Recently, the University of North Carolina, University of Notre Dame and Michigan State University have all adjusted their plans to open the fall semester with in-person classes due to the spread of COVID-19 within their campus communities. Even though most individuals at those campuses took seriously the risks associated with COVID-19, it only took a small number of cases on each campus to require those universities to change their plans. Please follow these safety guidelines that will greatly reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

• Practice social distancing by staying six feet apart from your classmates and friends, whether on campus or off campus.
• Limit gatherings to fewer than 10 people – on campus and off campus.
• Wear a facial covering in all classrooms, labs and wherever you cannot maintain a physical distance of six feet or more.
• Wash hands frequently and thoroughly for at least 20 seconds.
• Constantly monitor your health.
  • Faculty and staff: If you are feeling ill or have a fever, stay home and contact your health care provider and then your supervisor to report your absence from work. Report to COVID@mst.edu or call the COVID-19 hotline at 573-341-4902 if you are tested for COVID-19 or presumed positive and not tested, or are a close contact with a person who tests positive, is being tested, or exhibits symptoms of COVID-19.
  • Students: If you have a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher or other symptoms of COVID-19, stay home and notify covid@mst.edu.

Missouri S&T has taken several steps to make the campus safe for learning, teaching and working. These modifications include rearranging classrooms so that students are no closer than six feet to one another and requiring face coverings in classes, teaching and research labs, and common areas.

Students are asked to establish a safe “social bubble” or “family unit” consisting of a small number of individuals (typically three to five). In addition to practicing the safety guidelines listed above, staying in the social bubble as much as possible will help minimize the possibility of transmission. But it takes time and diligence for students to create a safe social bubble – typically two or three weeks.

Missouri S&T policies and standards are based on university expectations as informed by federal, state and local public health guidelines. Anyone who disregards these policies or puts at risk the welfare of the campus community may face disciplinary actions as noted in the University of Missouri Collected Rules and Regulations Chapter 330 – Employee Conduct for faculty, HR-601 for staff, and Section 200.10 Standard of Conduct for students.

If you have a concern involving students or student organizations, please contact the dean of students office or report online. If you have a concern involving employees, please contact the appropriate supervisor, administrator or human resources department.