Find It Fast Panel

Upcoming Events

All Events

Latest News

More News

RSS Feeds Subscribe to Alerts

Admissions FAQ's

More FAQ's

Parents

Updated: 9/13/2022

We appreciate all that our students have done to adapt to the necessary changes brought on by the pandemic. We know that families are key in providing the support and encouragement students need to persist through challenging times. The start of classes for Fall 2022 is August 30. We expect to operate as normally as possible.

Cooperation among all members of the community and a shared commitment to health and safety are the most important issues as we return to campus. We are constantly monitoring COVID guidance from national and state sources and strive to create guidelines that maintain the safety of our community as well as continuing our operations in as normal a fashion as is practical. One thing we've learned is that managing COVID is challenging, and the situation can change rapidly. This guidance may be subject to change as we move through the academic year. We are very appreciative of the support we receive from the families of our students.

Questions should be submitted to cougarcare@misericordia.edu.  If you would like to speak to someone, include your telephone number so a member of the team can respond.

Fall 2022

Student Re-Entry COVID-19 Campus Plan

As we have progressed through the summer, we are encouraged by the relatively low number of cases of COVID-19 on campus.  Additionally, the CDC categorizes the counties in which our campuses are located (Luzerne and Allegheny) as low.  

We have been monitoring CDC guidance throughout the summer and continue to follow CDC guidance regarding mitigating COVID-19 and providing a safe environment for all faculty, staff, students, and visitors to our campus.  COVID-19 vaccines, including all booster shots, are strongly recommended for students, faculty, and staff. 

Being up to date on COVID-19 vaccines, including having all recommended booster shots, determines quarantine guidelines and can reduce risk of severe disease and hospitalization.

Students

MOVE IN:

All students will be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 24 hours prior to access to campus.  A photo with a date/time stamp is optimal.  Entry testing WILL NOT be provided on campus.  If you test positive, please do not come to campus, complete the symptom tracker, and upload your result to Medicat.  Instructions to upload can be found here: HowtouploadyourpositiveCOVID-19test.pdf

RESIDENTS:

o   New RESIDENT students – must take test within 24 hours prior to move in to halls.

§  Football student athletes – must take test within 24 hours prior to 8/9/2022

§  All other fall pre-season student athletes – must take test within 24 hours prior to 8/18/2022

o   Returning RESIDENT students – test taken the day before move in to campus housing and upload immediately to allow for office processing. Please upload your test at https://www.misericordia.edu/covid-tests. 

COMMUTERS/OFF-CAMPUS:

o   New COMMUTER students – must take test within 24 hours prior to orientation (Held on 8/25/2022)

§  Football commuters – must take test within 24 hours prior to 8/9/2022

§  All other pre-season commuter athletes – must take test within 24 hours prior to 8/18/2022

o   Returning COMMUTERS students – test taken the day before the first day of classes. Please upload your test at https://www.misericordia.edu/covid-tests. 

MASKING:

Masks remain optional with the following exceptions:

·         Students involved in clinicals, practical placements, student teaching, or other off-campus experiential learning may be required to mask as stated in community partner policies. 

·         While masks are not required except as noted above, anyone who feels comfortable wearing a mask on campus is encouraged to do so.  Please respect others and their desire to mask.

·         If you are confirmed exposed to COVID-19, you may be required to wear a mask.  Cougar Care will provide guidance.

SURVEILLANCE TESTING:

·         Surveillance testing will not be conducted on campus.

·         Currently, there are no NCAA or MAC testing requirements for student athletes. 

SELF-MONITORING TESTING:

·         If you are not feeling well, please stay away from others.  At your earliest convenience, you are required to complete a self, COVID-19 rapid antigen test. 

o   If positive – You should isolate immediately and report your positive status through the symptom tracker and wait for further instructions.  This will allow Cougar Care to continue to monitor trends on campus and perform contact tracing, if necessary.  Click here to download instructions for using the Symptom Tracker.

o   If you have been contacted by a Misericordia University professional through a possible exposure to COVID-19, you will be instructed to mask, monitor symptoms, and test on the 5th day after exposure. 

COVID-19 remains an evolving situation, and these guidelines are subject to change based on current conditions. 

 

 

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Reporting
 

Mental Health Intervention Strategies to Promote Student Wellness & Academic Success

In this very challenging time, with civil unrest, racial injustice, and COVID 19, we heard concerns across campus that faculty felt a need to be better able to support students. And not only support students in their academics but in their resiliency and their ability to cope with these situations. As such, Barbara Schwartz-Bechet, Ed.D., Curtis Wisley, Psyc.D., and George Godlewski, Ph.D. worked together to provide a workshop for faculty, and staff, that shares some insight about what mental health resources exist on campus and some ideas on how to recognize signs that a student may need some assistance. It also provides some basic ways to talk with students and how to help during non-school hours. It is our hope that this will open a dialogue across faculty and students and faculty and the CAPS center and may lead to further workshops on specific topics related to mental health.

Barbara Schwartz-Bechet headshot

 

 

Barbara Schwartz-Bechet, Ed.D., SBA
Dean of the College of Health Sciences and Education


 

Curtis Wiseley

 


Curtis Wiseley, Psy.D.
Director of Counseling and Psychological Services

 

 

Godlewski

 

 

George Godlewski, PhD., MSW
Health Sciences Program Director