For the health and well-being of our unique community, St. Mary’s College of Maryland may create campus standards that are tighter than CDC guidelines and / or state orders. If there appears to be a conflict between the College’s policies and regulations and those recommended/mandated by the Federal and/or State government, the student should exercise the more stringent guidance until clarification is made.
SMCM expects community members to adhere to the SMCM policies and may initiate an investigation and / or the Student Conduct process if reports of alleged violations are received. Immediate, temporary actions may be taken to maintain the health of the campus community while an investigation and / or conduct process occurs. The following, if violated, are subject to disciplinary action, as provided for in the Student Handbook, “To the Point,” Code: A. Violation of published College policies, rules and regulations.
These policies cover student or student organization misconduct which occurs on College premises, contiguous properties, or which arises out of College-sponsored activities off the College premises, including study abroad, or which disrupts or endangers the College community, the College’s responsibilities, or its pursuit of its objectives, or which poses a threat to the safety and well-being of any individual. The following apply to all students.
Student Policies
All students must:
FACE COVERINGS: Wear face coverings while indoors on campus, including buildings, classrooms, shared common spaces in the residence halls, shared laboratory areas, conference rooms, elevators, and hallways.
- Face coverings must cover the mouth and nose at all times, except when eating/drinking, or when alone in a private room or private vehicle.
HEALTH AND HYGIENE: Monitor health daily using the SMCM Daily Symptom Tracker.
- Students should notify the Wellness Center if they have tested positive for COVID-19, have been directed to quarantine, or, after recovering from a positive COVID-19 test, are returning to campus. These students must provide documentation from a medical provider and complete the SMCM Daily Symptom Tracker before returning to campus.
- Cooperate fully with the College’s self-isolation, contact tracing, and notification protocols, in alignment with the St. Mary’s County Public Health Department.
SOCIAL DISTANCING: Social distance from others when possible.
FACILITIES USAGE: Comply with all signage or instruction regarding capacity and space restrictions when entering, exiting, and using facilities, including all campus facilities, common spaces, hallways, classrooms, residential facilities, or pathways through campus.
- Students using campus facilities must comply with policies outlined below.
MINIMIZE EXPOSURE: Exercise caution per public health guidelines when leaving campus.
- Students should exercise caution when procuring food. Curb-side delivery, delivery, take-out, and drive-through orders are recommended, while maintaining social distance and wearing face coverings.
- Students may participate in fitness activities off-campus when appropriate social distance is maintained and face coverings are worn indoors and / or with others.
GATHERINGS: Comply with gathering policies.
- Gatherings, indoor and outdoor, on-campus, where social distancing cannot be maintained, are prohibited.
- Outdoor on-campus gathering group sizes are limited to the extent that social distancing is possible.
- Outdoor on-campus gatherings are not allowed during quiet hours.
- Indoor gathering group sizes are limited to residential room capacity posted in the residential housing policies.
HOSTING: Adhere to College policies regarding the hosting of parties. Hosting on- or off-campus gatherings that do not adhere to social distancing or create an environment in which these policies may be violated by others, is prohibited.
RESIDENCE LIFE: Adhere to Residence Life guest policies, occupancy, and social distancing.
- All residents are prohibited from creating a health or safety hazard within residential life facilities. Residential students are required to comply with health and safety laws, orders, ordinances, regulations and health and safety guidance adopted by the College or residence halls as they relate to public health crises, including COVID-19.
- Resident students are responsible for their guests while in the residential facility.
- All student’s guests must abide by all College Policies while on campus including COVID-19 policies.
- Guests must complete the SMCM Daily Symptom Tracker prior to arriving on campus and must complete it each day they are on campus, no more than four days per month.
- Non-Student overnight guests are permitted with the following restrictions;
- Overnight guests must be vaccinated against COVID-19.
- Overnight guests must show proof of vaccination at the Office of Public Safety no later than 8:00 p.m. the night they intend to stay and must re-register each night they intend to stay, up to four nights per month.
- Overnight guests must complete the visitor’s Daily Symptom Tracker and be cleared to be on campus.
- Non-students in the residence halls past 8:00 p.m. are considered overnight guests and must register proof of vaccination.
- Non- students must follow all College policies while in residential facilities.
- Occupancy requirements should be reduced to the following:
- Residence hall single: 1 guests plus 1 resident
- Residence hall double: 2 guests plus 2 residents
- Six-person suite: 6 guests plus 6 residents
- Eight-person suite: 8 guest plus 8 residents
- 10-person suite: 10 guests plus 10 residents
- 14-person suite: 14 guests plus 14 residents
- Apartment/Townhouse: 10 guests plus 4 residents or 5 residents