Move-in Details for the Fall Semester

“As the time draws near to your arrival, there is excitement on campus as we prepare for the new academic year,” said Interim Vice President of Student Affairs Gloria Roldán Jenkins in an email to students. “President Katie Conboy promised in her email last week that we will continue to update you on areas pertaining to your Saint Mary’s experience, both inside and outside the classroom. Today, I will provide you with additional information on student life for fall 2020.”

Jenkins outlined the following:

The mantra “Check Up. Mask Up. Back Up. Wash Up.” will guide all of our planning to help keep our community safe. As a reminder, all students will be required to take two important steps prior to their arrival on campus:

• Required COVID-19 Test: You have asked some great questions this week; several of which have been added to the FAQs on our Fall 2020 Live Learn Work webpages. I encourage you to review this information, as it continues to be updated regularly.
• Online Training Module: This brief training module will guide you on doing your part to maintain a safe environment at Saint Mary’s College. More information will be sent to you soon, but please be reassured you will have plenty of time to complete it prior to your arrival. 

Fall 2020 Orientation

This summer, we have created an exciting experience for new students in addition to our traditional Belles Beginnings Orientation. Starting today, you can access a brand new online orientation platform which will provide you with information and resources for beginning your time as a Belle! To access this platform, you must have an account. Visit www.go2orientation.com/saintmarys to create an account and begin exploring!

Upon arrival to campus in August, you will attend Belles Beginnings Orientation programming which will consist of in-person sessions and activities based on your scheduled move-in, continuing together through the start of classes.

Your parents and family members will have their own online orientation opportunity. This experience will provide information exclusively for family members, and will showcase the many wonderful milestones that await you at Saint Mary’s. Log-in information for parents and families will be emailed shortly! A recent adjustment in our orientation programming is that all in-person Belles Beginnings sessions and activities will be exclusive for new incoming students. We will be presenting parents and families with the option to participate in virtual orientation sessions throughout the beginning of the fall semester. More information to come at a later date.

Please feel free to contact Shay Jolly Schneider, Director of First Year Experience and Retention, at hjolly@saintmarys.edu with any questions.

Move-in Details 

Our move-in will begin with Resident Life and Campus Ministry assistants arriving July 27, and students moving to campus August 3-9. 

To help prepare you for move-in, here is what you need to know:

• Two Assistants. Each student is permitted to bring two additional people to assist with move-in. Only the student and the two people assisting will be permitted to enter the residence hall. 
• Pre-arrival Packages. Due to limited space and to maintain the health and safety of our community members, we cannot accept packages sent to campus prior to your arrival. However, beginning August 3, you may have packages sent to your own residence hall, which will be held at the front desk for pickup. You will receive your mailing address from Residence Life within the next two weeks.
• Carts and Dollies. Please bring any move-in equipment you will need to help carry your belongings, including dollies or carts.
• Elevator Safety. For health safety reasons, only one family group at a time will be permitted in elevators. 
• Room Setup. Your two-hour move-in window is intended to move items into your room. Individuals may remain in their student’s rooms after that time to set up their rooms.
• Lofts. An email with instructions to reserve a loft will be sent from Residence Life soon. Once reserved, your unassembled loft will be waiting at your room on move-in day.

Residence Hall Updates

The first night on campus — whether you’re a first year or a senior — is exciting. On your first night, all students living on campus will attend a residence hall floor meeting. This meeting will outline residence hall expectations, give you a chance to meet your floormates, and discuss social programming ideas. In the meantime, here are two health and safety policy changes for fall 2020: 

• Residence Hall Visitors. For the fall semester, Saint Mary’s students living on campus are free to visit each other’s rooms, but must wear a mask at all times if they are not roommates. Off-campus visitors will not be allowed in the residence halls. Each residence hall will have a clearly identified waiting area designated for others such as food delivery drivers. 
• Kitchen Areas. Additional microwaves will be available for your use in the kitchen area, however, students will not be allowed to use the stoves or ovens for the time being.

Please email studentaffairs@saintmarys.edu if you have any questions. 

Health and Counseling Services

The Health and Counseling Center is here to support your health and wellness! Once on campus, students can schedule appointments by phone with nurses, doctors and counselors. When possible, those appointments will be offered virtually through televisits. For appointments that require face-to-face meetings, we will have two separate waiting areas: One for visits such as allergy shots, orthopedic injuries, gynecological and other well-student check ups, and for counseling appointments; and the other for students with upper respiratory symptoms that could be associated with the COVID virus.

• Student Evaluation and Testing. A separate area of the Health and Counseling Center will serve as a COVID testing and evaluation center for students who develop symptoms or who suspect they have had close contact with someone who has tested positive. Special ventilation has been installed and appropriate PPE will be utilized to ensure our staff can safely offer COVID testing.
• On-Demand Access to Medical and Mental Health Services. The most exciting change in the Health and Counseling Center is that all students will have free 24/7 access to both medical and mental health professionals. This telehealth support can be accessed from your cell phone or computer, and is made possible through a new partnership between the College and TimelyMD. 

Saint Mary’s Athletics and the Angela Athletic & Wellness Complex

Our athletic teams will be back in action with fall sports schedules consisting of Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) competition. Saint Mary’s College students are encouraged to attend our home competitions in person with the expectation of following the College’s established safety guidelines.

The Fitness Center will be open for our students, faculty, and staff, under normal hours of operation. See our website for more details, but a few key points: 

• Our tri-campus student guest policy remains in effect, but check-in protocol will be altered for better tracking.
• All campus fitness center users will be required to both swipe in and swipe out at the front desk.
• Our cardio and strength areas will have enhanced cleaning protocols in place. We ask that you take personal responsibility in cleaning your space before and after usage.
• In order to maintain appropriate distancing, we will remove some equipment and rotate usage, i.e., six vs.12 treadmills.
• Depending on class sizes, our physical education fitness classes may be moved to the gym floor, the field house, or even outside (weather permitting).
• Fall intramurals will be designed with both fun, safety, and physical distancing in mind.

Student Organizations and Programs

This fall, Saint Mary’s students may continue to participate in tri-campus activities while following the health and safety guidelines for each individual campus. The Student Government Association (SGA) and other programming boards will host several events during Belles Beginnings to welcome our incoming students and to showcase the many wonderful organizations that are part of our campus community. While following established safety guidelines, Saint Mary’s College will offer an array of student engagement opportunities this fall through collaborative efforts between many departments and student organizations. 

For students who may have questions, Jenkins encouraged them to email studentaffairs@saintmarys.edu.