Good afternoon,

As we look forward to welcoming our students back to CSB and SJU, I want to provide an update regarding COVID-19. Over the past few years, the landscape has changed. The severity of the illness has decreased, vaccination and testing are readily available to individuals, and doctors have ready access to prescribe antiviral or monoclonal antibody treatments. As a nation, we are seeing a shift away from COVID-19 mandates toward an approach that emphasizes the personal responsibility of each individual. As we look toward the coming school year, please be aware of the following information.

Vaccination:

• We strongly recommend staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations, but will not require it of students, faculty, or staff.
• For students, Health Services will have both influenza and COVID-19 vaccines available throughout the fall.

Masking:

• Masking is optional everywhere, though masking may still be required in Health Services due to federal/state regulations.
• Faculty and staff can no longer require or request masking of others around them. We wholeheartedly support anyone who continues to wear a mask for any reason. We expect that all members of the CSB and SJU community will be understanding of individual situations and choices.
• For employees - In accordance with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), any requests for accommodation due to medical condition or disability should be submitted through Human Resources here:  ADA Accommodation Form. 

Testing:

• Everyone can order free at-home tests at www.covid.gov/tests.
• Students can schedule a test at Health Services on either campus by calling 320-363-5605.
• We do not have any testing events planned at this time.

Isolation procedures and more info:

• If students test positive for COVID-19, they will isolate in place within residence halls and on campus apartments. However, each campus has reserved residence hall rooms for those wanting to isolate away from roommates. Please visit the CDC website for up-to-date information related to isolation procedures: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html
• If you are exposed to COVID-19, please follow the CDC's latest guidelines, which includes masking for 10 days and testing on day 6 following the exposure: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/if-you-were-exposed.html
• We will no longer be providing contact tracing services.
• No social distancing or capacity restrictions.
• No restrictions on guests or visitors to campus.

We will continue to monitor the changing conditions of the virus. We ask that you please help us keep our campus community healthy by staying home if you are ill.

Please feel free to email [email protected] with any questions.

Thank you,

Casey

Casey Gordon, PhD
Chair, Pandemic Planning Committee
Chief Information Officer
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University
[email protected]
320-363-3300