Summer COVID policies

Messiah Travel Policy (revised June 1, 2021)

Employee Summer Travel (Institutional and Personal)

• Messiah University expects employees to follow CDC guidelines when travelling, whether travel is for institutional or personal purposes: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html.
• Employees, regardless of vaccination status, are no longer required to self-quarantine or test after returning from domestic travel before they physically return to campus.
• Regardless of vaccination status, employees who travel should wear masks when required, practice social distancing, avoid large crowds, and practice vigilant hand hygiene.
• Regardless of vaccination status, all employees should still be careful to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and get tested if symptoms develop.
• The University reserves the right to limit the institutional travel of unvaccinated employees.
• Testing and quarantine protocols remain in place for unvaccinated employees traveling internationally.

Student Employee Summer Travel

Messiah University students working on campus over the summer should expect to follow the above employee guidelines for personal travel if travelling.  

Summer 2021 employee/student Falcon Health Screening protocols

On June 28, the state of Pennsylvania eliminated its mandate requiring individuals to wear masks as a mitigation effort against COVID-19. In response, effective immediately, Messiah University is no longer requiring students, employees or visitors—regardless of vaccination status—to wear masks on campus in most settings* (except for large indoor group gatherings, in accord with Messiah’s congregate living environment and CDC guidelines). Messiah anticipates lifting these remaining limited masking requirements when the University’s student and employee populations reach a 70 percent “community immunity” vaccination rate. In the interim, unvaccinated students, employees and visitors are asked to protect their own health and that of the Messiah community—particularly given Messiah’s congregate living setting—by following the CDC’s guidelines for masking.

*For all summer camps: vaccinated individuals are not required to wear a mask while on campus in most settings, non-vaccinated individuals are strongly encouraged to wear a mask. All campers, regardless of vaccination status, must wear masks when gathering together in indoor areas (i.e., while standing in dining lines, seated in Parmer Cinema, etc.). Additional questions about summer camps may be directed to Conference and Event Services at roomres@messiah.edu.

 The University will continue to monitor updates from the federal and state public health authorities and will communicate any additions or changes to this protocol via Messiah’s mass email system and at the Together@Messiah website. 

Our relationship with the local community is important to Messiah University. Our campus is private property, but as good neighbors, we have been pleased to provide access to the public as we are able, including the library, areas for walking, use of the fitness trail, and access to the Yellow Breeches Creek by way of Messiah University’s Starry Athletic Complex.

During the pandemic, we have needed to restrict access to our campus to ensure the health and safety of our students and employees, and have appreciated the community’s cooperation. Messiah University is pleased to share that on May 17, 2021, we re-opened our campus to visitors. This includes access to the library, areas for walking and the Yellow Breeches. All guests are expected to follow CDC guidelines regarding masks and social distancing, as well as any other campus-specific signage.

Messiah University does reserve the right, as needed, to restrict access to campus and the Yellow Breeches.  As we manage events and crowds on campus, creek access will be either modified* or closed** for access on the following dates:

            June 5-6 – modified

            June 12-13 – modified

            June 19-20 – modified

            July 10 – modified

            July 17 – modified

            July 24-25 – modified

            July 31-Aug. 1 –modified

            Aug. 20-22 – closed

*Modified means that the public may access the creek, but may not enter the Starry side of campus (may not drive or walk across the covered bridge). Instead, persons accessing the creek must park in an alternate, legally-marked lot elsewhere on campus and transport their equipment on foot to the creek bank. Temporary stopping on roadways to load/unload will not be permitted due to increased traffic flow related to summer camps.   

**Closed means that the public may not enter any part of campus to access the creek.

For updated information please visit Department of Safety website.  

We appreciate your cooperation as we care for our campus community as we open Messiah’s property to the public once again