Frequently Asked Questions

There will be no in-person gatherings exceeding 10 people on or off campus this semester. This will be strictly enforced with consequences that may include suspension and expulsion. In-person events hosted by an organization, team, and/or individual – whether planned or spontaneous, whether inside or outside – cannot exceed 10 people, and all attendees must follow MMDC guidelines including wearing masks and being physically distanced at least six feet from one another. Social gatherings and parties create significant risk, accelerating the spread of COVID-19 and threaten the health and safety of our entire community. This policy does not apply to classes, which have room capacities designed to support social distancing and shall not exceed 30 people. 

Special COVID-19 training and education will be required of every student, faculty and staff. This training covers key information about COVID-19 and public health as well as UMW policies and procedures in response to the pandemic. This includes: (1) face coverings, (2) social distancing, (3) cleaning and disinfecting, (4) monitoring and attestation, (5) anti-stigma, (6) vulnerable populations, (7) reporting, and (8) enforcement.

At the conclusion of the training, all members of the UMW community will take the “Mary Washington Pledge” agreeing to several things including: (1) regular self-monitoring and attestation of symptoms, (2) not coming to campus if sick, (c) wearing face coverings, as well as observing good hygiene practices and social distancing expectations.

UMW will follow CDC and VDH guidance on using face coverings to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 spread. Face coverings will be required by students, faculty, staff and visitors when in the company of others (e.g. in classes, public events, offices, hallways, stairwells, Campus Walk, common spaces, etc.).

In support of this requirement, UMW has procured enough washable three-ply cloth masks for all students (including student workers), faculty, and staff who need them. In addition, the University has purchased an appropriate number of “clear masks” and face shields. The Emergency Management Team will continue to monitor and plan for additional needs including assessing options for alternatives for those unable to wear masks. Additional masks will be provided to employees as needed and supplies allow and additional branded masks will be available for purchase in the UMW bookstore.

UMW will not prohibit students from leaving campus. We do ask students and parents to reduce trips to and from campus, as every trip brings an increased risk of COVID transmission.

UMW’s policy options to mitigate risk for vulnerable individuals (those 65 years or older and those with underlying health conditions) include, where possible, telework, and virtual learning. Students needing accommodations should work with the Office of Disability Resources, and faculty and staff should contact their supervisor and the Office of Human Resources for additional support.

Students planning to live on-campus are encouraged to discuss their particular risk factors with their family and personal care physicians. UMW has developed a process to permit students to petition for release from their housing contract due to COVID-19 related concerns.

Training, education and signage will promote personal hygiene through an ongoing campaign around hand washing and sanitizing. Hygiene practices will be supported by readily available soap, wipes, spray, and hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol). Members of the UMW community will be provided with self-carry bottles of hand sanitizer which will be refillable at various locations on campus. In addition, more than 1,000 no-touch hand sanitizing stations are being strategically placed across UMW properties.

An enhanced cleaning schedule will be in place for fall 2020 to support daily and “between use” cleaning and disinfecting of facilities as much as possible. UMW facilities staff have reviewed CDC guidance for cleaning and disinfecting and aligned their schedules and practices accordingly. Disinfecting products have been vetted for EPA-approval for COVID-19, and 40 electrostatic spray cleaning guns have been ordered to support enhanced and efficient disinfecting and cleaning of large spaces. Regular cleaning and disinfecting steps will include objects touched by multiple people such as flat surfaces (e.g. tables, desks, and countertops), doorknobs, light switches, counter tops, handles, bathroom facilities and laboratories. Cleaning supplies will also be available in classrooms and labs for cleaning and disinfecting computer keyboards, mice, and touchpads.

Self-cleaning of classroom surfaces will be supported even as Facilities Services increases rotational cleaning of bathrooms and other high-touch areas in classrooms and common areas on a daily basis. As available, cleaning and disinfecting products such as sanitizing wipes will be present in all classroom and meeting spaces, and ubiquitous throughout UMW buildings, including offices to support self-cleaning. The time between classes has been increased to 20 minutes to permit self-cleaning of learning spaces.

At least weekly.

Classrooms are being reconfigured to allow 64 square feet of separation between desks. Common areas are being reimagined. This includes installing protective barriers, marking seats, taping floors, and removing furniture. And signs to promote good hygiene, social distancing, and cleaning protocols are being posted. Water fountains will be used for bottle refill ONLY, and elevators will allow only one person at a time.

The campus will look a little bit different this fall, but it will still be the same beautiful place we know and love.

Policies are in place to support UMW’s expectation that faculty, staff and students stay home or self-isolate when they are sick or have been exposed to COVID-19. For employees, flexible sick leave policies are in place including regular leave (sick leave and annual leave) and state and federal leave options for different COVID-19 scenarios. These include Virginia Public Health Emergency Leave which applies to all employees including wage and adjunct positions and additional paid leave (until 12/31/2020) under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act which includes both emergency paid sick leave and emergency family and medical leave.

Similarly, UMW’s policies on Attendance and Class Absences offer guidance and provide for support to students who miss class for COVID-19 related reasons and will ultimately return to class after COVID-19 illness. This includes disability-related absences for those who have a documented disability that makes them vulnerable to COVID-19 and procedures for unscheduled absences which would include COVID-19 related reasons. Students with unscheduled absences are directed to contact the Office of Academic Services to report the absence and request assistance in working with faculty. In addition, UMW policies on grading include options for an incomplete grade when a student cannot complete the assigned work for reasons including those related to COVID-19 illness or self-isolation.

In consultation with local and state public health officials a campus dismissal (return to remote learning) or shutdown (closure of campus offices) would be necessary under several conditions. Such conditions could include:

• Sustained negative trends in public health data, including a return to Phase Two under the Forward Virginia Blueprint for the Rappahannock health district,
• Concern from local health systems that hospital bed capacity was limited and/or testing capacity was insufficient,
• Broad-scale breakdown in adherence to sound public health principles, or
• Supply chain or capacity constraints that undermine UMW’s repopulation, monitoring, and containment plans (e.g. insufficient cleaning supplies, lack of PPE, or exceeding quarantine/isolation capacity).

UMW has developed plans for both the continuity of operations and continuity of the academic mission. The University is prepared – indeed much more prepared than in the spring – to shift fully to telework and remote learning.

The Governor has indicated that employees who are able to complete their work remotely should continue doing so. Only employees who are required to be physically present to complete their work will be on campus. This approach will ease employees back into the work environment and will assist UMW in supporting physical distancing.

• Positive trends in public health in the Fredericksburg region are consistent with the Forward Virginia Blueprint.
• Health care capacity at local health care facilities is capable of serving the regional population given a surge in cases.
• A climate of adherence to sound public health principles and a culture of compliance in which the UMW community will support and embrace safety precautions to practice good hygiene, quarantine, social distance, wear face coverings, and work together to prevent the spread of disease.
• Campus preparedness plan is developed, approved, and consistent with guidance set forth by the Commonwealth

Should a student or a student’s family member become infected with coronavirus, the first priority is for the student to do whatever needs to be done to recover or take precautions to prevent infections. UMW has provisions for quarantining and will work with students who have virus-related disruptions in their lives.

If possible, students should let their academic advisers and professors know if they are too ill to do classwork. If they are too ill to contact professors, they may have someone else contact one professor and ask that professor to inform the university. UMW gives ill students opportunities to suspend classwork without dropping out of school while they are recovering. Once the student is well, he/she should contact professors to figure out how to complete classes.