. If occupancy numbers are not posted, the number of persons who can occupy the space shall not exceed that needed to maintain a social distance between attendees. Furniture should not be rearranged.
- Outdoor on-campus gathering group sizes are limited to capacity posted on the grounds. If occupancy numbers are not posted, the number of persons who can occupy the space shall not exceed that needed to maintain a social distance between attendees. Outdoor on-campus gatherings are not allowed between midnight and 6:00 a.m.
- Lewis Quad – 75
- Admissions Lawn – 200
- Townhouse Green – 175
- Pillow – 20
- Jamie L. Roberts Stadium practice fields – 220
- Waring Commons West – 80
- Waring Commons East – 30
If You Have COVID-19 Symptoms
If you have COVID-19 symptoms, call the Wellness Center (240-895-4289) to arrange for testing on campus or testing through the St. Mary’s County Health Department at St. Mary’s Hospital.
- While residential students are awaiting their test results, they must self-isolate in designated on-campus housing.
- Commuter students should remain at home pending the test results.
- You’ve been asked to Quarantine/Isolate, what happens now?
Contact Tracing
Testing for any community member will initiate an investigation of direct contacts. Plans have been developed to both support the student and their direct contacts (who will be placed in quarantine) while awaiting results or should the results be positive for COVID-19. Positive cases will be communicated to the campus in a manner consistent with federal and state guidelines.
St. Mary’s College will continue to work with the St. Mary’s County Health Department and make the determination to shift to a non-residential experience should that become necessary.
Cooperate fully with the College’s self-isolation, contact tracing, and notification protocols, in alignment with the St. Mary’s County County Health Department.