St. Thomas Health and Safety Protocols
To help ensure as safe an environment as possible for all community members, the University of St. Thomas implemented a phased approach (defined as levels) to reopening individual buildings.
These adjustments included reduced capacity in rooms, floor markings to indicate 6-foot distances, plexiglass barriers, and to-go items in dining facilities. All buildings are currently operating at Level III. (Find details of the phased reopening and different levels in the PDF of the Preparedness Plan.)
It's important to note that while St. Thomas has made changes to physical spaces, each member of campus should be embracing the individual health and safety protocols. You can also read more about the St. Thomas protocols for testing for COVID-19 and responding to confirmed cases.
How We Changed these Key Locations
All classrooms, labs, and meeting/conference rooms have adjusted capacities in alignment with social distancing standards. Furniture has been moved or removed in order to support these standards.
Community members are asked to assist with additional cleaning in areas they use by cleaning in and out of shared spaces, such as classroom desks, seats and podiums, with provided cleaning supplies.
Self-use cleaning stations have been added throughout campus to allow community members to help with additional cleaning. Cleaning stations include paper towels and disinfection solution that does not require the use of gloves, although hand-washing after chemical usage is recommended. Instructions on using these supplies will be clearly posted.
In addition, all 300 campus classrooms have been fitted with the appropriate technology to offer synchronous learning to students who are accessing a course virtually.
Individuals who wish to access these facilities may be required to present a St. Thomas ID, and are expected to follow social distancing guidelines and obey all posted rules.
Individuals using outdoor recreational facilities are expected to observe social distancing and must observe the limitations on social gathering size.
Athletic facilities must be used as intended and participants will be expected to refrain from using shared equipment (balls, bats, etc.). Skateboards, bikes and other similar equipment are not allowed on the track. Individuals gaining access to athletic facilities without a St. Thomas ID or neglecting the guidelines will be asked to leave by staff or Public Safety.
In accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order and MDH guidance, the weight room, cardio room and pool at the Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex (AARC), as well as the field house and arena and the McCarthy gym, are operating at 50% capacity, subject to social distancing requirements and an overall capacity limit of 250 people per facility for recreational use. Certain individuals, including student athletes gathering for a team practice or game and people using the facility for a course or practicum, do not count toward the 250 cap.
Individuals must wear masks or other face coverings at all times, except when swimming or showering, and must maintain at least 6-foot distancing while exercising with limited exceptions for on-on-one and two-on-two basketball cames and student athletes. Student athletes must follow the protocols of the Athletics Department for practices and competitions.
Classroom and office space at the AARC will remain open and the field house may be used for non-recreational or fitness purposes as approved by the University (e.g., for testing events).
Registered student athletes may be evaluated in person or receive rehabilitation services inside the AARC training room by making an appointment with the sports medicine personnel via telephone or text.
Dining Services continues to create strategies to support social distancing and disease mitigation in the following locations: resident dining locations, retail locations, convenience stores and catering services.
This is a continually changing challenge, and Dining Services is committed to working through guidelines from CDC, MDH and the state licensing agency to create the safest dining environment feasible.
Dining Services will take a multipronged approach to providing an enjoyable and safe dining experience for students, faculty and staff. Patrons will notice many changes – from fewer tables and chairs and line control mechanisms, to the use of plexiglass shields and new cashless payment options. The planned strategies will include measures to help patrons and staff:
Maintain social distancing in dining halls, including, but not limited to:
- Revised occupancy capacities
- Fewer tables and chairs
- Encouraging the use of to-go meals
- Adjusted staffing levels and cleaning rotations
- Line control staff to help manage the number of patrons in a serving area at a time, as well as the use of floor markers, stanchions, one-way service lines, etc.
Practice good hygiene and reduce the risk of exposure to germs, such as:
- Requiring the use of a mask or other cloth face covering when not eating, including while in line to receive food
- Hand sanitizers at entrances and exits
- Cashless payment options as available, contactless credit card readers and mobile ordering
- Removal of reusable options (mugs, coffees, sodas, etc.) and self-service items
- Cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch areas throughout the day
Guests will also notice signage and other communications to remind patrons of social distancing practices, and other measures.
Residence Life will communicate with all resident students prior to their arrival. The university has and will continue to take measures to mitigate disease and will provide education to support student responsibility for health and safety.
St. Thomas is working closely with MDH; measures being put into place include, but are not limited to:
- Consultation with MDH regarding residence hall occupancy
- Residence Life is holding beds for quarantine and isolation housing on campus
- Placement of hand sanitizers and self-cleaning products, as well as regular cleaning of common areas and common bathrooms conducted by Facilities Management personnel
- Education on mitigation measures, and expectations that resident students wear masks or other face coverings in community settings. These measures will also include information about steps students should take if they become ill
- Resident move-in will take place according to a defined process intended to minimize crowds
- After move-in, residents will not be allowed to have guests/outside visitors in their residence halls until further notice. Students are only permitted in their own residence hall
Ongoing updates related to Residence Life are emailed to students and posted to the COVID-19 Student Communication Archive on OneStThomas.
The Office of Mission will gradually reopen the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Florance Chapel (lower level of main chapel), the Chapel of St. Albertus Magnus (Sitzmann Hall), the Koch Commons chapel, and the Chapel of St. Thomas More (Law School) in accordance with the policies and protocols of the University of St. Thomas, public health guidance and directives, and the protocols of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Read more details of the plans for the Chapel and other religious spaces.
Important Health & Safety Protocols
Cleaning and Sanitization
Cleaning surfaces followed by disinfection is a best practice for preventing COVID-19. The university has established cleaning protocols consistent with CDC and MDH guidance:
- Routinely cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and objects in common areas. This includes cleaning objects and surfaces such as tables, desks, countertops, common area furniture, handrails, elevator buttons, doorknobs, light switches, computers, vending/ATM machines, toilets, faucets and sinks.
- Frequently touched surfaces in high-traffic common areas will be cleaned at least twice daily by the Facilities Department (e.g.. ASC, AARC, TMH, etc.). Frequently touched surfaces in areas with less traffic will be cleaned once daily.
- Facilities staff will use various combinations of engineering controls, administrative controls, safe work practices and additional personal protective equipment when working or cleaning in an area that has been assessed as a higher risk exposure area.
Traffic Flow
Common area traffic flow has been evaluated, and practices have been developed to reduce interactions and promote social distancing where feasible. Measures implemented include:
- Installed physical barriers or visual indicators where appropriate (e.g., six-foot floor markings).
- Installed wayfinding signage to facilitate changes to entrances, exits, occupancy limits or direction of visitor flow.
- Maximum occupancies for classrooms are clearly posted to support physical distancing.
Supporting Social Distancing
Social distancing is being implemented on campus through the following methods:
- The Common Good Commitment requires students to maintain social distancing whenever feasible
- St. Thomas has determined a "Common Good Capacity" for classrooms and meeting rooms
- Faculty and staff meetings will be conducted electronically whenever it is feasible to do so. More details are on the For Faculty & Staff page, under "Faculty and Staff Meetings"
- Officially recognized student clubs and organization meetings are strongly encouraged to hold meetings virtually whenever possible. More details are on the For Students page, under "Student Meetings and Events"
- Extracurricular student meetings or activities sponsored by a St. Thomas department (e.g., STAR events) must follow a set of guidelines; see the PDF of the Preparedness Plan for details on "Department-Sponsored Events"
- In accordance with the Governor’s March 12, 2021 Executive Order, social gatherings with individuals outside of a person’s immediate household are limited to no more than 15 people from indoors and are limited to no more than 50 people outdoors
- Floor markings will indicate social distancing in areas where lines frequently form
- Table markings will remind community members of social distancing when seated at a shared or common table
- Plexiglass or other barriers will be placed in high-traffic service areas
- Masks or cloth face coverings will be required indoors in common areas where others are present and outdoors in groups or when distancing is difficult to maintain
- Revised capacity limits for rooms will be developed and posted
- Faculty and staff will be advised to avoid work kitchens or lunchrooms when possible. Departments should establish self-cleaning protocols for any shared spaces
- Individuals who wish to use single-user restrooms may refer to this list for locations of single-user restrooms
- Furniture in some areas will be removed or relocated
- Trainings, educational programming, marketing campaigns and signage will be used to reinforce social distancing practices
- When feasible, services may be provided on a grab-and-go or curbside basis
- Technology for remote work and virtual events will be used more frequently than is typical with on-campus operations
Hand-washing
St. Thomas encourages hand-washing through the following measures:
- Approximately 630 hand sanitizer stations have been added around campus at building entrances, elevator lobbies, outside of restrooms, dining and retail areas, large open commons and lounges and other high-traffic areas. St. Thomas encourages “sanitize in and sanitize out” practices for community members when using common spaces.
- Hand-washing guidelines are posted in all restrooms.
- Campus signage and online marketing/educational campaigns promote hand-washing. Educational messages also encourage community members to avoid touching their face.
- Paper towels are available in restrooms.
Regarding hand sanitizer, the CDC recommends using products with greater than 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol. Campus hand sanitizers meet CDC recommendations.
Cleaning and Sanitization
Cleaning and Sanitization
Cleaning surfaces followed by disinfection is a best practice for preventing COVID-19. The university has established cleaning protocols consistent with CDC and MDH guidance:
- Routinely cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and objects in common areas. This includes cleaning objects and surfaces such as tables, desks, countertops, common area furniture, handrails, elevator buttons, doorknobs, light switches, computers, vending/ATM machines, toilets, faucets and sinks.
- Frequently touched surfaces in high-traffic common areas will be cleaned at least twice daily by the Facilities Department (e.g.. ASC, AARC, TMH, etc.). Frequently touched surfaces in areas with less traffic will be cleaned once daily.
- Facilities staff will use various combinations of engineering controls, administrative controls, safe work practices and additional personal protective equipment when working or cleaning in an area that has been assessed as a higher risk exposure area.
Traffic Flow
Traffic Flow
Common area traffic flow has been evaluated, and practices have been developed to reduce interactions and promote social distancing where feasible. Measures implemented include:
- Installed physical barriers or visual indicators where appropriate (e.g., six-foot floor markings).
- Installed wayfinding signage to facilitate changes to entrances, exits, occupancy limits or direction of visitor flow.
- Maximum occupancies for classrooms are clearly posted to support physical distancing.
Supporting Social Distancing
Supporting Social Distancing
Social distancing is being implemented on campus through the following methods:
- The Common Good Commitment requires students to maintain social distancing whenever feasible
- St. Thomas has determined a "Common Good Capacity" for classrooms and meeting rooms
- Faculty and staff meetings will be conducted electronically whenever it is feasible to do so. More details are on the For Faculty & Staff page, under "Faculty and Staff Meetings"
- Officially recognized student clubs and organization meetings are strongly encouraged to hold meetings virtually whenever possible. More details are on the For Students page, under "Student Meetings and Events"
- Extracurricular student meetings or activities sponsored by a St. Thomas department (e.g., STAR events) must follow a set of guidelines; see the PDF of the Preparedness Plan for details on "Department-Sponsored Events"
- In accordance with the Governor’s March 12, 2021 Executive Order, social gatherings with individuals outside of a person’s immediate household are limited to no more than 15 people from indoors and are limited to no more than 50 people outdoors
- Floor markings will indicate social distancing in areas where lines frequently form
- Table markings will remind community members of social distancing when seated at a shared or common table
- Plexiglass or other barriers will be placed in high-traffic service areas
- Masks or cloth face coverings will be required indoors in common areas where others are present and outdoors in groups or when distancing is difficult to maintain
- Revised capacity limits for rooms will be developed and posted
- Faculty and staff will be advised to avoid work kitchens or lunchrooms when possible. Departments should establish self-cleaning protocols for any shared spaces
- Individuals who wish to use single-user restrooms may refer to this list for locations of single-user restrooms
- Furniture in some areas will be removed or relocated
- Trainings, educational programming, marketing campaigns and signage will be used to reinforce social distancing practices
- When feasible, services may be provided on a grab-and-go or curbside basis
- Technology for remote work and virtual events will be used more frequently than is typical with on-campus operations
Hand-washing
Hand-washing
St. Thomas encourages hand-washing through the following measures:
- Approximately 630 hand sanitizer stations have been added around campus at building entrances, elevator lobbies, outside of restrooms, dining and retail areas, large open commons and lounges and other high-traffic areas. St. Thomas encourages “sanitize in and sanitize out” practices for community members when using common spaces.
- Hand-washing guidelines are posted in all restrooms.
- Campus signage and online marketing/educational campaigns promote hand-washing. Educational messages also encourage community members to avoid touching their face.
- Paper towels are available in restrooms.
Regarding hand sanitizer, the CDC recommends using products with greater than 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol. Campus hand sanitizers meet CDC recommendations.
NOTE: All information on these Campus Preparedness Plan webpages comes from the Preparedness Plan document. If you have questions about what you read on this website, please refer to the latest version of that document.