Coronavirus Information (COVID-19)

All Muhlenberg College community members must carry their student and employee IDs at all times while on campus and IDs must be presented when requested by a College official.

Visitors are welcome on campus. Individuals who invite guests to campus are responsible for communicating to them our COVID-19 Policy and providing them with the link to the College’s symptom checker before they come to campus. All campus visitors, contractors, invited guests, etc. regardless of vaccine status must wear face coverings indoors on Muhlenberg’s campus at all times. In addition, all unvaccinated visitors must wear a mask at all times while on campus either indoors or outdoors.

In addition, please see below for specific guidance for particular locations:

Admissions Guests 

All Admissions guests must be registered with the Office of Admissions. When guests register, they will be asked to review the symptom monitoring questions.Guests should only visit campus if they are symptom-free and have had no known recent COVID-19 exposures. In addition, all Admissions guests will wear face coverings indoors. 

Overnight Admissions guest requests will be considered once the College has adjusted to allow for overnight guests in the residence halls. The College will continue to review data locally and on-campus to evaluate this possibility throughout the fall semester.

Athletic Events

The Centennial Conference is still finalizing its spectator policy. That guidance will be part of Muhlenberg College’s Covid-19 Policy as soon as it is available. Currently, Muhlenberg College requires that all visitors to campus, including athletes and staff from visiting institutions and spectators, must wear masks at all times while indoors on campus and complete the symptom checker before coming to campus. Athletes and staff may remove their masks while showering in the locker rooms in the Life Sports Center.  Athletes and staff should adhere to Conference masking requirements during warm-ups and competition.  

Campus Events, Performers, Lecturers, etc.

For large-scale events by invitation such as Alumni Weekend, Class of 2020 Weekend, Family Weekend and Inauguration Weekend, pre-registration will be required to collect contact information for guests of the College. Participants will understand in advance that masks are required indoors by all participants, except when actively eating and drinking. In addition, all guests to these events will complete the symptom checker before coming to campus and will not come to campus if they have any current COVID-19 symptoms or have had a recent direct exposure.

For typical college-sponsored events, masks are to be worn by performers/speakers, etc. while indoors on campus.  However, masks are not required for guest speakers/presenters while presenting or performing.

Performers should be positioned at least 12 feet from audience members throughout the performance.

Classroom Visitors

All invited guests to classrooms on campus must wear masks at all times. At the discretion of the instructor and pursuant to current College Covid-19 Policy, class attendees and instructors may or may not be masked. In addition, the instructor of the course has the discretion to determine if the guests may remove their mask if speaking or performing for the class.

Contractors

All contractors should be registered with the appropriate supervising office. Contractors must complete the symptom checker before coming to campus and should not come to campus if they have had a direct exposure to COVID-19 or have any COVID-19 symptoms. While on campus, all contractors must be masked inside buildings regardless of vaccine status.

Dining for Campus Visitors

Campus visitors are allowed to enter dining facilities while on campus. However, they should be masked at all times while indoors, including while in line, waiting for meals, sitting at indoor dining tables, etc. Masks should only be removed indoors when actively eating and drinking and then should be replaced immediately after.  

As a reminder, for those who may be more comfortable, the College offers to-go dining options and the option to eat outside when the weather permits. In addition, if dining in the Wood Dining Commons, there are some tables in the gallery with plexiglass dividers. Guests to the College and their campus hosts are strongly encouraged to utilize these tables when available for indoor dining.

Life Sports Center

Non-college visitors to the Life Sports Center (LSC) should be masked at all times unless showering or using the pool. When guests visit the LSC, they will be asked to review the symptom monitoring questions and should only visit campus if they are symptom-free and have had no known recent COVID-19 exposures. Muhlenberg College family members, as well as individuals who hold a membership to the LSC, will be asked to show proof of vaccination status in order to gain entry to the facility for exercise equipment or locker room access.

College-Owned Residential Properties (residence halls and MILE properties)

Residential Live visitors: Currently, non-Muhlenberg student visitors are not permitted in the residence halls. This policy will be reviewed regularly for possible adjustments.

Hosting Events on Campus - Fall 2021

For the safety of our campus community and all guests and audience members on the Muhlenberg campus, the following requirements are currently in place.

Event Categories:

Closed Events - Closed Events are events that take place on campus, sponsored by College departments or recognized student organizations, whose intended audience is limited to students, faculty and/or staff. Students must carry their student IDs at all times while on campus and IDs must be presented when requested by a College official.

At this time, College policy requires that attendees wear masks during closed events indoors. However, the College will continue to monitor local and campus conditions and expects to adjust the masking policy for closed events as needed throughout the semester.

Open Events - Open Events are events that take place on campus, sponsored by College departments, recognized student organizations, or external programming managed through Conference & Event Services, whose intended audience includes guests of the College or the general public. These events may include general admission, open to the public, ticketed programs, or by invitation only. The following Open Event types should plan to manage audience access using the following processes:

• Performance Events - These events will follow the Department of Theatre and Dance’s typical ticketing procedures when necessary.
• Athletic Events - Indoor and outdoor athletic events will be managed by Athletics staff in accordance with Centennial Conference and College policy guidance on masking requirements.
• Lectures and Presentations - Masks are required for the audience regardless of vaccination status.  No food or beverage will be permitted.
• Conference & Event Services Rental Events - Conference Services will work with clients to determine if events will require masks or proof of vaccination as part of their registration process. Attendees for all conferences and external events will need to be registered with Conference Services.
• Meals with invited guest presenters - Holding a meal on campus with invited guests is at the discretion of the event planners. These meals should not be required for any participants since the participants will be removing their masks to eat. Event planners may also work with Seegers Union staff to determine what spaces on campus will comfortably and safely meet their needs. 

NOTE: All Muhlenberg College community members must carry their student and employee IDs at all times while on campus and IDs must be presented when requested by a College official.

Large-Scale Open Events by Invitation - Large-Scale Open Events include Alumni Weekend, Class of 2020 Weekend, Family Weekend and Inauguration Weekend.

• Pre-registration will be required to collect contact information for guests of the college. Participants will be notified in advance that masks are required by all participants during indoor events, except for during meal service.

Guest Speakers/Presenters/Performers - Regardless of vaccination status, guest speakers, presenters, and performers will need to wear a mask when on campus indoors and not performing/speaking. At the discretion of the event sponsor, masks are not required for all guest speakers/presenters while presenting or performing.

During Performances/Lectures - Performers and lecturers should be positioned at least 12 feet from audience members throughout the performance. Physical distancing of 3ft or more should be integrated into the setup and performance of the event when possible without disrupting the integrity of the event.

Event Sponsors Responsibilities

• Event sponsors should continue to monitor College policy as their event approaches.  Modifications to processes, access, and capacities could change unexpectedly throughout the semester and we will need to plan accordingly. All other College processes, policy and protocols remain in effect when scheduling events on campus.
• Event sponsors need to determine if a pre-registration mechanism will be used. Unvaccinated individuals will be required to wear masks at all events.
• Event sponsors should make sure that all participants and performers/speakers have access to our symptom assessment questions and have reviewed those ahead of coming.  If they have symptoms, they MUST not come to campus.

*Masking and other restrictions are subject to change in accordance with CDC recommendations, state requirements, and College policy.

*Should we see a change in conditions, the College reserves the right to require pre-event testing and/or proof of vaccination.

*We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we continue to work through an active semester while keeping our community safe.

The College will utilize three specific masking statuses throughout the year. These will be reviewed regularly and will be in effect based on local and campus information and data related to the spread of COVID-19 at any given time. The College expects to shift between these three statuses as needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to support our sense of community on campus. The BOLD phase represents the requirement currently in effect:

GREEN - Masks are required indoors for unvaccinated individuals.

YELLOW - Masks are required indoors for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status.

RED - Masks are required at all times indoors and outdoors for all individuals at the College.

When a mask requirement is in effect, individuals are not required to wear masks while in their assigned living space by themselves or with only designated roommate(s), suitemate(s), or apartment-mate(s); when working in a private, single-occupancy room; and when actively eating and drinking. Other masking considerations include:

• Rehearsals and Performances: During official singing, instrument playing, dancing and theatre rehearsals and/or performances, individuals will not be required to wear masks if they are vaccinated.  
• Athletic Practices and Competitions: Athletes should adhere to College policy, athletic policies specific to each sport, and Centennial Conference requirements.
• Classrooms/Labs and Studio spaces: Individual faculty will have some discretion over their classrooms/studios/lab spaces. When masks are required indoors regardless of vaccination status (level yellow only), faculty may permit masks to be temporarily removed for specific activities. Such activities might include presentations or lectures or for other activities that are for a set amount of time and in spaces that allow physical distancing for the unmasked speaker. When masks are not required indoors for vaccinated individuals on campus (level green), faculty/staff may at their discretion still require masks in their classrooms/labs/studios.  
• Private Offices: Employees may use their discretion in allowing individuals to remove their masks when visiting their private offices when the College is at alert level yellow only.  Employees should not ask other employees or students their individual vaccine status.  When masking indoors is lifted for vaccinated individuals, employees may still require individuals to wear masks when visiting their private offices.
• Health Center: Masks are required regardless of vaccine status in medical facilities.
• Bus Transportation: Masks are required by all individuals while on Muhlenberg and/or privately contracted group transportation.
• Fully Vaccinated Persons post COVID-19 Exposure: Fully vaccinated persons who have come into close contact with someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 must wear a mask indoors and outdoors in a crowded setting for 14 days except while eating or drinking alone or until they receive a negative COVID-19 test result.

*All individuals are encouraged to wear masks at all times when they feel inclined to do so regardless of College masking policy. At no time will any individual be prevented from participating fully in the life of the College if they are wearing a mask. Masks are always permitted, even if not required.

*Faculty and staff may have discretion over mask wearing for vaccinated individuals in their private spaces, however, they may NOT ask individuals about their specific vaccine status. 

*The College recommends that faculty and staff place a sign on their office door or a note in their syllabus about any exceptions they intend to make to the College’s masking policy.  

In keeping with Muhlenberg’s current COVID-19 policy that requires students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated, all participants in the 2021 Muhlenberg College Alumni Weekend are required to be vaccinated. It is preferred that returning alumni pre-register and then upload their proof of vaccination before coming to campus. Anyone arriving without pre-registration is welcome check-in inside Seegers Union and will be asked to present their proof of vaccination as part of the on-site registration. 

Alumni Weekend guests should be aware of and adhere to the following:

• All visitors must be registered for events. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged; walk-ins will be required to visit the welcome center in Seegers Union to check-in.
• Masks are required indoors for all participants, regardless of vaccination status, except when actively eating and drinking.
• Guests should review the daily self-assessment before coming to campus; anyone who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or has had a recent, direct exposure to someone testing positive should not come to campus.

To continue to prioritize the health and safety of our campus community, there is a COVID-19 vaccination requirement for the large-scale events the College will be holding on campus this fall, including the Class of 2020 Celebration. Individuals must have received either two doses of Moderna or Pfizer or one dose of Johnson & Johnson, with the last dose being at least two weeks prior to the celebration weekend.

As part of the registration process, the College asks that graduates and any guests that will attend the gala and brunch provide proof of vaccination. All proof of vaccination submissions will be maintained in an independent system and will not be kept beyond the event to maintain the privacy of individuals.

Guests attending only the recognition ceremony will not need to provide proof of vaccination, though they will be required to wear a mask for this indoor event.

For this weekend only, the College will allow Class of 2020 alumni to submit medical documentation to receive an exemption from the vaccination requirement in order to attend. Information on how to submit this documentation will be provided with the Class of 2020 registration form.

Please expect masking to be a requirement for many of the weekend activities as well. If graduates plan to attend and have a medical exemption, the event registration form will provide information on how to submit to the College.