Students Information

General Information about COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements

Why is Muhlenberg requiring the COVID-19 vaccine for all students?
Muhlenberg requires students to be vaccinated by August 1, 2021, to allow a safer return to in-person instruction and the vibrant, interactive, residential community that creates the full Muhlenberg experience. The vaccine offers the best opportunity for students to be able to gather safely beginning in the fall, with reduced need for surveillance testing, quarantine and isolation.

When does the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for students go into effect?
In order to access campus in the fall, students are required to be fully vaccinated by August 1, 2021, or have an approved exemption on file with Health Services by that time.

How do I submit my vaccine documentation?
Scan or take a picture of the front of your completed COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card. Be sure we can read your name, date of birth and the completed vaccine record. All students should upload their COVID-19 vaccination documentation to their health portal if they have not already done so. The deadline for submission of COVID-19 vaccine documentation for all students was August 1, 2021.

What should I do if I have lost my immunization card?
Contact the medical office or pharmacy where you received your vaccination and request documentation that you received the vaccine. The documentation must include manufacturer, lot number, date of administration and location.

Why does Muhlenberg require student vaccination when college-age people rarely die from COVID-19?
While most young adults with COVID-19 do not experience symptoms that warrant hospitalization, they can still transmit the disease to other individuals. They also can spread the virus even if they are completely asymptomatic. Because our students live in a close communal setting, the COVID-19 vaccination provides the best protection to our community. The vaccines are effective against severe disease and death from COVID-19 and its variants that are currently circulating in the United States, including the Delta variant. We know that infections happen in only a small proportion of people who are fully vaccinated, even with the Delta variant. Muhlenberg has a responsibility to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 on campus, in Allentown, and in the surrounding area.

I thought if I was vaccinated against COVID, I would have fewer to no restrictions while on campus. Now I have learned that I still need to complete a pre-arrival test and mask indoors right now. What will it mean to be vaccinated on campus this fall—will there be fewer restrictions and more freedom for those who are vaccinated?
Currently, the Delta variant is causing some breakthrough cases of COVID in vaccinated individuals. Vaccinated individuals are experiencing much less severe symptoms and recovering from the virus more quickly. However, they can still contract COVID in some cases and the data has shown that vaccinated individuals are still able to infect others, including more at-risk individuals. Particularly in our residential and social setting, this creates a community health issue we need to be mindful of and respond to based on scientific evidence. If you are vaccinated you can expect to experience fewer restrictions while on campus. These include:

• If exposed to COVID, you will not need to quarantine out of precaution;
• When we are able to lift the indoor masking restriction, which we expect we will at various times as the virus continues to evolve, unvaccinated individuals will be required to continue masking full-time in all indoor spaces for the foreseeable future;
• We do not expect the need for vaccinated individuals to participate in frequent surveillance testing, though unvaccinated students will be required to participate in weekly testing through the health center.

In addition, because we expect to reach herd immunity through the vaccine requirement of students, the College does not anticipate placing restrictions on the number of people at off-campus social gatherings (though please keep in mind that we are subject to Pennsylvania guidelines with respect to gatherings), students will be able to visit across residence halls following our typical residential policies, and we will not place travel restrictions on students' ability to go home or travel off campus for various purposes during the year.

Questions About Exemptions

Will Muhlenberg approve exemptions from the vaccine requirement?
To achieve maximum health and safety protection for the campus community, Muhlenberg requires all students to be fully vaccinated, with two limited exceptions:

Medical Exemption: Students need not be immunized if a physician, physician's assistant, or nurse practitioner provides a signed written statement that immunization may be detrimental to the health of the student. Medical reasons for an exemption generally include the following situations: (1) the student has a disease or takes medicine that weakens their immune system; (2) the student has a severe allergy to a vaccine or an ingredient in it; and/or (3) the student had a prior serious adverse event related to vaccination.

Religious/Ethical Exemption: Students need not be immunized if the student (or if the student is less than 18 years old, the student’s parent or guardian) objects in writing to the immunization on religious grounds or on the basis of strong moral or ethical convictions similar to religious belief.

Requests for Vaccination Exemptions were due to Health Services on June 15. However, if a student has a new or extraordinary reason for needing an exemption, they may request this up until August 1, 2021.

What authority does Muhlenberg have to impose this vaccination requirement?
Muhlenberg already requires vaccines to mitigate risks for other highly contagious diseases, and the COVID-19 immunization requirement is consistent with the exercise of Muhlenberg's authority as a private institution to protect the health and safety of the campus community. By requiring the COVID-19 vaccine, Muhlenberg is able to move toward offering the traditional campus experience to our students in a healthy and safe environment. Students who choose not to be vaccinated and are not otherwise eligible for an exemption may request a leave of absence until the community risk of COVID-19 is mitigated.

If I am approved for an exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine, what health and safety protocols will I have to follow?
Students who are exempt from the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for medical or religious/ethical reasons will be required to:

• Have a COVID-19 pre-arrival test taken within 3 days prior to arrival on campus and upload negative test results to their student health portal before campus arrival.
• Participate in weekly COVID-19 surveillance testing implemented by the College.
• Wear a face mask while indoors provided that face masks are not required when an individual who is not fully vaccinated is in their assigned living space by themselves or with only designated roommate(s), suitemate(s), or apartment-mate(s), while bathing or swimming, and when working in a private, single-occupancy room with the door closed (i.e. music room, etc.).
• Quarantine if identified as a close contact with a COVID-19 positive case.

Difficulties Getting the Vaccine

What should international students, who reside outside the United States where U.S. approved COVID-19 vaccines are difficult to obtain, do about COVID-19 vaccination requirement?
The College understands that, depending on your country, your access to the COVID-19 vaccine may be different than in the U.S. If you have access to and receive a COVID-19 vaccine approved by the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) or WHO (World Health Organization) Emergency Use Listing (EUL), you will be considered fully vaccinated. Please upload documentation of your vaccination to your student health portal.

If you have received a COVID-19 vaccine that does not meet this criteria, you will be considered unvaccinated and must comply with the College’s requirements for unvaccinated students. If needed, the College will assist you with obtaining COVID-19 vaccination upon your arrival. You will be considered fully vaccinated two weeks after you have completed the FDA or WHO authorized/approved COVID-19 vaccine series.

If I am fully vaccinated, but two weeks have not passed since my final dose by the time classes start. Can I still come to campus?
Students with extenuating circumstances who are unable to complete the full COVID-19 immunization series prior to August 1, 2021, and be two weeks past their last dose of vaccine prior to their arrival on campus must follow the requirements for unvaccinated students until they are two weeks past final vaccination.

Students who were unable to access a COVID-19 vaccine will be granted 15 days after the date of their arrival on campus to begin the COVID-19 vaccine series and must complete the COVID-19 vaccine series within the medically recommended interval. Until they are fully vaccinated, they must follow the requirements for unvaccinated students until they are two weeks past final vaccination.

Will Muhlenberg offer a vaccine clinic at move-in for students who were unable to be vaccinated prior to arrival?
A student vaccine clinic is not planned. Students are expected to complete the vaccine series by August 1, 2021, and be two weeks past their last dose of vaccine prior to their arrival on campus. Students who are unable to complete the COVID-19 vaccine series by August 1, 2021, should contact Health Services for instructions regarding their move-in status for the Fall 2021 semester. In the absence of extenuating circumstances as approved by Health Services, students who have not submitted evidence of a vaccine or been approved for an exemption will not be permitted on campus for the Fall 2021 semester and will not be able to access their classes remotely.

What if I contract COVID-19 and it affects my ability to complete vaccination prior to arrival?
Please upload a copy of your positive test result to your student health portal and contact Health Services for guidance on next steps to complete before arrival. You will not be tested for COVID-19 within 90 days following the date of your positive test.

Questions About Vaccine Safety

Will the currently available COVID-19 vaccines place me at greater risk because of their approval under an Emergency Use Authorization?
All COVID-19 vaccines currently in use in the United States have been approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). The Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) designation of the COVID-19 vaccines facilitated the availability and use of the vaccines during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The EUA designation is only granted by the FDA if safety and efficacy standards are met based on substantial testing and if the benefit of the vaccine outweighs the risks when used appropriately. We anticipate full approval of vaccines in the coming months.

COVID-19 Vaccination General Information

Where can students receive the vaccine?
The vaccine is readily available throughout the nation with many pharmacies, urgent care centers, hospital systems and county health departments offering the vaccine. If you are unsure how to locate a vaccine provider in your area, check this CDC website.

Can a COVID-19 vaccine make me sick with COVID-19?
No. None of the authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S.A. 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, vaccines 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

Housing & Residence Life

Orientation & First-Year Experience

Why is the College requiring pre-arrival COVID-19 tests?
Throughout the pandemic, we have adjusted our COVID-19 safety measures as new information becomes available. Because the number of cases of COVID-19 infection is increasing due to the Delta variant and because students will be traveling to the College from varying levels of COVID-19 transmission and vaccination in their communities, the College will require pre-arrival testing for all students.

If I am vaccinated, why do I need a pre-arrival test?
COVID-19 vaccination provides the best protection to our community. The vaccines are effective against severe disease and death from COVID-19 and its variants that are currently circulating in the United States, including the Delta variant. We know that infections happen in only a small proportion of people who are fully vaccinated, even with the Delta variant. When these infections occur among vaccinated people, they tend to be mild. Unfortunately, we also are aware that if you are fully vaccinated and become infected with the Delta variant, you can spread the virus to others. 

What type of test will the College accept for pre-arrival?
The College will accept PCR tests and rapid antigen tests for pre-arrival. Antibody tests will not be accepted.

Who needs a pre-arrival test?
All students, regardless of vaccination status, are required to have a pre-arrival COVID-19 test. Students who tested COVID-19 positive within the 90 day period prior to arrival are exempt from testing.

I had COVID-19 in the past 90 days. Do I need a pre-arrival test?
Students who have had a COVID-19 positive lab test in the past 90 days will be exempt from testing. You must upload your positive lab test result to the health portal.

Is Muhlenberg providing the test?
The College is not providing pre-arrival tests unless a student has an extraordinary circumstance and has coordinated assistance with testing through Health Services. Access to COVID-19 testing is prevalent and result turnaround times are fast. Many students have had COVID-19 testing done on their own for a multitude of reasons and are familiar and comfortable with testing providers in their areas. In order to make the pre-arrival testing as convenient as possible for students, the College is permitting students to have their COVID-19 test done by the provider of their choice. 

What if my test results come back as positive?
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 upload your test results into the health portal and contact Health Services for approval to access campus or move into campus after isolation.

Do parents or my move-in helpers need to be tested to assist me with moving in?
Parents and/or move-in helpers are not required to test. All individuals will be required to wear a mask while indoors. [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), should not access campus.]

How quickly will I be tested again after arriving at Muhlenberg?
All students who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated will be tested weekly beginning the week of August 30th. Testing plans may be adjusted as needed depending on COVID-19 conditions.

When should I get my pre-arrival test?

• Residential Students: within 3 days prior to move-in
• Off Campus Students: within 3 days prior to moving into their off campus residence
• Commuter Students: within 3 days prior to accessing campus

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.

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.

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:

• Department Sponsored Rehearsals and Performances: For activities sponsored by the Theatre and Dance and Music Departments, masks must be worn and/or may only be removed at the discretion of the supervising faculty member teaching the course or directing the performance. This policy applies to singing, instrument playing, acting and dancing. If the supervisor allows masks to be removed for final preparations or performances, any individual participating in the dress rehearsal and/or performance may continue to wear their mask if they wish. In addition, in all performances, there should be 12ft or more of distance between the performers and the audience. All audience members or observers must be masked at all times.
  • Example events/performances include: College Choir, Chamber Choir, Women’s Ensemble, Jazz Big Band, Wind Ensemble, all credit-bearing performances, and theatre & dance departmental productions.
• Club/Organization Sponsored Performances: Students must wear masks during all regular weekly practices/rehearsals. At the discretion of the student leadership of the group, masks may be removed during final preparations for scheduled performances and/or performances, as long as the group is rehearsing or performing in a designated reserved space on campus and maintaining 12 ft of distance from any audience members.
  • Example groups include those sponsored through MTA, MDA, Acapella groups, etc.
• Athletic Practices and Competitions: Athletes should adhere to College policy, athletic policies specific to each sport, and Centennial Conference requirements.
• Classrooms/Labs/Teaching Studio spaces: Individual faculty will have some discretion over their classrooms/lab/teaching studio 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.  

First-Year Students and Families (YouTube | Vimeo)
This webinar was held on Thursday, July 8.

Sophomore and Transfer Students and Families (YouTube | Vimeo)
This webinar was held on Thursday, July 8.

Junior and Senior Students and Families (YouTube | Vimeo)
This webinar was held on Wednesday, July 7.

First-Year Students and Families (YouTube | Vimeo)
This webinar was held on Wednesday, August 4.

Sophomore and Transfer Students and Families (YouTube | Vimeo)
This webinar was held on Wednesday, August 4.

Future scheduled webinars include:

Junior and Senior Students and Families
Thursday, August 5, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
Zoom link

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.