MSUB COVID-19 Information

Feb. 17, 2022

Dear Campus Community:

Recent and rapid decreases in Yellowstone County COVID-19 cases and hospital admissions provide positive and promising signals to adjust our COVID-19 campus safety protocols. COVID-19 case reductions are occurring throughout the state, and the Montana Commissioner of Higher Education recently provided guidance to the institutions of the Montana University System to begin adjusting COVID-19 protocols as appropriate for the local conditions of each campus.

Given these encouraging developments and the availability of vaccines, our COVID-19 protocols will be adjusted accordingly. Beginning Tuesday, Feb. 22, face masks will be recommended, but not required, for students, faculty, and staff in university campus and City College instructional spaces. Keep in mind that we will continue to recommend face masks in all indoor campus spaces, and that all other COVID-19 precautions such as plexiglass barriers on campus, staying home when ill, good hand hygiene practices, etc., will remain in place. The only change MSUB is making is shifting from a mask requirement in all instructional spaces to a mask recommendation in all instructional spaces.

MSUB will continue to provide free COVID-19 vaccines and testing for students through Student Health Services. MSUB will also continue to provide N95 masks for students, faculty, and staff who wish to use them. N95 mask pick up locations are Student Health Services (both campuses) and in Dean Toenjes’ office on the first floor of the Yellowstone Science and Health Building. Disposable face masks and hand sanitizer will continue to be readily available throughout both campuses.

We encourage you to protect yourself by getting the COVID-19 vaccine and getting a COVID-19 test if you feel ill. It is also very important to stay home when you feel ill or are ill (whether it is COVID-19 or any other illness) for your health and safety and for others. Free COVID-19 home tests are available for students, faculty, and staff today in the Student Union Building atrium from 11-1 p.m. and in Student Health Services at City College. Limit two boxes per person.

Contact tracing at MSUB will continue throughout the spring semester. Our contact tracers are only as effective as the information they receive, so please continue to fill out the anonymous Voluntary COVID-19 Reporting Form if you test positive for COVID-19.

We ask that you respect each other’s health and safety comfort levels and look out for one another. If you have any concerns or questions, please email covidquestions@msubillings.edu. Also refer to the COVID-19 Central page for updated information and review this list of ways to protect yourself and others to ensure that we are doing our part to keep MSUB healthy and safe.

Thank you for helping us maintain a healthy and safe environment to work and learn in. Your continued efforts are very much appreciated.

Sincerely,

COVID-19 Taskforce

Read the COVID-19 Update (PDF).

Jan. 13, 2022

Dear Campus Community:

We look forward to the beginning of the spring 2022 semester next week. Like last year, our goal is to continue to keep classes in-person with an in-person commencement, and we appreciate everyone’s efforts to keep us on that path. The new year has started with cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 on the rise. We continue to receive guidance from RiverStone Health and have been watching this latest variant to understand potential impacts to our campus. This update provides the latest information we have regarding COVID-19.

NOTE : This is a lengthy COVID-19 update to start the new year, but please read through it entirely. There is new information regarding testing, isolation and quarantine, masks and what to expect as the Omicron variant begins to impact our campus and community.

Omicron Is Impacting Yellowstone County and MSU Billings

For most people, especially those who are vaccinated, Omicron presents with relatively mild symptoms. More data are needed to fully assess the severity of Omicron infections, but observations from some hospitals currently experiencing high admission for COVID-19 note that a smaller proportion of patients are in the ICU or require serious interventions compared to the Delta variant. We will continue to work with Riverstone Health or the latest COVID-19 guidance and for information on local hospitalizations and impacts to health care systems in our community.

Vaccines Are Highly Effective in Preventing Serious COVID-19 Outcomes

Vaccines and boosters are effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19, even as data suggest breakthrough infections are more common with the Omicron variant. COVID-19 vaccines are available for students through Student Health Services and are available to faculty and staff through their local health care providers and through our upcoming community vaccine clinics.

Our next Community Flu/COVID-19 vaccine clinic (1st/2nd/booster) is Thursday, January 27
SUB Glacier Room, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
City College Tech Bldg. 1st Floor Study Area, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Masks

RiverStone Health, our local public health authority, continues to recommend wearing masks in public, indoor settings where there is evidence of substantial community spread, regardless of vaccination status. MSUB will begin the semester continuing to require masks in all instructional spaces whether it’s in the classroom, on a field trip, class-related transportation, etc. MSUB also continues to recommend wearing face masks in all campus indoor public settings.

N95 Mask Availability

For faculty and staff interested in receiving an N95 face mask, please stop by Student Health Services at University campus and City College Campus, or in Dean Toenjes’ office on the first floor of the Yellowstone Science and Health Building to pick one up. No need to call in advance.

Classroom Seating Charts

Faculty are strongly encouraged to use classroom seating charts and take attendance, as these assist greatly with contact tracing, and minimize disruptions to class attendance and activities. Faculty can use the method and format they adopted in the fall semester. Faculty seeking to adopt a seating chart method/template can contact their department or college office.

Updated Guidance for Isolation and Quarantine

RiverStone Health recently updated and shortened the recommended quarantine and isolation periods for COVID-19. See infographic below for the most updated guidance:

The infographic can also be found on the COVID-19 Central webpage.

Testing

With case numbers increasing, we do expect to see high demand for COVID-19 testing. Student Health Services will continue to offer testing to symptomatic students. Students should call SHS before coming to get tested at 657-2153. Faculty and staff can find COVID-19 testing in Yellowstone County (see below).

• RiverStone Health at 123 S. 27th St., will offer free at-home test kits for COVID-19 for pick up from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, and from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays. At-home test kits will be offered weekly on this schedule at RiverStone Health while supplies last. Refer to the RiverStone Health facebook page for more accurate updates on schedule and supplies.
• There are a number of testing sites in the community that perform antigen, PCR and Rapid Diagnostic Tests (IDNow). Locate a COVID-19 test site in Yellowstone County by selecting I need a COVID-19 test.
• Generally, if you are symptomatic, a home antigen test also can provide an indication of an infection. There are some concerns about the sensitivity of antigen tests in detecting Omicron (especially early infection), so a follow-up molecular (PCR) test may be necessary to confirm an infection. If you test positive for COVID-19 with a home test, you should self-isolate and consult with a medical care provider to determine next steps.

Voluntary COVID-19 Reporting Form

If you test positive for COVID-19 (with any testing method), please complete the confidential Voluntary COVID-19 Reporting Form, which will help our contact tracers notify close contacts and recommend quarantine.

COVID-19 Town Hall on January 27 at 3 p.m.

We will host a virtual COVID-19 Town Hall on Thursday, January 27 at 3 p.m. Access the link to the town hall and view previous town halls.

As a reminder, you can always submit questions or concerns to covidquestions@msubillings.edu.

We Need Your Help

As a community, we hope by working together we can limit the spread of COVID-19. We ask for your help in these efforts with a few simple requests:

• If you intend to be vaccinated/boosted for COVID-19, please do so as soon as possible.
• Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth while indoors on campus. We do not recommend wearing bandanas, gaiters, or masks with exhalation valves as face coverings. The CDC has helpful guidance on correct and consistent mask use and the types of masks that work best to reduce transmission.
• If you are sick, please stay home. Seek a COVID-19 test if you are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms .
• Please practice good respiratory and hand hygiene (i.e., cover your cough/sneeze, wash hands, etc.) This is the season for a number of respiratory illnesses beyond COVID-19, including influenza, RSV, bronchitis and common colds. With all of them, the keys to reducing transmission are the same: wash your hands, watch your distance, and wear your mask.

Thank you for your help in working to reduce COVID-19 cases and transmission at MSUB. Following the above guidance will enable us to keep on learning, working, and enjoying MSUB together as we navigate the anticipated surge in cases in the coming weeks. All your hard work throughout the pandemic has not gone unnoticed, and your commitment to keeping MSUB a safe place is extremely appreciated.

Be well,

MSUB’s COVID-19 Task Force

Dec. 15, 2021

Dear Campus Community:

As fall semester draws to a close, we want to thank you for your continuous hard work and dedication in keeping MSUB a healthy and safe place. We appreciate you wearing face masks in classrooms and in meetings, staying home when sick, and considering getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

With the newest coronavirus variant and with the still relatively high COVID-19 infection rates in Yellowstone County, we plan to stay the course with our COVID-19 health and safety protocols out of an abundance of caution. This also applies to the upcoming Spring 2022 semester. We will continue to monitor the situation and will determine when/if the COVID-19 guidelines should be adjusted in order to continue supporting the health and safety of the campus community. Updated MSUB COVID-19 info.

• Face masks will continue to be required in all instructional spaces, whether it’s in the classroom, on a field trip, class-related transportation, etc.
• Faculty are encouraged to use classroom seating charts and take attendance, as this assists greatly with contact tracing.
• Face masks are recommended in all other indoor spaces on both university and City College campuses.
• If you test positive for COVID-19 (with any testing method), please complete the Voluntary COVID-19 Reporting Form, which will help our contact tracers notify close contacts and recommend quarantine.
• Stay home when sick and consider getting a COVID-19 test.

A reminder that our final fall semester virtual COVID-19 Town Hall is tomorrow at 3 p.m. See the attached calendar invite for Webex link.

Please contact us with questions or concerns at covidquestions@msubillings.edu.

We wish you all a happy and safe holiday season.

Sincerely,

MSUB’s COVID-19 Task Force

Sept. 23, 2021

Dear Campus Community,

As you know, community spread of COVID-19 remains very high and continues to increase in Yellowstone County. The number of new positive cases per day is up 600 percent since August 1 and is increasing steadily. The current COVID-19 case count is only slightly less than what it was at the peak of the pandemic in November 2020. COVID-19 related deaths are also up in Yellowstone County and new hospital admissions are up 350 percent since August 1. The strain on our local health care system is significant.

Given these conditions, effective Friday, Sept. 24, Montana State University Billings will institute a face mask requirement for all indoor instructional spaces on the university campus and at City College until further notice. The face mask requirement includes every classroom, lecture hall, laboratory, studio, and any other indoor space where faculty and students gather during a course session. We have discussed this decision with local public health and community leaders, and support has been given by the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education.

The current mask recommendation for indoor non-instructional spaces remains unchanged. If an MSUB student needs a special accommodation regarding the face mask requirement, please contact Disability Support Services. If an MSUB employee needs a special accommodation regarding this requirement, please contact Human Resources.

At this time, we are unsure how long the mask requirement for indoor instructional spaces will be in effect, but we will continue to monitor the situation closely and will keep you informed. The safest way for us to move away from these measures is to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Employees and students can enter to win $100 in Town Pump gift cards by completing the Voluntary Vaccination Form. Students who receive their COVID-19 vaccine through Student Health Services (SHS) will get $100 in Town Pump gift cards. They should call SHS at 406-657-2153 to schedule an appointment. Also remember to practice good hand hygiene, physically distance when appropriate, and stay home when you feel sick.

It is more important now than ever to treat everyone with respect. You never know what others are going through in their lives and kindness goes a long way. Additionally, please do not confront anyone who is not wearing a face mask, but instead submit your concerns to covidquestions@msubillings.edu.

I appreciate your cooperation with this mask requirement. Together, we can keep our own Yellowjacket Family healthy and safe, but also help prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in Billings and Yellowstone County.

We are in this together, and we will get through this together, ‘Jackets.

Sincerely,

Stefani Hicswa

Sept. 7, 2021

Dear Campus Community,

I cannot believe that tomorrow is the first day of fall semester. I hope you enjoyed your summer and had the opportunity to take time off to rest and recharge. This summer was a whirlwind of hard work and planning for a healthy and safe fall. Our COVID-19 Task Force has been working diligently to ensure that we take appropriate health and safety precautions so we can continue to offer in-person classes, in-person commencement and activities.

To ensure a high success rate of remaining in-person this fall, I strongly recommend and personally implore you—students, faculty, staff, and visitors to wear face coverings indoors in classrooms, laboratories, meetings, at indoor gatherings, etc., while on university and City College campus regardless of vaccination status.

Daily infection rates are climbing rapidly in Yellowstone County, and our local hospitals are approaching their maximum capacity—the majority of hospitalizations being COVID-19 cases. People are once again getting very ill, and many must be hospitalized. We are also seeing the highest rates of COVID-19 related deaths since February.

For these reasons, I urge all of you to do the following:

• Get the COVID-19 vaccine if you have not already. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this is the best way to protect yourself from the virus and, ultimately, to control the transmission of COVID-19.
• Set an example for others by wearing a face mask inside all campus buildings.
• Remember that your face mask is for the protection of others and the face mask worn by others is for the protection of all individuals sharing a space on campus.
• Keep in mind that wearing masks is a commitment we make to one another to keep our campus community safe by minimizing the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus.
• Commit to one another to protect the most vulnerable in our community. Some students, faculty and staff may be in a vulnerable category or may live with high-risk family members or loved ones. If you wish, feel free to share your own personal reason(s) for wearing a face mask with others.
• Remember that the mask recommendation is based on guidance provided by our local public health department as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and that it is driven by the significant community transmission risk in Yellowstone County.
• Keep in mind that everyone’s collective partnership and collaboration is needed to keep our case numbers low so that we can continue to engage in high-quality, in-person teaching and learning. If the number of cases continue to increase, the campus may be forced to limit in-person learning and other important activities (e.g., in-person commencement).
• Respect and inclusion are two important core values at MSU Billings. As an inclusive campus, where all campus members are valued, it is important to respect all members of the campus community regardless of their views and actions related to face masks.

We have a special Yellowjacket Community, consisting of such wonderfully diverse people. Please let us look out for each other and ensure that we are doing our part to keep our Yellowjacket Family healthy and safe. Our common goal is to continue with in-person engagement, activities, and in-person commencement.

As I mentioned in the State of the University Address, student success is our priority. We are here to ensure that our students succeed in college and graduate. We heard last year from the majority of our students that they do better when they attend in-person classes, programs, events, etc. Please let us gently encourage one another to wear face coverings indoors. If we start experiencing a high rate of COVID-19 infections on campus, we will have to revisit our current health and safety recommendations, including considering moving our classes, commencement, and events virtually.

Please do your part to keep MSUB one of the safest places in Yellowstone County for another year. Also, remember to practice good hand hygiene, physically distance appropriately, and stay home when you feel unwell or are sick. As noted above, I also encourage everyone to get the COVID-19 vaccine, as it is another layer of protection.

We are in this together, ‘Jackets, and we will get through this together. We remain committed to one another to keep our campus community safe, and our students engaged in a high-quality learning environment.

Sincerely,

Stefani Hicswa 

 

Aug. 20, 2021

Dear Campus Community,

I am excited for the upcoming fall semester and to welcome everyone back to campus. As we look to the new academic year, our top goals continue to be maintaining a safe campus community for all, and to ensure that our students safely engage in high-quality and in-person learning environments.

On August 6, we sent out a  campus communication recommending wearing face masks indoors on university and City College campuses regardless of vaccination status. I want to reiterate that this recommendation remains in place and explain why we have made this recommendation.

Wearing face masks indoors comes from the  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance , which encourages wearing face masks indoors (regardless of vaccination status) in areas with  “high” transmission rates such as Yellowstone County. Until the community transmission levels are reduced, we will hold firm with our recommendation.

I am making a commitment to wear my face mask indoors and ask for your partnership. Will you please join me?

Our goal is to remain open with in-person engagement and in-person commencement. Remaining open and in-person is what is best for our students’ overall educational experience and wellbeing. We want to remain on campus and in-person so let us do everything we can to keep it that way.

To continue to keep MSUB the healthiest and safest place in Yellowstone County, I need your help. I ask that you set a good example for our students and your fellow colleagues by following our face mask recommendation. Many of our Yellowjacket family members are in the high-risk population or live with someone who is. Let us look out for them and protect each other. Also, remember to practice good hand hygiene, physically distance appropriately, and stay home when you feel unwell. We became experts at this last year, and we can do it again!

We will revisit this recommendation on October 1. Until that time, the face mask recommendation remains. If you have not received your COVID-19 vaccination, I encourage you to get it. This is yet another layer of protection we have against COVID-19.

Lastly, mark your calendars for the next COVID-19 Virtual Town Hall on Thursday, Sept. 2 at 3pm and watch for the email invite.

We are in this together, ‘Jackets, and we will get through this together. We remain committed to one another to keep our campus community safe, and our students engaged in a high-quality learning environment.

Sincerely,

Stefani Hicswa

Dear Campus Community,

Due to the increased rate of COVID-19 transmission and its variants in Yellowstone County, we are recommending that all individuals regardless of vaccination status wear face masks or face coverings indoors on both university and City College campus effective immediately.

This recommendation aligns with the  guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  issued last week which encourages wearing face masks indoors in places with “high” transmission rates, such as Yellowstone County. We will continue with the indoor mask recommendation until our county’s level of community transmission is reduced. Check the  CDC’s website for an integrated, county view of COVID-19 data.

Face masks and coverings are an effective way to slow the spread of COVID-19 but the best thing we can do to protect ourselves and our community is to get vaccinated against COVID-19. We have been offering free community vaccination clinics throughout the summer in partnership with RiverStone Health, and our next one is on Tuesday, September 7 from 10am-12pm on university campus in the SUB Banquet A&B. Both the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine and two-dose Pfizer vaccine will be available. No appointment is necessary.

Please keep in mind that we will likely continue to have employees and students test positive for COVID-19, and ask that those individuals complete the  Voluntary COVID-19 Self-Reporting Form which will help our on-campus contact tracers identify close contacts.

Lastly, please mark your calendars for Thursday, August 12 at 3pm for our next virtual COVID-19 Town Hall. We will take all your questions at this time. An email reminder will be sent out early next week with a Webex link.

Please print face mask recommendation signs and place on your building’s external doors.

Thank you for your understanding and we appreciate everything you do to keep our MSU Billings family healthy and safe. This situation is constantly evolving, and we will share more information as it becomes available.

If you have any COVID-related questions, please email  covidquestions@msubillings.edu. We’re in this together, ‘Jackets! 

Sincerely, 

MSUB’s COVID-19 Task Force

COVID-19 vaccination clinics are free and open to the public.

More dates will be announced at a later time.

Clayton Christian, Commissioner of Higher Education May 14, 2021

While this past year has been a challenge for the Montana University System (MUS) in many ways, it has been a success in many more. A key driver of our success has been the ability to respond, plan, and act in a coordinated manner. Nothing embodies our coordination better than the Healthy MUS Task Force and the COVID-19 Planning Guidelines its members developed and updated over the past 12 months. There is no doubt that the Healthy MUS Guidelines gave the entire MUS a clear roadmap for success this past Academic Year.

Fortunately, our public health situation is improving in Montana. And while we will continue to adapt and adjust as conditions warrant,  I am writing today to formally sunset the Healthy MUS Planning Guidelines. This change is effective immediately. This action is taken in partnership with the Montana Board of Regents and is based on federal, state, and local public health guidance and on the recommendation of the Healthy MUS Task Force. In place of the Healthy MUS Planning Guidelines, please find below areas of remaining system-level guidance that are in effect until further notice:

• Mask Requirement. There is no longer a system-level mask requirement for the Montana University System. Campuses should consult relevant authorities and guidance at the local, state, and federal levels when developing any ongoing guidance related to masks.
• COVID-19 Testing. Campuses will, on their own or with state and local health care providers, ensure that symptomatic individuals have continued access to COVID-19 testing. Campuses will support local public health authorities if and when contact tracing is necessary.
• Quarantine & Isolation Housing. If and when necessary, campuses will make accommodations available for students living on campus who require isolation or quarantine housing due to COVID-19 exposure.
• International Travel. When considering approval of MUS-affiliated travel, campuses will rely upon travel guidance from federal public health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). International travel to CDC “Level 4” countries remains prohibited. Travel to CDC “Level 3” countries is strongly discouraged and may only be approved through petition and after approval by a campus travel review committee and cabinet level leadership. At a minimum, the travel review process needs to include requirements for enhanced pre-departure health and safety training, risk management planning, and contingency planning in case changing conditions require trip cancellation, or significant modification. Individuals returning to, or visiting, MUS campuses from international destinations should follow relevant CDC guidance related to COVID-19 testing after travel and self-monitoring for symptoms.
• Event hosting. Campuses will consult and coordinate with local public health authorities when planning and hosting large events.
• Vaccines. Campuses will continue to raise awareness about the importance of our COVID-19 vaccination effort and promote access to COVID-19 vaccines, including the use of incentive programs and/or vaccination events when practical.
  In the coming weeks and months, my office will continue to act in partnership with the Board of Regents and consult with the Healthy MUS Task Force, statewide leaders, and with local, state, and federal public health guidance as we consider any changes to the system-level guidance above. We remain vigilant and flexible, even as we celebrate this significant step toward a full return to normal operations across the MUS.

As we turn toward the summer season, I would like to once again express my gratitude for your leadership and service, and congratulate you and your entire campus community on the successful completion of an Academic Year unlike any other in the history of the Montana University System.

Feb. 17, 2022

Dear Campus Community:

Recent and rapid decreases in Yellowstone County COVID-19 cases and hospital admissions provide positive and promising signals to adjust our COVID-19 campus safety protocols. COVID-19 case reductions are occurring throughout the state, and the Montana Commissioner of Higher Education recently provided guidance to the institutions of the Montana University System to begin adjusting COVID-19 protocols as appropriate for the local conditions of each campus.

Given these encouraging developments and the availability of vaccines, our COVID-19 protocols will be adjusted accordingly. Beginning Tuesday, Feb. 22, face masks will be recommended, but not required, for students, faculty, and staff in university campus and City College instructional spaces. Keep in mind that we will continue to recommend face masks in all indoor campus spaces, and that all other COVID-19 precautions such as plexiglass barriers on campus, staying home when ill, good hand hygiene practices, etc., will remain in place. The only change MSUB is making is shifting from a mask requirement in all instructional spaces to a mask recommendation in all instructional spaces.

MSUB will continue to provide free COVID-19 vaccines and testing for students through Student Health Services. MSUB will also continue to provide N95 masks for students, faculty, and staff who wish to use them. N95 mask pick up locations are Student Health Services (both campuses) and in Dean Toenjes’ office on the first floor of the Yellowstone Science and Health Building. Disposable face masks and hand sanitizer will continue to be readily available throughout both campuses.

We encourage you to protect yourself by getting the COVID-19 vaccine and getting a COVID-19 test if you feel ill. It is also very important to stay home when you feel ill or are ill (whether it is COVID-19 or any other illness) for your health and safety and for others. Free COVID-19 home tests are available for students, faculty, and staff today in the Student Union Building atrium from 11-1 p.m. and in Student Health Services at City College. Limit two boxes per person.

Contact tracing at MSUB will continue throughout the spring semester. Our contact tracers are only as effective as the information they receive, so please continue to fill out the anonymous Voluntary COVID-19 Reporting Form if you test positive for COVID-19.

We ask that you respect each other’s health and safety comfort levels and look out for one another. If you have any concerns or questions, please email covidquestions@msubillings.edu. Also refer to the COVID-19 Central page for updated information and review this list of ways to protect yourself and others to ensure that we are doing our part to keep MSUB healthy and safe.

Thank you for helping us maintain a healthy and safe environment to work and learn in. Your continued efforts are very much appreciated.

Sincerely,

COVID-19 Taskforce

Jan. 13, 2021

Dear Students:

We look forward to the beginning of the spring 2022 semester next week. Like last year, our goal is to continue to keep classes in-person with an in-person commencement, and we appreciate everyone’s efforts to keep us on that path. The new year has started with cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 on the rise. We continue to receive guidance from RiverStone Health and have been watching this latest variant to understand potential impacts to our campus. This update provides the latest information we have regarding COVID-19.

NOTE: This is a lengthy COVID-19 update to start the new year, but please read through it entirely. There is new information regarding testing, isolation and quarantine, masks and what to expect as the Omicron variant begins to impact our campus and community.

Omicron Is Impacting Yellowstone County and MSU Billings

For most people, especially those who are vaccinated, Omicron presents with relatively mild symptoms. More data are needed to fully assess the severity of Omicron infections, but observations from some hospitals currently experiencing high admission for COVID-19 note that a smaller proportion of patients are in the ICU or require serious interventions compared to the Delta variant. We will continue to work with RiverStone Health for the latest COVID-19 guidance and for information on local hospitalizations and impacts to health care systems in our community.

Vaccines Are Highly Effective in Preventing Serious COVID-19 Outcomes

Vaccines and boosters are effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19, even as data suggest breakthrough infections are more common with the Omicron variant. COVID-19 vaccines are available for students through Student Health Services and are also available  through your local health care providers and through our upcoming community vaccine clinics.

Student only Flu/COVID-19 vaccine clinic (1st/2nd/booster) is Monday, January 24 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

SUB Atrium

Our next Community Flu/COVID-19 vaccine clinic (1st/2nd/booster) is Thursday, January 27

SUB Glacier Room, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
City College Tech Bldg. 1st Floor Study Area, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Masks

RiverStone Health, our local public health authority, continues to recommend wearing masks in public, indoor settings where there is evidence of substantial community spread, regardless of vaccination status. MSUB will begin the semester continuing to require masks in all instructional spaces whether it’s in the classroom, on a field trip, class-related transportation, etc. MSUB also continues to recommend wearing face masks in all campus indoor public settings.

Updated Guidance for Isolation and Quarantine

RiverStone Health recently updated and shortened the recommended quarantine and isolation periods for COVID-19. See infographic below for the most updated guidance: 

The infographic can also be found on the COVID-19 Central webpage.

Testing

With case numbers increasing, we do expect to see high demand for COVID-19 testing. Student Health Services will continue to offer testing to symptomatic students. Students should call SHS before coming to get tested at 657-2153. You can also COVID-19 testing in Yellowstone County (see below).

• RiverStone Health at 123 S. 27th St., will offer free at-home test kits for COVID-19 for pick up from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, and from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays. At-home test kits will be offered weekly on this schedule at RiverStone Health while supplies last. Refer to the RiverStone Health facebook page for more accurate updates on schedule and supplies.
• There are a number of testing sites in the community that perform antigen, PCR and Rapid Diagnostic Tests (IDNow). Locate a COVID-19 test site in Yellowstone County by selecting I need a COVID-19 test.
• Generally, if you are symptomatic, a home antigen test also can provide an indication of an infection. There are some concerns about the sensitivity of antigen tests in detecting Omicron (especially early infection), so a follow-up molecular (PCR) test may be necessary to confirm an infection. If you test positive for COVID-19 with a home test, you should self-isolate and consult with a medical care provider to determine next steps.

Voluntary COVID-19 Reporting Form

If you test positive for COVID-19 (with any testing method), please complete the confidential Voluntary COVID-19 Reporting Form, which will help our contact tracers notify close contacts and recommend quarantine.

COVID-19 Town Hall on January 27 at 3 p.m.

We will host a virtual COVID-19 Town Hall on Thursday, January 27 at 3 p.m. Access the link to the town hall and view previous town halls.

As a reminder, you can always submit questions or concerns to covidquestions@msubillings.edu.

We Need Your Help

As a community, we hope by working together we can limit the spread of COVID-19. We ask for your help in these efforts with a few simple requests:

• If you intend to be vaccinated/boosted for COVID-19, please do so as soon as possible.
• Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth while indoors on campus. We do not recommend wearing bandanas, gaiters, or masks with exhalation valves as face coverings. The CDC has helpful guidance on correct and consistent mask use and the types of masks that work best to reduce transmission.
• If you are sick, please stay home. Seek a COVID-19 test if you are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.
• Please practice good respiratory and hand hygiene (i.e., cover your cough/sneeze, wash hands, etc.) This is the season for a number of respiratory illnesses beyond COVID-19, including influenza, RSV, bronchitis and common colds. With all of them, the keys to reducing transmission are the same: wash your hands, watch your distance, and wear your mask.

Thank you for your help in working to reduce COVID-19 cases and transmission at MSUB. Following the above guidance will enable us to keep on learning, working, and enjoying MSUB together as we navigate the anticipated surge in cases in the coming weeks. All your hard work throughout the pandemic has not gone unnoticed, and your commitment to keeping MSUB a safe place is extremely appreciated.

Be well,

MSUB’s COVID-19 Task Force

Dec. 6, 2021

Dear Students:

As we near the end of fall semester, we wanted to thank you for your hard work and dedication in keeping MSUB a healthy and safe place. We appreciate you wearing face masks in classrooms, staying home when sick, and considering getting the COVID-19 vaccination.

As you prepare for the upcoming spring semester, keep in mind that current COVID-19 practices will remain in place for spring semester, unless you hear otherwise:

• Face masks will continue to be required in all indoor instructional spaces, whether it’s in the classroom, on a field trip, class-related transportation, etc.
• Face masks are recommended in all other indoor spaces on both university and City College campuses.
• If you test positive for COVID-19, please consider completing our Voluntary COVID-19 Reporting Form, which will help our contact tracers notify close contacts and, if appropriate, recommend quarantine.
• Stay home when sick and get COVID-19 tested. You can get a free COVID-19 test at Student Health Services. Call 657-2153 before coming to campus.

As you prepare for the upcoming holidays don’t bring COVID home with you:

Remember, the coronavirus can take up to 14 days to start showing its symptoms once you’re infected. Now is the time to take steps to limit your possible exposure to COVID-19 — before you head home for break.

• Get a flu and COVID-19 shot.
• Wash hands frequently and use hand sanitizer.
• Maintain 6 feet or more of physical distance when possible.
• Watch yourself for symptoms.
• Self-quarantine if you’re feeling sick.

Sincerely,

MSUB's COVID-19 Task Force

According to the CDC, a person confirmed to have COVID-19 can generally end isolation if all the following criteria are met (the following criteria is for everyone, regardless of vaccination status):

• It has been at least 5 days since symptoms first appeared, or you have been asymptomatic 5 days since you tested positive.
• In the last 24 hours of your isolation (day 5), you have no fever during those 24 hours – without the use of fever-reducing medication.
• Your COVID-19 symptoms are improving – they don’t need to have entirely disappeared, but they must be better than when you first became ill.

For 5 additional days after ending isolation, continue to wear a well-fitting mask around all others, including around other people in your household (days 6-10).

Other factors can be involved in the decision to end isolation. You should follow the direction of your healthcare provider.

The CDC has updated their guidance regarding individuals who should quarantine if identified as a close contact to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. There are multiple variables to consider when determining if you should quarantine, which include vaccination status, dates of vaccine doses and if a booster dose has been completed.

If you have had close contact with someone with COVID-19, you should quarantine for 5 days followed by mask use for an additional 5 days if:

• You are not fully vaccinated
• You are more than 5 months out from your second Pfizer or Moderna dose or more than 2 months out from a J&J dose and have not yet received a booster dose

If you have had close contact with someone with COVID-19, quarantine is not required if:

• You are fully vaccinated and have received a booster dose
• You have recently completed your vaccination series and are within 5 months of your second Pfizer or Moderna dose or within 2 months of your J&J dose

Regardless of vaccination status, you should monitor for any signs and symptoms of COVID-19, get tested on day 5 after exposure, or immediately get tested and isolate if any symptoms develop.

As of Friday, September 24, 2021, Montana State University Billings has instituted a face mask requirement for all indoor instructional spaces on the university campus and at City College until further notice. The face mask requirement includes every classroom, lecture hall, laboratory, studio, and any other indoor space where faculty and students gather during a course session.

The current mask recommendation for indoor non-instructional spaces remains unchanged. If an MSUB student needs a special accommodation regarding the face mask requirement, please contact Disability Support Services.

No, the COVID-19 vaccine cannot be required per state law. However, public health officials stress that the best thing we can do to protect ourselves and our community is to get vaccinated against COVID-19. There are COVID–19 Vaccination Clinics on campus. See the Covid Central page for upcoming vaccination opportunities.

CDC guidelines state that vaccinated individuals do not need COVID-19 testing before or after travel; however, please see the  CDC's detailed recommendations regarding testing guidelines for individuals who are not fully vaccinated.

• If the test result is positive, students should delay their return to campus by isolating as directed by health care professionals.
• If a student needs to delay their return to campus due to COVID-19, faculty and staff will work to provide remote coursework and online support until the student can return safely in person.

According to the CDC, a person confirmed to have COVID-19 can generally end isolation if all the following criteria are met:

• It has been at least 10 days since symptoms first appeared, or you have been asymptomatic 10 days since you tested positive.
• In the last 24 hours of your quarantine (day 10), you have no fever during those 24 hours — without the use of fever-reducing medication.
• Your COVID-19 symptoms are improving – they don’t need to have entirely disappeared, but they must be better than when you first became ill.

Other factors can be involved in the decision to end isolation. You should follow the direction of your health care provider.

People who are fully vaccinated do NOT need to quarantine after contact with someone who had COVID-19 unless they have symptoms. However, fully vaccinated people should get tested 3-5 days after their exposure, even if they don’t have symptoms and wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until their test result is negative.

Ideally, it’s recommended that you stay home and away from other people, including members of your household, for a full 14 days. Do not go to work, school, grocery shopping or do other errands. For 14 days, beginning the last day that you had contact with the COVID-19 positive person, you should monitor yourself for fever, cough, shortness of breath and any other symptoms of COVID-19 (such as chills, muscle aches, fatigue, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, vomiting or diarrhea).

The absence from class should not be assumed to be related to COVID-19 However, if there is someone in your class who has tested positive, our contact tracers will notify you if you meet the current criteria for being considered a close contact. 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.

 

Please ask them if they have been contacted by a contact tracer and whether they shared your information with them. If they did, then please wait to be contacted and make sure to answer your phone, even if you don’t recognize the number. If they did not share your information due to concerns for your privacy, please ask them to do so or email COVIDquestions@msubillings.edu and we will assist you. 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. They will be in touch with you as quickly as possible to work through the next steps and discuss your options. You will most likely be asked to quarantine and report any symptoms. You also may be given the option to get a COVID-19 test. The appropriate timing of the test will be per CDC guidelines and your health care providers. Student Health Services can help you out with this and provide the testing. Do NOT pack and leave.

 

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.

 

If you are asymptomatic and test COVID-19 positive, you will need to self-isolate in the same way as you would if you had symptoms. Your instructors will be able to assist you, so you will be able to keep up with the course materials and assignments.

 

No, stay home and contact your instructors immediately. If students attend class when they are obviously sick, class may be cancelled.

 

Consult the syllabus to see your instructor’s policy regarding their timeframe for getting back to you via email or phone. If you have concerns about lack of communication from an instructor, please email the chair of the department for the course in question (you can find the information on the appropriate department webpage).

 

If you are asymptomatic, you do nothing special. Carry on as usual unless otherwise directed by a contact tracer or health professional.

 

If you start to have symptoms similar to COVID-19 you should get tested; otherwise, there is no reason to get tested. If you start feeling sick, regardless of the reason, please stay home and contact you professors.

 

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

 

Per the CDC, when no people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 are known to have been in a space, cleaning once a day is usually enough to sufficiently remove virus that may be on surfaces and help maintain a healthy facility.

Cleaning with products containing soap or detergent reduces germs on surfaces by removing contaminants and decreases risk of infection from surfaces.

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.

The American Rescue Plan (ARP) fund has been successfully allocated to eligible students.  As such, the application for funds has been removed.  Students who continue to face financial challenges are encouraged to explore if they qualify for the MSUB Student Crisis Fund.  This fund has been established to help currently enrolled students on the path to academic success during a personal or unexpected crisis or hardship. More information is available on the MSUB Student Crisis Fund page.

Yes. As of Friday, September 24, 2021, Montana State University Billings has instituted a face mask requirement forall indoor instructional spaces on the university campus and at City College until further notice. The face mask requirement includes every classroom, lecture hall, laboratory, studio, and any other indoor space where faculty and students gather during a course session.

As of Friday, September 24, 2021, Montana State University Billings has instituted a face mask requirement forall indoor instructional spaces on the university campus and at City College until further notice. The face mask requirement includes every classroom, lecture hall, laboratory, studio, and any other indoor space where faculty and students gather during a course session.

The current mask recommendation for indoor non-instructional spaces remains unchanged. If an MSUB employee needs a special accommodation regarding this requirement, please contact Human Resources.

Yes. Departments may order supplies by using the COVID-19 supplies form.

MSU Billings recommends that everyone wear a face mask indoors to protect the health and safety of our campus community. Due to the continuing rise in the number of active COVID-19 cases in Yellowstone Country, local public health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear a face mask indoors to keep our campus community safe. Collective partnership and collaboration are needed to keep our case numbers low so that we can continue engaging in high-quality, in-person teaching and learning. According to the CDC, vaccination offers the best protection against COVID-19 severe disease symptoms, hospitalization, and fatality.

No, the COVID-19 vaccine cannot be required per state law. However, public health officials stress that the best thing we can do to protect ourselves and our community is to get vaccinated against COVID-19. There are COVID-19 Vaccination opportunities on campus. See the Covid Central page for upcoming vaccination opportunities or contact RiverStone Health.

While MSUB encourages physical-distancing, when possible, classrooms are returning to full capacity. At this time, there are no COVID-19 requirements related to group size. As noted above, it is encouraged that faculty and students wear face masks indoors

This is allowed legally, however, students do not have to answer.

Nothing in the language of HB 702 prohibits a person, governmental entity, public accommodation, or employer from asking about vaccination status or whether you have an immunity passport. However, if asked, a person is not required to respond and may not be discriminated against for failing to respond.

It is important to remember that state law (HB 702) prohibits the disparate treatment of individuals based on vaccination status. As we wish to avoid any real or perceived differential treatment based on vaccination status, we discourage faculty and staff from asking students about their vaccination status.

Please contact Human Resources for the appropriate application.

Please contact Human Resources for the appropriate application.

The health and safety of everyone on campus is paramount. Therefore, we must allow for some flexibility to ensure that sick or symptomatic students do not feel that they must come to campus. We encourage the adoption of the following guideline, agreed upon by the faculty leadership and the administration, and recommend adding this language to your syllabi:

To be eligible for accommodations, students must contact their instructor within 48 hours of the class or assignment missed, or as soon as is possible, given their circumstances. If students do not contact the instructor and miss multiple class meetings, assignments, and/or tests, the instructor will work with the Department Chair and College Dean and follow appropriate University policies to explore the options available to the students. Therefore, students are strongly encouraged to inform their instructor as soon as possible regarding any challenges that may interfere with their success in their classes. It is important to note that appropriate accommodations become increasingly difficult as the number of missed activities/assignments/tests increases.

We recommend that faculty include the following language related to student attendance on their syllabi, with the link to the MSUB COVID-19 webpage.

To be eligible for accommodations, students must contact their instructor within 48 hours of the class or assignment missed, or as soon as is possible, given their circumstances. If students do not contact the instructor and miss multiple class meetings, assignments, and/or tests, the instructor will work with the Department Chair and College Dean and follow appropriate University policies to explore the options available to the students. Therefore, students are strongly encouraged to inform their instructor as soon as possible regarding any challenges that may interfere with their success in their classes. It is important to note that appropriate accommodations become increasingly difficult as the number of missed activities/assignments/tests increases.

We also recommend that on the first day of class, faculty stress the importance of clear communication between students and instructor, discuss the guidelines for student attendance and accommodation policy, discuss plans for the possibility of moving to remote instruction, and remind students of regular deadlines and policies for course drops and withdrawals and incompletes. This would also be a good time to remind students of your preferred mode of communication with the class (i.e., via email, through D2L, etc.).

There is no specific or required model for remote instruction. Faculty have discretion on the format of the course, if in-person class is suspended. There are myriad ways to deliver content remotely and assess students appropriately. The important thing is to communicate to your students how your individual class will be organized if remote learning become necessary.

Please also ensure that your department chair and dean are aware of your plans.

If one or more students in the classroom are obviously sick, faculty have discretion regarding their course of action. They can respectfully ask the student to leave or, if necessary, cancel class for everyone’s safety. If it becomes necessary to cancel class for the day, it should be emphasized to all that the action is taken to ensure the safety of the entire group, and that no person should be held responsible, or negatively viewed, as a result of this action. Instructors should inform students about whether they will meet during the next regularly scheduled class. Please inform your department chair and Dean, and work with them on the next course of action.

At all times, we aim to maintain a respectful and inclusive campus climate for our students, faculty, and staff.

In the event of an outbreak in COVID-19 cases on campus, general campus recommendations and guidelines will be issued by the COVID-19 Taskforce. If campus recommendations and guidelines do not address unique class needs, in consultation with their department chair and dean, faculty members may request permission to move to remote instruction from their department chair and Dean. Faculty should communicate with students as soon as possible if a course modality change is being requested or considered.

If a student notifies you that they have tested positive for COVID-19, please highly encourage the student to complete the Voluntary COVID-19 Self-Reporting Form. Once this form is completed, an MSUB Contact Tracer will communicate with the student regarding their next steps. Please do not share the student’s medical information with anyone else.

The contact tracers may recommend to the student that they quarantine for a period of time. Faculty should assist the student with adjusted learning methods during the time the student is out of class during their isolation period. The contact tracers may also ask for class seating charts for specific dates. Please provide this information to the contact tracers as soon as possible.

Do not come to campus. Inform your department chair and dean. Face-to-face courses will need to move to remote instruction. Please inform your students of changes to course delivery as soon as possible. Follow county health guidelines for when to resume normal activities. Inform your department chair and dean regarding your plans.

Yes, faculty can opt to conduct office hours remotely for the spring semester for health and safety reasons. Please be explicit in your syllabus regarding your office hour plans, and please go over this information with your students during the first class meeting. Please also notify your department chair and dean regarding your plans. If one or more students cannot participate in online office hours, alternative solutions must be sought in consultation with your department chair and dean.

If you become concerned about the lack of communication from a student, contact your department chair, and submit an early alert such that appropriate individuals can follow up with your student

Faculty should follow the existing policies regarding incompletes.

Direct all questions to covidquestions@msubillings.edu. The team will ensure that your questions are answered or get you to the right person.

MSUB is communicating regularly with county public health officials to make decisions regarding safety precautions necessary for the health and safety of the entire campus community. We recognize that the pandemic has forced us to be continually adaptable in what, by all accounts, are extremely challenging times.

• Communication is key, including first day discussions with students about COVID-19 policies regarding illness, class attendance, accommodations, student communication with faculty, and course plans if moving to remote instruction becomes necessary.
• Utilize D2L for ease of communication and transition if remote learning becomes necessary and for course information (email, syllabus, gradebook, course documents, etc.).
• Inform students that there are resources to help with technology and reliable internet access.
• Take care of your own health and wellbeing. Use resources available to faculty, staff, and students.

The state of Montana and Yellowstone County health officials have not placed a limit on the number attendees for events/gatherings. At this time, MSU Billings is not requiring permission to hold large-scale events but this could change in the future.

MSUB recommends the following:

• Schedule events/gatherings for outdoors or in a space that allows for social distancing whenever possible.
• When possible, limit offering food and beverages as a part of the event/gathering. If food and beverage are integral, work with MSUB Dining Services to offer single serve and bottled items.
• Recommend participants wear face coverings and have them available at the event. Can be requested through MSUB Covid-19 website.
• Provide signage encouraging face coverings, social distancing, and good hand hygiene practices. Signs are available on the MSUB Covid-19 website.

If you have additional questions email covidquestions@msubillings.edu

University Police Officers will not take an enforcement position related to the university’s COVID-19 guidelines, recommendations, and requirements (e.g., social distancing, mask-wearing, hand sanitizing, etc.), unless there are other criminal violations present. University Police Officers will continue to respond to all reported criminal activity and appropriate service-related details.

Per the CDC, the virus that causes COVID-19 can land on surfaces. It’s possible for people to become infected if they touch those surfaces and then touch their nose, mouth, or eyes. In most situations, the risk of infection from touching a surface is low. The most reliable way to prevent infection from surfaces is to regularly wash hands or use hand sanitizer.

When no people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 are known to have been in a space, cleaning once a day is usually enough to sufficiently remove virus that may be on surfaces and help maintain a healthy facility.

Cleaning with products containing soap or detergent reduces germs on surfaces by removing contaminants and decreases risk of infection from surfaces.

Employees can use their accumulated sick leave to care for themselves or their dependents with COVID-19 or COVID-19 symptoms. There is no designated leave specific to COVID-19 available currently.

Talk to your supervisor and have the supervisor work with Human Resources (HR). Under specific circumstances (long-term illness, for example) HR has resources to get you some additional sick leave using sick leave donations from other employees if you meet the criteria and have medical certification.

Directors and supervisors need to make certain that they are not expecting sick employees to work – whether the illness is COVID-19 or something else. Employees who are sick should be using their leave time to recover without pressure to work. However, if the employee is willing and able to work remotely, then the decision to allow temporary remote work can be made by the director/supervisor on a position-by-position basis.  The employee working remotely should be recording their actual work and non-work hours accordingly. Temporary remote work may not be available to every position and supervisors should be able to provide a rationale for their decisions to allow certain positions to work remotely based on job requirements and responsibilities. Deciding to allow temporary remote work should be analyzed toward university success, and not granted habitually. Consult with your division’s Vice Chancellor and Human Resources when necessary.

It depends. Accommodations will be considered on a case-by-case basis and should be brought to the attention of your direct supervisor who should contact Human Resources to start the conversation and the process. It should be noted that if your position is designed to directly serve students, the public, or other employees, then working remotely may not be available to you based upon your job responsibilities, nor reasonable to the needs to the department, so alternative accommodations will be explored in those cases.

 

Yes, you can request they quarantine for their safety and the safety of others. However, a supervisor cannot force and employee to quarantine. By Montana law, quarantine of close contacts is no longer enforceable.

Encourage the employee to stay at home when sick to rest and recover. While in the office, employees are encouraged to wear a mask, especially if they are recovering from an illness.  Supervisors cannot force employees to stay at home.

Yes. Departments may order supplies by using the COVID-19 supplies form.

No, the COVID-19 vaccine cannot be required per state law. However, public health officials stress that the best thing we can do to protect ourselves and our community is to get vaccinated against COVID-19. There are COVID-19 Vaccination opportunities on campus. See the Covid Central page for upcoming vaccination opportunities or contact RiverStone Health.

While MSUB encourages physical distancing, when possible, classrooms are returning to full capacity. At this time, there are no COVID-19 requirements related to group size. As noted above, it is encouraged that faculty and students wear face masks indoors.

This is allowed legally, however, students do not have to answer.

Nothing in the language of HB 702 prohibits a person, governmental entity, public accommodation, or employer from asking about vaccination status or whether you have an immunity passport. However, if asked, a person is not required to respond and may not be discriminated against for failing to respond.

It is important to remember that state law (HB 702) prohibits the disparate treatment of individuals based on vaccination status. As we wish to avoid any real or perceived differential treatment based on vaccination status, we discourage faculty and staff from asking students about their vaccination status.

“Nothing in the language of HB 702 prohibits a person, governmental entity, public accommodation, or employer from asking about vaccination status or whether you have an immunity passport. However, if asked, a person is not required to respond and may not be discriminated against for failing to respond.”

It is important to remember that state law (HB 702) prohibits the disparate treatment of individuals based on vaccination status. As we wish to avoid any real or perceived differential treatment based on vaccination status, we discourage faculty and staff from asking students about their vaccination status.

Do not come to campus and begin to self-isolate at home. Any MSUB-affiliated individual is highly encouraged to complete the Voluntary Self-Reporting Form if they test positive for COVID-19. Inform your supervisor.

The state of Montana and Yellowstone County health officials have not placed a limit on the number attendees for events/gatherings. At this time, MSU Billings is not requiring permission to hold large-scale events but this could change in the future.

MSUB recommends the following:

• Schedule events/gatherings for outdoors or in a space that allows for social distancing whenever possible.
• When possible, limit offering food and beverages as a part of the event/gathering. If food and beverage are integral, work with MSUB Dining Services to offer single serve and bottled items.
• Recommend participants wear face coverings and have them available at the event. Can be requested through MSUB Covid-19 website.
• Provide signage encouraging face coverings, social distancing, and good hand hygiene practices. Signs are available on the MSUB Covid-19 website.

If you have additional questions email covidquestions@msubillings.edu

University Police Officers will not take an enforcement position related to the university’s COVID-19 guidelines, recommendations, and requirements (e.g., social distancing, mask-wearing, hand sanitizing, etc.), unless there are other criminal violations present. University Police Officers will continue to respond to all reported criminal activity and appropriate service-related details.

Per the CDC, when no people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 are known to have been in a space, cleaning once a day is usually enough to sufficiently remove virus that may be on surfaces and help maintain a healthy facility.

Cleaning with products containing soap or detergent reduces germs on surfaces by removing contaminants and decreases risk of infection from surfaces.