Marist Will Begin Spring 2022 Semester In-Person

Booster Shots and Masks Will Be Required

Marist College will begin its Spring 2022 semester in-person, despite the rapid surge of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 across the United States, Vice President for Student Affairs Deb DiCaprio announced on Jan. 8.

“We are focused on delivering an in-person educational experience with the full range of extracurricular activities this upcoming semester while also protecting the health and welfare of those in the Marist community, Poughkeepsie, and the surrounding region,” said DiCaprio.

According to the New York Times, the United States is currently seeing over 600,000 new COVID cases per day, which is a 215% increase from 14 days ago, as of Jan. 9. That is in large part due to the presence of the Omicron variant. New York State is seeing an average of about 74,000 new cases per day, up 128% in the last 14 days. Dutchess County has a daily new case average of 856, a 208% increase in the last two weeks.

In an email, DiCaprio reminded Marist students that being careful of the virus will be very important for a successful semester. “Keeping everyone as safe as possible during this ongoing pandemic, especially on a college campus, requires a high degree of vigilance and a collective commitment from everyone in our community to a variety of health and safety protocols.”

Marist requires that all members of the college community, who are eligible, receive a COVID booster shot before Monday, Jan. 31, in addition to the mandatory flu vaccine, which must be uploaded by Friday, Jan. 14.

Masks will be required at all times while indoors. Masks may only be removed when in an individual residence room, when working alone in a room with the door closed and when eating or drinking while seated. DiCaprio also encouraged Marist students to double mask when possible.

Marist will follow CDC, state and local guidelines regarding quarantine and isolation for those who become infected with or exposed to COVID. Those with a confirmed COVID infection will have to isolate for a minimum of five full days from the onset of their symptoms or their first positive test if they remain asymptomatic. Students will not be released until their symptoms have subsided and Marist Health Services clears them. Once released from isolation, students will be required to wear their masks until ten days after their COVID diagnosis.

Those identified as a close contact to COVID who are fully vaccinated – with or without the booster shot – must strictly wear their mask for ten days, get tested on day five, and monitor their own symptoms for 14 days. Those who are not vaccinated or not fully vaccinated must quarantine for five days, strictly wear their mask for ten days, obtain a test on day five, closely monitor their symptoms for 14 days and be cleared by Marist Health Services to leave isolation.

Unvaccinated individuals with a Marist-approved and documented medical or religious exemption will again be required to partake in weekly surveillance testing at 51 Fulton on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. In addition, those individuals must complete arrival testing on either Sunday, Jan. 16 or Monday, Jan. 17.

DiCaprio informed the student body that the college’s COVID Alert Level is currently at Orange. This means that events and special programs where outside guests may be present will operate at 50% capacity, no food or drink may be served at campus events and visitors will not be permitted inside residence halls – except during move-in.

Finally, DiCaprio shared that Marist “strongly recommends” that all students obtain a negative COVID test before returning to campus, but it is not required.