Home
Image montage of students wearing masks

COVID-19 and Campus Readiness

Situation Update

St. Thomas is taking measures to keep its students, faculty and staff safe while the state of Minnesota continues to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. The university is requiring community members who are medically able to be vaccinated against COVID-19. 

We require all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear face coverings in the Center for Well-Being. Masks are optional elsewhere on campus.

Please see our updated COVID-19 response plan and the recent communications below for specific protocols (including guidance around face coverings, guests on campus and case reporting) that must be followed to prevent campus outbreaks.

Featured Communication: September 1, 2022

Dear St. Thomas students, faculty and staff,

We’re looking forward to having everyone back on our campuses this academic year! As we welcome new students, staff and faculty this fall, we'd like to take this opportunity to inform the community of our latest COVID-19 protocols. Here are some important updates from the university that you should know:

 

Vaccinations and Boosters

All students, faculty and staff must be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus before returning for the 2022-23 academic year. Community members who would like to request a medical or religious exemption should visit the COVID-19 resources page for information on the exemption process.

At this time, St. Thomas is not requiring COVID-19 boosters to live, work or attend classes on campus, although the university will continue monitoring the overall situation and make policy adjustments as needed. We strongly encourage individuals who are eligible to get booster shots. Evidence is showing that boosters, given at the appropriate time after your vaccination series, can help extend the protection and keep it at a higher level. Vaccinations and boosters are available at the Center for Well-Being; please call (651) 962-6750 to make an appointment.

See the full note from September 1

Most Recent Communications

Recent communications from St. Thomas regarding the university's response to the COVID-19 pandemic:

For more stories showing how St. Thomas’ community is responding in the wake of COVID-19, please visit our Newsroom.

See All Previous COVID-related Communications

One St Thomas (intranet) Links

COVID-19 Response Plan

The Campus COVID-19 Response Plan was created to outline the changes to campus driven by COVID-19, along with the behavior expectations for all members of the St. Thomas community. The goal of this plan is to protect the health and safety of the university community while conducting the essential work of educating students. (NOTE: the COVID-19 Response Plan replaces the Campus Preparedness Plan as of July 2021.)

Read the COVID-19 Response Plan (PDF)

Center for Well-Being Services

The Center for Well-Being remains open to offer a range of physical health, mental health, and health promotion services to St.Thomas students, faculty and staff.

Funding Information

Apply to the Student Emergency Fund: Students in need can apply for funds via the Student Emergency Financial Assistance Program. (Link to OneStThomas intranet.)

Give to COVID-19 Student Need: Our students continue to face immediate and pressing financial needs, especially for Hardship Scholarship support. Your gift (at any level) will directly help students.

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Reporting: Reports on the use of the funds St. Thomas has received from the HEERF (including CARES Act, CRRSAA and ARP Act) for student grants and institutional support.

St. Thomas Responds to COVID-19

'Pandemic Superstars': STELAR Ushers Campus Into New Era of Blended Learning

Tucked away in the basement of the O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library you’ll find a very humble group. A group of technical heroes of sorts, who very well may have held the university together back in March 2020. Two years and thousands of Zoom calls later, the team behind STELAR is finally getting a chance to catch their… The post 'Pandemic Superstars': STELAR Ushers Campus Into New Era of Blended Learning appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

  • St. Thomas Updates Face Covering Requirements

    Thanks to strong COVID-19 vaccination rates, a declining number of infections on campus and changes to city ordinances, St. Thomas is lifting its face covering requirement in many spaces, effective Saturday, Feb. 26, at 1 p.m. Face coverings will still be required in: Classrooms and labs St. Thomas shuttle The Center for Well-Being The University… The post St. Thomas Updates Face Covering Requirements appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

  • St. Thomas Updates COVID-19 Protocols for Fall

    St. Thomas will require face coverings in indoor public spaces when others are present, beginning Monday, Aug. 23. The recent surge of the COVID-19 delta variant in Minnesota unfortunately means campus life cannot be quite as normal as hoped at St. Thomas. The university's campuswide vaccination rate continues rising – 83% as of Aug. 19… The post St. Thomas Updates COVID-19 Protocols for Fall appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

  • Tommie Experts: Father Collins on the Catholic Church’s Pro-Vaccine Stance

    "The Church authoritatively is teaching that it's morally permissible to get the vaccine." St. Thomas’ recently announced COVID-19 vaccine requirement has helped drive up the university’s vaccination rate among students, faculty and staff; as of this week, more than 80% of the community has received at least one dose. With assistance of the Office for Mission,… The post Tommie Experts: Father Collins on the Catholic Church’s Pro-Vaccine Stance appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

  • In the News: ‘We need to mandate the vaccine’ - Sister Mary Haddad, head of Catholic Health Association, is ready for bold action

    Sister Mary Haddad, RSM, a member of the St. Thomas Board of Trustees, and the CEO-President of the Catholic Health Association, was interviewed by the Jesuit magazine, America, about the COVID-19 vaccinations and the rise of the delta variant. She told the publication: “I do believe that we need to mandate the vaccine.” That is a personal,… The post In the News: ‘We need to mandate the vaccine’ - Sister Mary Haddad, head of Catholic Health Association, is ready for bold action appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

More stories on the community's response to COVID