Communications


 

COVID-19 Alumni Impact Stories


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Timeline

January
January 29
  • St. Mary’s College begins monitoring the novel coronavirus and initiates communication and coordination with St. Mary’s County Health Department and the St. Mary’s County Department of Emergency Services to be included in planning and response for the county.
  • Canceled study abroad program at Fudan University, China, for the spring 2020 semester.
March
March 2
  • Study Abroad programs suspended in Italy for spring 2020.
March 6
  • College-supported out-of-state travel by students, faculty, or staff to locations within the United States that have declared coronavirus-related emergencies suspended.
  • College-supported international travel suspended indefinitely.
March 8
  • Housekeeping staff increase cleaning efforts to mitigate potential viral spread from contaminated surfaces. Germicidal wipes and hand sanitizer stations distributed throughout campus in common areas.
March 11
  • Face-to-face instruction in lectures, seminars, and other similar classroom settings suspended for two weeks beyond the conclusion of Spring Break. Online instruction to begin March 23.
  • Special COVID-19 web page created on the smcm.edu site to provide the campus community with up-to-date information and resources.
  • Begin communication to students, faculty, staff and parents through e-letters on an ongoing basis.
  • All residential students asked to vacate campus by March 13.
  • Initially provide on-campus housing for 71 students who are unable to travel home when the campus transitioned to remote instruction.
  • Begin enhanced social media presence and activities by staff and faculty to keep students engaged.
  • Invested in technology (software and hardware) to quickly enhance, develop, and/or implement both remote instruction and telework capacity and capability.
  • Began to hold face-to-face and virtual professional development workshops for faculty to transition to remote instruction.
  • All large (> 100 anticipated attendees) non-essential on-campus events canceled or postponed for the spring semester.
  • All College-supported out-of-state travel by students, faculty, and staff suspended.
March 13
  • College refines the definition of “essential personnel” and who qualifies. All non-essential personnel permitted to telework in accordance to revised policy effective throughout the pandemic.
  • Developed alternative work schedule and/or jobs and ensured that all employees continued to receive wages and benefits at pre-pandemic levels through the end of the semester/fiscal year.
  • For essential employees (including essential contractors) still working on campus, enforced and ensured proper social distancing protocols and other COVID-19 mitigation efforts.
March 19
  • Extend remote/online instruction through the end of the spring 2020 semester.
  • Face-to-face Commencement activities postponed until it is safe to do so.
March 23
  • Ensured that all student support offices have the resources and staffing to continue to provide students with academic support as well as mental and physical health services throughout this period of disruption.
  • Spring move-out instructions provided to students.
March 24
  • Spring move-out postponed due to Maryland Governor Larry Hogan essential business declaration.
  • The Office of Public Safety announces specific plans to monitor building security.
March 26
  • Provided to the health department approximately 8,000 protective gloves, 50 exam gowns, 100 surgical masks, 50 n95 masks, 500 alcohol swabs and 15 bottles of hand sanitizer.
  • Began to employ 3D printing capabilities to manufacture face shields for medical personnel with the goal of printing over 100 face shields per week.
March 27
  • St. Mary’s College of Maryland partners with St. Mary’s County Health Department to launch COVID-19 Scientific Advisory Group which includes faculty members Associate Professor of Biology Kevin Emerson, Professor of Biology Jeffrey Byrd, Associate Professor of Mathematics Emek Köse, Assistant Professor of Physiology Jessica Malisch and Director of the Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning Samantha Elliott.
March 30
  • Student Support Services offers student online support.
  • Summer class schedule offered remotely only announced.
April
April 1
  • Virtual appointments begin to be offered at The Wellness Center.
April 2
  • LiveChat begins to be offered at Office of Student Financial Assistance.
April 10
  • Virtual Visit webpage featuring virtual information sessions and academic department sessions launched.
April 13
  • Additional 3D printer provided by The Patuxent Partnership to produce additional face shields for St. Mary’s County Health Department.
April 16
  • Delivered first shipment of 100 face shields to St. Mary’s County Health Department.
  • Space offered to house potentially-exposed St. Mary’s County first responders during the pandemic as well as storage space for excess supplies and materials needed to contain the spread of the virus and/or treat those who are infected.
April 23
  • The Recovery Fund created to address the financial hardships and obstacles facing students and the institution. Among its purposes, to especially help students in need with expenses associated with their being forced to move off campus during the pandemic as well as with tuition costs so they can return in the fall.
April 24
  • Continue to support 37 students (including some foreign students) on campus who could not go home for reasons ranging from homelessness, health, or lack of technology.
  • Virtual Awards Convocation webpage launched.
  • Most summer events canceled.
April 28
  • St. Mary’s College Student Government Association (SGA) approved a $50,000 donation to the College’s Recovery Fund that has been created to help reduce financial burdens and obstacles facing the SMCM community.
April 28
  • St. Mary’s College Student Government Association (SGA) approved a $50,000 donation to the College’s Recovery Fund that has been created to help reduce financial burdens and obstacles facing the SMCM community.
May
May 1
  • Deadline extended to May 15 for deposits for prospective students after the College receives the second highest number of applications in its history.
May 4
  • Provided a prorated refund to students for room, board, mandatory fees, and parking.
  • Worked with the St. Mary’s County Health Department and other local authorities to begin the move-out process from the residence halls.
  • Developed method to provide financial support from the CARES Act for every Title IV-eligible SMCM student enrolled in spring 2020.
  • Begin to develop planning scenarios for the 2020-21 academic year.
May 11
  • Delivered additional 300 face shields to St. Mary’s County Health Department.
May 13
  • Provided congratulatory yard signs for seniors to take during move-out process.
  • Governor’s Cup Yacht Race cancelation for July 31 – August 1 announced.
May 14
  • Launched Job-IQ to graduating seniors as a special way to help them navigate their career paths with >100 additional alumni and Southern Maryland Community members.
May 16
  • Held Virtual Open House for more than 200 prospective students and families.
May 20
  • Fall Planning Task Force announced.
May 22
  • Funding to students from Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and SMCM Recovery Fund announced.
May 23
  • Senior Recognition web page launched.


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Communications Archive

Coronavirus June 1, 2020 – Fall 2020 Planning Update – 2

Dear Seahawks and Colleagues,

On May 20th, I shared with you information about our Fall Planning Task Force. Members have been mapping out a variety of COVID-19-related scenarios and what next steps the College should undertake to best protect the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and the broader St. Mary’s County community. I am expecting their recommendations, that must comply with the ever-evolving guidelines at the federal, state, and local levels, in a couple of weeks. Once I carefully review these with the Board of Trustees, I will be able to share with you the SMCM’s specific plans for opening as a residential college in this, the new normal. I know you are anxious and my goal remains to provide you detailed information by late June.

Here is some preliminary information.

  • The safety and health of our community is of paramount importance.
    • Every on-campus student as well as all faculty and staff who will be working on campus in Fall 2020 will receive a PPE kit containing masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer sufficient for the semester; and, a digital thermometer.
    • Infrared thermometers will be used to monitor temperatures of employees returning to work on a daily basis.
  • We are planning to open as a residential campus with classes to begin in mid-August and for fall instruction to be completed by Thanksgiving.
  • We will use hybrid instruction as the primary mode of delivery. This delivery:
    • provides students the option of being on-campus and engaging in face-to-face classroom experiences or to participate in learning remotely – either off- or on-campus;
    • facilitates de-densification of classroom and learning spaces;
    • provides faculty with the flexibility to be either on- or off-campus to teach; and,
    • provides a high level of flexibility should the public health situation shift.

There is still much planning to do. For example, one-third of our students participate in varsity athletics, many more participate in club and recreational sports. We are using guidance from the NCAA as well as engaging with members of our athletics conferences, in consultation with other conferences and leagues in the region, to determine which sports will resume, when, and how.

We are working to de-densify campus housing. A preliminary assessment suggests that we may have sufficient space to accommodate all students who want to live on-campus in a manner that is compliant with current public health guidelines.

We know we will have to modify food service to accommodate both the physical distancing requirements and enhanced food safety guidelines. We are fortunate to have Bon Appetit, a national leader with a broad network of partners and expertise, to help us ensure we are operating safely and efficiently, while maintaining the highest standards of food quality.

To enhance campus safety and health, there is a myriad of other things that must be in place by the time we return to campus. One such consideration is defining the process and degree by which staff may continue to telework based on their health and safety concerns and/or the nature of their on-campus responsibilities. Other topics include, but are not limited to,

  • assisting students, faculty, and staff with securing COVID-19 testing and treatment. Fortunately, the local hospital is one of the first in Southern Maryland to be designated as an official testing facility.
  • isolating residential students who contract COVID-19 and isolating those who are exposed.
  • coordinating contract tracing with the St. Mary’s County Public Health Department. We are fortunate that the director is a member of the College’s faculty.

The individuals who are on the task force subcommittees are working on these issues and many more, in collaboration and consultation with local and state experts, including higher education colleagues at the University System of Maryland and others across the state, to ensure that the policies and procedures we develop, implement, and enforce comply with the federal, state, and local guidelines.

In the communication of May 20th, I reminded you that we are resilient; we are empathetic. It is important to emphasize these traits as we work to emerge on the other side of this pandemic. When you arrive on campus in August, the new normal will be a challenge for each of us to adjust to, but adjust we must. Now, more than ever before in the College’s 180-year history, we must embody and embrace our ethos: respect for self, respect for others, respect for the environment in which we live. In today’s world, to do anything less 1) puts us all at greater risk of contracting and spreading the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 and 2) subjects members of our community to unnecessary suffering and potential loss. To return to campus, each of us must commit to living the St. Mary’s Way. You are not just making the commitment to protect yourself; you are doing it to protect others in our campus environment.

I hope you had an opportunity to enjoy this beautiful day. I’ll be in touch soon.

Sincerely,

Tuajuanda C. Jordan, PhD
President

Coronavirus May 22, 2020 – COVID-19 Funding Update

Dear Seahawks,

I have some good news to share at the beginning of this holiday weekend. The College received funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to distribute to students for assistance with unanticipated expenses due to the disruption caused by the pandemic. During a pandemic, no life goes untouched. Thus, we believe that every family has been impacted by COVID-19 in some way. Consequently, every SMCM student who was enrolled in spring 2020 will receive a financial grant.

Grants will range from $100 to $1,000. Students with the greatest need, as demonstrated by the information on the most recent FAFSA on file, will receive the largest grants.

  • Only students who are eligible to receive U.S. federal Title IV funds will receive funding from the CARES Act grant. These grants will be mailed by the Maryland State Treasurer’s Office early next week.
  • All other students will receive a grant from the College’s donor-funded Recovery Fund which includes a generous donation from the SMCM Student Government Association of $50,000. These grants will be mailed by the College early next week.

Emergency Assistance Grants are also available to currently enrolled students with extraordinary one-time expenses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please use this form, along with all relevant documentation, to request an emergency grant by April 1, 2021. The maximum additional grant will be no more than $1000 and will depend on the number and nature of requests received by the College. It is highly likely that the College will deplete both its CARES Act student allocation and Recovery Fund donations well before April 2021. Consequently, if you have a need, it is better to submit your request for additional assistance sooner rather than later.

If you have any questions about either the CARES Act funding or the Emergency Assistance Grant program, please visit the FAQ’s. If you still have questions, please contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance at OSFA@smcm.edu or (240) 895-3000.

Close-knit. Resilient. Empathetic. Tenacious. Resourceful. These words describe our campus community. The pandemic may have given us pause but it has not stopped us from doing what we do and being who we are. We are St. Mary’s College, forever Seahawk proud. This is Memorial Day weekend. Make it memorable the St. Mary’s Way …safely!

Sincerely,

Tuajuanda C. Jordan, PhD
President

Coronavirus May 20, 2020 – Fall 2020 Update

Dear Campus Community,

Now that the semester that no one will forget is behind us, it is time to update you on planning for the fall semester. The Executive Council is consulting with colleagues from the University System of Maryland as well as with leadership at small liberal arts colleges around the nation to develop scenarios for the delivery of fall instruction and the resumption of campus operations in a manner that protects the health and safety of our campus community. We are working to develop a broad-stroke framework for the fall semester by the middle of June.

As we work to protect the safety and health of all members of our community, we will identify the conditions that must exist within the state and on our campus for students, faculty, and staff to return safely. We will also assess how those conditions will affect our academic and administrative operations. We will use state and federal public health guidelines to inform our evidence-based decision-making. This will be a collaborative process in which we engage the county health department, faculty, staff, and students.

A Fall Planning Task Force has been formed and charged with overseeing the development and implementation of policies and procedures that facilitate the re-opening of SMCM as a residential campus in Fall 2020 and are compliant with federal and state COVID-19 guidelines. This task force is chaired by Vice President for Inclusive Diversity and Equity Tayo Clyburn. Additionally, specific members of the campus community have been sent invitations to work on the following subcommittees, each of which is chaired by a member of the task force.

  • Community Health Subcommittee – Chair Leonard Brown, Vice President for Student Affairs. Charge: to develop specific policies and protocols to deliver appropriate health and counseling services to students, including the management of COVID-19 related illnesses, in a manner that limits the risk of spread across the community.
  • Quarantine and Contact Tracing Subcommittee – Chair Leonard Brown, Vice President for Student Affairs. Charge: to enhance current policies and protocols to effectively quarantine students on campus with COVID-19 symptoms and further develop a COVID-19 contact tracing process for students, faculty, staff, and others who may be on our campus.
  • On-Campus Housing and Occupancy Subcommittee – Chair Leonard Brown, Vice President for Student Affairs. Charge: to develop policies and protocols to house as many students as possible on campus in a manner that limits the risk of community spread of COVID-19.
  • Campus-wide Workforce Management Subcommittee – Chair Tayo Clyburn, Vice President for Inclusive Diversity and Equity. Charge: to propose strategies for building COVID-19 related capacity among faculty, staff, and student employees in order to prepare employees to support the college in its essential functions while complying with all required health and safety restrictions; to identify resources to provide PPEs to the workforce; to collaborate with legal counsel to determine liability-limitation standards.
  • Instruction/Learning Subcommittee – Chair Michael Wick, Provost. Charge: to develop scenarios for hybrid face-to-face and remote instruction & learning during the 2020-2021 academic year.
  • Athletics and Recreation Subcommittee – Chair Michael Wick, Provost. Charge: to develop protocols for student varsity and recreational sports competition as well as health and safety guidelines for athletes, coaches, and trainers.
  • Facilities Subcommittee – Chair Paul Pusecker, Vice President for Business and Finance. Charge: to develop and implement enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols that support and maintain a safe, healthy institutional environment for students, staff, faculty, and visitors to the campus; to re-configure/stage public spaces that support physical distancing.
  • Dining Subcommittee – Chair Paul Pusecker, Vice President for Business and Finance. Charge: to provide a safe, healthy institutional food service environment for students, staff, faculty, and visitors to the campus that is compliant with physical distancing and all federal food service guidelines.

I have asked Vice President for Student Affairs Leonard Brown to work with Student Government Association President Humacao Sanchez Santos to form a student subcommittee that will be consulted throughout the summer.

If you have not received an invitation to work on a subcommittee, do not worry. This is a major endeavor and will require the involvement of significant more community members than are formally on the committees. We will keep the campus and relevant stakeholders informed about this developing work.

Wishing you all the best,

Tuajuanda C. Jordan, PhD
President

Coronavirus May 15, 2020 – A Special Note to SMCM Seniors

To the parents of the Class of 2020 – we cannot begin to understand your students’ disappointment in having to leave the campus mid-semester void of a May commencement ceremony. Tomorrow, May 16, 2020, was supposed to be their day. This is not how anyone envisioned their senior year. But know we would never send them into the world without sharing our sense of pride. They are truly a special class, and so we have two ways we will be honoring them.

On Saturday, May 23, we will launch a Senior Recognition web page, our way of cheering them on and getting to know a bit more about each one of them. Second, we will be holding a campus Commencement ceremony to officially recognize their success. More detail on this and potential dates will come. I was hoping beyond hope it would be this summer. The planning committee met with the county public health director earlier this week and based on their feedback, there is almost no chance we can host an in-person Commencement that is done only in a manner that is oh, so St. Mary’s and memorable within the next couple of months. Don’t lose hope. The committee is working on ideas and will be in touch to solicit their input as soon as things get a bit clearer. In the meantime, remind them to pick up their St. Mary’s Graduate yard sign when they return to campus to retrieve their belongings from their residence.

For now, I write to say Congratulations to the 278 B.A. / B.S. and 20 M.A.T. graduates of the St. Mary’s College Class of 2020! We look forward to celebrating them, our newest alumni of St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

Sincerely,

Tuajuanda C. Jordan, PhD
President

Coronavirus May 8, 2020 – The Semester is Winding Down

Dear Campus Community,

In a week or so, you will receive information regarding disbursement of CARES Act funding to provide financial assistance to students. Additionally, announcements will be forthcoming regarding planning for two important events: 1) commencement activities for the Class of 2020 and 2) reopening in the ‘new normal’ as a residential campus in the fall. We do not have additional details about any of these items at this time. Thank you for your continued patience.

As we near the conclusion of this historic semester, I want to let you know that your efforts to get to this point are appreciated. Resilience. Determination. Fortitude. Sacrifice. Compassion. Empathy. These are just a few of the characteristics each of you exhibited in your own way over the course of the last seven weeks to get us here. We are not out of the woods yet. When we do emerge, the world will be different in some very significant ways. However, a constant that remains is the awe-inspiring magnificence of the sunsets over our cherished river at the end of the day. May the peace of that moment remain within you as you ‘sail through this to that’1.

Wishing you all the best for a joy-filled and safe weekend.

Sincerely,

Tuajuanda C. Jordan, PhD
President

1From blessing the boats, Lucille Clifton

Coronavirus May 4, 2020 – Residence Hall Move Out

Dear Students,

I hope this email finds you and your loved ones safe and well. I am writing today to let you know that we have worked with the St. Mary’s County Health Department and other local authorities to begin the move out process from the residence halls. This process is designed to ensure compliance with the current health and safety measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Beginning Tuesday afternoon, each student will receive an email from the Office of Residence Life with a link to sign up for a move out time. The move out times are spread out to ensure no more than one person is moving out at a time in a wing of the traditional halls and no more than one person is moving out at a time in a unit for the upper-class areas. You will be limited to bringing no more than two addition people to help you pack and move out. Our housekeeping staff will address cleaning requirements in between shifts and after each move day in the appropriate areas.

We need your cooperation to ensure that the health and safety precautions are adhered to so that everyone has a chance to come to campus and move out. There will be limited times available each day so we ask for your patience and understanding given the circumstances. As you move out of your room, you and your guests will be required to wear face masks and maintain social distancing. You should not come to campus if you or the two people you are permitted to bring with you have been around anyone with COVID-19 symptoms or are experiencing those symptoms.

Seniors, and students not returning to live on campus for the Fall 2020 semester, are encouraged to also return their mailbox keys in the same envelope as their room key. If you have a package on campus you can pick it up between the hours of 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Tuesday through Friday. Please make arrangements to return to campus during days the package center is open. Please contact Amber Robey arroby@smcm.edu with any questions about packages. Please contact Richard Wagner rtwagner@smcm.edu to make arrangements to return rental textbooks.

The email from Residence Life will outline how to sign up for a move out time, what to do with your room key if you have already moved out, what to do if you are unable to return to campus, and where to direct other related questions you may have. Good luck as you move into finals. Go Seahawks.

Sincerely,

Leonard Brown
Vice President for Student Affairs, Dean of Students

Coronavirus April 29, 2020 – Refund and Move-out Updates

Dear Seahawks,

I am writing to provide an important, mid-week update.

Semester Charge Refunds

Late last week, projected refunds were prematurely posted on the Student Portal. We continue to work on refining the refund formula with the goal of finding a solution that is fair and proportional across our student body. Early on we identified a strong desire to provide refunds by April 30, 2020, but it is critical to account for the fact that the net cost of SMCM (from family contributions and loans) is different for every student and that each refund must be accurate. Today I regret to inform you that there will be a delay in sending the refunds. I am sorry. The checks will be mailed on Monday, May 4, 2020. We understand that this delay is frustrating and appreciate your patience.

Move-out Update

We are in the final phases of approval from local public health and safety authorities of the College’s move-out procedure. Details regarding the procedure will be sent to you next week from Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Brown.

This semester certainly is challenging each of us seemingly on every level. You have my sincere apologies for introducing an additional challenge by having to delay the refunds. Every day presents life lessons that we must believe will make us all, individually and collectively, better in the years to come. For now, probably the best we can do is to take in each day moment by moment. Know, however, that I am really looking forward to having each of you back on campus to continue your education at St. Mary’s College in the fall and, if you are a graduating senior, to hosting your Commencement in person in a few months.

Wishing you all the best as we near the end of this semester.

Sincerely,

Tuajuanda C. Jordan, PhD
President

Coronavirus April 24, 2020 – Recovery Fund

Unprecedented. Extraordinary. Uncertain. There is no time like the present to be humane and compassionate, to encourage one another. I am reminded daily that St. Mary’s College feels like family – a feeling I embrace, a community that inspires, and a place that unites us all. I hope you and yours are well and adjusting to this new way of living.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic that has significantly disrupted all our lives, we are ever committed to fulfilling our mission and ensuring the health and safety of our College community. Remote, online instruction was extended through the end of the spring semester and it is with tremendous pride that we recognize the resiliency and ingenuity of our faculty and staff to educate and engage our students and to keep the College operating. We made the difficult decision to postpone Commencement, but we are working on ideas to acknowledge and celebrate the 2020 graduates and their accomplishments. We also cancelled the 2020 Alumni Weekend but be assured we are exploring several creative, virtual events until we can gather once more. To learn more about the College’s pandemic response, visit www.smcm.edu/covid-19.

During this period of massive disruption, it is important to take care of ourselves and others around us. While daunting, it is imperative for us to remain strong and to continue to prepare for a brighter tomorrow. The College took decisive action to provide prorated refunds for room, board, and mandatory fee charges. Many students, however, will face greater need stemming from this global crisis as we pivot toward recovery and the new academic year ahead. The rapid transition to remote instructional delivery put pressure on the faculty to learn new systems while the College had to purchase new or enhance existing equipment, software, and expertise to make it all possible. The personal, professional, and financial strains on individuals and the College caused by this pandemic have been enormous. That is why we are reaching out to you during this very rough time.

We created the Recovery Fund to address the financial hardships and obstacles facing our students and institution. Among its purposes, we want especially to help students in need with expenses associated with their being forced to move off campus during this pandemic as well as with tuition costs so they can return in the fall. With the support you might be able to offer, we hope to reduce some of the barriers facing our talented and ambitious students as they emerge on the other side of this global emergency more focused and driven to make their world a better place.
As always, I am grateful for your dedication and commitment to the St. Mary’s College community, and I appreciate your understanding and empathy. I wish you all the best as we begin this new chapter in our collective history.

Sincerely,

Tuajuanda C. Jordan, PhD
President

Coronavirus April 10, 2020 – Refund Update
Dear Seahawks,

We are nearing the completion of our third week of remote instruction. It has been surreal – short and long all at the same time. How is that possible? I have no idea. Know, however, that this update will be short!

The College is still on track to begin sending refunds to eligible students at the end of April 2020. The refunds will reflect the prorated charges for room, board, mandatory fees, and parking, to cover the period of March 23 through the end of the semester. For more information regarding Financial Aid, refer to the April 3 communication. I hope this good news makes this a good Friday for you and yours.

If you are beginning to think about the summer, take a peek at the summer school course schedule being offered this year, with all classes taking place remotely. Information can be found here.

Spring has sprung in Southern Maryland. The staff has done a terrific job maintaining the grounds so that the campus will be most excellent when we welcome you back home, here with us. We don’t know when that time will come, but rest assured, we will be here ready to greet you with a warm smile and, with any luck, a high five or a hug – if your heart desires. We are looking forward to the day that we can recognize that we’ve made it to the other side and emerged with the grace, determination, and vitality one observes when a flower emerges from the cracks in the pavement during our walk along life’s path.

Take good care. We’ll keep in touch.

Tuajuanda C. Jordan, PhD
President

Coronavirus April 3, 2020 – Housing and Meal Plan Refunds
Dear Seahawks,

I hope you are well and adjusting to the new experiences I am certain you’re having every day.

I know there are aspects of these past weeks that have been extremely difficult for everyone. This is certainly not the outcome anyone I know expected as we started the new year. We began 2020 with hope; now we find ourselves seriously contemplating a future of unprecedented uncertainty. One certainty I can promise you today is that the College will be distributing prorated refunds for the room and board charges you have paid to cover the period of March 23 through the end of this semester. We will begin distributing the refunds at the end of April.

Of course, the very few students who were permitted to remain on campus will continue to be charged room rates. These few students, as well as any commuter student who paid for a board plan, will receive a prorated refund for any unused portion of their plan. Students with on-going payment plans for which there is a balance due should continue to make scheduled payments. If the student account shows that they have overpaid as a result of this prorated refund change, there is no need to request a refund via the portal as we will process the check directly. If the student account shows a balance due, the refund will be reduced by this balance and the student continues to be responsible for paying any remaining balance due.

For general questions, we have posted an updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on our website that we hope will provide you with answers. If you have specific questions pertaining to your account, please seek additional information from the Bursar’s Office at 240-895-4302, 240-895-4303 or email studentaccounts@smcm.edu.

As we conclude our second week of distance learning, I encourage you to take time and reach out to one another Seahawk to Seahawk. It is important that we not let go of personal connections during this time. Check in with professors; check in with your classmates, your friends, family and anyone you feel could use a bit of encouragement. Time and time again I hear people say how St. Mary’s College feels like family and there is no time like the present to embrace that belief. Reach out. Lean in. Connect. Be well.

Sincerely,

Tuajuanda C. Jordan, PhD
President

Coronavirus March 24, 2020 – Spring 2020 Move Out Postponed
Dear Students and Families,

On Monday, March 23, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced that all non-essential businesses must close by 5 p.m. until further notice. The Governor went on to say that the purpose behind this executive order was intended to ensure people stay at home unless they need an essential service. “Unless you have an essential reason to leave, stay in your house,” he said.

Given this directive, we have decided to postpone the move out process scheduled to begin this Friday, March 27. While I am sure many of you will be disappointed, I am also sure you can understand our need to do our part by collaborating with state and local authorities during this pandemic. It is our responsibility as a community to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Until further notice, we ask you to refrain from coming to campus to retrieve your belongings.

Students who have essential belongings that they must access can email residencelifemoveout@smcm.edu to request one of the limited number of by-appointment-only time slots to retrieve essential items. These appointments are not times to move out all of your belongings. We are holding short windows of time for students who may have forgotten essential items prior to leaving campus. I know that this is a tremendous inconvenience to all of you but would request your assistance in reserving these limited time slots so that we can serve your classmates who are most in need at this time.

Students who have been preapproved to stay on campus should continue to follow the individual directives provided to you by Residence Life on Monday.

Once we are cleared by state and local authorities to resume the move out process, we will communicate to all. For those students living considerable distances, we will also provide information to you to accommodate your situations.

The Office of Public Safety has already made specific plans (which have been shared on InsideSMCM) to monitor building security while you are away from campus and will continue to partner with the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office to keep the campus secure. Again, I regret our need for this postponement. I will be in touch once we can resume the move out process.

Sincerely,

Leonard Brown
Vice President for Student Affairs, Dean of Students

Coronavirus March 23, 2020 – Spring 2020 Move Out
Dear Students and Families,

I want to start by thanking each of you for your patience and cooperation as we navigate this situation as a community. Seeing us work together as Seahawks has reaffirmed my belief in the core values we share. I am grateful for all of the students, staff, faculty, and families who have all pulled together in this uncertain time. I also want to remind students that be it the Wellness Center, OS3, or our incredible RA staff, we remain ready to support you in any way we can so please do not hesitate to reach out.

You are likely aware of the letter to the campus community from President Jordan that was sent out on Thursday, March 19. In her letter, she announced that the College is suspending face-to-face instruction for the remainder of the semester as a result of the ongoing concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic. This also means that we are suspending on-campus housing as well. This letter is intended to provide residential students with instructions on how to retrieve their belongings from their residence hall rooms.

We recognized that returning to campus to pick up belongings may present some challenges and inconvenience. In order to accommodate all of our students returning to campus while also keeping in mind the health of the community, we have developed a process to give students enough time to pick up belongings while respecting social distances. Please review these key points:

  1. The College is closely monitoring federal, state, and local directives. Please be aware that the schedule delineated in this communication may change if the situation dictates that it would be in the best interest of safety and public health.
  2. The indicated schedule will not be the only time for you to retrieve your belongings and you are not required to participate in this process if you are unable or prefer to wait.
  3. We ask that if you have traveled over spring break, have any symptoms related to COVID-19, are in self-quarantine, or live with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who is in self-quarantine, that you do not come to campus at this time.
  4. Each student will be assigned a specific block of time to enter their room, pack their belongings and return home. Specific directions are below. The time blocks are assigned by alphabetical order over three days to allow for social distancing. There will be a handful of roommates who will be assigned the same time slot. We ask that you coordinate with your roommates to ensure only one person is in the room at a time.
  5. Students who have concerns related to chronic illnesses may email the Office of Residence Life at residencelifemoveout@smcm.edu to make individual appointments to move out.
  6. During the intervening time between each move out block, staff will go through each building to wipe down and disinfect community surfaces prior to the start of the next move out block.

Please know that while we have staff available to answer questions during this process, they will be practicing social distancing. We ask for you cooperation with assisting us in maintaining social distance throughout this process. To make this process as safe and orderly as possible for everyone, we also ask that you not congregate or linger around campus once you have completed gathering your belongings.

Move Out Instructions

Students are assigned times to return to campus beginning on Friday, March 27th through Monday, March 30th based on the first letter of their last name. Students are permitted to return during the allotted time slot on any of those three days. If the time below does not work for you, please email residencelifemoveout@smcm.edu to schedule an appointment for the week of March 30th. Please email if there are other issues or considerations as well. If you have previously been approved to remain on campus during the two weeks of remote learning, you will receive a separate email about your status for the remainder of the semester. Continue to check the College’s website and your e-mail for more information or further instruction.

Based on the first letter of your last name your move out time is:

March 27-30, 2020 March 27-30, 2020 March 27-30, 2020
8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Caroline A-G H-P Q-Z
Dorchester A-F G-O P-Z
Prince George A-F G-M N-Z
Queen Anne A-H I-P Q-Z
Townhouses A-G H-O P-Z
Lewis Quad A-F G-M N-Z
Waring Commons A-G H-P Q-Z

Residence Life Move-Out Process: Upon returning to campus, report to your building’s Resident Assistant Office to pick up a key envelope. Please write your full name, room number, and ID number on the envelope. To facilitate an efficient process, you will not need to complete a thorough check-out process. As you remove the last of your belongings, before leaving please place your room key and mailbox key in the key envelope provided to you when you arrived. Place your key envelope in the drop box at the Resident Assistant Office.

We understand this is not the end to the academic year you expected, but we are taking these steps for the health and safety of all students, faculty, staff, and our community. We are all here to support each of you through this process and I have every confidence that by working together, we will make it all work.

Sincerely,

Leonard Brown
Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

Coronavirus March 19, 2020 – Spring 2020 Update
Dear Campus Community Members,

As I’ve shared, most especially during this academic year, the safety of the members of our campus community is the top priority for us. That commitment grows stronger with each day we are in the midst of this pandemic. Thus, today I write to tell you that after considerable time in consultation with state and local agencies, evaluating public health and science reports, listening to infectious disease experts, and deliberating with the College’s leadership team and members of the Board of Trustees, St. Mary’s College of Maryland will extend remote/online instruction through the end of the spring 2020 semester. There is no other viable solution if we are to remain committed to keeping the members of the St. Mary’s College community safe while educating our students.

There are many more decisions we have yet to make. These decisions will come as we better understand the nature of the pandemic. Please periodically check our COVID-19 site, which includes FAQs for students, faculty, and staff, to address any potential questions you may have. As we work to clarify next steps, we must and shall continue to work in concert and in collaboration with our higher ed colleagues across the state and align with state and government policies. We appreciate your patience as we work tirelessly to respond to this evolving situation.

Here are a few issues that are important to our students and families that we are working to address right now.

COMMENCEMENT

We have no choice but to postpone Commencement. For how long and what form it will take have yet to be decided. I know this is disappointing to members of the Class of 2020, their families and friends, and to all of the faculty and staff who have been with them throughout their tenure at the College and want to be there with them to celebrate this momentous occasion. I assure you we are working on ideas to acknowledge and celebrate each graduate and their accomplishments. As soon as we have details, we will share them with the graduates to afford everyone time to plan to partake in the occasion.

FEES

Now that we know that our students will not be returning to campus for the rest of the spring semester, we are in a better position to begin making decisions about charges for room, board, and fees. Due to the complexity of the situation, this will take time as it needs to be done in conjunction with evolving state and government policies and recommendations. Our students and their families will receive more information on this issue as soon as possible. Thank you all for your patience, understanding, support, and flexibility.

RETRIEVAL OF ITEMS FROM RESIDENCE HALLS

We know that all of the students who left campus for what we originally thought was going to be three weeks are anxious to return to collect their belongings. They will receive information from the Residence Life staff with specifics regarding the coordinated retrieval process on Monday, March 23, 2020. Please do not come to campus before you are instructed so that the staff can ensure social distancing measures are followed. Students who were previously approved to stay on campus during Spring Break and during the remote/online instruction period will receive a communication from Residence Life staff as well.

These uncertain times and all of these disruptions are not what any of us had envisioned. Undoubtedly, it’s heartbreaking for many of us as we work toward finishing out the semester without in-person instruction, without spring athletic events, and without a host of our other events and traditions. But know that we will finish this semester and we will finish it together as one St. Mary’s family. Predicting the future is not something in my wheelhouse and I feel in my gut this won’t be a smooth ride but I believe that we will get through this and together we will be okay.

Today marks the first day of spring and with spring comes the return of the osprey to campus. I saw a few as I drove to my office and I took a moment to reflect not just on the osprey but all that happens in springtime. The daffodils stand tall, the air smells sweeter, and birds sing a little louder. Through all of this uncertainty there is still so much joy all around us, and we cannot lose sight of that.

We are St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and as our poet laureate Lucille Clifton wrote,

 
“may the tide

that is entering even now

the lip of our understanding

carry you out

beyond the face of fear

may you kiss

the wind then turn from it

certain that it will

love your back may you

open your eyes to water

water waving forever

and may you in your innocence

sail through this to that”

 
Remain strong. We’ll stay in touch.

 
Sincerely,

Tuajuanda C. Jordan, PhD

President

Coronavirus March 13, 2020 – COVID-19 Update
Dear College Community,

During this period of massive disruption, we must not lose sight of the need to be humane and compassionate. We have all been impacted by this unprecedented circumstance. In the spirit of the St. Mary’s Way, it is important that we not only take care of ourselves but others around us. It is also important for us to remain strong and to continue to prepare for a brighter tomorrow.

I want you to know that St. Mary’s College continues to take the necessary steps to keep our community as safe and as informed as possible and that our actions will continue to evolve as the Governor and the nation implement steps to stem the spread of COVID-19. Know that at this time, there continues to be no campus-associated or county-associated cases of COVID-19, but an abundance of caution is still required.

As a residential College we have responsibilities to our community that extend beyond providing an excellent educational experience. In this period of uncertainty, we must try to balance a multitude of factors. We have some students who must remain on campus throughout this period of disruption, and we are responsible for their safety and welfare. This is one of the important reasons the College will remain open March 16 – April 3.

Our efforts to focus on the safety and well-being of our community members have taken priority over other matters at this time. We are aware there are concerns being expressed by families regarding reimbursement of fees for housing and meals. Although the College has not made any decisions yet, we are very sensitive to the financial implications associated with not allowing students to return after Spring Break during the period of remote/online instruction. The evolving pandemic makes definitive decisions about those costs virtually impossible to address at this time. The College is investigating every possible means to limit negative financial implications. Our first focus is on the health and safety of our campus community and then we will turn our attention to the litany of other issues.

There are concerns that allowing students to return from Spring Break puts the employees at higher risk of contracting COVID-19. The unique coronavirus has an incubation period of 5 to 11 days by most reports. By having students remain off campus for 14 days beyond Spring Break, we are giving the coronavirus time to manifest itself. If a student exhibits symptoms within that period, they are to follow the advice of health and medical professionals and not return to campus until they are cleared by a physician. This policy mitigates the spread of the virus and thus helps protect faculty, staff, and students from getting sick.

FACULTY AND STAFF

During Spring Break all campus offices will follow the typical Spring Break schedule. However, business operations may be modified. Because of the pandemic, the College has refined the definition of “essential personnel” and who qualifies as such. Those who are considered essential personnel may change depending on the evolution of the pandemic. Your vice president or designee will contact you regarding your status. All non-essential personnel will be permitted to telework in accordance to our revised policy effective throughout the pandemic. If your current status as an essential employee temporarily reverts to a non-essential employee during the pandemic, either you will be instructed to telework or you will be placed on paid administrative leave and be on-call. Should you have any questions, please contact Human Resources and see suggested teleworking guidance.

If you need technology assistance to accommodate telework, submit a ticket. For additional support, contact E. Jenell Sargent, asst. VP of information technology and chief information officer at 240-895-4331 or ejsargent@smcm.edu.

These are extraordinary times that require extraordinary measures. Throughout it all, it remains important to take time out and enjoy all that are important to you. Take care of yourself and others. Check your email often. Wash your hands. We look forward to your return to the home of the most beautiful sunsets in Maryland.

Sincerely,

Tuajuanda C. Jordan, PhD

President

Coronavirus March 11, 2020 – COVID-19 Update
Dear College Community,

As you know, the College has been working closely with the St. Mary’s County Health Department to ensure we can provide our community (students, faculty, and staff) with the most up-to-date information regarding COVID-19.  While there are no campus-associated or county-associated cases of COVID-19 at this time, we know there are nine confirmed cases in Maryland and that number is likely to grow.

While these may seem like distressing times, we have been advised by the health department not to panic but rather, to be as prepared as possible. The College continues to err on the side of abundant caution by putting measures in place to prevent the spread of illness. We understand these measures have caused disruptions but at this time we believe the risk justifies these disruptions.

One of the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to minimize the circumstances in which individuals may interact and transmit disease.

Below are a number of updates related to classes, work arrangements, travel and campus events that will allow us to continue the education of our students while protecting our community. These measures closely align with, and have been adapted from, those to be taken at schools that are part of the University System of Maryland and other higher education institutions.

CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION

Spring Break is the week of March 16 – 20, 2020.  St. Mary’s College is preparing to transition to online/remote instruction when classes resume after Spring Break. Face-to-face instruction in lectures, seminars, and other similar classroom settings will be suspended for two weeks beyond the conclusion of Spring Break.  When preparing to leave for Spring Break, we ask students to take all essential belongings, medications, and course materials from your residence hall or work space.

Thus, students should plan to not return to campus but to continue their education through online/remote instruction from March 23 – April 3, 2020. Students who are approved to remain on campus during Spring Break must limit their travel to a 50-mile radius of the campus through April 3 (for athletic events, see guidelines below). Students, faculty, and staff who take part in a Spring Break event that concludes before the end of Spring Break may not return to campus at the conclusion of the activity. These individuals should go home or make arrangements to stay at an off-campus location through April 3, 2020.

All residential students are expected to vacate campus by 5:00 p.m. this Friday, March 13, 2020 and remain off campus until Saturday, April 4, at noon. Students requiring additional time to vacate campus or who wish to stay on campus during Spring Break, should request permission via this form. These special requests must be submitted no later than Friday, March 13, 2020, by 10:00 a.m.

The Great Room will be closed for Spring Break (March 14 – 21) as scheduled, and will reopen on Sunday, March 22.

Faculty and students will be using online/remote platforms for instruction, including but not limited to, the College’s Blackboard Learning Management System and Go-to-Meeting. Students will receive specific assignments and directions for their coursework from faculty. Online/remote instruction will occur following the normal course schedule as defined by the course syllabus. Faculty who elect to use online/remote platforms other than Blackboard must provide access to their materials to the Provost’s Office in advance.

Students having questions regarding accommodations or accessibility during this period should contact OAS at adasupport@smcm.edu.

Students and faculty who may have difficulty accessing online/remote materials from home or off-campus, should submit a ticket. If you have special technology needs such as computer or connectivity issues, contact E. Jenell Sargent, asst. VP of information technology and chief information officer at 240-895-4331, ejsargent@smcm.edu.

Students who may have questions about continuing counseling or health appointments are encouraged to contact The Wellness Center at 240-895-4289. The 24/7 Counseling Help Line for SMCM students will remain available to students at 240-895-4200.

Dean Leonard Brown and Student Affairs staff will be available to answer individual student questions on Wednesday, March 11, from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. and on Thursday, March 12, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. in the Student Activities Leadership Lab in the Campus Center.

Commuter students who have questions are encouraged to contact Dean Brown at 240-895-4208.

Faculty wanting information about the online/remote platforms and/or best teaching practices related to online/remote instruction should contact the Director of the Center for Inclusive Teaching & Learning Samantha Elliott at 240-895-4101 or at slelliott@smcm.edu. For specific training on Blackboard or Go-To-Meeting, contact Senior Instructional Technologist Jennifer Falkowski at 240-895-3141 or jafalkowski@smcm.edu.

FACULTY and STAFF

St. Mary’s College will remain open throughout this period and engage in business as usual. Thus, faculty and staff should report to the College for their normal work schedules. If during the online/remote period of instruction (March 23 – April 3, 2020), a faculty member decides not to work on campus, they must get approval from the Provost. All staff requests should be in accordance with the College’s telework policy, which requires direct supervisor involvement.

EVENTS

All large (> 100 anticipated attendees) non-essential on-campus events scheduled for the period of March 16 – April 3 are to be canceled or postponed. This includes the Presidential Lecture Series and the Mark Twain Lecture. Admitted Seahawk Day, originally scheduled for April 4, has been tentatively rescheduled for Sunday, April 19. At this time, the Open House will continue as planned on Saturday, April 18. We are encouraging organizers for scheduled, mid-size (25 – 99 anticipated attendees) non-essential events occurring on campus during March 16 – April 3 to immediately evaluate whether these events must continue.

For athletic events, all home games, matches, and regattas may proceed but without spectators during the period of March 16 – April 3, 2020. Athletic events that are scheduled to occur away from campus may proceed as scheduled only if they are within the state of Maryland to be in compliance with Governor Hogan’s decree issued on March 9.

TRAVEL

Domestic Travel: According to the Governor’s decree, all College-supported out-of-state travel by students, faculty, and staff is currently suspended.

International Travel: Currently, all College-supported international travel has been suspended indefinitely.

Personal Travel: If you return to campus after traveling to an area that is highly impacted by COVID-19 or come into contact with someone who has COVID-19, you may be required to self-monitor for two weeks upon your return for symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, trouble breathing, or fever). You may even be asked to self-isolate depending on your exposure risk and the status of the epidemic at that time. If you develop symptoms, further action such as isolation and testing may be warranted. The determination of whether isolation is necessary will be made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the St. Mary’s County Health Department. Where you self-isolate will depend on your community status. Faculty, staff members, or commuter students will be advised to self-isolate off-campus. If you are a residential student, where you self-isolate will be determined on a case-by-case basis in consultation with Residence Life staff and, if appropriate, the St. Mary’s County Health Department. If symptoms develop, students, faculty, and staff need to immediately contact The Wellness Center (240-895-4289) during normal business hours. If you are on-campus after-hours, contact Public Safety (240-895-4911). If you are off-campus during the onset of symptoms, contact a healthcare provider or call ahead to a medical facility and let them know about your recent travel risk and/or contact with someone known to have COVID-19.

This period of disruption requires proactive measures to slow disease transmission while continuing to provide our students with an honors college experience. This is a dynamic situation that continues to evolve every day. During this period of uncertainty, know that we will continue to communicate with you openly and as often as necessary.

Thank you for helping us keep our campus community healthy and safe and for doing your part during this public health emergency to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Sincerely,

Tuajuanda C. Jordan, PhD

President

Coronavirus March 8, 2020 – travel restrictions II
Dear Campus Community,

As you know, the College has been working closely with the St. Mary’s County Health Department to ensure we can provide our community with the most up-to-date information regarding COVID-19. This email is intended to provide you with updated information and to clarify information specific to travel.

Domestic Travel: For the time being, the College is suspending all College-supported out-of-state travel by students, faculty, and staff to locations within the United States that have declared coronavirus-related emergencies (currently, California, Florida, Washington, New York, and Oregon).

International Travel: Currently, all College-supported international travel has been suspended indefinitely.

Personal Travel: If you travel to an area that is highly impacted by COVID-19 or come into contact with a known carrier, AND you begin to develop symptoms (fever and cough and difficulty breathing), students, faculty, and staff need to immediately contact The Wellness Center (240-895-4289) during normal business hours. If you are on-campus after-hours, contact Public Safety (240-895-4911). If you are off-campus during the onset of symptoms, contact the Emergency Operations Center (301-475-8016). Additionally, College personnel, specifically, staff of The Wellness Center, may ask you to undergo a 14-day self-isolation. The determination of whether a self-isolation is necessary will be made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the St. Mary’s County Health Department. If it is necessary, where you self-isolate will depend on your community status. If you are either a faculty or staff member, or a commuter student, the self-isolation should be off-campus. If you are a residential student, where you self-isolate will be determined on a case-by-case basis in consultation with Residence Life staff and, if appropriate, the Health Department.

As the number of cases continues to rise across the country, we should expect that members of our community will be notified that they were in locations or at events where there was someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. In these cases, the College will work with those community members to monitor for symptoms (fever and cough and difficulty breathing). The affected community member will be expected to check for fever twice a day and to report any signs of symptoms to The Wellness Center. However, until fever and cough and difficulty breathing are all apparent, most community members will not be asked to self-isolate.

In order to help protect students, faculty, and staff, the College has taken a number of steps to stem the transmission of the coronavirus. Housekeeping staff will be increasing cleaning efforts to mitigate potential viral spread from contaminated surfaces. Germicidal wipes have been distributed throughout campus in common areas such as RA offices, fiscal associate/office associate offices, and welcome desks; a limited number of hand sanitizer stations will be distributed on Monday, March 9, 2020 as an added precaution.

Finally, out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to reschedule the planned March 10, 2020, St. Mary’s Day. In lieu of St. Mary’s Day on Tuesday, the College will resume normal operations. This means all classes will be held as normally scheduled and all offices will be open for business as usual. Vice President Tayo Clyburn will send the new date for St. Mary’s Day to students, faculty, and staff when appropriate. We will determine how to deal with upcoming large events in the near future.

Thank you for helping us keep the St. Mary’s College community safe and well.

Updated communiques and links to valuable resources are available on St. Mary’s College’s website: https://dev.smcm.edu/wellness/coronavirus/

Sincerely,

Tuajuanda C. Jordan, PhD
President

Coronavirus March 6, 2020 – travel restrictions

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

St. Mary’s College of Maryland continues to monitor the latest information related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), taking appropriate action as needed.

Yesterday (March 5), Governor Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency and announced that the state’s Public Health Laboratory in Baltimore has confirmed the first three positive cases of novel coronavirus in Maryland. The patients, who contracted the virus while traveling overseas, are in good condition and are in quarantine at their homes in Montgomery County. At this time, there are still no confirmed cases of coronavirus at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

As you are aware, coronavirus continues to spread domestically and internationally. Based on guidance from heath organizations and the higher-education community, the College has implemented new travel restrictions for St. Mary’s College to mitigate the potential impact to our campus and made considerations regarding large gatherings. First, the travel.

Domestic Travel: The College is suspending for the time being all College-supported out-of-state travel by students, faculty, or staff to locations within the United States that have declared coronavirus-related emergencies (currently, California, Florida, and Washington).

International Travel: Currently, all College-supported international travel has been suspended indefinitely.

Given the rapidly changing nature of the virus, if you choose to travel to affected areas on your own time – for spring break (March 16 – 20) or otherwise – you may also be expected to undergo a 14-day self-isolation off-campus upon return and be expected to seek medical attention if you develop symptoms of coronavirus. After self-isolation, you will need clearance from a doctor before returning to campus. International students who travel abroad during spring break should understand that ever-changing travel restrictions may prevent them from re-entering the United States. Students who want to stay on campus during spring break should contact the Office of Residence Life at 240-895-4207.

New information by the St. Mary’s County Health Department is as follows: If you have recently traveled to any geographic area of concern or were in contact with someone with coronavirus, and you become sick with fever, cough or have difficulty breathing, seek medical care right away. Follow these steps: • Call your doctor or emergency room before you go • Tell them about recent travel and close contacts (such as people in your household) • Wear a mask, if one is available.

And now, large gatherings. The question becomes, what to do about this in general, especially in light of the much-anticipated St. Mary’s Day that has been scheduled for Tuesday, March 10th. This is an incredibly important activity for our community as it helps us navigate issues of inclusion that extend well beyond race and we sorely need help in doing that. Nonetheless, in spite of the fact that there have been no COVID-19 cases reported in Southern Maryland and to decrease the likelihood of mass exposure to a potentially infected individual, St. Mary’s Day will be re-scheduled to a later date. Dr. Clyburn will send the new date when appropriate. We will determine how to deal with upcoming large events in the near future.

We continue to urge all members of our community at home and abroad to practice measures to prevent infection and stay informed through the following resources:

CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
WHO: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
Maryland Department of Health: https://phpa.health.maryland.gov/Pages/Novel-coronavirus.aspx

Updated communiques and links to valuable resources are available on St. Mary’s College’s website: https://dev.smcm.edu/wellness/coronavirus/

Sincerely,

Tuajuanda C. Jordan, PhD
President

Coronavirus March 2, 2020 – Italy travel

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:St. Mary’s College of Maryland continues to monitor the latest information related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and continues to take appropriate action as needed.

At this time, there are still no confirmed cases of coronavirus at St. Mary’s College of Maryland or in the State of Maryland.

Since our last communication, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued new travel guidance for Italy. The CDC categorizes travel advisories into three categories: Warning Level 3 (avoid nonessential travel—widespread community transmission); Alert Level 2 (practice enhanced precautions—those with chronic medical conditions and older adults should consider postponing travel); and Watch Level 1 (practice usual precautions).

On Saturday, February 28, the CDC moved Italy from Alert Level 2 to Warning Level 3. In light of this change, the College will suspend Study Abroad programs in Italy for Spring 2020. Students in these programs will receive guidance immediately, directly from our Office of International Education, regarding return to the U.S. and possible online study options. As most students will be completing their work online, we are requesting that they return to their homes away from campus, follow CDC guidelines to self-quarantine for 14 days, and seek medical support and advice as needed before visiting campus.

We continue to urge all members of our community at home and abroad to practice measures to prevent infection and stay informed through the following resources:

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
World Health Organization
Maryland Department of Health

Sincerely,

Leonard Brown
Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

Coronavirus February 20, 2020 – spring break

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:St. Mary’s College of Maryland continues to monitor the latest information related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and continues to take appropriate action as needed.

Additionally, the College is taking the following actions:

  • Members of the College’s Executive Council and Emergency Response Team are attending statewide meetings intended to assist colleges and universities in preparing for the coronavirus.
  • Our staff in The Wellness Center is communicating regularly with the St. Mary’s County Health Department as we continue to monitor and assess this evolving situation.
  • The Office of International Education is monitoring the situation worldwide.
  • We have been in contact with students studying abroad and have provided reminders/tips for them to stay healthy, along with recommendations not to travel to China, South Korea, and Northern Italy.
  • Classes are continuing to run for students studying in Perugia and Rome, Italy, but as a precautionary measure, field trips and travel activities have been suspended, and we have recommended that those students refrain from independent travel.

During St. Mary’s College’s spring break (March 16 – 20), we urge the campus community to keep current on the spread of the virus and the latest travel restrictions by visiting the CDC website. The latest updates to the campus community can also be found at our Wellness Center website.

What can you do to protect yourself? While there is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus, the CDC recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
  • Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
    • CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including coronavirus.
    • Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of coronavirus to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
    • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

Any student, faculty or staff member who develops a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or shortness of breath, within 14 days after travel from China or has been in close contact with someone showing these symptoms who has recently traveled from this area, should call ahead to a healthcare professional and mention your close contact and recent travel.

CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to the People’s Republic of China (this does not include Hong Kong, Macau, or the island of Taiwan). Remember, people—including those of Asian descent—who have not recently traveled to China or been in contact with a person who is a confirmed or suspected case of coronavirus are not at greater risk of acquiring and spreading coronavirus than other Americans.

Stay informed:
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
World Health Organization
Maryland Department of Health

Sincerely,

Leonard Brown
Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

Coronavirus January 29, 2020 – monitoring coronavirus/China

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

St. Mary’s College of Maryland is actively monitoring the developments related to the newly detected coronavirus, an illness first discovered in Wuhan City, China, that is similar to pneumonia, affecting the respiratory system.

At this time, there have been five cases diagnosed in the United States but there are no reported cases in Maryland.

Our staff in The Wellness Center is communicating regularly with the St. Mary’s County Health Department as we continue to monitor and assess this evolving situation. In an effort to limit exposure to the virus, the College has canceled the study abroad program at Fudan University, China, for the Spring 2020 semester. The College is prepared to take further steps, if needed.

Any student, faculty or staff member who has traveled to or been in contact with someone who has traveled to Wuhan, China, after Dec. 1, and presents symptoms that include fever, cough, shortness of breath and sore throat should seek medical care. Students should contact The Wellness Center at 240-895-4289 and faculty and staff should contact their primary care physician.

Like all viral illness, it is suspected that the coronavirus is spread from person to person through saliva or through droplets in the air when someone coughs or sneezes. The following precautions should be taken to help protect yourself from the spread of all viruses:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick
  • Stay home when you are sick (faculty and staff)
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

More information is available from the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization:

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
World Health Organization

Sincerely,

Leonard Brown
Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

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