Spring Semester 2021
At College of Saint Mary, our mission is provide access to education for women in an environment that calls forth potential and fosters leadership. We do this by addressing the concerns of our times through a spirit of mutuality and social responsibility, with dignity, compassion, inclusivity, and integrity. Through that lens, we are being intentional and collaborative in developing strategies to support prevention and slowing of the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Below you will find information and resources related to COVID-19 and Spring 2021 semester.
Being a part of the CSM community means that each of us must take extraordinary steps to stay well and protect each other both on campus and in the community. As such, we encourage all students, faculty, and staff to read and take to heart our community pledge. Take the pledge here.
COVID-19 Statistics at CSM
College of Saint Mary maintains this data to inform our community about the number of COVID-19 cases among students, faculty and staff who are on our campus. This information only includes positive cases that the university has been made aware of and verified. In cases where a student or employee fails to disclose to the university they have tested positive, the university would have no official knowledge of that information.
*Confidentiality laws prohibit the university from disclosing any identifying information about affected individuals. Any individual who has tested positive is required to be isolated, and anyone believed to be at risk for exposure wil be contacted and asked to self-quarantine.
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Spring 2021 Schedule
The complete updated fall academic calendar can be found here. Highlights are included below.
January 11, 2021 – Undergraduate classes begin
January 19, 2021 – Last Day for Late Day/Evening/Online Registration Add/Drop
March 29, 2021 – Spring Break begins
April 2, 2021 – College Closed for Good Friday
April 6, 2021 – Day/Evening classes resume
May 10-13, 2021 – Final Exam Week
May 15-16, 2021 – Graduation weekend events and ceremonies
Community Health Precautions
Masks - All students, faculty and staff will be required to wear masks to slow and prevent the spread of the virus. Disposable masks will be available in the Information Center (ground floor of Walsh Hall) and in the Library, with additional washable masks available for purchase in the Campus Store.
*We understand that in rare situations, individuals are unable to wear a mask due to health issues. In these instances, please use a face shield, continue to practice social distancing, and send a notice of this in on the “Health Self Reporting Form” (we will inform the faculty who teach your courses).
Social Distancing
- Individuals are requested to maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet when possible.
- Classrooms have been adapted to ensure appropriate spacing and/or the addition of Plexiglas dividers.
- Only two people should sit at each table in the library, residence hall lounges, and study areas.
- Elevator occupancy is limited to 4 people at a time.
- Narrow stairways have been transitioned to one-way.
- Faculty and staff meetings will continue to be online in the spring, which has freed up meeting rooms to be utilized for additional classroom space.
Classroom Cleaning – Faculty and students will be asked to wipe down any surfaces or equipment they utilized at the end of each class. Cleaning supplies will be provided and the passing periods between classes have been extended from 10 to 15 minutes to allow for additional time for cleaning without taking away learning time.
Self-Screening – All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to self-screen daily. The University of Nebraska Medical Center has developed a quick and easy application: “1-Check COVID” which you can download to your Android or iPhone.
Hand Sanitizer – Hand sanitizing stations are placed at high traffic entrances of buildings.
Hand Washing – Reminders of proper hand washing practices have been placed in all restrooms.
Water Fountains – Water fountains will be transitioned to touchless water fill stations.
Academics
Courses – All traditional courses will be delivered in a face-to-face format, with online enhancements through Canvas.
Faculty and masks - Faculty must wear a mask when teaching. They are also welcome to wear a face shield in addition to their mask if they choose.
Faculty online office hours - Faculty will continue to be available for at least 10 office hours per week in the form of Zoom, on Canvas, via email, as well as by phone. If a student contacts a faculty member via email during office hours, the student can expect a response before the end of the day.
Assigned seating - Students will have a choice of preferred seating. However, once a seat has been selected, we will highly encourage student to keep this seat to minimize risk and to assist with contract tracing should such be necessary. Faculty may use the seating chart feature in Canvas. This feature makes contact tracing much easier, if needed.
Quarantine or Isolation accommodations - Similar to management of all illnesses, if a student needs to quarantine or isolate due to COVID-19, faculty will make accommodations to allow for the student to complete as much of their academic studies remotely as possible.
Student Resources
Campus Store - No more than 10 people will be allowed in the Campus Store at one time. The Campus Store will open for regular hours on January 4. Students can go to http://campusstore.csm.edu/home to find spring textbooks. You can select to have the books shipped to you or select in-store pickup. Payment options include financial aid, although to use your financial aid you must make arrangements with the Express Center prior to picking up your books. For any questions, call the Campus Store at 402-399-2462.
Express Center – For their convenience, students are asked to do as much as possible online or over the phone. To promote social distancing, no more than two students will be allowed in Express Center at one time. Please see our how-to guide for answers to many of the financial aid and student account frequently asked questions.
Dining Hall - The Dining Hall will be open for regular hours beginning the evening of January 9, 2021. Seating will be limited to four people per table and students will be asked not to move tables or chairs. All food will be pre-packaged or served to students. There will be no self-serve buffet or salad bars containing unpackaged food.
Library - The Library will remain open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To ensure safety, seating at group tables will be limited to 2 per table. Students are asked not to move the tables. Plexiglas will be inserted between the computers to ensure social distance.
Emotional/Mental Health Counseling - These services will continue to be available in both a face-to-face or remote format. For information and questions about accessing counseling services, contact Director of Counseling Andrea Joyce at ajoyce [at] csm.edu.
Tutoring – These services will continue to be available in both a face-to-face or remote format. For information and questions about accessing tutoring services, contact Mary Schlueter, Director of Learning Support at mschlueter [at] csm.edu.
ADA Accommodations – These services will continue to be available in both a face-to-face or remote format. For information and questions about accessing ADA accommodations, contact our ADA Accommodations Coordinator Christina Tingwald at ada [at] csm.edu.
Child Care – CSM is currently sponsoring Kids Club to assist CSM students, faculty and staff who have children in OPS or other districts utilizing a 3/2 plan and are in grades kindergarten through 6th grade by providing tutoring and activities on campus for the days children are required to attend online learning. Kids Club will take registrations for Spring 2021 if children are in a 3/2 or all online program starting January 2021. Register now if you know your school districts learning plans. Families do not need to register if they are already participating in Kids Club.
Residence Halls
Move-In
- New CSM Students will be able to move in on Saturday, January 9, 2021, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 pm. Returning students may move in Saturday, January 9th and Sunday, January 10th with the last name beginning with A-L from 1:00-3:00 p.m. and M-Z from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Students arriving outside their designated move-in period will be asked to return during their assigned time.
- No more than two guests may assist each student.
- Before admittance into the residence halls, all students and guests will have their temperatures checked via touchless thermal thermometers and asked a few simple questions to screen for COVID-19 symptoms.
- All students and guests must wear facial coverings during the entire move-in process and practice 6-foot social distancing with other students and their guests.
- Immediately after students are moved in and unpacked, guests will be expected to depart campus.
- We ask new students to complete check-in paperwork ahead of time to prevent lines and groups that would typically occur while completing paperwork in person. New students should check their CSM email for these forms, print and complete them, and bring them to their designated move-in timeframe.
Guests - Visitation of guests will be available from 7:00 pm – 12:00 am, daily (Monday – Sunday). All guests are to be checked in at the front desk and provide a photo ID upon check in. Before admittance into the residence halls, all guests will have their temperatures checked via touchless thermal thermometers and asked a few simple questions to screen for COVID-19 symptoms. Each resident is allowed one guest (residential or non-residential) in their space. For a total of two people per single room, four people per double room, and eight people per four-person suite. No overnight guests will be allowed at this time.
Social Distancing – Residents should exercise safe social distancing (of at least 6 feet) and wear a mask when in the residence hall's common spaces and hallways. No more than four resident students can be in one residence hall room at a time. Elevators are limited to four people at a time. Stairwells are designated as the “up” and the “down.”
Cleaning - Common areas, including restrooms, will be disinfected more frequently, and complimentary sanitization products are provided in these spaces.
COVID-19 – If a resident student has been exposed to or has tested positive for COVID-19, they will be able to remain in quarantine or isolation on campus or can choose to move home temporarily if located in Douglas County. Residence Life Staff will provide support services for meals, laundry, trash removal, and package delivery.
Athletics
Participation – All Flames athletic teams will be able to practice and compete, per the NAIA guidelines.
Screening – Student athletes and coaches will be required to be screened for COVID-19 prior to every team practice, team meeting, and all home or away competitions.
Masks for student-athletes –Masks will not be required during team practices or competitions due to the health risks and restriction of airflow to student-athletes while participating in physical activities. However, masks are to be worn prior to or after active team practices and will be worn on the sideline during competitions.
Spectators – Spectators will be welcomed to CSM sporting events. They will be required to wear masks at all times while in attendance and the number of attendees will be aligned with current state guidelines.
Weight Room – The weight room in the Walsh Hall Annex will be open, but limited to 8 users at a time. Wearing a mask is highly encouraged while working out. Users will be asked to clean equipment immediately after each use. Hours starting January 10, 2020 will be: Monday to Thursday 7am-10pm, Friday 7am-6pm, and limited hours Saturday and Sunday. Hours of operation can be found at CSMFlames.com.
COVID-19 Symptoms and/or Diagnoses
Self-Screening – All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to self-screen daily, but at a minimum please do so at least twice a week. The University of Nebraska Medical Center has developed a quick and easy application: “1-Check COVID” which you can download to your Android or iPhone.
Testing – Free COVID-19 testing is available through Test Nebraska. In addition, other sites providing free testing can be found here: https://www.douglascountyhealth.com/109-dchd/home/covid-19/773-where-to-...
Confirmed COVID-19 – If you test positive for COVID-19, contact your health care professional and please complete the “Health Self Reporting Form” (button also found to your right on this page). A CSM employee will get in contact with you to help you in making any accommodations to your living, learning, or working conditions. You will need to be in isolation for 10 days from a positive diagnosis and/or the start of symptoms.
Exposure to COVID-19 – If you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, contact your health care professional and please complete the “Health Self Reporting Form” (button also found to your right on this page). A CSM employee will get in contact with you to help you in making any accommodations to your living, learning, or working conditions. You will need to be in self-quarantine for 14 days from the last date of possible exposure, or may be able to quarantine for 7 or 10 days with two alternatives:
- You can get tested on or after day 5. If your test is negative you may be able to discontinue in-home quarantine on day 8 if you don’t have symptoms.
- If you have no symptoms on or before day 10, you can discontinue in-home quarantine on day 11.
For both alternatives, you must keep wearing your mask at all times and monitor for symptoms through day 14.
Resident Students – If a resident student has been exposed to or has tested positive for COVID-19, they will be able to remain in quarantine or isolation on campus, or can choose to temporarily move home if from the metro area. Support services for meals, laundry, and package delivery will be provided if remaining on campus.
Contact Tracing – The Douglas County Health Department has the primary responsibility for conducting contact tracing of individuals in the County who test positive for COVID-19. The College will help supplement and support their work by having several staff members who are trained in contact tracing through John Hopkins.
