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Ursuline’s pandemic protocols are informed by close consultation with experts from Cleveland Clinic and the Cuyahoga County Board of Health and follow the guidelines of the State of Ohio Department of Health and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This page tracks testing and confirmed cases among our community members and is updated every Wednesday.
Below are frequently asked questions. To read more in-depth updates, including information about federal relief funds, go to our Coronavirus News Section. Additional updates are available to Ursuline students, faculty, and staff on the College's intranet, MyUrsuline, where a log-in is required.
The College is requiring all students, both undergraduate and graduate, to submit a copy of their vaccination card or proof of a negative COVID test before returning to campus in January. Returning students who have not already submitted vaccine proof, should email a picture of their vaccination card (both sides) to vaxcard@ursuline.edu by January 3, 2022. Students whose vaccine status has changed (first dose, second dose, booster), should update their record by emailing a picture of their vaccine card that includes their COVID booster shot date. Those who are not vaccinated must provide proof of a negative COVID test taken within 3 days of returning to campus OR proof of a positive COVID test that was taken no more than 90 days prior to January 3, 2022 OR proof of exemption. Students who are having difficulty finding a test should email their concern to covidhelp@ursuline.edu.
Yes. The College conducts random surveillance testing of approximately 3-5% of our unvaccinated campus population every week. Students, faculty and staff are notified by email when their names are randomly drawn for a test. Those who then submit a vaccination card are excused from testing. Testing happens on campus under the supervision of a faculty member from our Breen School of Nursing. In addition, the Athletics Department regularly tests student athletes according to NCAA guidelines.
This is random surveillance testing; not mass testing of all students. As noted above, unvaccinated students are required to get their own COVID tests no more than 72 hours before coming to campus for fall 2021 semester.
Yes! Our classrooms have been equipped so that we can provide face-to-face instruction with virtual learning for those who are in isolation or quarantine, for most courses.
All in-person course meetings follow strict guidelines requiring facial coverings for all, asking for those not vaccinated to practice social distancing, and other protocols to maintain health and safety.
Yes. This goes for vaccinated and unvaccinated people. To protect ourselves and others, we are all wearing masks inside Ursuline buildings, unless we are alone in a room (office, or residence hall room).
We have installed hand sanitizer stations at locations around campus, and we’ve placed more hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies at each copy machine. Each classroom and computer lab is stocked with wipes, disinfectant, paper towels and hand sanitizer. Students and faculty are asked to wipe down all surfaces they will touch (primarily desks and keyboards) at the beginning and again at the end of each class.
Frequent cleaning by our cleaning staff and responsible behavior by all of us will help keep our campus clean.
Those who are un-vaccinated should maintain social distance from others.
Student Affairs and Admission events are a mix of virtual and face-to-face encounters, depending on the activity, venue, and ability to ensure student safety. Again, a culture of shared responsibility will help us avoid infection.
We continue to urge all members of our campus community to get vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 as soon as possible, toward the goals of protecting your own health and promoting herd immunity on our campus and in our larger communities. Find a COVID vaccine near you.
Thank you for taking care of yourselves and, in the spirit of Saint Angela Merici, considering the health and well-being of others.
Beyond vaccination, the most important steps we can take are also pretty simple steps: wash hands frequently and for at least 20 seconds each time; avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth; wear a mask and maintain social distancing.
Students, faculty and staff are all required to assess their own symptoms daily, watching for:
• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
This list does not include all possible symptoms.
Ursuline students should use this form to report experiencing symptoms of COVID, exposure to COVID, and/or COVID test results. Once you have submitted this form, the Ursuline COVID Help Team can offer support and guidance.
We will urge any resident student who tests positive to recover in their permanent home. Faculty will provide online instruction. If that is not possible, students who live in a single room in the residence halls can isolate there and have meals delivered while they recover. Any resident who develops COVID-19 but does not have a single room will be offered one.
The CDC issued revised guidelines on Dec. 27, 2021.
If you test positive, isolate for 5 days, and then you may return to campus if your symptoms are gone. Continue masking even off campus for the next 5 days.
If you have been exposed to someone and you have been boosted (or been vaccinated within certain timelines, as described in above CDC link), you need to mask for 10 days but you don’t have to stay home in quarantine, unless you have symptoms. CDC recommends a test at Day 5.
If you have been exposed to someone and you have not been boosted (or been vaccinated within certain timelines, as described in above CDC link), you must stay home in quarantine for 5 days and mask for an additional 5 days. CDC recommends a test at Day 5.
Our goal is to maintain on-campus presence that enables us to offer valuable faculty-student interactions, at the same time that we protect the health and safety of the Ursuline College community. COVID circumstances continue to evolve, however. For this reason, the Ursuline College administration pledges to continue to monitor guidelines from the State of Ohio, the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, and the CDC. Students, faculty and staff are urged to stay on top of campus developments by reading Ursuline emails daily.
