COVID-19 Information

The College continues to monitor the ever-changing guidelines from the U.S. Department of Education, which will be modified yet again this week, in relation to the aid given in the CARES Act and how it can be used. The College is sensitive to the fact that many of you may need the funds to help support your families now. The plan provides support in two very distinct, but helpful, ways. To that end, we offer the following guidelines for the release of partial board funding and this can happen immediately:

For those students who immediately vacated the campus as instructed, and had purchased a meal plan, you will be fully refunded for the 7 weeks that you were not able to use your 16 week meal plan. Your refund is calculated by multiplying the price that you paid for your meal plan by 7/16th. These pro-rata refunds will range from $70 to $1,479 depending upon the meal plan that you purchased.

Later this week, you will be receiving a separate email from our Chief Financial Officer that will provide more specific detail about the Board refunds, and it will provide several options including:

• Receiving an E-refund or check, now, for the amount of your calculated refund (net of any past due balances due to the College);
• Applying 105% of your calculated refund to your student account to apply toward your College bill in the future.
• Giving a gift to the Moravian Scholarship Fund - an unrestricted and immediate source of financial aid for academically qualified students to help make their education affordable and uninterrupted. Your gift may qualify you for the $300 tax-break for COVID-19 donations, as well as other charitable giving credits and benefits.

Your refund will be processed as soon as you select the option that best meets your family’s needs.

As mentioned in previous messages, unlike meal plans, there are very few variable costs associated with operating our residence halls. The revenues that we receive from room charges help to fund the overall costs of the institution, which helps to keep our tuition more affordable. That is the very reason our housing contracts state that room charges are non-refundable once the semester has started.  

With that said, and while we still need further guidance from the Department of Education as to what we are allowed to do, we do understand that families are experiencing increased costs as a result of students living at home. To help defray these and any other unanticipated costs (such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child care) the College will be administering grants to offset some of these costs. All students who signed a room agreement for the spring semester will receive a $1,000 Home Living Grant. In addition, for those students who receive any Pell Grant funds, you will be entitled to a $150 Living Expense Grant and a $50 Technology at Home Grant. And students who receive the maximum Pell Grant of $3,097 will also receive a Supplemental Living Expense Grant of $100.  

As such, the student grants will range from $200 to $1,300 and these grants will be processed and paid to your student account. These grants will be administered by the Office of Financial Aid (and unlike the board refund described above, you do not need to take any action to receive these grants). Grants will be distributed upon final clarification from the Department of Education.  

The chart below summarizes the financial relief that families can expect.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people and then spread between people such as with MERS and SARS. When person-to-person spread has occurred with MERS and SARS, it is thought to have happened mainly via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread.

It’s important to note how easily a virus spreads person-to-person can vary. Some viruses are highly contagious (like measles), while other viruses are less so.

The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others.

There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19 infection. People infected with COVID-19 should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms.

The President’s office, Provost’s Office, the Center for Global Education and the Office of Student Life are actively monitoring the situation and seeking the most current information and health expertise to inform our guidance, knowing that the global situation is fast-moving and fluid. A group of senior leaders has established ongoing meetings to ensure Moravian’s short- and long-term preparedness. The Moravian College Health Center also continues to be in frequent communication with the Bethlehem Health Bureau and is regularly reviewing guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Education.

Our Facilities teams continue to sanitize surfaces in public and private spaces and provide resources to prevent germs. In addition to the sanitizing of bathrooms, kitchens and common spaces, we have placed hand sanitizers at strategic locations including the Reeves Library, residence halls, dining facilities and other public gathering spaces

Given that we are in the midst of influenza (flu) season, we continue to advise the campus community to follow standard recommendations for the prevention of flu and other respiratory viruses. Additional guidance can be found below.

Tiered Mitigation Plan

• Moravian College has created a Tiered Mitigation Plan to make adjustments as the situation evolves.

Housing/Location

• If the individual is a residential student, we will work with them to quarantine on campus (if necessary) or at home. The CDC says this: “...Residents identified with COVID-19 or identified as contacts of individuals with COVID-19 should not necessarily be sent to their permanent homes off-campus.” Each case will be managed individually with input and guidance from the Bethlehem Health Bureau.
• If the individual is a commuter student, faculty or staff member, they will remain off-campus during their quarantine.

Dining

• All on-campus dining will transition to “grab & go” - we are working on those specific details, but we will have food available for our community.
• We will work with each student who is quarantined on meal delivery.

Campus Events/Other Gatherings

• All events (both internal and external groups) will be cancelled, regardless of size, for at least two weeks.
• We will discourage all social gatherings; again please practice social distancing at all times:
• The CDC defines social distancing as “remaining out of congregate settings (crowded public spaces), avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet) from others when possible.”
• The Fitness Center, Johnston Hall, and all athletic facilities will close.

Employees

• All non-essential faculty and staff will be asked to work from home.
• Supervisors will be sharing with their employees who fall into the “non-essential” and “essential” categories.

Visitors to campus

• We will discourage all visitors on our campus.

Please continue to visit these resources for information:

• COVID-19 in the U.S.
• U.S. Department of Education
• Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Communities
• PA Department of Health: PA COVID-19 Update

The Provost's Office and Center for Global Education staff have been in direct and regular communication with our students who are currently studying abroad, and their families, regarding ongoing guidance. The safety of our community members remains a priority.

The college has suspended international study programs through the end of May. Students that were studying abroad in Italy are undergoing self quarantine for 14 days. At this point, all other student programs are continuing as planned. We continue to monitor the spread of the virus in other countries and remain in direct communication with our students currently abroad, as well as their families, regarding current guidance.

We are also working directly with our study abroad partner programs to be informed of their decisions regarding their programs and assist students with plans that will enable them to complete the academic semester in the event their study abroad program is interrupted. As some of our students choose to voluntarily return home from their study abroad programs, the Health Center is working with the Center for Global Education to evaluate students before they return to campus.

We are aware there have been instances in which people from some of the affected countries, or even those perceived to be from affected countries, and we want to remind you that we are a diverse community that values all of our members.

Information on study abroad programs and international travel can be directed to the Center for Global Education website at moravian.edu/cge.

To mitigate the risk of COVID-19 on campus, we are requiring students, faculty, and staff who travel from countries and locations the CDC has identified as “Warning Level 3” and “Alert Level 2” to stay at home and self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days before returning to campus. This criteria will also be applied to scheduled visitors to campus.

This continues to be a rapidly evolving situation and recommendations are subject to change. As individuals make travel plans, please be aware that although you may be able to leave the U.S. and go to other countries, there is always the possibility that you may experience difficulty returning depending on how this situation evolves. Travelers should refer to the CDC website for the most up-to-date information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html.

International students have received additional guidance from the Center for Global Education office, and we are reminding students to closely read that guidance.

All campus events have been canceled at this time. The college will follow guidance from the Bethlehem Health Bureau, PA Department of Health, CDC, and World Health Organization (WHO).

Moravian College is following current CDC guidelines on all screening and response protocols. These protocols may continue to evolve as new information regarding COVID-19 becomes known.

These criteria have evolved. Up-to-date criteria are available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/clinical-criteria.html.

If you are a student, faculty or staff experiencing symptoms you believe are in line with COVID-19, please consult with the Health Center (please call, don't visit) or your own physician immediately. If you have a fever or have a cough, you should remain home, and minimize your exposure to others, and call our Health Center or your healthcare provider for additional guidance.

The college also has a strong partnership with local health care providers, such as nearby St. Luke’s University Health Network, who are available to provide emergency medical evaluation and treatment as necessary. Before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room, call ahead and tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms.

The Health Center is open Monday - Friday: 9:00 am - 11:30 am with afternoon visits by appointment from 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm. Please call (610) 861-1567 to speak with the Health Center staff.  

Please call the Health Center if you are ill and fall into one of the following categories:

• Symptoms (fever or cough/difficulty breathing) AND
• Travel to any area with sustained transmission within the 2 weeks before symptoms start OR contact with a proven case

Important standard recommendations to prevent the spread of respiratory infections include:

• If you are sick - stay home and avoid contact with others.
• Do not travel while you are sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Get your yearly flu shot - although there is no vaccine for COVID-19, the flu shot provides critical protection against influenza.

The CDC reports symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as two days or could take as long as 14 days after exposure. Visit the CDC website for additional guidance: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/steps-when-sick.html

The CDC recommends everyday preventative measures to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses including:

• Get your annual flu vaccine (the Health Center has free flu shots).
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Moravian is closely monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak. Should this occur, Moravian will work closely with local and state health authorities to control the spread of COVID-19. Isolating any confirmed or possible case will be a priority. To protect the Moravian community, all Moravian-affiliated individuals should practice social distancing for 14 days from the date they returned from spring break to the U.S. if they have returned from a Level 3 country (Level 3 at that time-China, Iran, Italy, Japan or South Korea as of March 9.)

The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others.

Moravian has plans to cover many contingencies in support of individual students and the student body as a whole. The severity of the disease, extent of the spread of the disease, community impacts and resources available to help protect the safety of students and staff are some of the factors that influence actions the College could take if a COVID-19 case emerges on the Moravian campus.

Our campus remains open at this time and visitors are always welcome. Please note that we are following guidance issued by public health authorities in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The College is recommending that any member of our campus community—including visitors—practice social distancing for 14 days from the date they returned to the U.S. if they have returned from China, Iran, Italy, Japan or South Korea since February 13, 2020, or from France, Germany or Spain since Feb. 18, 2020, or if they have been directly exposed to someone with COVID-19.

If you are planning a large event, there are simple steps you can take to prevent the spread of illness. These include:

• Remind staff and participants to stay home if they’re sick, have been around anybody known or suspected to have COVID-19 or are practicing social distancing.
• Encourage those with underlying health conditions, including staff, to consider staying home.
• Make sure you're stocked on basic supplies like soap and water, tissues and hand sanitizer.
• Share information about personal hygiene and prevention, such as cough/sneeze etiquette and proper hand-washing.
• Plan for increased cleaning of high-touch areas, such as door handles and elevator buttons.
• Consider hosting a virtual event if possible.
• Develop a flexible refund policy for ticketed events.

The information that exists about COVID-19 continues to evolve. We will continue to provide updates as we learn of them, and you can also continue to check the below resources.