COVID-19 Preparedness Plan
Our goal is to mitigate the potential for transmission of COVID-19 within our campus and additional locations. Achieving this goal requires full cooperation among students, faculty, staff and members of our campus community.
Return to Learn COVID-19 Preparedness Plan (PDF Download)
Only through a cooperative effort, can we establish and maintain the safety and health of our University. Campus leaders, supervisors, employees, and students are responsible for implementing and complying with this Plan.
Planning Guidance
We are serious about the safety and health of our students and employees. Our COVID-19 Preparedness Plan follows Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidelines and federal OSHA standards related to COVID-19 and addresses:
- Hygiene and respiratory etiquette;
- Engineering and administrative controls for social distancing;
- Custodial services – cleaning, disinfecting and decontamination;
- Prompt identification and isolation of sick persons;
- Communications and training that will be provided to managers and workers; and
- Management and supervision necessary to ensure effective implementation of the plan.
The plan that follows is based upon the current understanding of COVID-19 conditions and guidance provided by the CDC, MDH, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB), and Minnesota State system as of June 15, 2020. This plan will be reviewed, revised and updated as conditions change and/or new guidance is received.
Screening and Policies for Those Exhibiting Signs and Symptoms of COVID-19
Employees and students will be informed of and required to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. The following policies and procedures are being implemented to assess health status prior to entering the campus and for employees and students to report when they are sick or experiencing symptoms.
Screening Protocols
Please help us reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission by completing a daily self-screening. The screening tool is part of a system-wide initiative by the Minnesota State System office.
Screening Response
Employees or students who are feeling ill and/or are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms are required to not report to work or attend class.
If symptoms develop while on campus, individuals are to immediately leave campus/return to their place of residence. These individuals should contact their healthcare provider and follow the instructions given to them by their healthcare provider.
Positive Notification Processes
Minnesota State University, Mankato values the health and safety its students, employees, and visitors. To assist with maintaining a healthy campus community, the University asks students, employees, and visitors to follow these notification processes to assist with any response to positive COVID-19 cases.
Visitor/Vendor/Contractor Notification Process
Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette
Basic infection prevention measures are being implemented at the Minnesota State Mankato campus and additional locations.
Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette
FACE COVERINGS
Beginning July 20, 2020, all Minnesota State University, Mankato faculty, staff, students, and visitors will be required to wear a face covering over both the nose and mouth at all times when indoors on campus or in other university facilities.
SOCIAL DISTANCING
Social distancing is being implemented throughout campus.
SOCIAL DISTANCING
Custodial Services and Cleaning Response
Custodial services are being implemented, including routine cleaning and disinfecting of areas in the campus environment, including classrooms, labs, restrooms, common areas, break rooms, lunch rooms, meeting rooms, and drop-off and pick-up locations.
Custodial Services and cleaning response
Communications
Information about and expectations regarding hygiene and respiratory etiquette will be regularly communicated to the campus community using a variety of channels, including but not limited to:
- Social media
- Website
- Posters (including the large frames in every building on campus, hand-washing posters in restrooms and other specific messages in relevant locations)
- Videos
- MavLife app
- Print piece to be distributed with masks
- Campus newsletters
- Digital monitors throughout campus
- Ads in The Reporter
- Signage/stickers that promote social distancing on floors, in classrooms, etc.
The Preparedness Plan will be communicated via weekly email updates as well as posted on the University’s Return to Learn website and shared through social media channels to all employees and students upon completion.
Additional communication will be ongoing and provided to all employees and students. Leaders and supervisors are to monitor how effective the program has been implemented by reporting observations and concerns to the Vice President who oversees their department.
In addition, students may contact the campus designated student COVID-19 contact for further questions and information. The student COVID-19 contact is the Student Affairs Office at student-affairs@mnsu.edu or (507) 389-2121.
Employees may contact the campus designated employee COVID-19 contact for further questions and information. The designated employee COVID-19 contact person is the Director of Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management at (507) 389-5568.
Return to Learn Preparedness Training
As part of the Return to Learn COVID-19 Preparedness Plan and in alignment with the Office of Higher Education, we have now launched the online Return to Learn Preparedness Training. This short, online training is provided for all employees, including student workers.
