Protect the Hive

If you are exposed to someone who tests positive for COVID-19, you do not need to quarantine but should wear a well-fitted mask for 10 days. You should monitor for symptoms, including cold-like symptoms like a runny nose, aches, fever, sore throat, and loss of taste or smell. If you experience symptoms, take a test (rapid or PCR). If you are symptomatic, it is recommended that you isolate from others while you await the results of your test.

Even if you do not have symptoms, it is recommended that you get tested on day 5 after your exposure.

This protocol applies regardless of vaccination status.

If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, including but not limited to fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, headaches, or loss of taste and/or smell, you should:

• Isolate from others while you await a test result.
• Monitor your health. If after hours, consider seeking care at urgent care or the ER. In case of emergency, call Campus Safety or 911.
• Other resources that might be helpful can be found here.

See below for what to do if you test positive. 

Regardless of your vaccination status, if you test negative for COVID-19 but have symptoms consistent with the virus, you may recover from your illness without being required to quarantine. However, we recommend that keep your distance from others, wear a mask, and continue monitoring your health. Consider being re-tested if your symptoms persist and/or if you do not have an alternative diagnosis from a medical professional. 

• Isolate off-campus for a minimum of 5 days, regardless of vaccination status.
  • Note: The date of positive test or first day of symptoms is defined as Day 0, with at least 5 additional days of isolation required. If you test positive again after recovering, you should restart isolation at Day 0.
• Inform your supervisors, faculty, or others who may need to know of your absence. If you are staff/faculty, please let HR know as well.
• Inform anyone who you may have exposed. This includes anyone with whom you had close contact in the 48 hours prior to the onset of your symptoms and/or your positive test (whichever was first).

If you test positive, you must isolate for a minimum of 5 days, regardless of vaccination status or the degree of your symptoms.

If you remain symptomatic after day 5, you must continue to isolate until your symptoms are resolved and you have been fever-free for 24 hours without the assistance of medication.

After at least 5 days and when you are symptom-free, you may return to campus. You must wear a well-fitted mask until you have two sequential negative antigen tests taken 48 hours apart. While you are masking, it is recommended that you avoid being around vulnerable people and avoid any situation in which you might need to remove your mask, including eating with others. If you continue to test positive, you must continue to mask. If your symptoms resume, you must isolate again.

We recommend that all faculty, staff, and students – regardless of vaccination status – have a plan for where you would isolate if you test positive for COVID-19 or are required to quarantine due to symptoms or exposure. This should be a private location where you can get the care and rest you need and keep others around you safe. Unlike during 2020-21, the College will not provide housing for students to quarantine or isolate.

The minimum isolation period is 5 days AND at least 24 hours fever-free without medication, regardless of vaccination status. 

Note: No one at RMC will share information about your status, including with close contacts, with campus supervisors, faculty, etc. It is your responsibility to arrange a plan for your recovery period and notify those impacted. 

Close contact is defined as spending a combined total of more than 15 minutes within 6 feet of a person. Though time spent outdoors or with a mask on is less likely to result in transmission, this is true regardless of whether you are indoors or outdoors, masked or unmasked. Time spent together should be calculated over a 24-hour period (i.e. spending 5 minutes with someone on three separate interactions over a day). 

COVID-19 tests may be available through Student Health. Employees should purchase their tests from a drugstore or other location.

Masks are optional in most locations on campus. Masks are strongly encouraged under the following circumstances:

• If you have symptoms, you must wear a mask until you receive a negative test or go into isolation following a positive test.
• If you’ve tested positive for COVID-19, and are released before 10 full days of isolation, you must wear a well-fitted mask until you have two sequential negative antigen tests taken 48 hours apart.
• If you’ve been identified as a close contact of someone who tested positive, regardless of vaccination status, you must wear a mask for 10 full days from the date of their exposure.

The College supports members of our community who choose to wear a mask.

When worn, a mask should fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face; and completely cover the nose and mouth.

• Members of the campus community are strongly encouraged to wear a N95, KN95, or a surgical mask instead of a cloth mask.
• Neck gaiters and bandannas are not acceptable unless they are covered by a second mask.
• According to the CDC, do not chose a face covering:
  • made of fabric that makes it hard to breathe (for example, vinyl); or
  • with exhalation valves or vents, which allow virus particles to escape.

Face shields may not be used in place of face coverings.

COVID-19 vaccines are an effective, safe, and critical tool to combat COVID-19. The College encourages all members of our community to be vaccinated and boosted as soon as eligible. We do not require vaccination for COVID-19.

We know that a change in our state, local, or campus context may necessitate changes to protocols, including masking or vaccine requirements. We remain committed to protecting the health and safety of the community and the continuity of the academic experience even as we adapt our protocols to respond to changing conditions.

Submissions of COVID vaccine information is optional, but can help clarify your status with our health professionals. Students submit all medical documentation of vaccinations to Student Health Services via Medicat.

Faculty and staff vaccination information is no longer collected. You may volunteer this information to your supervisor to help clarify the appropriate protocols if you are sick or exposed to COVID-19.

While we recommend that visitors to campus are fully vaccinated for the safety of our campus community, the College will not require proof of vaccination for all visitors. Visitors should plan to follow all current campus protocols in accordance with their vaccination status. 

Prior to enrollment, the College requires students to submit documentation of the MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine, a tetanus booster, the polio vaccine series, and vaccinations for Hepatitis B and meningococcal meningitis. The College will continue to require these vaccinations for all students.

Students who need to isolate are expected to keep up with their schoolwork, as their health permits. To facilitate this, when entering isolation, it is essential that students reach out to their faculty to notify them that they are unable to attend any required in-person classes/activities and to make all necessary arrangements to complete assignments. 

Students should notify their faculty at the earliest possible moment that they:

1. Are managing a health (or personal) matter under the care of medical professionals;
2. May need flexibility with regard to deadlines or attendance policies.

Although the option to attend class virtually may be offered, faculty are not required to provide remote access to their courses for students who are isolating. Faculty will do all that they reasonably can to assist students in maintaining academic progress. Just as students would with other illnesses, they are also encouraged to follow up with a classmate to obtain class notes.

In some cases, particularly as the end of the term approaches, students and faculty may also wish to discuss whether an incomplete grade would be appropriate. The policy on incomplete grades can be found under Academic Regulations in the Catalog. 

In cases of significant illness or missed class, students may wish to withdraw from the class or from the College for medical reasons. Students who wish to withdraw from a course, may do so via MyMaconWeb within the withdrawal deadline. Students who wish to discuss options for medical withdrawal from a course after the deadline has passed, or for medical withdrawal from the College, should contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@rmc.edu. Withdrawal dates are published in the College’s academic calendar. 

Related information:

Students who do not take proactive steps to notify their faculty of their circumstances or who fail to make arrangements to complete their coursework are likely to fall behind and may struggle to catch up and/or to achieve the grades they desire.

Students in quarantine and isolation are reminded that online tutoring and academic coaching is available through the Higgins Academic Center, and they are encouraged to utilize these additional supports during their time in isolation.

Students or faculty who need assistance with negotiating class arrangements may contact Dean Susan Parker (sparker@rmc.edu) for assistance. 

If you are quarantined or isolated due to COVID-19 and can work remotely, you should do so if your health and situation permits. 

If you are too sick to work, or if your role cannot be performed remotely, you should use your available paid time off. Work with your supervisor and/or Human Resources if unpaid time off might be required.

If you have a question that isn’t answered on this page, students/parents should direct questions to deanofstudents@rmc.edu. Faculty or staff can contact Human Resources.