MSUB Covid-19 Information

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

7:30 am – 1:30 p.m., M-F

7:30 am – 2:00 p.m., M-F

7:30 am – 3:00 p.m., M-F

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

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

• 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).

Following Montana Governor Bullock’s face covering directive, 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 social distancing cannot be properly maintained. Read the complete face covering requirement.

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.

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.

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. 

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. All MSUB campus community members (students, employees, and visitors) are expected to comply with the guidelines set forth in this document. Refer to the Appendix: Face Covering Guidelines section for details regarding personal responsibility and accountability.

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.

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

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