Students Resources

• 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.

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.

• 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

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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

The goal of Muhlenberg Dining during a campus-wide quarantine will be to provide services that closely replicate our operations during the academic year. There will be some necessary modifications that are outlined in this plan. Given the number of locations that will remain open during a Campus-Wide Quarantine event, there is no need to manage access to meals (e.g., dismiss by residence hall).

• The Wood Dining Commons Dining Room will close, and meals will be available through the line (TTL) for takeout only.
• Java Joe will move to online order and pick up only.
• The GQ will remain open for students to use Dining Dollars or Berg Bucks.
• The Mobile Mule will not be open during a campus wide quarantine.
• All locations will follow posted “normal” hours of operation and offer menus that are in place during the semester with no proposed changes or modifications. This includes the Wood Dining Commons, WDC To Go, The Berg Underground Kitchen and the Life Sports Center Café.
• All points of service will be closely monitored, and hours of operation may be subject to change based on the circumstances associated with the quarantine.
• Meal Delivery Service for students in quarantine would be suspended during a campus wide quarantine and only available to students who are in on campus isolation.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a factor in our everyday activities on campus. As the pandemic continues to evolve government guidelines and the College’s protocol continue to adapt accordingly. In accordance with local and state guidelines, practicing social distancing and limiting person-to-person contact is critical to the mitigation of the COVID-19 virus. 

It is important to note that the College’s programming spaces and meeting rooms have been prioritized to support expanded informal social spaces, academic classrooms and the dining services operations to reduce risk to our students, faculty and staff. In an effort to manage these limited resources, we encourage all campus schedulers to use this guide to determine whether or not your event is safe to proceed in a physical campus environment. 

With the exception of certain academic courses, in-person meetings and events are strongly discouraged by the College. In-person events that are approved to take place on campus can take advantage of the College's support for streaming their event. Muhlenberg also offers an option to support streaming of group meetings and webinars.

Please note the following:

• Masks are required to be worn at all times.
• The College reserves the right to deny the use of any space if the College determines that the event or meeting poses a risk to participants.
• For gatherings of any size, please remind attendees of simple measures to lower risk and prevent spread of viruses (not shaking hands, practicing physical distancing, food and beverages are not permitted, etc). Ensure easy access to handwashing facilities, and make sure alcohol-based sanitizers are readily available to all participants.

Venue Occupancy
Indoor and outdoor venue occupancy is informed by the State’s Guidelines on Safe Gathering Limits, the CDC and College Policy. Occupancy updates will be posted as part of the College's COVID-19 Alert Levels. Please reference this site to ensure that you have the most current information when scheduling an event on campus.  Expected attendance may not exceed the COVID-19 occupancy guidelines for the intended location.  Some set-ups may further restrict capacity and will be reviewed upon submission of a request in 25Live.  If your event has already been confirmed, please check updates in the College's COVID-19 Alert Levels as your event date approaches. Check in with the Office of Seegers Union and Campus Events if you have questions about whether the event logistics meet current guidelines and policy. 

Scheduling Events Weeks or Months in Advance
Events can continue to be booked weeks or months in advance using 25Live following the usual scheduling practices. It is important to note that, while an event may be confirmed at the time of submission, changes in state guidelines and College policy that govern use of facilities at the time of the event may determine whether—and if—an event can take place, and may have an impact on the size of attendance and scope of the set-up. It is recommended that events are planned with contingencies and based on current guidelines and policies. Please check updates in the College's COVID-19 Alert Levels as your event date approaches. Check in with the Office of Seegers Union and Campus Events if you have questions about whether the event logistics meet current guidelines and policy.  

IMLeagues for Scheduling Classrooms
Designated classroom and studio spaces throughout campus have been made available for use by students and may be scheduled using the IMLeagues application available via the iMuhlenberg app. Classroom spaces are for the express use as quiet study space and to attend virtual classes remotely. The use of classroom and studio spaces by student organizations is prohibited.

Market Tables In Seegers Union
Market tables in the front lobby of Seegers Union have been eliminated temporarily to enable safe navigation in the main lobby.  Market tables may be available in Parents Plaza (weather permitting) and in the Light Lounge and will be subject to College Alert Levels.  No more than 1 person may be at a 6-foot table and only one person may approach each market table at a time, maintaining physical distancing measures. The sale or distribution of homemade foods is not permitted.

Scheduling Virtual Events in 25Live
We would like to introduce a new location recently created in 25LIVE Pro called "Virtual". This location has been designed to schedule any virtual events around College programming that is open to access/attendance by the campus community. This will allow our community to get a sense of what is happening virtually and will provide opportunity for student organizations and departments to avoid possible scheduling conflicts of virtual events around other events, much the same as checking availability when looking to host an event on campus.  The campus community is encouraged to use 25Live in this way to promote virtual events taking place for the campus community.

Participants
In-person meetings and events are restricted to faculty, staff, and residential students (or off-campus/commuter students who have been granted access to campus). 

Performances
All performances, rehearsals, auditions, and the like, are subject to the College’s Singing Policy, in addition to the Event Scheduling Guidelines included herein. Dancers must maintain a 10-foot distance at all times during performances and rehearsals.

Travel
All travel related to meetings, events, and student organizations is subject to the College’s COVID-19 Policy. All student-organization travel will be subject to approval by the Dean of Students Office. All academic travel outside of the 15-mile radius from the College must be approved by the Provost’s Office.  The following additional restrictions apply to student organization/academic-related travel:

• No travel more than 15 miles from Muhlenberg College will be permitted prior to March 1. 
• Travel for club sports and travel to gym/fitness centers is prohibited until further notice. 
• Student-organization transportation on buses is prohibited. If travel is approved, participants must use individual transportation (alone in your car) or travel in their family unit.

These guidelines will be updated as changes arise in government Guidelines on Safe Gathering Limits, the College’s COVID-19 Alert Level, and College Policy. The Event Scheduling Guidelines serve to inform schedulers in determining whether an event meets the criteria to safely take place on campus. 

The College understands that throughout the Spring semester conditions may change at the College or for students individually that will cause remote students to want to move to an “in-person” experience.  The College would like to support this decision when space on campus is available and as long as health and safety conditions permit.

In this situation, students must complete this request form.

To be eligible, you must be a full-time, enrolled day student and must remain so through the end of the semester.  You must commute from your permanent address on file or live in on-campus housing unless you have previously been approved for off-campus housing.  

Once approval for your request has been granted by the Covid student status review committee, you will work with Housing and Residence Life on a housing assignment if you will be living on campus and you will work with Health Services to determine a testing plan, to include a pre-arrival PCR test at your own expense. Finally, you must complete the Covid-19 education course and re-orientation program and upload your flu shot documentation to the health portal. Once a date of return has been established, you will be able to return to in-person access.

Billing: Once a date of return has been established, you will be charged room and board if necessary (prorated for the number of weeks remaining in the semester) as well as any necessary fees. 

Once a student has shifted to in-person status, there will NOT be a refund if the student then chooses to shift back to remote status before the end of the semester.

Faculty have approved a special Pass/Fail policy for the Spring 2021 semester.

Students:

• If you have already declared a Pass/Fail for Spring 2021, it remains in effect with the allowances noted in the new policy below.
• If you need to make a change from one Spring 2021 course to another, please fill out the form as directed below and we will cancel the earlier declaration.

The deadline for making this decision is April 12. Once the decision has been made, it is irrevocable for the Spring 2021 term.

The policy is as follows:

Temporary Pass/Fail Policy for Spring 2021 only

1. All enrolled students will have the ability to convert one of their Spring 2021 courses from graded to Pass/Fail. This course will not count as one of the three total Pass/Fail courses a student may count toward graduation credits.
2. This course may count for GARs and electives, but may not fulfill requirements for majors and/or minors.
3. Ideally, students will consult with instructors and advisors before converting a course to a Pass/Fail grade; an acknowledgement of their choice will be provided to the student, the instructor, and the student’s faculty advisor(s) by the Registrar. Undeclared students are especially encouraged to consult with their advisor before proceeding, in order to best prevent the possibility of designating a course Pass/Fail that ultimately might count toward their intended major and/or minor.
4. The decision to designate a Spring 2021 course as Pass/Fail must be made no later than Monday, April 12, 2021, which is also the withdrawal deadline (W) for Spring 2021 courses.
5. Once a decision has been made to convert a course to Pass/Fail the decision cannot be reversed.

The faculty's Academic Policy Committee fully expects a return to normal Pass/Fail policies for the Fall of 2021.

The form is available here: Pass/Fail Form. The form will automatically notify your advisor and instructor at the email addresses you provide. (Please type them in carefully, or the faculty will not receive a notification.)

If you have questions, please let us know at registrar@muhlenberg.edu.

The Lehigh Valley Association of Independent College (LVAIC) has shared additional resources with member institutions to support student needs during this time. Information about free WiFi and data plans, low-cost computers and laptops, mobile plans, storage, car rentals and more can be found here.

We understand that COVID-19 may have been disruptive to your daily life and may have also created additional financial burdens. If you are in need of financial assistance to support you during this transition, including funds for internet access, computer and technology equipment, travel expenses and emergency funds for groceries and other essentials, please complete this form for emergency grants and we may be able to assist in funding your need.

If your concern is related to internet access, we suggest you contact your local provider and identify yourself as a college student. Many providers are offering discounts or free services to students. If they do not, please have them provide you a quote for set up and service and include this cost information in your grant request. In the short term, if you have a cell phone, you can utilize it as a mobile hotspot for internet service.  

All programs abroad for Fall 2020 have been deferred until spring and fall of 2021.

If you experience an emergency, please call Campus Safety at 484-664-3110 if you are on campus or call 911 if you are away from campus.

IMPORTANT: If you are feeling sick, the best thing you can do to protect yourself and your community is to stay home and contact your healthcare provider. If you are on campus this summer, please contact Health Services (484-664-3199).

Counseling Services has moved to an emergency consultation model of care and will continue to provide services remotely for consultations and urgent concerns, including on-call counseling after hours. Click here for more information and or to schedule a consultation.

All campus buildings are currently closed to the public.  Limited card access will be available to students approved to remain on campus. 

For students who remain on campus, please be advised that all campus buildings have been closed, except Seegers Union. Seegers Union, the Wood Dining Commons (for take-out only) and the M.U.L.E. Community Cabinet remain open during the following times:

Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Saturday - Sunday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

If you are in need of additional meal swipes, please contact the Dean of Students Office at DeanOfStudents@muhlenberg.edu.   

Students who were not approved for access to campus facilities may not return to campus. If a student has left an essential item (i.e.medication, academic textbook, etc.), please email housing@muhlenberg.edu and we will make our best effort to mail it to you. For all other items, we ask for your patience in waiting until campus is reopened to all students.  

The Student Help Desk will be available during normal summer office hours, Mon.- Fri. 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. 

How do I get help?

• Initiate a support request online
• Click on the IT Support Portal tile in the OneLogin application portal
• Click on Service Catalog
• Report an Issue
• Once an incident has been created, you may check the status by clicking on "My Items"
• Call us at 484-664-3566
• If the support team member is on the line you will be put into a queue. You may choose to leave a detailed message at any time and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

• Email us at helpdesk@muhlenberg.edu

• Report an Issue (no login required) (e.g., unable to login to account, forgot password)

• Please include your name and preferred contact information in the anonymous form, as your login information is not passed for follow-up. 

Supervisors of student employees may determine whether or not it is appropriate for students to work remotely and make appropriate arrangements in partnership with their student employees. A new process for logging student hours for remote work has been implemented.  Please speak with your supervisor for these details.

While first-hand experiences are limited at the moment, we invite you to join us for these new virtual events sponsored by the Office of Student Engagement. We will continue to share the most up-to-date information about Student Activities through our Instagram and Facebook pages. Some of these events include trivia contests, movie watch parties, photo contests, gaming contests, open mic nights and more. Check back often for updates and join us!

Mailroom Procedures Spring 2021 for Students on Campus:

Welcome! All of us in the Mailroom are excited to have you on campus.

During the pandemic, the Mailroom will adjust procedures and implement safety measures in an effort to keep everyone safe. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Feel free to email mailroom@muhlenberg.edu with any questions.

Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. We are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. To assist with move-in weekend, we will open on Saturday, February 6, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. for package pick up only. You must present your student ID with the current sticker issued.

Lobby Service/Picking up Packages: Our lobby will reopen on Thursday, February 4, 8:30 a.m. We will allow one person inside the lobby at a time. There will also be a side window open to assist you and a designated area on the side of our building if needed. Please follow signage for social distancing. In an effort to keep lines short, please do not come to the Mailroom prematurely when your carrier notifies that your package has arrived. Please wait for an email notification from Muhlenberg Mailroom which indicates that your package has been processed and is ready for pick up.

Email Request: You may also email in advance for an appointment time to pick up your package from the "student pick-up" table, located outside, on the side of the mailroom. Please include your Seegers Union mailbox number and the time you would like to pick up your package. You will receive a confirmation email if the time requested is available.

Letter Mail: Your letter mail will be delivered daily by 11:30 a.m. to your Seegers Union Mailboxes. There is an outgoing "US Mail" slot by your mailboxes for outgoing mail that has proper postage on it. We pick up from this location daily at 11:30 a.m.

Outgoing Packages: Please bring your boxed & addressed packages to the lobby by 2 p.m. We accept cash or checks.

Packages/Mail with Pre-Paid Postage: For your convenience, these may be placed in the outgoing mail bins located outside, on the side of the Mailroom. You do not need to stand in line to drop off prepaid packages or mail. Please note, carriers pick up by 3 p.m.

Faculty/Staff

At this time, the Life Sports Center and Pool are for use by Muhlenberg College faculty, staff and students only. Guests (including family members) and alumni are not allowed to use the facility until further notice.

General Usage (Not Applicable in Level 3 or 4 COVID Alert)

All faculty, staff, and students must schedule an appointment to enter the weight room, fieldhouse, cardio loft or indoor and outdoor tracks. There will be no outside guests or family memberships to the LSC at this time.

Capacity will be restricted, and pre-registration is required.

A Reservation System is available to students, faculty and staff. The reservation system link will be available on the Muhlenberg College website and the Muhlenberg App.

You will be able to make a reservation starting at 7 a.m., two days prior to the desired date. A waitlist will be maintained for any slots that fill up, and you will receive an email should a spot open up 30 minutes in advance of your start time. Anyone who makes a reservation but does not show up for their session more than three consecutive times will be subject to loss of privileges of the LSC.

LSC Hours

The LSC Hours for January 2021 are Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Prior to the start of the Spring 2021 semester, hours will be redefined.

What to Do Before You Come to the Life Sports Center

Complete the Self-Assessment in the iMuhlenberg mobile app. If you are not feeling well or are experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19, please stay home.

A mask or face covering is required at ALL times when indoors and outdoors, including when using the weight room and cardio equipment.

Participants should bring their own water bottles and the water fountain will be limited to filling water bottles.

What to Do When You Arrive at the Life Sports Center

• Arrive no more than 5 minutes early for your workout time and practice social distancing.
• Your temperature will be taken and you will show the app screen with the green check on the daily symptom checker. Individuals with T≥100.00 (by non-contactless infrared thermometer) will not be permitted to enter the Life Sport Science Center.
• Scan your Muhlenberg ID. No one is permitted to enter without an ID.
• Please note various signage, floor markings and equipment modifications and respect these new measures.
• Use hand sanitizer before entering and after leaving the gym.

The weight room will have individuals entering through the main weight room door and exiting by LSC Café.

Anyone using Scotty Wood Stadium (including track) must enter and exit the stadium through the LSC Café doors. The exterior stadium gates will be locked at ALL times.

Life Sport Center Usage, Equipment and Programs (Not Applicable in Level 3 or 4 COVID Alert)

LSC usage will be limited to cardio equipment, indoor and outdoor track and strength equipment.

• Cardio equipment reservations will be available for use in the cardio deck and in the fieldhouse. Max usage will be 45 minutes. There will be 10 spots per session, per area.
• Strength equipment will be housed in the main weight room and the field house only. Max usage time will be 45 minutes. There will be 10 spots per session, per area. Capacities for each area will be limited to 10 people per session.
• Indoor Track in the fieldhouse will have every other lane available for use to ensure social distancing – limited to 45 minutes. There will be three lanes available per session.
• Outdoor Track in Scotty Wood Stadium will have every other lane available for use to ensure social distancing – limited to 45 minutes. There will be three lanes available per session. You must still enter via the LSC – but you may come and go through the Café doors to access and leave the stadium.

Equipment

There will be no equipment available to check out nor will your personal equipment be permitted in the building

Fitness/Recreation Programs

Group fitness classes (yoga, Zumba, body sculpting) will be offered remotely, with hopefully some outdoor class offerings in an outdoor tent that will be called the Recreation Tent. The reservation system will be utilized for in-person offerings and notification will be sent when available.

The Spin Room will NOT be available for use; however, several spin cycles will be relocated to the field house.

A reservation system will be utilized for ALL in-person offerings.

Alumni Pool/Open Swim

Pool hours are 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Prior to the start of the Spring 2021 semester, hours will be redefined.

Recreation, Intramurals and Club Sports

Open recreation (pick-up basketball), intramural sports (indoor soccer, volleyball and basketball) and club sports (Ultimate Frisbee) are considered high contact sports and will not be permitted at this time. These activities may resume later in the semester if the LSC opening protocols have been successfully implemented.

Outdoor low-risk activities (badminton, ping pong, Frisbee golf and the fencing club) will be permitted.

Weight Room Guidelines

• Participants are expected to wipe down equipment before and after each use,
• To limit the spread of germs equipment fitness equipment must NOT be moved.
• No equipment can be taken out of the weight room and no outside equipment is permitted.
• Maintain 6 feet of distance between yourself and others at all times.
• Foam rollers, medicine balls, power bands, TRX straps, etc. will not be provided.
• Adhere to all direction signage.
• Adhere to all guidelines and instructions provided by Staff.

Cardio Loft Guidelines

• Thoroughly wipe down equipment before and after use with disinfectant materials provided.
• To limit the spread of germs, please use only one piece of equipment on each visit.
• Maintain 6 feet of distance between yourself and others at all times.
• Adhere to all direction signage.
• Adhere to all guidelines and instructions provided by Staff.

Spaces unavailable until further notice:

• Indoor Courts for open recreation basketball, soccer and volleyball
• Field house for intramural and club sports
• Equipment Checkout
• Locker-Rooms
• Racquetball Courts
• Spin Room
• LSC/Freshens Cafe

There will be no stretching or yoga mats available.

There will be no outside guests or family members at this time.

Play Your Part

We are committed to doing everything we can to maintain a safe and healthy environment and we are relying on CDC and local health department guidelines. It is up to all of us to take responsibility in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Please play your part and remember some of these key points as you return to the LSC:

• Stay home if you feel sick
• Bring your own water bottle
• Keep your distance
• Wipe down equipment before and after use
• Wash or sanitize your hands frequently
• Participants should report to workouts in proper gear and immediately return home or to the residence hall to shower at the end of the workout.
• Change and wash clothing immediately upon returning to your residence from exercising.

Failure to follow posted directions and instructions from staff will result in removal from the Life Sports Center.