Healthy Campus

MNU Campus Community,

As we approach the beginning of another school year, we look forward to having everyone back on campus for another great year! We intend to have a fully open campus with face-to-face instruction and the resumption of all regular activities and events. Our commitment is to do all we can to provide a safe and healthy environment for the campus community and take necessary and appropriate precautions and measures to complete the school year. 

In this regard, due to an increase in COVID-19 variant cases presently, the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) has recommended that colleges and universities require masking in indoor settings. It is their desire for us to open school safely, and they are recommending that institutions take this extra precaution for the best interest of all concerned.  

NOTICE: 
Effective immediately, masking is required for faculty, staff, students and campus visitors for all indoor campus activities of ten (10) or more participants, including classrooms, chapel programs, and public events. Masking will apply unless eating, drinking, engaging in athletic activities or external clinical or other partnership arrangements, otherwise requiring it. 

The university will evaluate this policy in thirty (30) days in conjunction with county health officials to determine the status at that time. 

At this point, cooperation will be the key as we work together to provide for the health and welfare of the entire campus community.  

The university strongly encourages vaccination for all faculty, staff and students to prevent viral spread and disruption to the school year. If you would like to be vaccinated, you'll find free, on-campus clinics, in addition to many local opportunities. In some cases, vaccination confirmation may benefit individuals when dealing with quarantine or contact tracing. Please refer to the updated COVID policy for more information.  

Cooperation Requested
The campus community is urged to continue to respect the health and welfare of others and follow basic protocols, including frequent hand washing, sanitizing and reporting illness or symptoms to the COVID Coordinator. All faculty, staff and students must continue to utilize the CampusClear application to report their health status and symptoms. Do not come to campus if you are ill or if symptoms occur. CampusClear may be used from time to time to screen participants for various campus events and activities.  

Thanks for your cooperation. Let's have a great school year!

David J. Spittal, MNU President

Dear MNU Campus Community, 

MidAmerica Nazarene University continues to work closely with local health officials to promote the health and safety of our community because COVID-19 is still with us. Therefore, all members of the university community are strongly encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccine before the start of school, however, it is not required at this time.

Current MNU Guidelines for All Students and Employees

Vaccinations Encouraged
Members of the campus community have ample time and opportunity to get vaccinated prior to the start of school. However, we have worked with the Johnson County Department of Health to provide three on-campus vaccination clinics after students return for the fall semester. More information on these clinics will be distributed to your MNU email. 

You should retain your official vaccination record as it may assist contact tracing and allow you to avoid quarantine in the future. If you share your vaccination record with the university it will streamline efforts to stem the spread when cases occur on campus. Please also keep in mind that some internship, practicum placement and clinical sites may require that students are vaccinated to be placed there.  

Quarantine and Isolation Protocol
Fully vaccinated individuals will not require quarantine if they have no symptoms after exposure to a case of COVID-19. If you do require isolation or quarantine you are asked to complete it at your home if you live within 300 miles of campus. Residential students should have a contingency plan in place to quarantine/isolate off campus prior to their return for the fall semester. 

Healthy Habits
Ultimately our goal is to provide a safe educational environment that allows us to focus on our mission and purposes. We encourage the campus community to continue the healthy practices we have all become accustomed to during the pandemic. MNU will continue to provide hand sanitizer stations and cleaning protocol that keeps our campus safe. We encourage you to do the same in your living spaces. 

Please be sure to read the current COVID-19 protocol document attached to this email for more details on MNU practices. Watch your email for updates as we approach the start of classes and throughout the semester. Conditions and recommendations regarding the pandemic change often. We will update you as needed.  

It is important for all of us to work together to ensure the health and welfare of our campus community, showing kindness, caring and cooperation as we begin a new phase of our journey. Please visit MNU’s Healthy Campus Guide, available through a link at the top of our website at mnu.edu/healthy-campus, whenever you need guidance.

Sincerely, 
 
David J. Spittal 
President 
 

MNU Students, Faculty and Staff, I am pleased to announce that MidAmerica Nazarene University plans to continue its face-to-face classes and campus services for the 2021-22 academic year. This includes continued access to student housing and residential life, learning center services, meal services and a full schedule of student events and activities. If conditions permit, chapel, athletic events, concerts, performances and special events will be held on campus with spectators and guests welcome. Professional and Graduate classes that are offered online, in a hybrid manner or on campus will also continue as scheduled. The health and wellbeing of the campus community is our highest priority. Therefore, university faculty, staff and students are encouraged to complete COVID-19 vaccinations prior to the 2021 fall semester. The university will continue to monitor conditions and the protocols recommended by the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment. If conditions require changes in the plans above, the university will continue to be flexible and responsive. Sincerely, David J. Spittal President

MNU Campus Community,

The health and safety of our community and guests are of utmost importance. Today we learned there are already a handful of MNU students quarantining at home due to exposure and two positive cases isolating at home. With the Labor Day holiday this weekend and the likelihood that many will celebrate with family and friends, we want to take strong steps to mitigate the spread of the virus on campus. With these things in mind, the following changes to protocol are effective immediately.   
 
On-Campus Posted Requirements

As of this date, September 1, 2021, masks are required of everyone at MNU, regardless of vaccination status, while indoors (unless alone in an office or room).
Students and employees who are found to ignore this requirement will need to put on a mask or be dismissed from the room. Multiple incidents could result in disciplinary action.
The #CampusClear app is required of every student and employee that comes on campus or to the Santa Fe Commons or Mur-Len Buildings.  
Expect spot checks of your #CampusClear app use. Employees may be asked by supervisors to show their status. Students may be asked in class, residence halls, the cafeteria, at events and at Chapel.  
 
These requirements will be in place for the next 30 days minimum and will be assessed at that time for conditions on campus and the surrounding community. It is our hope that we may relax our requirements, but for now, this vigilance is vital to the things we all enjoy at MNU.
 
Vaccination Clinic TODAY!
Studies have shown that vaccination against COVID-19 is highly effective. MNU and JCDHE are offering a FREE vaccination clinic today in:
Cook Center, South Gym, 2nd floor
10:30 am – 1:30 pm
 
As always, it will take all of us working together and following the best advice of health professionals to make MNU a healthy place to learn and live. Don’t be one of the individuals that cause others to miss class, forfeit competition, cancel events, or worse yet, become ill. Be part of the solution!

David J. Spittal, EdD

President

MNU Students, Faculty and Staff,

I want to express my appreciation to the entire MNU community for your diligence and cooperation during this unique and challenging semester. God has blessed us in many ways and despite several unexpected issues and distractions, your patience, commitment, and care for one another is further evidence of a community that listens, learns, serves and grows together. 

To minimize the potential spread of COVID-19, all traditional undergraduate classes will convert from face-to-face instruction to an online virtual format following the Thanksgiving Break. All remaining traditional undergraduate classes, projects and semester exams will be conducted online. 

Students enrolled in online or campus-based Professional or Graduate Studies programs will continue to follow their adopted schedule of classes for the Fall and Spring term unless notified otherwise by university officials.  

Although most traditional students will likely choose not to return to campus after the break, all residence halls will remain open for students and meal service will be provided for those who return following Thanksgiving break. No meal services will be provided during the Thanksgiving break. 

Please note the following:  

•    All resident traditional students must complete an online survey (issued by Residential Life) by November 11 to confirm whether they plan to check out of residence halls prior to Thanksgiving or plan to return to their campus residence for the remainder of the semester. For those students who check out prior to Thanksgiving, ID meal plan access will be deactivated as of the check-out date and any refunds or credits will be calculated accordingly.   

•    Due to uncertainty regarding the pandemic and future requirements, resident students should plan to take computers, technology, books, clothing and essentials home with them at Thanksgiving or if continuing to reside on campus, prior to Christmas break. 

•    Resident students with a weekly 19 meal plan and who choose to check-out prior to the Thanksgiving break may be eligible for a pro-rated refund applied to their Fall 2020 account or applied as a credit to their account for the Spring 2021 semester.  All refunds will be calculated individually based on their check-out date, the status of the student’s account and eligibility. There will be no refunds for the 90 meal plan as it can be fully utilized prior to Thanksgiving; and may still be used after Thanksgiving by students who chose to remain in residence.  

•    University offices, facilities and services will remain open following Thanksgiving break and Resident Educators, selected RAs and Campus Security will be on duty until the Christmas break beginning at noon on December 17, 2020. COVID-19 safety policies will remain in affect with masks and social distancing required.  

•    Due to rescheduling the Fall 2020 athletic season and the beginning of winter athletics and competitions, it may be necessary for some athletes to return to campus after Thanksgiving. The athletic department will provide specific instructions for specific athletes who need to return after Thanksgiving or arrive early for the spring semester.    

•    Residence halls, meal services and campus facilities will remain available and staffed for those who choose to remain on campus until Christmas break which begins at noon on December 17. Residence halls will reopen at noon on January 10, 2021. Service and office hours for some facilities may be modified following Thanksgiving break. 

•    All traditional students who return to campus following Thanksgiving break must confirm they have made arrangements to return home if they test positive for COVID-19 and require isolation. Students with quarantine requirements extending beyond noon December 17 must confirm their plans to return home or complete quarantine off campus when residence halls close for Christmas break. 

•    Anyone traveling out of the Kansas City area for any reason should remember to check the State of Kansas Quarantine List at https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/175/Travel-Exposure-Related-Isolation-Quaran for locations requiring quarantine upon return to Kansas. 

•    Spring semester for traditional students begins January 12, 2021 with registration on January 11. 

•    Spring Break for traditional students has been rescheduled to coincide with Easter Break March 29 to April 5, 2021. SPGS students will follow their adopted class schedule unless notified otherwise. The remainder of the spring semester will otherwise follow the adopted calendar with Commencement scheduled for Saturday, May 8, 2021. 
 
Thank you again for your cooperation and support as we work together to remain on campus and pursue the goals we have established for the year. We can do this with God’s help and our combined efforts to be a community of faith and action in our world. 

Sincerely, 
 
David J. Spittal 
President