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    MSUB Covid-19 Information


    • Protect the Hive.
    • “Since the earliest days when the novel coronavirus made its appearance in our community, MSUB has regularly and consistently worked with RiverStone Health (Yellowstone County public health) to prepare for, respond to, and manage the pandemic. 

 

Together we have developed and implemented plans related to all aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as prevention, testing, case investigation and contact tracing, quarantine and isolation, classroom and campus protective measures, and safer procedures for athletics and other activities. 

 

I meet weekly with leadership of MSUB’s incident management team to make certain that we are all working with the most current information and to continually improve processes and procedures as knowledge about the pandemic grows.  The science around COVID-19 is always evolving, and MSUB has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment to protect the health and safety of the entire university community by utilizing the most recent advancements.”
    • Know the Symptoms of COVID-19. Fever or chills (over 100.4). New loss of smell or taste. Cough. Muscle aches. Sore throat. Shortness of breath. New or unusual headache. New onset of gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite). Stay home when sick and call your health care provider or Student Health Services at 657-2153
    • Face Covering Required on Campus. Thank you for your help in protecting others - and yourself.

    Info & Precautions

    COVID-19 Resources

    Student Information

    Faculty & Staff Information

    Read MSUB's COVID-19 Health & Safety Plan

    All MSUB affiliated events & activities must have a COVID-19 Plan.

    Access the COVID-19 Town Hall info

    If you are a student, faculty, or staff member and test positive for COVID-19, please consider completing the Voluntary Self-Reporting Form.

    Been in close contact w/ someone with COVID-19? Confused about isolation and quarantine procedures? Refer to this decision tree.

    Order more disinfectant and safety supplies via this order form.

    Visit Riverstone Health for Montana COVID-19 updates

    MSUB Quarantine Policy

    Effective February 2021, following the CDC guidance, MSUB students, faculty, and staff who are in quarantine may conclude the quarantine period and return to MSUB campus and/or leave their quarantine rooms if living on campus after DAY 10 without a COVID test IF no symptoms have been present. It is vital that these individuals take extra care in maintaining strict physical distancing, mask wearing, and proper hand hygiene in order to protect the MSUB population.

    The CDC has also added an option for individuals to conclude their quarantine period after DAY 7 with a negative COVID-19 test. IMPORTANT: MSUB will not allow this option for MSUB students, faculty, and staff due to the high risk of transmission. If MSUB community members living off campus select the DAY 7 quarantine option, please remain off MSUB university and City College campus and property until DAY 11 if no symptoms are present.

    COVID-19 Resources

    • See news articles from CDC recommending schools reopen
    • Sign up to receive Montana DPHHS's Weekly Communicable Disease Email Update
    • Montana COVID-19 Vaccination Phases
    • What you need to know about: Testing positive, being a close contact, and waiting for test results
    • How to protect yourself and others
    • CDC guidance on hand-washing
    • CDC video on What you need to know about hand-washing
    • CDC guidance for cleaning and disinfection public spaces, business, schools
    • How to properly wear a cloth face covering
    • Important information about your cloth face covering
    • How to make your own cloth face covering (by U.S. Surgeon General)
    • Symptoms of COVID-19
    • Quarantine v. Isolation
    • Contact Tracing for COVID-19 (Riverstone Health conducts contact tracing for all cases of COVID-19 in Yellowstone County)
    • Testing for COVID-19
    • Daily life and going out
    • Infection Prevention Workshop Recording

    MSU Billings COVID-19 printable signage

    • Clean/Not Clean signs
    • COVID-19 STOP door sign
    • COVID-19 STOP Symptoms door sign
    • Social Distance Door sign
    • COVID-19 Social Distance Floor sign
    • Social Distance Table Tent Reminder
    • Stop the Spread Door/Wall Flyer
    • Face Covering Required
    • Buzz in a mask (only for internal use). Right click here and choose "Save As."

    MSUB COVID-19 Communications Archive

    Travel/Events

    University-affiliated travel

    Employees who wish to travel for work should submit a written request to their supervisor explaining the necessity to travel and include a detailed COVID-19 travel safety plan indicating what they plan to do to mitigate risk while traveling. Employees must also complete a COVID-19 Travel Release Form.

    University-affiliated visitor travel

    Employees who plan to invite individuals for an in-person visit to MSUB on university business must complete the Visitor Travel Request Form in its entirety prior to the travel. This is to ensure that a COVID-19 mitigation plan is in place and that the visitor understands the health and safety policies and expectations of MSUB prior to the visit. The form needs to be submitted to covidquestions@msubillings.edu for review by MSUB’s COVID-19 Incident Command Team and will notify employees if their request has been approved.

    MSUB affiliated events & activities

    All MSUB-affiliated entities and external entities who wish to hold an event or activity either off campus or on university or City College campus or on any other MSUB-owned property, must complete and submit an MSUB COVID-19 Plan. The form needs to be submitted to covidquestions@msubillings.edu for review by MSUB’s COVID-19 Incident Command Team who will notify employees/external parties if their request has been approved. Please share this COVID-19 symptom document with attendees prior to the event.

    International travel advisories

    MSU Billings has suspended university-related international travel until further notice. Read the latest U.S. State Department travel advisories. Students and visitors arriving from international locations are highly encouraged by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and MSU Billings to follow the CDC guidelines on self-quarantine and testing.

    Personal international travel

    For all students, faculty and staff planning personal international travel, the university urges caution. Travel restrictions and quarantine requirements can change daily. The most up-to-date information on international travel is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Information for Travel website.

    See MSUB Athletics COVID Management Plan Example

    Student Information

    Don’t bring COVID-19 back to campus. Review these reminders and a checklist for the start of spring semester.

    Student COVID-19 FAQ’s

    1. What if multiple people are missing from class that are normally there? Should I be concerned they have COVID-19 or that I was in close contact with them?

    The absence from class should not be assumed to be COVID-19, however, if there is someone in your class who has tested positive, our contact tracers will notify you if you meet the criteria for testing and quarantine. We ask that you let the process function properly, as your health is our number one concern.

    2. What if I find out someone I have been in contact with tested positive, but I haven’t seen them recently (7-10 days)?

    If you have not been contacted and identified as a close contact, then carry on as usual. Remember to wear your face covering, practice social distancing, good hand hygiene, and stay home when you are sick.

    3. What if my roommate tests positive and I haven’t been tested yet? Should I pack my bags and stay with a friend? What if I have it—wouldn’t that just infect them, too?

    If your roommate tested COVID-19 positive you should remain in self-quarantine until contacted by our contact tracers. You will most likely you be asked to quarantine and report any symptoms and get COVID-19 tested.  Do NOT pack and leave.

    4. What if my class has a strict attendance/participation policy and I have COVID-19 or need to self-quarantine?

    We have your back! Our faculty have been instructed to make ever accommodation for your absence and to continue your education without delay or penalty. Please connect with your instructors for online learning options immediately.

    5. Who do I contact if I test positive for COVID-19? How do I tell everyone that needs to know and keep my privacy?

    When you are notified or when you test COVID-19 positive, please complete our Voluntary COVID-19 Self-Reporting Form. It is your right to tell anyone about your positive test, however we ask that you let the contact tracing process notify the close contacts as appropriate. You don’t “need” to tell anyone. Keep in mind that telling “everyone” can spread unnecessary fear and anxiety. Trust the process.

    6. What if I test COVID-19 positive, but do not have any symptoms? Will I still be expected to do all of my class work remotely, even if the class was designed for in-person?

    If you are asymptomatic and test COVID-19 positive you will need to isolate in the same way as you would if you had symptoms. There is a percentage of the population that is asymptomatic positive. You instructors will be able to provide you with online learning options, so you won’t miss class or any assignments during your isolation period.

    7. What if I test positive and am feeling symptoms? Will my class assignment deadlines be extended?

    We have your back! We will ensure you stay on track to continue your education with pause or delay. Your instructors are well versed in how to accomplish this. Get in touch with them immediately.

    8. I was in the same room/building as someone who tested COVID-19 positive, but I was not in close contact with the person. What should I do?

    You do nothing special. Carry on as usual unless otherwise directed by a contact tracer or health professional.

    9. I was in close contact with someone who is sick but they did not get tested for COVID-19. Do I need to get tested?

    If you start to have symptoms similar to COVID-19 you should get tested; otherwise there is no reason to get tested.

    10. I was in close contact with a friend who just found out someone they are in close contact with has COVID-19. Should I get tested?

    Only if you meet the close contact parameters during the contact tracing process. If you do, you will be contacted to test and quarantine. Otherwise continue your activities as normal.

    11. Is it safe to take my face covering off and eat in class?

    You should take off your face covering ONLY to put food in your mouth but put your face covering back on while you chew and swallow your food. Do NOT take off your face covering for the entire meal.

     

    For more information, see the Coronavirus FAQ’s page.

    Wearing face coverings on MSUB campus

    Effective July 23, 2020, MSUB implemented a face covering requirement. Face coverings are required in all campus indoor spaces and all enclosed or partially enclosed outdoor campus spaces or in any outdoor space where distancing of six feet or more is not possible or difficult to maintain. The face covering requirement applies to all MSUB students, employees and to all visitors, including service providers, contractors, vendors, suppliers, alumni, families, and community members.

    Personal responsibility and accountability

    It is our sincere hope that faculty, students, staff, and visitors will follow the wisdom associated with wearing a face covering to help protect the safety of themselves and others while on campus. In this way, we may all enjoy as much of a return to normalcy on campus as possible. 

    Student COVID-19 Safety Video

    Please familiarize yourself with MSUB's health and safety procedures by watching this video.

    Voluntary COVID-19 Self-Reporting Form

    This Voluntary COVID-19 Self-Reporting form is for employees, students, and visitors. This form is vital to the health and safety of our campus community. Should any student, staff, faculty, or visitors test positive for the coronavirus, we ask that you strongly consider notifying our MSUB COVID-19 Response Team through this form.

    Your responses will assist the Response Team in taking swift and proper action to ensure additional disinfecting and safety protocols are implemented on campus immediately.

    Note: we cannot require you to complete this form; however, we hope that you choose to complete this form, if necessary, to help us protect our community. We will ensure confidentiality to the best of our ability; however, we cannot guarantee complete confidentiality due to activities that may need to occur to ensure the health and safety of our campus community.

    Student Health Services

    Appointments

    Call Student Health Services at 406-657-2153 to schedule an appointment for Medical or Counseling services.

    Reporting of positive COVID-19 cases

    To protect patient privacy, the Montana University System cannot legally release the immediate location of individuals being screened for or confirmed to have COVID-19.

    Confirmed and suspected cases are reported by the Montana Department of Health & Human Services.  Montana’s Department of Health and Human Services tracks possible, negative, and confirmed cases on their website .

    In collaboration with RiverStone Health, MSU Billings conducts its own contact tracing, following RiverStone Health and CDC guidelines. MSUB remains in frequent communication with RiverStone Health regarding monitoring, testing, and tracing efforts as well as advised quarantine and isolation protocols, and will continue to follow the guidance from local, state, and federal health officials.

    If Montana University System campus communities have confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases on their campus, they follow the lead of their local county health department to initiate appropriate quarantine and public health management protocols.

    Recreational Activities

    MSUB Recreation Center is open. Check Recreational Activities webpage for the latest hours of operation and info.

    Financial Resources

    CARES Act

    The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act provides emergency assistance to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations resulting from the COVID-19 health crisis. Eligible expenses include but are not limited to food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and childcare. 

    As a student enrolled at Montana State University Billings during the Spring 2021 semester and one who has completed the Federal Application for Financial Student Aid (FAFSA), you could be eligible for a CARES Act grant provided through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. Complete the Spring application as soon as possible, as this grant can help provide you with some financial relief.

    Download the financial resources list

    Financial Aid

    COVID-19 and Work Study Update

    The Department of Education has released guidance to schools regarding whether students can continue to submit timesheets for scheduled hours in the event that a school does not close but moves all classes to an online format.  They CAN!

    According to the Department of Education, the student can be paid for the Federal Work Study (or Montana Work Study) hours he, she, or they were scheduled to work for the spring semester. Per ED, the school can have the student submit a timesheet for the hours he or she was scheduled to work and pay Work Study wages based on that.

    It is important that students do NOT submit timesheets for hours in excess of their normally scheduled hours. If a student worker does not have scheduled hours, students can be paid at the average number of hours the student has worked so far this spring term. Visit the Financial Aid webpage for more information.

    Emergency Pantry

    What does the Yellowjacket Emergency Pantry offer?
    The Yellowjacket Emergency Pantry currently provides food, hygiene, and school supplies to all students at Montana State University Billings. We also work as advocates to connect students to additional student support services.


    Who can use the Yellowjacket Emergency Pantry?
    Any student enrolled at Montana State University Billings, can use the Yellowjacket Emergency Pantry. Students can use the pantry up to three times per semester. However, if students require additional support, we can make arrangements on a case by case basis.

    Visit the Emergency Pantry page for more information.

    Crisis Fund

    The Montana State University Billings’ Student Crisis fund has been established to help currently enrolled students on the path to academic success during a personal and unexpected crisis or hardship. Whether they need to replace personal belongings after a devastating fire, cannot afford necessary prescriptions, or are unable to pay for an emergency medical procedure, the fund provides financial assistance. Through this fund, students discover the very essence of the Yellowjacket community. We provide care and support beyond counseling and community.

    Visit the Crisis Fund page for more information and to apply.

    Community Financial Resources

    This list of available financial resources is provided to assist students. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by MSU Billings.

    HRDC COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY

    HRDC serves vulnerable populations in the community. The mission of the HRDC is to restore HOPE, by extending RESPECT, encouraging individuals to DREAM of a better future, and ultimately CHANGE the economic landscape of our communities.

    For more information visit the HRDC About page.

    MONTANA UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

    Unemployment Insurance is a joint state-federal program that provides cash benefits to eligible workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own.

    For more information and to apply visit the Unemployment Insurance page.

    SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

    The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest federal nutrition assistanceprogram. SNAP provides benefits to eligible low-income individuals and families via an Electronic Benefits Transfer card. This card can be used as a debit card to purchase eligible food in authorized retail food stores.

    For more information and to apply visit the SNAP webpage.

    TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES

    TANF cash assistance is a program providing temporary financial assistance to needy families.

    For more information visit the TANF webpage.

    211

    211 can be accessed by phone or computer. A toll-free call to 211 connects you to a community resource specialist in your area who can put you in touch with local organizations that provide critical services that can improve—and save—lives. All calls are private and confidential.

    You’ll find information about: supplemental food and nutrition programs, shelter and housing options, utilities assistance, emergency information and disaster relief, and more.

    Montana Agricultural Student Loan Assistance Program

    Visit the Student Loan Assistance Program page for more info.

    Dining Services Information

    City College Café

    7:30 am – 1:30 p.m., M-F

    Jazzmans Brew and Bakery

    7:30 am – 2:00 p.m., M-F

    Rimrock Dining

    Monday-Friday:

    Breakfast: 7:15 - 10:30 a.m.
    Lunch:11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

    Monday-Thursday, Sunday:

    Dinner: 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

    Friday-Saturday:
    Dinner: 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

    Saturday-Sunday:

    Brunch: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

    Stingers Bistro

    7:30 am – 3:00 p.m., M-F

    SubConnection

    10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., M-F

    Sodexo

    Read  Sodexo’s response to COVID-19 on your campus

    Student Union Building

    University Campus Library

    For research assistance, email library@msubillings or call 406-657-1662.

    Disability Support Services

    Contact information for DSS staff are below. Visit their webpage for more info.

    University campus:

    • Trudy Carey 406-657-2161  tcarey@msubillings.edu
    • Mandy Madler 406-657-2283  mandy.madler@msubillings.edu
    • Cathy Copeland 406-657-2159 (V/VP/TTY) ccopeland@msubillings.edu

    City College campus:

    • Greg Gerard 406-247-3029 greg.gerard@msubillings.edu

    eLearning

    The eLearning D2L home page and log-in site

    Borrowing laptops

    A laptop loaner program is available to provide a loaner laptop to currently enrolled students who do not have a computer. Requests can be made by filling out a Laptop Loaner Application.

    Internet Connectivity for students who don't have it

    Click to expand

    • FCC agreement stating that providers will waive late fees, not cutoff service for lack of payment, and open hot-spots.
    • Comcast COVID-19 response: offers free WiFi for 2 months to low income families plus all Xfinity hot-spots are free to the public during this time
    • Charter Free Internet offer for 2 months
    • AT&T COVID-19 response: offers open hot-spots, unlimited data to existing customers, and $10/month plans to low income families
    • Verizon COVID-19 response: no special offers, but following the FCC agreement.
    • Sprint COVID-19 response: follows FCC agreement, provides unlimited data to existing customers, and, starting Tuesday, 3/17/2020, will allow all handsets to enable hot-spots for 60 days at no extra charge (I expect others will follow).
    • T-Mobile COVID-19 response: follows FCC agreement, plus unlimited data to existing customers, and, coming soon, will allow all handsets to enable hot-spots for 60 days at no extra charge (I expect others will follow).

    Dell Purchasing Program

    MSUB students, staff, faculty, and even alumni can get exclusive savings and prices, including up to 30% off select Windows PCs, Dell electronics, and accessories through the MSUB Dell portal. 

    Visit our web portal to browse available options.

    Academic Support Center

    Visit the Academic Support Center webpage for hours of operation and services available.

    Housing and Residence Life

    Visit the Housing and Residence Life webpage for specific housing and contact info.

    MSUB COVID-19 Communications Archive


    Faculty and Staff Information

    Employee COVID-19 FAQ's

    Face covering requirement

    MSUB requires all students, staff, faculty, visitors, vendors—everyone to wear a face covering when inside MSUB university and City College campus buildings and in partially-enclosed outdoor spaces. Face coverings are also required when outside on campus if six feet of physical distancing cannot be properly maintained.

    You do not need to wear a face covering in the following situations:

    • when alone in an office, enclosed study area, or other space where permitted by official notice;
    • when inside campus residence hall rooms or apartments; however, face coverings are still required in common areas such as hallways, common restrooms and when visiting other rooms;
    • when working or spending time outdoors (e.g. walking, exercising) and at least a six-foot distance can be consistently and reliably maintained;
    • when engaged in an activity that makes wearing a face covering impractical or unsafe, such as strenuous physical exercise;
    • in instances or spaces (such as welding labs, nursing labs, etc.) where other requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE) make it either impractical or unsafe to wear an additional face covering;
    • when alone in a vehicle or utility vehicle used for MSUB business, however, face coverings are required in vehicles used for MSUB business when there is more than one person inside the vehicle; and
    • when an accommodation is necessary as indicated by a medical professional and granted by express written permission of the University.

    Children under the age of five and those who cannot physically remove a face covering without assistance, or those who have requested and received a necessary accommodation are not required to wear face coverings. All children between the ages of two and four, however, are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering. Children under the age of two should not wear a face covering.

    Accommodations

    If any employee has a medical condition precluding them from wearing a face covering, they should notify their supervisor and Human Resources to apply for a medical accommodation or exemption through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Email employment@msubillings.edu or call 406-657-2278 to start the application process.

    Classroom setup and faculty responsibility

    Classrooms have a COVID-19 capacity to ensure proper physical distance. If physical distance of at least 6 feet cannot be maintained, faculty should create a seating chart for contact tracing purposes.  Face coverings are required and expected to be worn by all students and faculty (and anyone else) in classrooms (barring a medical accommodation or exemption). Classrooms are disinfected at the conclusion of each class and students and faculty are encouraged to use the contents of their ‘Jacket Safety Kits to disinfect the area they occupy in classrooms as an additional precaution. 

    Reporting positive cases

    To protect patient privacy, the Montana University System cannot legally release the personal information and location of individuals being screened for or confirmed to have COVID-19.

    Confirmed and suspected cases will be reported by the Montana Department of Health & Human Services.  Montana’s Department of Health and Human Services tracks possible, negative, and confirmed cases on their website. 

    In the event individuals from Montana University System campus communities were confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19, the campus would follow the lead of their local county health department to initiate appropriate quarantine and public health management protocols. RiverStone Health is the health department for Yellowstone County and conducts all contact tracing for Yellowstone County, as required by Montana law.

    All members of the MSUB community (students, faculty, or staff and visitors/vendors) are asked to strongly consider notifying MSUB’s COVID-19 Response Team through the Voluntary COVID-19 Self-Reporting Form should you test positive for COVID-19. By completing this form, the MSUB COVID-19 Response Team will have the pertinent information needed to take swift and proper action to ensure additional disinfecting and safety protocols are implemented immediately. Note that you are not required to complete this form, however by doing so you are helping to protect our community. We will ensure confidentiality to the best of our ability, however, cannot guarantee complete confidentiality due to activities that may need to occur to ensure the health and safety of our campus community. 

    Personal responsibility and accountability

    It is our sincere hope that faculty, students, staff, and visitors will appreciate and follow the wisdom associated with wearing a face covering to help protect the safety of themselves and others while on campus. In this way, we may all enjoy as much of a return to normalcy on campus as possible. 

    Where to find printable MSUB-branded signage?

    Each department is encouraged to display health and safety signage as an added reminder for individuals to practice the health and safety protocols enacted by the CDC and MSUB. MSUB-branded printable signage can be found on the COVID-19 Central webpage under COVID-19 Resources. Additional COVID-19 web and video resources can also be found in that same section.

    Where to get the latest COVID-19 updates?

    The latest MSUB COVID-19 updates will be posted on the COVID-19 Central webpage. Please check this page regularly for updates.

     

    How do I sign up to receive text messages from MSUB’s Emergency Notification System?

    Follow these steps below to sign up to receive Emergency Notifications via text messages:

    1. Log into MyInfo
    2. Click the Personal Information tab
    3. Click Verify/Update Cell Phone
    4. Enter you cell phone number and click Update
    5. Your cell phone number will then show under the Phone heading

    Employee COVID-19 Safety Video

    Please familiarize yourself with MSUB's health and safety procedures by watching this video.

    Voluntary COVID-19 Self-Reporting Form

    This Voluntary COVID-19 Self-Reporting form is for employees, students, and visitors. This form is vital to the health and safety of our campus community. Should any student, staff, faculty, or visitors test positive for the coronavirus, we ask that you strongly consider notifying our MSUB COVID-19 Response Team through this form.

    Your responses will assist the Response Team in taking swift and proper action to ensure additional disinfecting and safety protocols are implemented on campus immediately.

    Note: we cannot require you to complete this form; however, we hope that you choose to complete this form, if necessary, to help us protect our community. We will ensure confidentiality to the best of our ability; however, we cannot guarantee complete confidentiality due to activities that may need to occur to ensure the health and safety of our campus community.

    COVID-19 Leave Guidance

    COVID-19 Benefit Coverage

    Retirement Concerns?

    Employee Assistance Program Information

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