Dear Students,

We hope you are enjoying the Fall semester. It has been very gratifying to have students back and to have a buzz of activity on campus once again.

We are writing to provide campus updates and to remind you of the importance of staying vigilant in the face of COVID-19.

While we’ve managed to maintain a low infection rate on campus, the last few cases necessitating isolation or quarantine were related to unauthorized travel. Although Marist has maintained a safe and healthy campus, the threat of this virus is still very real. In order to keep the campus safe and open for in-person classes, we need continued cooperation and support from the student body. In accordance with our reopening plan, students are discouraged from leaving campus and all students are asked to not travel. #ProtectThePack remains our mantra.

Our low infection rate during these first four weeks of classes is encouraging; moreover, it has allowed us to make the decision to open the McCann fitness center (details are below). However, if students do not adhere to the College’s health and safety protocols, we will be left with no choice but to impose further restrictions. Let’s continue to work together for the health and safety of the entire Marist community.

Dining Services:
Marist is committed to creating a positive campus life for students, and dining plays a crucial role in that. Many students have reached out to College leadership regarding their dining experiences this semester. The quality and quantity of food provided by our dining services have been a major concern for students as campus dining has pivoted to a different delivery model because of COVID-19. Please be assured that we take these concerns very seriously, and have been working closely with the College’s outside dining provider, Sodexo, to make improvements as quickly as possible. Sodexo is now implementing improved takeout packaging; regularly featuring Marist favorite dishes, a weekend coffee bar, and providing a dining events calendar, including special events such as Smoothie Day and Breakfast at Midnight.

We greatly value student feedback and will be hosting a town hall event. This event will feature members of the Marist administration and Sodexo staff will be in attendance to offer more specifics about the new improvements, respond to questions, and hear additional student feedback.

Surveillance Testing:
Marist is conducting continuous surveillance testing on students, faculty, and staff throughout the semester. To date, the College has completed 1,707 post-arrival tests with a positivity rate of 0.18 percent.

Our dashboard is updated regularly. For more information on our COVID-19 Alert Levels and updated testing data, visit https://www.marist.edu/reopen/dashboard.

COVID-19 Conduct Hotline:
If any member of the Marist Community observes a violation of the College’s COVID-19 health and safety policies, they are encouraged to call the COVID-19 Conduct Hotline: 575-MASK (6275).

Mandatory Flu Vaccination:
Flu season is on the way and the College is requiring flu vaccinations for all students (unless they have a religious or medical exemption). To support this effort, the College is offering several flu vaccination clinics for students. The flu shot will be available on campus in tents outside Marian Hall every other Wednesday during our activity period, which runs from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm. Classes are not in session during this period. Flu vaccination clinic dates are:

• September 23
• October 7
• October 21
• November 4
• November 18

The flu vaccine is free for most students; however, if your insurance does not cover it, there will be a $10 charge, billed by Rite Aid Pharmacy Department. Flu shots are available any time that Rite Aid pharmacy department is open, conveniently located across from the main entrance to campus.

McCann Center/Fitness Opening Date:
We are pleased to announce that based on our low infection rate, the McCann fitness center will be opening for use by the campus community with expanded hours effective Saturday, September 19. This reopening is in compliance with New York State’s New York Forward Phase 4 Guidance on Gym and Fitness Centers and all students are also expected to comply with the additional requirements being implemented by the College.

Although New York State has authorized gyms to open at 33% capacity, the 1st and 2nd floor student weight room facilities and track will open at 25% capacity for the time being, as we wish to take a cautious approach to ensure the safety of our community. Only Marist students will have access to these facilities until further notice. While we have reduced density, we have also expanded the hours of access. Please note that if the health status of campus changes and infections increase, we will have no choice but to restrict access and/or close the facility.

McCann Center Hours of Operation:

• Monday - Friday: 6:00 am - 1:00 am
• Saturday: 9:00 am - 1:00 am
• Sunday: 10:00 am - 1:00 am

Students will need to reserve work out times, in increments of 45 minutes. Reservations can be made, no more than 48 hours in advance, through the following process:

1. Log on to www.imleagues.com
2. Select “Sign Up”, and create an account. Select “Marist College” in the “Select School/Organization” drop down menu.
   • This will redirect you to the Marist sign in page and once you sign in, it will ask whether you are student or faculty/staff.
3. To register, select “Red Fox Fitness” at the top of the page, “Classes” then the desired workout space.
4. On this page all available time blocks are shown and registration is available no more than 48 hours in advance.

All students are required to wear masks during their workouts. As a reminder, to gain entry to the building all students must have their Marist ID.

Campus Activities:
Students are invited to participate in various activities on campus. All event descriptions include required protocols for mask wearing and social distancing. First-year students can continue to check Guidebook for upcoming events and details, and all events are shared on the campus calendar at https://www.marist.edu/events. Students should also be on the lookout for the Events@Marist newsletter, which is sent via email every Monday morning.

Sincerely,
Geoff Brackett, Executive Vice President
Thom Wermuth, Vice President for Academic Affairs
Deb DiCaprio, Vice President for Student Affairs