FAQs

A. The Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Department of Education issued strong recommendations to all colleges and universities in Pennsylvania to conduct mandatory re-entry COVID testing for all students this January. The CDC has similar guidance. Students will be asked to pay for their own test that they obtain in their own area as this may be the most convenient option. This requirement is consistent with other University health protocols regarding payment and responsibilities. We know this might be a challenge for some, so the university will offer free testing on campus between January 19 and 22. Please see the Current Student page of this COVID web site, the Parents page here, or the On-campus Testing Page for the latest on the testing program.

A. Yes. The MU Daily Symptom Tracker should be filled out every day, regardless of where you are. This helps us support and advise those who may not regularly be on campus, and provides us within valuable information on the health and status of our community that may be time sensitive. Data from the app is not being used to track any individual. Only the user responses are being reviewed as a tool to help people take care of  themselves and protect others.

You can learn more about surveillance testing by visiting this page.

A. For iPad or iPhone

1. Launch “Safari” app.  This does not work from the “Chrome” app.
2. Enter into the address field the URL of Medicat (https://misericordia.medicatconnect.com) to create a shortcut. Tap “Go.”
   • You will be taken to the myMU login screen
   • Log into myMU with your credentials
   • The Medicat Health and Wellness page will display
3. Tap the icon featuring an upward-pointing arrow coming out of a box
4. Scroll down and Tap on  “Add to Home Screen” 
5. Change the title ‘Home’ to Medicat
   • The icon that will be used for this website will display, however, when not logged in it will display the myMU login screen (it is still linked to Medicat).
6. Tap Done.  Safari will close automatically and you will be taken to where the icon is located on your iPad or iPhone’s desktop.

A. For Android

1. Launch “Chrome” app.
2. Open the website or web page  (https://misericordia.medicatconnect.com) to pin to your home screen.
3. Tap the menu icon (3 lines in upper right-hand corner) and tap Add to home screen.
4. Enter Medicat in the name for the shortcut and then Chrome will add it to your home screen.

A. The University will begin the Spring 2021 semester with a safely controlled in-person format. The semester begins one week later than originally scheduled on January 25. The regional health situation is being monitored carefully. The University is working on a testing procedure as strongly recommended by the PA DOH. Please visit the Current Student or Parents page of this COVID web site for the details on this testing plan. Visit the on-campus testing link for more information on that option.

A testing pool means that your test sample will be tested with nine other samples, all mixed.  Pooled samples provide the advantage of testing a large number of individuals with few resources. Therefore, a negative result means all 10 people in the pool are negative for COVID.  A positive result means that at least one of the 10 persons in the pool is positive.  Therefore, further testing will be required.   Instructions regarding further testing for those in a positive pool will be provided to you by a member of the MU Cougar Cares Team - cougarcare@misericordia.edu.

• When can I expect my test results?  Results will be available in approximately 48-72 hours.
• How will I get my results?     You will get an email letting you know when your results are ready to be viewed.
• What if my test pool is positive?  If you are part of a positive test pool, you will receive an email with directions for further testing.  Someone from the Cougar Care Team will be in contact with you as well. 
• Can I be on campus prior to getting my test result?  No.  You must leave campus at the conclusion of your test today.  You are not permitted back on campus until you test negative. 
• Where will I go if I am positive for COVID?   You will need to leave campus for the duration of your isolation period.  This applies to those who live in campus housing.

A. ALL students, including commuters, are being asked to self-quarantine for 10 days prior to returning to campus for classes. This is intended to limit your exposure to others and reduce the risk of bringing COVID to campus. Of course you may have to leave home for necessary medical procedures or other critical tasks; but you should keep interactions away from home to only those that are necessary. At all times during this "self-quarantine," you should stay at least 6 feet from others; wash your hands often either with soap and water for 20 seconds or a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol; avoid crowds; avoid any contact with people who are sick; as well as clean and disinfect frequently touched objects (i.e., cell phone) and surfaces daily.

A. If a student leaves campus to travel out of state, they should plan to go home and not return until the spring semester. Pennsylvania is recommending a 14-day quarantine if someone leaves the state and returns after visiting someone out of state. Or, instead of quarantine, a person who spends time out of state must have a documented negative test result that is no older than 72 hours upon return to Pennsylvania. With less than a week remaining in the semester, for most practical reasons, these travel mitigation requirements would force students to remain at home after interstate travel. Students traveling out of state should plan to take everything with them that they would need for break and follow all the Residence Life check out procedures. Parents and families CAN still come to campus to pick up students under the new guidance since they will only be visiting, making a brief stop on campus, and returning home. Non Pennsylvania residents who have scheduled admissions visits to campus as prospective students in December and January should contact our Admissions office for guidance on visiting. The PA Department of Health has recommended that Admissions visitors comply with the quarantine/testing guidance.

A. No, you should remain in quarantine. Even if you test negative or feel healthy, health experts say symptoms can develop anywhere from 2-14 days from the time of exposure. In order to have the greatest chance for you to not spread COVID to others, please complete the full 14 days of quarantine.

A. Yes. Classes begin on January 25. The combined spring break and Easter Break has been reduced. Only Good Friday will be a holiday. Classes will be held on other days and Easter Monday.  Please visit myMU as a revised, printable listing of the Spring dates is now available in the Student, Faculty, and Employee sections of the portal. The updated spring dates are now available on the web site's Campus Calendar as well.

A. Students are asked to please limit travel to and from campus unless they are a commuter student. Students can travel home, but please only do so if needed. There will be no Labor Day holiday and no fall break. Also please keep in mind the COVID-19 status at home. If you have a confirmed case of COVID-19 at home or if there is a major outbreak in your hometown, use common sense and limit your risk. Please stay on campus and near to campus as needed. No visitors will be allowed inside residence halls. Parents and family members should meet students outside of buildings and limit  their trips to campus.  

A. We encourage all of our community to spend time outside exercising and having fun while following university guidelines. Due to the higher risk of exposure associated with playing recreational sports where proper distancing is not possible, masks must be worn at all times when playing, both indoors and outdoors. We understand that breathing while wearing a mask may be difficult for some, especially playing basketball. If you find this to be the case, please adjust accordingly by playing half court, substituting players, or otherwise modifying the game within your group to ensure you can breathe safely and comfortably, with everyone’s masks remaining on.   Remember to take all normal precautions by washing your hands before and after playing, and staying socially distanced (6 feet) when not playing.

A. No. We are using the CDC guidance that says close contact is when one is within six feet of you for 15 minutes or more, whether you have masks on or not. If you spent less than 15 minutes with a person or they were more than six feet away during your entire interaction, that is not defined as close contact. Please always stay more than six feet away from others. The distance greatly limits the spread of COVID-19. If six feet is good, ten feet is better. Combined with mask wearing, physical or social distancing continues to be one of the best ways to stop COVID.

A. Masks are designed to keep other people safe. They block or slow down the tiny water droplets that we breathe out. Those drops don't travel as far when we wear masks. Maintaining 6 feet or more of distance between people at ALL times is important to protect yourself and others from possible COVID-19 infection. Masks add another layer of protection. Masks are required on campus. Visit our COUGARCARE documents in the employee and student sections of this web site for more information. According to multiple expert sources, an N95 mask is the most effective at blocking droplets from traveling out to others. These same sources say that you should NOT use an N95 mask with the square plastic vent. That vent is designed to make it easier to breathe out so it does little to protect others. Surgical masks, multi-layer cotton masks, and other similar masks that cover the nose and mouth are acceptable face coverings on campus for general daily use. A plastic face shield is not an acceptable face covering alone for general, daily activities on campus. It must be worn with a mask unless you have a medical need that prevents you from wearing a mask. Please consult with our COUGARCARE team if you have such a medical need. A highly publicized study released recently tested one type of neck fleece or gaiter along with common mask types. The authors of the study said there were developing a technique for testing masks rather than conducting a comprehensive mask test. We are still allowing neck gaiters to be worn as a mask on campus as we follow previous guidance from the CDC and PA Department of Health regarding face coverings. This may change if the official guidance changes.

A. The study rooms in the Bevevino Library will be open. The study rooms will be socially distanced and limited in capacity. Please use the existing reservation system. Also note that the length of time for use of the rooms has been reduced to 2 hours rather than 4 hours as before to allow for more students to utilize them.

A. There will not be a price differential for classes based on their delivery method. Our faculty will be highly attentive to the different learning styles and the different teaching platforms that will be needed to help us manage our physical distancing on campus this fall. The quality of our courses will remain unchanged. The courses will all count toward the your degree in the same way as they did before. We are committed to keeping the value of your education at the highest level possible.

A: If your roommate is tested, they will be told to immediately go back to their room to collect what they will need (clothes, laptop, books, etc…) and will be isolated off campus (at home) until the university receives the results of the test.  If the test is negative, your roommate can return to campus and resume normal activity if they were not determined to be exposed by a contact tracer. If the test is negative after determined exposure, your roommate will return after their 14 day quarantine.  If the test is positive, the student will remain in isolation for at least 10 days from the onset of symptoms. At the end of the 10 days, the student must be fever free without the use of fever reducing medication and symptom free.  The student must be approved to return to campus.

A contact tracer will be in contact with you if your roommate tests positive to determine if you have been in close contact and have been exposed (within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more).  Normally, the university will not contact you directly to notify you that your roommate is being tested until a positive result has occurred. You should contact the Health Center at 570-674-6276 or Cougar Care Team cougarcare@misericordia.edu if you have any questions or concerns.

A. With appropriate precautions in place, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will allow higher education institutions to deliver in-person instruction even if our region is put into the "yellow" phase. In fact, the university's procedures and safety precautions are designed with the "yellow" status in mind. Under yellow, telework would continue for faculty and staff where feasible. Essential functions would still be done on campus as needed. Supervisors will work with staff to determine coverage on campus. Strict adherence to proper social/physical distancing guidelines would be enforced. Clinical training and field experience would be allowed for all individuals preparing for licensure and certification. Our practice this fall will be to restrict gatherings of non-instructional activities to no more than 25 people (fewer whenever possible), and this is the allowable guidance under the yellow status.  We will continue to adhere to CDC, DOH, and PDE guidance as they evolve. We will monitor public health indicators and adjust plans as necessary.

A. Yes.  Please send an email to cougarcare@misericordia.edu including your name and cell phone number.  They will contact you to privately discuss your results. The Student Health Center is the preferred location for students to seek testing, unless they can't get to campus. Please remember to make an appointment prior to going to the Health Center. Faculty and staff should also contact their immediate supervisor after informing COUGARCARE.

 A. The MAC Freedom Conference has suspended all athletics intercollegiate competition for fall 2020.

A. Every classroom has been designed for a minimum of 6 feet of social distancing, and everyone is required to wear a mask to minimize passing along any possible infection.  The first thing that happens is the student who tested positive will be required to isolate off campus and not come to class or campus.  A university contact tracer will then contact the student to get a list of names of individuals that the student believes he/she has been in close contact with (within 6 feet for 15 or more minutes masked or not masked).  In addition, the faculty members who taught the student in class may be contacted for additional information.  If someone has been determined to have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, they will be notified, then quarantined off campus for 14 days.  This is why social distancing and wearing a mask is so important.  It is much harder to transmit or be infected if you keep your distance and wear a mask. If you are not called by a university contact tracer, you were determined NOT to have been exposed. 

A. Consult with your health care provider if you are not feeling well. Do not report to campus. Please consult the instructions in the Faculty and Staff or Risk Assessment sections of this web page. Complete the questions in the MU Daily Symptom Tracker every day. Do not report to campus until you can consult with your supervisor and Human Resources.

A. Campus is currently open to pedestrians to use our sidewalks and paths. Please maintain social distancing and have a mask on as interaction with others might occur as you walk across campus.  The tennis and basketball courts remain closed to visitors and our neighbors. We apologize for the inconvenience but our goal is to avoid any unnecessary crowds or gatherings as we increase our student and employee presence on campus.  All campus buildings and interior spaces remain restricted to employees and preregistered guests and or/vendors only.