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COVID-19 Policies and Procedures

Updated: September 1, 2023

The health and safety of the Marist community is our top priority. While COVID-19 is not gone, public health conditions have improved to a point where the virus is effectively being managed similar to other illnesses.

At this time, Marist strongly recommends individuals stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccine. This applies to all students, faculty, and staff. While proof of vaccination is not required as a condition of enrollment at Marist, specific programs and experiences, such as Study Abroad, may require the vaccine in order to participate. All students must comply with the vaccination requirements of their study abroad program provider, host institution, host country, and any other countries they visit. 

We believe these are appropriate protocols given sustained, manageable levels of COVID-19 in the community and the federal government having ended the coronavirus public health emergency on May 11, 2023. The College will continue to monitor public health guidelines and may implement additional health measures if conditions change.

Students, faculty, and staff should continue to follow CDC guidelines for isolation and exposure precautions, as well as advice of their health care providers.

 

Health Services

Students who feel sick or experience COVID-19 symptoms should contact Health Services.

For urgent care needs, Marist partners with Emergency One, an off-campus urgent care center with evening and weekend hours. Safety and Security can provide transportation to Emergency One between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

To facilitate timely communication with Health Services, students are encouraged to notify Emergency One staff that they are Marist students. Additionally, students can select Dr. Claudia Zegans, Director of Health Services, as a provider to receive their health information from Emergency One (or any other local urgent/emergency facility).

For medical emergencies, students can be seen at MidHudson Regional Hospital. Safety and Security will provide transportation to the hospital’s Emergency Department. For an ambulance transportation is needed and can be accessed using the 911 EMS system. 

To help resident students determine and access the appropriate level of care for their concern, please contact:

  • Your Resident Director or Resident Assistant
  • Marist Safety and Security: x5555, x2282 or (845) 471-1822

Please Note: Off-campus health care is subject to the terms of the student's health insurance coverage and students should confirm coverage prior to seeking care in non-emergent situations.

Resources

2023 Communications

Student Communication - September 1, 2023

Dear Students,
 
We are so happy to have you at Marist this fall. As Director of the College’s Student Health Services, I’d like to share some important information and reminders about COVID-19. 
 
COVID-19 is still present in our communities. Recently, the nation has been experiencing a modest uptick in cases as a result of the new subvariant. The majority of COVID cases remain mild, especially for low-risk populations. Additionally, vaccines remain effective in protecting against serious illness, and treatments are available for people at higher risk for severe infection.
 
COVID-19 is now far less serious a health issue for most people than during the height of the pandemic, but we continue to encourage you to be mindful of protecting yourself and others from infection just as you do against other viruses and respiratory illnesses. 

Helpful Healthcare Reminders

Student Health Services encourages students to follow COVID-19 guidelines that safeguard the health of our College community. 

  • Wash hands frequently, test when symptomatic, and stay away from others if unwell. 
  • We are a mask-friendly campus, and the College embraces the choice by classmates, faculty, and staff to wear a face mask. People have personal reasons for masking, and we ask you please respect mask choice and be considerate of others. We recommend that those with respiratory virus symptoms wear a mask when around other people.
  • Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines remains an important defense against severe illness. An updated booster shot is expected to be authorized by the CDC and FDA this fall. 
  • Marist is hosting a number of on-campus vaccine clinics this fall; starting on Sept. 20, you will be able to get your flu shot and updated COVID-19 vaccine when available.
  • Review our COVID-19 healthcare tips and resources on our website.

To keep our community safe and healthy, follow the CDC guidelines for COVID-19 isolation and exposure. If you need assistance developing an isolation plan, contact either Housing or Health Services.

Marist continues to monitor COVID-19 developments and is following the latest recommendations and guidelines from the CDC and local and state health officials, and will update its approach if the situation changes.  If you have any questions or concerns about these COVID-19 guidelines, or need support with any type of healthcare issue, please contact Health Services at (845) 575-3270 or Health.Services@marist.edu.

Have a great semester!

Best regards,
Dr. Claudia Zegans,
Director
Health Services    

COVID-19 and Student Health Resources 

Staff Communication - September 8, 2023

Dear Colleagues,

We hope the new semester is off to a good start for you. As we approach that time of year when we typically see an uptick in seasonal illnesses, we also are reminded that COVID-19 is still present in our communities.

Recently, the nation has been experiencing a modest uptick in cases as a result of the new subvariant. The majority of COVID cases remain mild, especially for low-risk populations. Additionally, vaccines remain effective in protecting against serious illness, and treatments are available for people at higher risk for severe infection.

COVID-19 is now far less serious a health issue for most people than during the height of the pandemic, but we continue to encourage you to be mindful of protecting yourself and others from infection just as you do against other viruses and respiratory illnesses. 

Helpful Healthcare Reminders

Marist encourages all employees to follow COVID-19 guidelines that safeguard the health of our College community. 

  • Wash hands frequently, test when symptomatic, and stay away from others if unwell. 
  • We are a mask-friendly campus, and the College embraces the choice by classmates, faculty, and staff to wear a face mask. People have personal reasons for masking and we ask you please respect mask choice and be considerate of others. We recommend that those with respiratory virus symptoms wear a mask when around other people.
  • Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines remains an important defense against severe illness. An updated booster shot is expected to be authorized by the CDC and FDA this fall. 
  • Marist is hosting a number of on-campus vaccine clinics this fall, starting on Sept. 20; you will be able to get your flu shot and updated COVID-19 vaccine when available.
  • Review our COVID-19 healthcare tips and resources on our website.

To keep our community safe and healthy, follow the CDC guidelines for COVID-19 isolation and exposure. Marist continues to monitor COVID-19 developments and is following the latest recommendations and guidelines from the CDC and local and state health officials, and will update its approach if the situation changes.  

If you have any questions or concerns about these COVID-19 guidelines, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (845) 575-3349 or Human.Resources@marist.edu. Our campus continues to do a remarkable job in caring for one another and upholding our health and safety measures. Thank you for protecting the health of our workplace. Have a great semester! 

Best,
Christina M. Daniele 
Vice President of Human Resources 
Office of Human Resources
P: 845.575.3000 x3349 | F: 845.575.3348

Dear Marist community,

With the successful launch of our spring semester, and after a careful review of Marist’s COVID policies and protocols, we are writing to announce an update of these protocols in preparation for the upcoming Summer 2023 term and Academic Year 2023-24. We want to share this information now to provide timely, transparent information to members of the Marist community, and especially students who will be newly enrolling at or returning to Marist.

Beginning May 22, 2023, Marist will move to a policy of strongly recommending the COVID-19 vaccination series and booster for all students, faculty, and staff.  This decision comes after consultation with the College’s Medical Advisory Group (MAG) and review of the latest public health data and COVID-19 guidelines. Proof of vaccination and booster will no longer be required as a condition of employment or enrollment at Marist; however, specific programs and experiences, including certain Study Abroad programs, may require the vaccine in order to participate.

While the COVID-19 virus is not gone, public health conditions have improved to a point where COVID is effectively being self-managed similar to other illnesses. Marist’s updated policy is consistent with the federal government’s recent announcement that it will end the coronavirus public health emergency on May 11, 2023. We believe this is an appropriate update to the College’s health protocols given sustained, manageable levels of COVID in the community, the widespread availability of at-home test kits, and our campus community’s familiarity with testing, isolation and “stay at home when sick” protocols. 

We’d like to take a moment and express our gratitude to the Marist faculty and staff who participated on the Medical Advisory Committee (MAG) for the last three years. Chaired by Dr. Alicia Slater, Dean of the School of Science, members of MAG include Dr. Claudia Zegans, Director of Student Health Services; Dr. Steve Katz, Medical Director, Marist Physician Assistant Program; and Dr. Erin McLaughlin, Assistant Medical Director, Marist Physician Assistant Program, and Medical Director Occupational Medicine & Employee Health, Nuvance Health System.  Their leadership, focus on scientific data, and continuous review of public health guidelines helped Marist successfully navigate the pandemic and preserve the signature on-ground experience that attracts students to our institution. The College will continue to monitor public health guidelines and reserves the right to update its guidelines should conditions warrant; we also can tap into the expertise of our MAG once again if needed.

Removing our COVID vaccination mandate does not alleviate the personal responsibility each of us has to remain diligent about testing ourselves for COVID when we do not feel well, staying home when sick, and following the College’s isolation protocols when testing positive. These important steps will continue to promote the health and safety of our campus community. 

We thank everyone in our community for their support and adherence to our COVID protocols. Your action and care for each other over the last three years is a reflection of what makes our Marist community special and unique.

Sincerely,
Geoff Brackett, Executive Vice President

2022 Communications

Dear Marist Faculty & Staff Colleagues,

As we prepare for the launch of the 2022-2023 academic year, we wanted to let you know that to better serve our student population, we have relocated and refurbished our student health and counseling services so that they are in the heart of the campus: in the Student Center 3rd floor (Health Services) and Midrise 1st floor (Counseling Services). This is an important improvement as we open for what we trust will be a more traditional operating year after two years of significant disruption because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many thanks to you all for the perseverance you have shown over that period. We are cautiously optimistic and extremely excited about the academic year ahead of us.

Within that context, we also wanted to let you know of important updates to our public health policies, which have been informed by Marist’s Medical Advisory Group, whose expertise has helped to guide us successfully through the past two years. They are:

COVID-19

The Marist community maintains a high rate of vaccination and booster compliance. We will begin the semester with the following policies in place:

  • The College will continue to require members of the Marist community to obtain the full vaccine series and initial booster for the Fall 2022 semester, unless they were granted a religious or medical exemption for the 2022-2023 academic year
  • The College will strongly recommend individuals obtain a second booster, once eligible.
  • Marist will remain a “mask-friendly” environment where we ask that all respect individual decisions about masking. Faculty may continue to encourage students to wear masks during classroom instruction.
  • The College will continue to provide face coverings to students, faculty, and staff. Requests should be made via email to PPE.requests@marist.edu.
  • >Marist will continue the existing isolation/quarantine policy, for those that have tested positive or for those with approved exemptions who have been exposed to COVID-19.

Flu Vaccine

For the 2022-23 academic year, Marist will strongly recommend students, faculty, and staff receive the annual flu vaccine. As it has done in the past, the College will offer periodic flu vaccine clinics on campus to make it easier for the community to protect itself against influenza. More details will be provided about flu clinics as they become available.

Monkeypox

We also wanted to note that we are closely monitoring updates from the State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) regarding monkeypox, which is a rare disease in the same family of viruses that cause smallpox (and not related to chickenpox). While symptoms are similar to smallpox, they are milder and rarely fatal. The CDC has instructional resources available on how it spreads, prevention, how to spot symptoms and available treatment.

The spread of monkeypox, like that of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, has been accompanied by misinformation, some of which stigmatizes members of certain demographic groups. Marist is committed to providing its students, faculty, and staff with reliable information and guidance they need to help protect themselves and our community.

Health officials advise that anyone who believes they have been exposed or experiences the rashes or lesions characteristic of monkeypox should contact their health care provider for an assessment and appropriate treatment. Vaccine for eligible individuals is now available through the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral and Community Health. You can find out if you are eligible and pre-register for vaccination against monkeypox by visiting https://www.DutchessNY.gov/MonkeypoxVaccine.

Marist has succeeded through the challenges of the last two years because of the resilient dedication of its community, the care with which we treat each other, and our commitment to continuous improvement. We are all excited to move forward together and welcome our new and returning students for the new academic year.

Sincerely,

Geoff Brackett, Executive Vice President
Thom Wermuth, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty