Coronavirus Information (COVID-19)

Important Dates: Winter and Spring Terms

Winter Term can be found here: https://www.muhlenberg.edu/newsevents/calendar/winter2021/

Spring Term can be found here: https://www.muhlenberg.edu/newsevents/calendar/spring2021/

Registration Dates: 

• Wed., Nov 18 - Class of 2021 registers
• Fri., Nov 20 - Class of 2022 registers
• Tues., Dec 1 - Class of 2023 registers
• Fri., Dec 4 - Class of 2024 registers
• Mon., Dec 7 - Open registration, drop/add for all students begins

Registration for Winter and Spring Terms

1. Drop/Add and Winter and Spring Terms will take place through Capstone for continuing students.  First-year students will use the Add/Drop form for First Year students to register for winter.  This form is available on the menu page of Capstone Online.
2. To add a Winter Term course students must select the Winter Term from the drop-down menu when they register. 
3. A normal course load for students at Muhlenberg College is 4 courses per semester; however, we recognize that we may have to move our courses fully online before the semester ends. In contrast to our normal course load’, best practice in online/remote pedagogy recommends that students enroll in no more than 3 courses. With this disconnect in mind, we recommend that students consider the following questions before they enroll in more than 3 spring courses:
   1. Are students on track to graduate if they take 3 credits in Spring 2021?
   2. Might you be interested in taking a summer term course?
   3. How did you perform academically this fall?
4. Students may enroll in up to 5.5 units in the spring (not recommended).
5. Students will only be able to register for 4.5 units on their assigned registration day. Open registration begins on Monday, December 7 at 8:30 a.m. At that time, students may enroll in up to 5.5 units (not recommended).
6. At this time, the Academic Policy Committee is not changing the withdrawal deadline or the
   pass/fail policy for the Spring 2021 semester.
7. If a course is listed on Capstone as in-person, students who choose to remain remote will still be able to register for these courses. Questions about dance technique course registration should be referred to course instructors or Jeffrey Peterson for more information. Students should closely look at course descriptions on Capstone for modality and students should contact instructors directly with any questions.

Transition to In-person Learning and Residential Living
February 1 - 14

The College will begin the semester at COVID-19 Alert Level 3 - High Alert.

Why will the College begin at this alert level, especially since we will participate in student pre-arrival testing?

Students will complete pre-arrival testing before traveling to Muhlenberg College between February 1 and February 5. The goal of this testing is to prevent students who have the virus from traveling to campus and moving into congregate living situations until they have completed isolation and are no longer contagious. 

After receiving negative pre-arrival test results, students will travel to campus and move in with assistance from family or friends. Because both travel and exposure to others during the move-in process may result in an increased risk of exposure, all students will enter a transitional, modified quarantine period. Muhlenberg’s on-campus testing of all students will begin on February 8. The initial quarantine period—which will run through February 14—will allow us to move students into the College safely, provide time for students to acclimate to new policies, procedures and protocols, and for initial test results to be gathered and analyzed so that they can serve as initial baseline data for the semester.

In the sections below, you will find information about what to expect while the College is operating under a Level 3 - High Alert:

Level 3 High Alert indicates:

Students, faculty and staff should:

• Limit everyday activities to increase safety;
• Order meals-to-go;
• Limit any unnecessary in-person contact with others;
• Begin self-monitoring for symptoms twice daily.

The College will:

• Allow in-person courses to move to remote instruction at the discretion of the faculty member;
• Limit all in-person activities/programs/services including dining;
• Actively seek the guidance of local health authorities to guide future decisions;
• Restrict access to on-campus facilities;
• Restrict all visitor policies;
• Continue to consult frequently with local health officials.

Given this initial alert level and out of an abundance of caution, the College will begin the semester using a transitional, modified quarantine from the date of a student’s arrival through February 14.  

The transitional modified quarantine will include the following guidelines and restrictions in addition to the items listed above:

• Students will be allowed to walk around and hang out outside in groups of 4 or less.
• Students will be able to access Seegers Union for the following purposes:
• Meal Service at GQ, Java Joe, WDC to GO and the Wood Dining Commons for through the line, take-out only.
• MULE Community Cabinet
• ’Berg Bookshop
• Replacement ID Cards
• Students living ON-CAMPUS can reserve academic spaces for studying/participating in class through IMLeagues.
• Students can sign up to go to the Life Sports Center, however, the capacity of the LSC will be reduced during this period of time. 
• Students may use the library to get materials or to study.
• Off-campus students can come onto campus for class, Life Sports Center reservations, grab-and-go dining and to use the library.  
• On-campus students can go off campus for essential purposes only. These includes:
  • shopping: pharmacy and immediate grocery or personal items;
  • medical appointments;
  • employment;
  • academic requirements.
• Student-athletes: Athletics will be in PHASE 1 of the College’s “Return to Play” guidelines for Spring athletes only and only for outdoor strength and conditioning activities.
• We will begin with the phased approach to the Visitor Policy in the residence halls with Phase One during this transitional period. Please see page 12 of the COVID-19 policy for more detailed information. You will find a brief summary below:

Suites, apartments/houses and fraternity & sorority houses: No visitors permitted.

Traditional halls:

• The capacity of any single room in a traditional hall is two students from the same family unit at any time (*see full policy for the definition of “family unit”).
• The capacity of any double in a traditional hall is three students from the same family unit at any time. Students are permitted to have a maximum of two visitors in a room from a family unit in addition to a resident of the room if a roommate is not present.
• The capacity of any triple in a traditional hall is three students from the same family unit at any time. Students are permitted to have a maximum of two visitors in a room from a family unit in addition to a resident of the room if two roommates are not present. 
• Public lounge use permitted with face masks, social distancing and adherence to the occupancy limit posted in the lounge; occupants must be residents of the specific residence hall.
• No use of public kitchens.

Because the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to evolve rapidly, our testing strategy will be adaptable to the situation. The College plans to employ a four-pronged approach to testing:

• Pre-Arrival Testing: Students are required to undergo COVID-19 testing 72 hours prior to arrival on campus for the spring term. Muhlenberg College will partner with a testing company to provide students with an at-home COVID-19 test to complete in advance of their arrival to campus.
  
  
• Ongoing Surveillance Testing of Asymptomatic Individuals (as available): As many college-aged students can be asymptomatic carriers of the virus, the College will provide testing for COVID-19 on a regular ongoing basis as often as weekly during the spring 2021 semester. The College will be mindful of the use of testing and other medical resources (e.g., PPE) appropriately to ensure that we are not contributing to a greater scarcity of resources in our larger community.
  
  The College will be placing students in testing groups using a risk stratification rubric and groups will be tested weekly or bi-weekly accordingly. In addition, as conditions evolve and based on higher and lower risk times during the semester, all students may be tested weekly during specific periods of higher concern for virus transmission.
  
  
• Symptomatic Testing: Students who have symptoms will be tested for the virus, with appropriate follow-up afterward.
  
  
• Post-Exposure Testing: The College will test individuals who are deemed to be “close contacts” of someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

Due to the pandemic and our need to keep the community healthy and safe, we take our COVID-19 Policy incredibly seriously. While more specific information will be forthcoming, you can anticipate a phased approach to the visitor policy in which there will be restrictions regarding who is permitted in your room, and respective building, apartment or house. More specific details will be shared this week regarding the COVID-19 Phased Approach to the Visitor Policy.

Students who are found in violation of the COVID-19 Policy will be held accountable through our Student Conduct system. Violations of this Code can jeopardize your standing at the College. 

• The dining team is working under extraordinary circumstances to adapt to the ever-changing conditions presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The dining program for Spring 2021 has been developed with the primary objective of meeting the needs of the health & safety of Muhlenberg students and the campus community.  This has created modifications to the program, meal plans and hours of operation in an effort to meet current guidelines and to maintain safe social distancing guidelines given the anticipated volume of customers this semester. For more information please visit Muhlenberg Dining.
• Student organizations are highly discouraged from hosting any in-person meetings and should consider using Zoom for their meetings whenever possible. Student organization events may be scheduled in consultation with the Office of Student Organizations, Leadership & Engagement, when deemed appropriate. Please use the Event Evaluation Guide to determine if your meeting or event can be scheduled. Student performance organizations will not be permitted to rehearse or perform in groups on or off campus, per the Singing Policy. Finally, please note that many meeting and event spaces have been repurposed for informal gathering and dining space. These spaces are no longer available to be scheduled for events. A phased approach for student organization involvement will be announced in early February 2021.
• Seegers Union hours of operation and meeting and event spaces will be modified to minimize risk and create adequate informal gathering space for the campus. For updates on these modifications, please visit Seegers Union and Physical Distancing Measures for Spring 2021.
• Single rooms within the residence halls will be very limited on campus.

The Dean of Students Office will host webinars to help students prepare for their return to campus or to continue with remote study for the spring semester. These webinars will be held on:

• Tuesday, January 26
  • 6:00 - 7:00 p.m EST: Residential on-campus, off-campus and commuter students
  • 7:15 - 8:15 p.m. EST: Remote students

Zoom information has been emailed directly to students and families.

• All students are guaranteed housing for the Spring 2021 semester. You must complete the Spring 2021 Housing and Dining Registration Form by Tuesday, December 1st.
• Students who were approved for the Special Housing Process and selected housing through that process will have their approved accommodations met, but they may not be the same room that was originally selected.
• At this time, your responses will serve as final notification to the College regarding your Spring 2021 semester housing status. While we understand that circumstances may change, changes to this form after the December 1st deadline may impact what housing options are available to you, and the timeliness in which you will receive an updated housing bill. If you are not positive that you will be on campus or remote for the Spring 2021 semester, you will allow yourself more options if you select housing in the registration form. If you change your mind before the first day of classes, you would not be billed for housing or your meal plan.
• If you change your mind after filling out the form that you wanted to be on campus but now will be remote, this decision has to be made before the first day of classes for the spring semester in order to receive a correct updated bill.
• Spring move-in will take place over a multi-day period with shifts during the end of the first week of February that students will be able to sign up for. There will be more information shared in the upcoming weeks about this process. As you consider what to bring with you for the spring, please keep in mind that you should pack lightly.
• Fraternity and Sorority Houses will be used Spring 2021. House Managers will need to email an updated roster to housing@muhlenberg.edu by Friday, December 4, 2020.
• If you are currently living in the Lehigh Valley but did not receive approval from the College, you are not required to break your lease to live on campus this spring. However, you must notify HRL so that we can maintain accurate records.

Seniors (2021 class year)

• If you were not scheduled to live in 2201 Chew Street or Taylor Hall, your assignment will be what was originally scheduled for the Fall 2020 semester.
  • If a roommate/suitemate/apartmentmate is no longer coming to campus housing, the remaining roommates/suitemates/apartmentmates will be given 48 hours after HRL sends them an email to notify them that they have a vacancy to request someone to fill the remaining space. After that, the space will be offered to students who are no longer able to live in their previously selected assignments.
  • Seniors interested in changing their original housing assignment will have the opportunity to sign up for a waitlist to look at other options on campus. Please note, based on availability we cannot guarantee that every new preference will be able to be accommodated.
• If you were originally scheduled for 2201 Chew or Taylor Hall, HRL will be contacting you to discuss your preferences and finalize your housing assignments. All seniors will be able to select housing before the Sophomores and Juniors are re-housed. 
• If you are a senior who was scheduled to live with juniors or sophomores, they will still be able to be your roommates/suitemates/apartmentmates.
• Triples will only be assigned in circumstances in which students request one another and space allows.

Juniors (2022 class year)

• You will participate in a housing lottery the week of Monday, December 14th.
• Groups that participated in MILE lottery will still be eligible to select MILE apartments/houses, but there may be a more limited spaces after the additional seniors have selected their housing.
• Before housing selection last spring, we generated a random general lottery number for every student. If you participated in another housing process besides general lottery, you did not receive your lottery number at that time, but if you will be participating in general lottery you will receive that number via Muhlenberg email. 
• Students who transferred to Muhlenberg for Fall 2020 will also receive a randomly generated lottery number.
• Juniors who selected housing with Seniors will still be able to live in those spaces.
• Triples will only be assigned in circumstances in which students request one another and space allows.

Sophomores (2023 class year)

• You will participate in a housing lottery the week of Monday, December 14th.
• Groups that participated in MILE lottery will still be eligible to select MILE apartments/houses, but there may be more limited spaces after the additional seniors have selected their housing.
• Before housing selection last spring, we generated a random general lottery number for every student. If you participated in another housing process besides the general lottery, you did not receive your lottery number at that time, but if you will be participating in the general lottery you will receive that number via Muhlenberg email. 
• Students who transferred to Muhlenberg for Fall 2020 will also receive a randomly generated lottery number.
• Sophomores who selected housing with Seniors will still be able to live in those spaces.
• Triples will only be assigned in circumstances in which students request one another and space allows.

First Years (2024 class year)

• You will be notified of your spring housing assignment by Friday, January 8th.
• There is an extremely high chance that you will be placed into a double in Prosser, Walz, or Brown Hall (for female identifying students only). Singles will be very limited.
• We will be able to honor roommate requests as long as both students request one another on the Spring 2021 Housing and Dining Registration Form.
• Triples will only be assigned in circumstances in which students request one another and space allows.

In the event that the pandemic causes the College to vacate the campus, the following refund policy has been put in place. Room and board refunds are calculated for each student based on the amount of grants and scholarships (“gift aid”) they received from all sources. Grants and scholarships  include but are not limited to all sources including institutional, state, federal, tuition benefits, veteran benefits, and outside sources (church, civic organizations, etc.).  Merit and talent based scholarships are included. The initial calculation begins with a refund based on unused meal plan swipes and dining dollars plus the number of days of room charges not able to be utilized and is modified by the amount of grant aid, if any, received.

This approach prorates each refund based on financial aid grants awarded by the College or government sources. Underlying this approach is that each payment from a student and family is spread over all of the charges for a semester, as are student grants. In reversing this process—refunding money for unused housing and meal plan—we returned the share the student and family paid from their own resources, including loans.

Example of a student living on campus if the College moves to remote learning halfway through the on campus portion of the semester.  This calculation would change if there is more or less than half of the semester remaining :

Room charge for semester: $3,415

50% of semester’s room charge: $1,708

Total charges for the semester: $33,513

Grant aid student received for semester from all sources: $25,202

Student payment and loans: $8,311 (24.8% of the semester bill)

Credit refund for housing to the student:

$1,708 room charge x .248 = $424 returned to student

Example of a student subscribed to a Gold meal plan (Muhlenberg’s most common meal plan):

Board charge for semester: $2,798

Dining Dollars already spent: $250 of $400 Dining Dollars (leaving $150 unused)

Swipes already used: 92 of 210 swipes (leaving 118 swipes, or 56.2%, unused)

Unused Dining Dollars: $150

Unused swipe value: $1,348 ($2,398 x .562)

Total unused meal plan value: $1,498

Total charges for the semester: $33,513

Grant aid student received for semester from all sources: $25,202

Student payment and loans: $8,311 (24.8% of the semester bill)

Credit refund for housing to the student:

$1,498 unused meal plan value x .248% = $372 returned to student

Do I need to wear a mask and avoid close contact with others if I have received 2 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine?

Yes.  All students, regardless of vaccination status, must follow our COVID-19 Policy, including mask wearing and physical distancing.  Experts need to understand more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide in real-world conditions. We don’t yet know whether getting a COVID-19 vaccine will prevent you from spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 to other people, even if you don’t get sick yourself. 

Will students be exempt from the College’s COVID-19 testing requirements after they receive the  COVID-19 vaccine?

No. Students who are vaccinated must continue with the College’s required testing. It is possible that people who are vaccinated can be exposed to the coronavirus and become unknowing carriers. These asymptomatic carriers may transmit the coronavirus. Detecting asymptomatic COVID-19 infections is one of the goals of the College’s surveillance testing program. 

Will there be any changes to quarantine and isolation requirements for vaccinated students?

All students (regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status) are required to follow our COVID-19 Policy, including COVID-19 isolation and quarantine processes.  We don’t yet know whether getting a COVID-19 vaccine will prevent you from spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 to other people, even if you don’t get sick yourself.  

If I tested positive for COVID-19, what should I do?

Students who tested positive for COVID-19 within the past three months must upload their test results into the student health portal (tile on OneLogin page).  Once the test result is reviewed by Health Services, the student will be exempt from pre-arrival COVID-19 testing and surveillance (asymptomatic) testing for three months from the date of the test.  Students who do not upload test results to the portal must comply with our COVID-19 testing requirements.

When will college students be eligible to receive the vaccine?

Pennsylvania has established a roll out plan for the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine will be distributed in four phases. According to the PA Department of Health, you can get the vaccine out of your home state. Please see the PA Department of Health website for information about the phases (including the current phase) and eligibility requirements.

Where can students receive the vaccine?

As the College does not have the COVID-19 vaccine at this time, students who are eligible to receive the vaccine (based on the PA Vaccine Eligibility Phase) may check with Lehigh Valley Health Network or St. Luke’s University Health Network. As the College learns more information about vaccine availability, we will share it with the community.

Should students notify the College that they received the COVID-19 vaccine?

Yes. Please upload documentation of your vaccination in the student health portal (tile on the OneLogin page).

Can a COVID-19 vaccine make me sick with COVID-19?

No. None of the authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines in the USA contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. This means that a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.

Source:  CDC:  Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines

After getting a COVID-19 vaccine, will I test positive for COVID-19 on a viral test?

No. Neither the recently authorized and recommended vaccines nor the other COVID-19 vaccines currently in clinical trials in the United States can cause you to test positive on viral tests, which are used to see if you have a current infection.​

If your body develops an immune response—the goal of vaccination—there is a possibility you may test positive on some antibody tests. Antibody tests indicate you had a previous infection and that you may have some level of protection against the virus. Experts are currently looking at how COVID-19 vaccination may affect antibody testing results.

Source:  CDC:  Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines

If I have already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to get vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine?

Yes. Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that re-infection with COVID-19 is possible, vaccine should be offered to you regardless of whether you already had COVID-19 infection.  At this time, experts do not know how long someone is protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19.  We won’t know how long immunity produced by vaccination lasts until we have more data on how well the vaccines work..

Source:  CDC:  Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines

Will a COVID-19 vaccination protect me from getting sick with COVID-19?

Yes. COVID-19 vaccination works by teaching your immune system how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19, and this protects you from getting sick with COVID-19. Being protected from getting sick is important because even though many people with COVID-19 have only a mild illness, others may get a severe illness 

Source:  CDC:  Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines

1. Review email from Muhlenberg College Dean of Students with prearrival testing information process and test code link
   • Using Google Chrome or Safari:  Click on the link in the email.
   • Create an account with Vault utilizing your Muhlenberg ID and email.
2. Order your kit immediately.  Enter the address to which you would like your kit shipped. This must be a physical address (no PO Boxes),
3. The kit will be sent to you via expedited shipping.  Open the kit and look for the blue instruction card. Read it carefully. DO NOT OPEN THE TEST TUBE PACKAGE until you are instructed on your Zoom video call)
4. Three days before your scheduled Muhlenberg move-in date:  prepare for your saliva-collection (supervised over a zoom call)
• You’ll log into the Vault Health site and connect with a Vault test supervisor over a Zoom video call. The test supervisor will guide you through collecting saliva in the tube. The whole process takes just a few minutes.
5. Ship the kit back (using provided shipping label) the same day before 2pm by UPS
• Your kit contains everything you need to send your sample back via prepaid expedited shipping.
• You MUST bring your packaged collection kit to UPS the same day it is collected before 2pm local time
6. Get your results.
• You will get a report of your results (positive, negative, or inconclusive) within 48 hours after your sample arrives at the lab. 
7. You must have a NEGATIVE test result to move into or access campus.

No. You should not eat, drink, chew, or smoke anything for at least 30 minutes before giving the sample.

Positive Tests Result:

Am I infected:  Yes
Can I Infect Others:  Yes
Should I consider getting another test if I don’t have symptoms:  No

Negative Test Result:

Am I infected:  No
Can I Infect Others:  No
Should I consider getting another test if I don’t have symptoms:  No

Inconclusive Test Result

Am I infected:  Possibly
Can I Infect Others:  Possible
Should I consider getting another test if I don’t have symptoms:  Yes

Vault’s SARS-CoV-2 test will only be performed in the laboratory after (1) a licensed test supervisor orders the test for an individual and (2) the sample collection is observed by a test supervisor (via Zoom-enabled video supervised testing for those taking the at-home test, and in person for those taking the test on campus). Once the sample has been received by and tested in the laboratory, the individual will receive results via electronic reporting.

If saliva is not collected under supervision from a test supervisor, the test results will be invalidated.

The RT-qPCR test is very sensitive for the presence of SARS-CoV-2, with 98% of tests providing either a positive or a negative result, and only 2% of tests providing an inconclusive result. The test can detect fewer than 10 copies of viral genes per milliliter of saliva, and can detect the presence of virus in the saliva within 2 days of infection and up to 28 days after infection.   Across all known gene sequences of SARS-CoV-2, the test detects the ones in the genes of interest approximately 100% of the time, making it highly sensitive and specific for those genes.  

Currently, the false positive and false negative rates for this specific test cannot be calculated, because the lab and Vault do not receive data on what happens to patients after they receive a test. Vault does not know if patients with a negative test go on to develop symptoms and subsequently receive a positive test result (false negative) or if an uninfected patient with a positive result then goes on to have another test that’s negative (false positive). However, emerging data about false negative rates of saliva-based COVID tests are showing that the false negative rate for saliva-based tests may be closer to 10%, which is significantly lower than those of nasopharyngeal swab-based tests, which are in the 25-35% range.

This RT-qPCR test detects specific genes from the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is the virus that causes COVID-19. After individuals provide a sample of their saliva, the virus's genetic material is extracted from it and these specific genes are looked for in a laboratory.  If they are present, the test is considered positive.

Yes. This assay is intended for use under the Food and Drug Administration’s Emergency Use Authorization #200090 authorized on April 10, 2020. This is the only saliva test and saliva collection device that is FDA-authorized for at-home self-collection in the U.S. at this time.

Yes, RUCDR is a CLIA and CAP (College of American Pathologists)  accredited reference laboratory. The Vault/RUCDR test kit is a NAAT test (nucleic acid amplification test). The test is an RT PCR test and meets guidelines for most interstate and international travel, but please refer to the guidelines for entry to specific destinations.

No, this is not a test for COVID-19 antibodies, which are produced by those who have had the disease and have recovered.

All students, faculty and staff have the option of ordering a COVID-19 test directly from Vault Health. However, Muhlenberg will only be supporting the costs of tests for those who are required to be tested. The cost for ordering an individual test is $150. If you are paying for your own test, please note that the College will not receive your results. Students must contact Health Services if you receive a positive result.

Students who are identified as being required to take these tests are not required to pay. The costs will be covered by the college.

You must stay home and follow-up with your medical provider at home for any needed clinical evaluation and treatment,  You may not move-in or access campus until you complete your isolation per CDC guidelines.  You must contact Health Services when you receive your test results and for approval to access campus/ move into campus after isolation.

This test will satisfy the PA travel advisory requirements for COVID-19 testing prior to entering the state.  The college recognizes the increased risk of exposure that may occur with airplane travel and long car trips with multiple stops.  Any students who will be travelling in this manner must adhere to wearing face coverings (with at least two layers and covering the mouth and nose), social distancing, frequent handwashing and disinfecting throughout their travels.  All students will be required to be tested the week of February 8 to quickly identify any COVID-19 infection which may have occurred during travel.

Parents (and/or move-in helpers) who are literally just coming to campus for the two hour move-in period and immediately leaving to go home do not need COVID-19 testing.  Any parents (and/or move-in helpers) who are planning other activities in PA or who are spending the night in PA must comply with the PA travel advisory,  including COVID-19 testing requirements.  

Parents (and/or move-in helpers) will be asked COVID-19 screening questions.  Any person who has COVID-19 like symptoms, any recent known or suspected COVID-19 exposure, or has been told to quarantine (either due to exposure or travel), will not be permitted access to the Residence Halls.

COVID-19 surveillance testing will begin the week of February 8.  All traditional day students who live on campus or off campus will be tested that week.  More information will be forthcoming.