Student vaccination

Messiah is not requiring students to be vaccinated for COVID-19 to be enrolled for the 2022-23 academic year.* However, the University greatly appreciates its students and employees who are up to date with their vaccination for COVID-19, and we continue to strongly encourage as many as possible to do so. 

*NOTE: Some students due to their voluntary selection of specific higher-risk campus employment opportunities (i.e., the campus health care center), do require up-to-date vaccination. While Messiah is not requiring students to have the COVID-19 vaccination to enroll, some enhancement programs may require students to be up to date with their vaccination. Additionally, some off-campus program partners, such as school districts for student teaching or healthcare clinical sites, may require students to be up to date with their vaccination to participate.

Employee vaccination

Most employees are not required to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccination to work at Messiah University. Current vaccination, however, is strongly encouraged for the health of our employees and campus community. However, some employees who work in higher-risk settings, such as at the Engle Center or whose role requires them to live in campus residences, are required to be up to date with their vaccinations. In the case of employees who live in campus residences, spouses and eligible children are also required to have up-to-date vaccination.

Messiah University is  “mask optional” in all of its indoor facilities (Grantham campus and Winding Hill)—including employee workspaces, classrooms, chapel, dining facilities, athletic events, and other indoor large gatherings.

Exception note: Some areas of the Engle Center may still require masking for staff and students.  

Community expectations for masking

There remain members of our Messiah community who are more vulnerable to the virus than others or live with loved ones who are more health-compromised by COVID-19. As has been Messiah’s approach throughout the pandemic, we will continue to prioritize caring for others. Because of this, if a faculty member requests that students continue to wear masks in a particular classroom, or if students and employees are asked by one another or a campus visitor to wear a mask in meetings, other personal interactions, etc., it is expected that employees and students will comply accordingly. (As such, please continue to carry a mask with you while on campus so that you will have it available if needed.) The University will also continue to make KN95 masks available at multiple locations throughout campus. We appreciate your respect of Messiah’s commitment to care for each other and our neighbors in this way.

Student testing 

• Symptomatic students, regardless of vaccination status, are required to test. Students have the following options for free, on-campus COVID-19 testing:

  • The Engle Center, which is open from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, will continue to provide free testing to students via two options: scheduled nurse visits and walk-in “test-and-go.
    • Students who would like to schedule a nurse visit should call the Engle Center at ext. 6035 ( call 717-766-2511, ext. 6035 off campus).
    • Students interested in “test-and-go” will ring the bell at the Engle Center’s blue door to receive the activated test card and must self-swab within one minute of receiving the card. Students may stay at Engle and receive assistance in performing/interpreting their test or may leave with the activated card, but tests cannot be obtained for use on persons who are not present.
  • On weekends, testing will be coordinated by the resident director (RD) staff:
    • On Saturdays, students may obtain COVID testing from the residence life office, located in Eisenhower Campus Center room 166, from 7-8 p.m. (no appointment necessary).
    • On Sundays, students desiring to be COVID tested should call Dispatch at ext. 6005 to request testing. Dispatch will relay their call-back information to the RD on call who will reach out to the student between the hours of 1-5 p.m. to schedule a time to COVID test at the residence life office. 

• Testing of student athletes is coordinated through the Division of Athletics in compliance with the testing standards of the MAC and the NCAA. 

Employee testing 

• Symptomatic employees, regardless of vaccination status, are required to test on their own off-campus.

• The Engle Center is not currently available to conduct employee testing ( asymptomatic or symptomatic) due to staffing and student services/demand issues.   

Student and employee protocols available on FalconLink

Not sure when or how to test for COVID-19? Messiah University provides detailed instructions for students and employees on what to do when they have symptoms, test positive for COVID and need to isolate, or are identified as a close contact to a COVID-positive individual. Students and employees may access the most current protocols on FalconLink under "Campus COVID-19 Protocols." 

Isolation for COVID-positive individuals

Students and employees who test positive for COVID-19—regardless of vaccination status—will continue to be required to isolate at home or, students, if unable to isolate at home, in their campus residence for 5 days. If after 5 days students and employees are asymptomatic, or they have been free of symptoms and fever for at least 24 hours, they may exit isolation, followed by a period of masking to further minimize any risk of infection (see student and employee protocols on Falconlink for additional details). 

Student and employee protocols available on FalconLink

Messiah University provides detailed instructions for students and employees on what to do when they have symptoms, test positive for COVID and need to isolate, or are identified as a close contact to a COVID-positive individual. Students and employees may access the most current protocols on FalconLink under "Campus COVID-19 Protocols." 

The CDC and the Pennsylvania Department of Health continue to advocate the isolation of all individuals who test positive for COVID-19. Students who become COVID-positive who must isolate will not be provided refunds during this time for housing or dining. 

Questions regarding this policy, or an individual student’s account, may be directed to Student Financial Services at studentfinsvcs@messiah.edu or 717.691.6004.  

General travel protocols (students and employees) 

• Messiah University expects students and employees to follow CDC guidelines when travelling.

• Regardless of vaccination status, all students and employees should still be careful to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and get tested if symptoms develop before, during or following travel. 

• Messiah community members are expected to follow the COVID-19 policies of the host site/location where they are traveling. 

Educational travel (students and employees) 

In response to changes made by the U.S. government and other international governments that no longer have COVID-19 vaccination or testing travel requirements, Messiah University has made the following updates to its protocols for off-campus educational travel: 

• Domestic travel: Messiah University is no longer requiring COVID-19 vaccination or asymptomatic testing prior to domestic educational travel (i.e., Into the City, Outreach teams, SAB excursions).
• International travel: Vaccination for COVID-19 is no longer required to participate in educational international travel. However, all participants are required to test within 48 hours of departure, under the coordination of the trip leader.
• Safety planning/precautions: For all educational travel, educators/trip leaders will travel with COVID tests in the event a group member becomes symptomatic and will have a proactive plan in place for how to care for someone who tests positive or is sick during an off-campus experience.

Note: the above travel protocols are subject to change based on CDC or other federal or international travel-related directives. 

All undergraduate students are subject to the most recent update of campus policies. While the 2022-23 Student Handbook does not reflect any ongoing expectations for student behavior related to COVID-19, current expectations have been communicated via mass email and other Messiah University communication channels such as the emergency blog and the Together@Messiah website. Students are required to abide by these expectations; failure to do so will result in referral to the student conduct process. These COVID expectations are subject to change (based on changing local, state and federal directives or at the discretion of the University based on campus need). Changes will be communicated via the channels above.

Questions can be directed to the Division of Student Success and Engagement, located in Eisenhower Campus Center 207, or by phone at 717.796.5234. 

Student protocols available on FalconLink

Messiah University provides detailed instructions for students on what to do when they have symptoms, test positive for COVID and need to isolate, or are identified as a close contact to a COVID-positive individual. Students may access the most current protocols on FalconLink under "Campus COVID-19 Protocols." 

Employee protocols available on FalconLink

Messiah University provides detailed instructions for employees on what to do when have symptoms, test positive for COVID, or are identified as a close contact to a COVID-positive individual. Employees may access the most current protocols on FalconLink under "Campus COVID-19 Protocols." 

Remote work and sick time 

Remote work may be possible while an employee is isolating, depending on that individual’s status of symptoms, health and/or individual job responsibilities, and with approval in advance from the employee's supervisor. Teaching faculty in isolation must communicate with their department chair and dean about remote teaching or course coverage requests. When not able to work remotely, employees will use their regularly allocated sick time while isolating. 

General employee public health best practices 

Unfortunately, the threat of COVID-19 continues, and it will be essential that all Messiah University employees practice good health hygiene: 

• Vaccination remains your best defense against COVID-19 and your best protection against severe illness, hospitalization and death.

• Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water. 

• Use hand-sanitizer if soap and water are not available. 

• Cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with either a tissue that is disposed of immediately or with your elbow. This needs to be followed by washing hands.  

• All employees are encouraged to get a flu vaccine.  

• Employees should not share work or personal equipment. If unavoidable, employees should disinfect after each use.

• Wipe down work surfaces frequently and shared spaces after meetings   

General public 

Messiah University is pleased to restore its full schedule of academic-year campus events as well as summer conferences and camps. While on campus, all guests and attendees are expected to follow Messiah University's COVID-19 response protocols as outlined on this website. 

Undergraduate admissions visits 

The Undergraduate Admissions Office has restored its full schedule of undergraduate campus visits and events for prospective students and their families. 

Graduate enrollment and campus visits 

Prospective students who desire to visit campus should schedule an advance appointment with the School of Graduate and Professional Studies enrollment staff.    

How we'll communicate with you

Messiah University is utilizing a mix of the following communication tools to keep its campus stakeholders--including current undergraduate and graduate students, current parents, employees, prospective students/parents, and the appropriate government/health authorities--informed about its campus reopening strategies and related COVID-19 health and safety measures: 

• Messiah Emergency Blog 

• Together @ Messiah website 

• Campus mass email system (current students, employees, current parents and alumni) 

• Admissions Office emails (prospective undergraduate and graduate students and prospective undergraduate parents) 

• Messiah’s institutional social media platforms 

• Student and parent portals (current students and parents) 

• Canvas Learning Management System (current students and employees) 

• Campus health and safety signage (particularly in common areas like dining halls, gyms, classrooms, labs) 

Timely updates

In addition to communicating Messiah’s COVID response protocols via this website, the University will use the above methods to continue to update stakeholders about breaking developments, news and changes in a timely and transparent manner. 

Clery Act Compliance 

In compliance with The Clery Act, and guidance from the U.S. Department of Education regarding Clery’s intersection with COVID-19, Messiah University will issue a campus Emergency Notification (EN) to students and employees at the start of the academic year informing them about COVID-19, along with the necessary health and safety precautions and how to connect to the resources of regional health authorities and the CDC. The University will also provide this information to the broader campus community with a link from messiah.edu.