Morningside College: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates

FACE COVERINGS are REQUIRED for students:

• In ALL academic buildings, classrooms, and meeting/conference rooms, unless you have received an administrative or medical exemption. Please contact Disability Services for details if you plan to pursue an exemption.
• In Olsen Student Center, except in dining areas.
• In public spaces, high-traffic areas, or any place where physical distancing isn't possible. Examples include hallways, stairwells, and elevators.
• In designated common spaces within residence halls and any other space designated with face covering requirement signage.
• When another Morningside community member requests you wear a face covering (including in residence halls) as we work to protect our community and one another.

FACE COVERINGS are NOT REQUIRED for students:

• In your residence hall room, which is considered your home at Morningside.
• While dining with individuals you reside with or teammates/classmates with whom you have regular close contact; these individuals are considered part of your Morningside family.
• While outdoors on campus and physical distancing is possible.
• In situations where you are able to physically distance and all individuals present are comfortable not using face coverings.

Buildings Requiring Face Coverings:

• Buhler Rohlfs Hall
• Charles City Hall
• Eppley Fine Arts Building
• Hickman-Johnson-Furrow Learning Center
• Klinger-Neal Theatre
• Lincoln Center
• MacCollin Classroom Building
• Walker Science Center

Academic and Administrative Buildings - Face coverings are required in all classrooms and meeting/conference room spaces, Olsen Student except in dining areas, high-traffic areas, and as prescribed by departments; some spaces within these buildings may not require full-time use of face coverings.

Buildings with Possible Face Coverings Requirement Exceptions:

• Hindman-Hobbs Center
• Krone Center
• Lewis Hall
• Longfellow Building
• Olsen Student Center
• Physical Plant Buildings, Print Shop, Mail Room

Residence Hall Room, Individual Office & Department Face Covering Requirments & Protocols:

• Some residence hall common spaces, as well as residence hall rooms, individual offices, and campus departments, may have face covering requirements.
• Students and employees that wish to require face coverings in their space will receive a removable sticker to place in a visible area on or outside of doorways. Faculty, staff, and students should watch for these red stickers and wear face coverings in areas where this sticker is present.

Be aware that COVID-19 is present in Woodbury County, Sioux City, and is likely present in some form on campus. These guidelines are meant to help protect your health and that of the campus community.

• Conduct a self-assessment to be aware of your overall health and wellness; stay home if you feel unwell or are displaying symptoms such as a cough, shortness of breath, chills, sore throat, loss of taste/smell, a fever of 100.4 or greater, etc.
• Pack one or more face coverings for use in buildings where face coverings are required. Please clean or launder cloth facing coverings daily.
• Do your part to practice physical distancing and use of face coverings to respect fellow community members.
• Practice good hygiene throughout the day, including frequent handwashing.

When a STUDENT notifies Morningside of a positive COVID-19 test, the following communication protocols will be activated:

• STUDENT notifies STUDENT HEALTH.
• STUDENT HEALTH collaborates with SIOUXLAND DISTRICT HEALTH, the OFFICE OF STUDENT LIFE, and the OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS.
• STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF will be notified if they have been in contact with someone with an active case of COVID-19 and are being required to self-isolate or self-quarantine through the contact tracing process that will be completed by SIOUXLAND DISTRICT HEALTH.
  • Per SIOUXLAND DISTRICT HEALTH, contact that requires self-isolation or self-quarantine is defined as being less than six feet from an infected individual for longer than 15 minutes.
• To protect individual privacy and ensure accurate reporting of numbers, community members interested in knowing case counts in Woodbury County (which would include Morningside cases) can visit the Siouxland District Health website or the Iowa Department of Public Health website.

Symptoms of COVID-19 may include the following: cough, shortness of breath, fever of 100.4 or greater, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and/or new loss of taste or smell. If you are experiencing these symptoms or a combination of these symptoms, immediately contact STUDENT HEALTH by call, text, or email. If you become ill and live on-campus:

• Please stay in your room if you are ill or are experiencing symptoms of illness (cough, shortness of breath, chills, sore throat, loss of taste/smell, a fever of 100.4 or greater, etc.)
• If you are concerned about your symptoms and/or you feel you may have been exposed to COVID-19, please stay in your room and contact Campus Nurse Judi Neswick. She is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 712-274-5178. During off-hours, contact Campus Security at 712-274-5234.
• The Morningside Student Health Office will work in tandem with Siouxland District Health to provide COVID-19 testing and contact tracing as needed. To receive these services, students must go through the Morningside Student Health Office.
• Students may prefer to self-isolate or self-quarantine at their permanent residence if possible. Before the start of classes, students and families should formulate a plan should you become ill.
• Morningside does have a limited group of rooms available for students who are directed to self-isolate or self-quarantine and need to remain on-campus. These spaces are not medically monitored 24/7. Limited services such as food service will be available to students who must self-isolate or self-quarantine on campus.

Symptoms of COVID-19 may include the following: cough, shortness of breath, fever of 100.4 or greater, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and/or new loss of taste or smell. If you are experiencing these symptoms or a combination of these symptoms, immediately contact STUDENT HEALTH by call, text, or email. If you become ill and live off-campus:

• Please stay home if you are ill or are experiencing symptoms of illness (cough, shortness of breath, chills, sore throat, loss of taste/smell, a fever of 100.4 or greater, etc.)
• If you are concerned about your symptoms and/or you feel you may have been exposed to COVID-19, please stay in your room and contact Campus Nurse Judi Neswick. She is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 712-274-5178. During off-hours, contact Campus Security at 712-274-5234.
• The Morningside Student Health Office will work in tandem with Siouxland District Health to provide COVID-19 testing and contact tracing as needed. To receive these services, students must go through the Morningside Student Health Office. Morningside Student Health will also contact the Dean of Students to plan for continuing your coursework.
• Students should plan to self-isolate at their off-campus or permanent residence.
• Food service will not deliver to off-campus housing.

• When an active case of COVID-19 is identified on campus, Morningside Student Health and Siouxland District Health will work together to identify others who have had contact and may need to self-isolate or self-quarantine.
• We fully expect students will be socializing and active while on campus. Physical distancing may not always be possible. If you test positive for COVID-19, you will be asked to identify anyone with whom you have had close contact within a particular timeframe as defined by Siouxland District Health.
• Siouxland District Health will contact individuals who may have been exposed to determine if isolation, quarantine, or testing is necessary.

• Morningside has adjusted its academic calendar for the 2020-2021 academic year. Classes are beginning one week earlier than scheduled and all breaks have been eliminated. These changes will allow all in-person learning to be completed by Thanksgiving break, and finals will be completed online the week following so that students can remain at their permanent residence for winter break.
• Faculty are preparing to begin coursework in-person. Students with medical or administrative exemptions from in-person learning will have options to complete coursework remotely. Additionally, faculty are also prepared to offer courses in hybrid or remote formats if a change in operating level necessitates it.
• Students who become ill or are isolating or quarantining due to potential exposure to COVID-19 should work with their faculty to make plans for continuing coursework.
• Students who require medical or other accommodations should contact the Disability Services Coordinator to initiate the process.

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS - Karrie Alvarez
712-274-5103 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
DISABILITY SERVICES - Beth Boettcher
712-274-5034 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
HEALTH SERVICES - Judi Neswick
712-274-5178 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
STUDENT LIFE - Shari Benson
712-274-5031 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
SAFETY & SECURITY - Brett Lyon
712-274-5234 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

FACE COVERINGS are REQUIRED for employees:

• In ALL academic buildings, classrooms, and meeting/conference rooms, unless the faculty or staff member has express permission from Human Resources or Academic Affairs.
• In Olsen Student Center, except in personal office spaces or in dining spaces.
• In public spaces, high-traffic areas, or any place where physical distancing isn't possible. Examples include hallways, stairwells, and elevators.
• When another Morningside community member requests you wear a face covering as we work to protect our community and one another.

FACE COVERINGS are NOT REQUIRED for employees:

• Within individual offices and/or department units unless otherwise posted.
• During short visits to neighboring departments or spaces if other community members are comfortable or it is otherwise posted.
• While working out in the HPER, as long as all other health guidelines and protocols are followed.
• While outdoors on campus and physical distancing is possible.
• In situations where you are able to physically distance and all individuals present are comfortable not using face coverings.

Buildings Requiring Face Coverings:

• Buhler Rohlfs Hall
• Charles City Hall
• Eppley Fine Arts Building
• Hickman-Johnson-Furrow Learning Center
• Klinger-Neal Theatre
• Lincoln Center
• MacCollin Classroom Building
• Walker Science Center

Academic and Administrative Buildings - Face coverings are required in all classrooms and meeting/conference room spaces, Olsen Student except in dining areas, high-traffic areas, and as prescribed by departments; some spaces within these buildings may not require full-time use of face coverings.

Buildings with Possible Face Coverings Requirement Exceptions:

• Hindman-Hobbs Center
• Krone Center
• Lewis Hall
• Longfellow Building
• Olsen Student Center
• Physical Plant Buildings, Print Shop, Mail Room

Office & Department Face Covering Requirments & Protocols:

• Supervisors in office suites and/or departments should develop guidelines that allow employees, students, and visitors to stay healthy and safe through social distancing measures.
• Guidelines that are developed – along with any postings pertaining to the guidelines that will be placed in or around the office area – should be sent to the area Vice President for approval.
• Working with approval and in conjunction with supervisors, all employees are encouraged to work from home when possible to help prevent community spread.
• Employees or departments that wish to require face coverings in their space will receive a removable sticker to place in a visible area on or outside of doorways. Faculty, staff, and students should watch for these red stickers and wear face coverings in areas where this sticker is present.

Be aware that COVID-19 is present in Woodbury County, Sioux City, and is likely present in some form on campus. These guidelines are meant to help protect your health and that of the campus community.

• Conduct a self-assessment to be aware of your overall health and wellness; stay home if you feel unwell or are displaying symptoms such as a cough, shortness of breath, chills, sore throat, loss of taste/smell, a fever of 100.4 or greater, etc.
• If someone in your household is symptomatic or has tested positive for COVID-19, please do not come to work.
• Pack one or more face coverings for use in buildings where face coverings are required. Please be sure to launder cloth face coverings after daily use.
• Do your part to practice physical distancing and use of face coverings to respect fellow community members.
• Practice good hygiene throughout the day, including frequent handwashing.

When a FACULTY OR STAFF member notifies Morningside of a positive COVID-19 test, the following communication protocols will be activated:

• EMPLOYEE notifies HUMAN RESOURCES and their SUPERVISOR
• SUPERVISORS contact their VICE PRESIDENT
• HUMAN RESOURCES will contact the PHYSICAL PLANT and any other individuals or departments requiring notification.
• STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF will be notified if they have been in contact with someone with an active case of COVID-19 and are being required to self-isolate or self-quarantine through the contact tracing process that will be completed by SIOUXLAND DISTRICT HEALTH.
• To protect individual privacy and ensure accurate reporting of numbers, community members interested in knowing case counts in Woodbury County (which would include Morningside cases) can visit the Siouxland District Health website or the Iowa Department of Public Health website.

Symptoms of COVID-19 may include the following: cough, shortness of breath, fever of 100.4 or greater, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and/or new loss of taste or smell. If you are experiencing these symptoms or a combination of these symptoms, immediately contact your supervisor by call, text, or email. Do not contact your supervisor in person. Please follow these guidelines:

• Do not report to work. Stay at or go home and isolate yourself from others for 14 days.
• Contact your health care provider by phone or email; DO NOT GO TO YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER’S OFFICE WITHOUT ALERTING THEM TO YOUR SYMPTOMS. If you do not have a health care provider, please call 211, which is the Iowa COVID-19 hotline. A screening will be done over the phone and you will be directed to get a screening if you meet the criteria for a test.
• If you are at work upon becoming ill, please contact your supervisor by phone, text, or email and depart campus immediately to begin quarantining. Your supervisor can assist you with getting necessary equipment or items you are unable to immediately collect upon your departure.
• Isolation may be discontinued after 14 days based on your provider’s guidance or recommendation from the health department.

The following criteria will determine if you are safe to discontinue isolation:

• You have not had a fever for at least 72 hours. That is a full three days without a fever (100.4 or greater) or medicine to reduce fever.
• Other symptoms have improved. For example, when your cough and shortness of breath have improved.
• At least seven days have passed since your symptoms first appeared.

If someone in your household has symptoms of COVID-19 or has tested positive for COVID-19:

• Do not report to work. Contact your supervisor and update them on the situation. Isolation is recommended, which means staying home for 14 days and monitoring for symptoms of COVID-19 including fever of 100.4 or greater, cough, shortness of breath, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and/or new loss of taste or smell.
• If you are at work upon learning of an ill or COVID-19 household member, please contact your supervisor by phone, text, or email and depart campus immediately to begin quarantining. Your supervisor can assist you with getting necessary equipment or items you are unable to immediately collect upon your departure.
• If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 during isolation, contact your health care provider by phone or email; DO NOT GO TO YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER’S OFFICE WITHOUT ALERTING THEM TO YOUR SYMPTOMS. If you do not have a health care provider, please call 211, which is the Iowa COVID-19 hotline. A screening will be done over the phone and you will be directed to get a screening if you meet the criteria for a test.
• Isolation may be discontinued after 14 days based on your provider’s guidance or recommendation from the health department.

The following criteria will determine if you are safe to discontinue isolation:

• You have not had a fever for at least 72 hours. That is a full three days without a fever (100.4 or greater) or medicine to reduce fever.
• Other symptoms have improved. For example, when your cough and shortness of breath have improved.
• At least seven days have passed since your symptoms first appeared.
• Your 14-day isolation period should start over if another household member becomes ill. As an example, if PERSON A in your household develops symptoms on Day 1 and PERSON B in your household develops systems on DAY 5, the 14-day isolation period must be restarted on DAY 5.
• Contact your direct supervisor by phone, text, or email 24-48 hours before returning to work.

SELF-QUARANTINE SITUATION

We urge employees to take great caution with illnesses and/or exposure to COVID-19. If you have been exposed to COVID-19, it is necessary for you to self-quarantine yourself for 14 days. For continued compensation, employees would follow the process below in the order listed below:

• Use all available sick leave.
• Use all but one week of vacation time.
• If the 14-day self-quarantine period is still not met then the college will grant emergency paid sick days for any remaining time period.

CONFIRMED COVID–19 DIAGNOSIS

Morningside has also made some modifications to the Short-Term Disability Policy in regard to COVID-19. These modifications ONLY apply to a COVID-19 diagnosis.

Currently, our Short-Term Disability Policy is available to full-time employees and is for a maximum of six months. The first eight weeks is at 100% of pay; the remainder of the time off is at 60% of pay. All accrued sick leave and all but one week of vacation is applied first. Once exhausted, the continuation of pay by the college starts.

A COVID-19 diagnosis will follow the current policy with some additions to that policy. The short-term disability policy is being modified to also apply to all 12-month part-time employees diagnosed with COVID-19. In addition, the policy will also apply to family members who live with the employee that are infected with COVID-19. If you or another family member who lives with you is diagnosed with COVID-19, employees would have to first use all available sick leave and then all but one week of vacation time for their care before the college will continue pay as stated in the Short-Term Disability Policy. Medical documentation of the diagnosis will be required.

Should you require time off for COVID-19, please contact your supervisor and Human Resources.

While we do request that our employees exercise caution in the face of illness, we also ask that if you are well and able to work, you do your part to keep our campus fully operational. It’s imperative Morningside continue operations to serve current students, prospective students, and alumni. Each individual employee is important to making that happen.

• Morningside has adjusted its academic calendar for the 2020-2021 academic year. Classes are beginning one week earlier than scheduled and all breaks have been eliminated. These changes will allow all in-person learning to be completed by Thanksgiving break, and finals will be completed online the week following so that students can remain at their permanent residence for winter break.
• Faculty are preparing to begin coursework in-person. Students with medical or administrative exemptions from in-person learning will have options to complete coursework remotely. Additionally, faculty are also prepared to offer courses in hybrid or remote formats if a change in operating level necessitates it.
• Students who become ill or are isolating or quarantining due to potential exposure to COVID-19 should work with their faculty to make plans for continuing coursework.
• Students who require medical or other accommodations should contact the Disability Services Coordinator to initiate the process.

Morningside is in the process of distributing CARES Act funds to students. Below is information from the 30-Day report. You can also find a PDF of this report and a sample of the letter sent to students receiving funds here:

Morningside 45-Day Report

Morningside Sample Student Letter

Morningside College

CARES HERF Act Grant

Report

Posted May 25, 2020, Updated July 7, 2020

Morningside College signed the Certification and Agreement on April 20, 2020 and submitted it to the Department of Education. The college received funding in G-5 on 4/25/2020.  The college intends to use no less than 50% of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to the students.

The total amount of funds Morningside College was authorized to receive and distribute Emergency Financial aid Grants to students was $573,816.30.

As of July 7, 2020, $533,532 in Emergency Financial Aid Grants have been distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

The number students at Morningside College eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act is 926.

As of this date 926 students have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant. All 926 students received the funds based on the criteria detailed in the next paragraph.

Morningside College’s method of evaluating eligibility was based on; the student being Title IV eligible, the students Expected Family Contribution (EFC), and Pell Grant eligibility to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants, and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

Award

Pell Eligible Students with EFC $0 - $3,000                  $800

Pell Eligible Students with EFC $3,001 - $5,576          $600

Non Pell Eligible Students                                               $458

$50,744 available for additional student emergency grants.

Students received an email on May 25, 2020 notifying them Morningside College had received CARES Act funds, and they were eligible for ($800, $600 or $458). A link was included with the email that allowed the student to select their payment method, either direct deposit or check. Payments were issued to students from June 1, 2020 to June 24, 2020.

A combined undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremony will be held on Saturday, Aug. 8 at 10 a.m. at Elwood Olsen Stadium on Morningside College's campus. Details can be found here.

Morningside has adjusted, added, and modified a number of policies in light of COVID-19. Please review the COVID-19 Policy Updates here or in the 2020-2021 Course Catalog and student handbook.

COVID-19 Policy Updates PDF

• Athletic Summer Camps have been pushed until July and August. Details can be found here. 

This chart provides detail-level information about how operations may be handled at Morningside College in different scenarios resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. This information is subject to change.