Dear Marquette students,
As you saw from the Schroeder Hall quarantine directive jointly issued last night by the university and the Milwaukee Health Department, we are taking very seriously our responsibility to prioritize the health and safety of our Marquette and greater Near West Side community while facilitating an in-person campus experience this fall.
The majority of you are following our university and public health directives. As we saw last night, however, the actions of a few can have severe consequences for our entire university community. Unfortunately, the number of positive cases among students has risen.
With the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff as our top priority, we are imploring students to follow these public health and university directives so that we can continue to offer an in-person experience this fall:
- Stay calm and remain where you are: We know that some students who are not under quarantine directives are contemplating leaving campus, and we ask you not to. Public health experts around the country are urging students to remain at their campus residences rather than traveling to their permanent places of residence or anywhere else. Staying where you are is the safest course of action.
- Mask up: Wear your mask whenever you are around others – that means when you are indoors AND outdoors.
- Complete COVID Cheq daily: All students living on campus or within 150 miles of campus are expected to complete COVID Cheq daily (including the weekends) and follow guidance accordingly. Honest responses will provide the best indication of the overall wellbeing of our campus.
- Call the Marquette Medical Clinic to schedule a free COVID test: Any student who is symptomatic or has come into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 should call the Marquette University Medical Clinic at (414) 288-7184. Testing is available for free and is provided Monday through Friday.
- Alert the university immediately if you have a positive COVID-19 test: Any student who is tested off-campus for COVID-19 and receives a positive result needs to notify the university IMMEDIATELY so that we can institute isolation procedures and contact tracing to slow the spread. We have received reports of some students getting tested off-campus and not reporting their positive results to the university. That behavior simply cannot continue, as it jeopardizes the health and safety of the entire campus community and our ability to maintain an in-person experience this fall.
- Practice physical distancing and avoid social gatherings: All students are expected to stay 6 feet apart from each other and to avoid social gatherings, including off-campus parties.
- Be mindful of consequences: Students who are found in violation any of the university’s policies related to social gatherings, whether by hosting or attending a social gathering, will be subject to the student conduct process. In addition, starting this weekend, the Marquette University Police Department will be issuing on-the-spot orders for any student found to be hosting or attending an off-campus party to be screened for a COVID-19 test by the Marquette University Medical Clinic.
The university asks that everyone take care of themselves and others during this time. Please keep our isolated and quarantined students in your prayers, and know that the university is providing comprehensive physical, emotional and spiritual care to these students. Schroeder Hall residents will receive an email today with details about pastoral care, academic services, technology resources and mental health services that they can access during quarantine.
As always, please refer to the university’s dedicated COVID-19 website for regular coronavirus updates and answers to FAQs.
Remember that YOU make the difference in slowing the spread of COVID-19.
Dr. Xavier A. Cole
Vice President of Student Affairs
Chair, Marquette COVID-19 Response Team