NDMU Announces Plans for Winter/Spring Semesters

Over the past two years, we have been guided by the latest COVID-19 health and safety guidance from federal, State and local agencies, as well as on the ground health metrics in Baltimore, Maryland, and across the country. We have all made significant efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, with the goal of returning to a sense of normalcy once it is safe for our community to do so. We have been continually impressed by the enduring sense of community and shared responsibility in keeping our campus safe.

Given the recent updates from the CDC on Friday and the end of the Baltimore City indoor mask mandate, effective Wednesday, March 2, 2022, NDMU will adopt a mask-optional policy for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors, with the following exceptions:

• Face masks will continue to be required in all classroom settings, including labs and other instructional spaces. This measure remains in place out of an abundance of caution, given the increased density over a prolonged period of time in many instructional settings.  
• Masks should also be worn by anyone who is positive or has symptoms of COVID-19 or has been exposed to someone with the virus.

Individuals who are unvaccinated, are immunocompromised, or have chronic health conditions placing them at higher risk of severe illness and complications from COVID-19 are recommended to continue to wear a mask in all settings.

NDMU will also discontinue the mandatory completion of the COVID-19 symptom checker prior to entry on to University property. Faculty members may require students to complete the symptom checker for their individual classrooms or labs through the end of the spring semester. Individuals displaying COVID-19 related symptoms, close contacts, and positive diagnoses should continue to Self-Report.

These updated protocols are subject to change as conditions warrant. In addition to these policy changes, the University will also be revising its Residence Hall Guest policy. All of these changes will be reflected on the NDMU Together website in the coming days. COVID-19 close contact/symptom testing, and random surveillance testing will continue unchanged.

While we are pleased that the positivity rate, hospitalizations and other health metrics continue to improve, we strongly encourage everyone to remain vigilant. Wearing a KN95 mask provides effective protection against the spread of the virus, and some of us may be more comfortable with continuing to wear a mask in a variety of settings.

We will continue to have conversations and evaluate our policies. At this time, we are hopeful that this milestone will help us move forward towards sustainably managing COVID-19 while delivering an exceptional living and learning experience for our students.