COVID-19
EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF
Morehouse, in consultation and coordination with its fellow Atlanta University Center Consortium institutions, has implemented a series of public health protocols to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 on its campus and within the Atlanta University Center. Students and employees are expected to:
- Meet a mandatory full vaccination requirement (unless a medical or religious exemption is granted),
- Get a booster shot when eligible
- Submit to pre-arrival, arrival, and weekly testing
- Wear masks
- Maintain physical distancing of six feet
- Practice effective hand hygiene
- Complete web-based symptom questionnaires.
STUDENT AND EMPLOYEE EXPECTATIONS FAQS
VACCINATIONS AND BOOSTER SHOTS
Do Morehouse students, faculty, and staff have to be vaccinated against COVID- 19 and receive a booster shot?
- Morehouse College requires all faculty, staff, new students, and returning students to be fully vaccinated with a CDC- approved vaccine or World Health Organization-approved vaccine (international students only). Everyone eligible must also receive a booster shot. Exemptions will be considered for religious or medical reasons.
- Learn more about the Morehouse vaccination policy.
- Pre-arrival and arrival testing. For the spring 2022 semester, all students and employees must take both an at-home PCR test and an on-campus rapid antigen test upon arrival on campus as the semester begins. In most cases, negative results from both tests must be received before an individual can move about campus.
- Routine weekly rapid antigen testing. During the semester, all students and employees must take a rapid antigen test routinely once each week. You will be notified of routine weekly testing results only if you test positive. Students with a positive result will be contacted by the Office of Student Services and employees will be contacted by the Office of Human Resources.
- Random PCR testing. Some students and employees will be chosen randomly each week to take a PCR test. You will be notified whether you are positive or negative within approximately 48 hours. These random PCR tests help our epidemiologists determine if infection levels are increasing.
- Additional testing for exempted unvaccinated students and employees. Unvaccinated students and employees must take a rapid antigen test twice every week.
- Periodic universal PCR testing. All students and employees must take a PCR test at specified times during the semester.
TESTING
COVID testing is an important component of the tiered protocols we have implemented to limit the spread of the virus on our campus. We have partnered with other Atlanta University Center Consortium member institutions to execute a science-based testing regimen that involves every student and employee.
Learn more about the Morehouse testing policies here. [link to Testing FAQs webpage]
MASK WEARING
Do I have to wear a mask on campus?
- When Masks Are Required: Regardless of whether or not you have been vaccinated, Morehouse requires that you wear a mask covering the nose and mouth at all times inside except in a private space like a private office or residence hall room.
- Masks are optional outside
- When masks are not required:
- In your own residence house room
- In your own private (single occupancy) office
- Masks are optional outside
- Morehouse encourages those who are not fully vaccinated to continue masking at any time they are not alone.
PHYSICAL DISTANCING
Is physical distancing required?
- Regardless of whether or not you have been vaccinated, six feet of physical distancing should be maintained whenever possible.
- Crowded settings still present a greater risk of transmission among people who have not been fully vaccinated, especially when individuals from unknown vaccination status are brought together (mixed population).
SYMPTOM CHECKING
- Anyone entering the Morehouse campus, any other Atlanta University Center Consortium campus should complete a web-based questionnaire relating to symptoms and possible exposure to COVID-19. This includes students, faculty, and staff. This is for educational purposes only, with an objective of ensuring that the campus community is aware of COVID-19 symptoms. Answers to symptom check questionnaires will not be used to obtain entry to campus.
- Students and employees who have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should stay home or in their residence hall room and consult with their medical provider, the institutional student health service professionals and/or the AUC Student Health and Wellness Center.
- Students and employees who do not have symptoms are cleared to come to campus.
ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE
In cases of a positive COVID-19 test result, you will be instructed to either isolate or quarantine. Each method helps to mitigate the potential spread to others.
- Isolation pertains to individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have experienced symptoms consistent with COVID-19 regardless of vaccination status.
- Quarantine applies to students and employees who have come into close physical contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19 and has not submitted proof of COVID-19 vaccination. The length of quarantine will be determined by the exposure date.
If you test positive, alert anyone you have come into close contact with recently and follow our isolation protocols regardless of vaccination status:
- Residential students will relocate to a temporary housing assignment for a specified number of days while commuter students will remain isolated at home. Students must provide proof of a negative rapid test prior to release from isolation.
- Employees are required to stay away from campus for a specified number of days. Upon returning to campus employees must provide proof of a negative PCR test.
- Students and employees who continue to test positive after completing isolation must be evaluated by a medical professional. Before returning to campus, students, and employees
- must 1) provide a note from a medical professional stating the student or employee can return to campus and 2) receive approval from the institution.
- Contact tracers will contact students and employees and begin alerting others they have come into close contact with.
TESTING
Is hand hygiene important in reducing the spread of COVID-19?
- The CDC recommends proper hand hygiene as an important part of the U.S. response to the pandemic. Students, faculty, and staff should wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially when entering a new area, after being in a public place, or after blowing their nose, coughing, sneezing, or touching their face. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, and do not touch any personal items (keys, cell phone, etc.) or eat with unwashed hands.
