Student Safety Plan

Return to campus guidance

William Carey University will follow all guidelines and protocols from the Centers for Disease Control and the Mississippi State Department of Health. We will also comply with Governor Reeves’ Executive Orders and Mayor Toby Barker’s Executive Orders. As guidance changes, we will update our policies and procedures and adjust our COVID-19 response accordingly.

CDC Website https://www.cdc.gov/

MSDH Website https://msdh.ms.gov/

Personal Protective Equipment and Hygiene

The most effective method we currently have to prevent the spread of COVID-19 between individuals on campus is to wear a face covering that fully covers the nose and mouth, maintain at least six feet of physical distance from others, and frequently wash hands. Masks are required in all public spaces (including building lobbies and hallways) and must be worn at all times in classrooms.

CDC handwashing campaign: https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html

Physical Distancing

Students are asked to physically distance from others and maintain at least six feet between themselves and others, including in the dining hall, residential, recreational and outdoor spaces.

CDC link for social distancing: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/social-distancing.html

How to report symptoms

Please report your positive test to the Mississippi Department of Health at COVID-19 Home Test Reporting (ms.gov). If symptoms persist and/or you need to seek medical treatment, please contact the Student Health Center on campus at 601-318-6736 to schedule an appointment for evaluation and testing.

What to do if you are sick

All Positive Tests, regardless of vaccination status

Isolate for 5 days (with your day of symptoms onset or positive test, whichever comes first, as Day 0). i.e test positive and symptoms started on August 1st, isolation would go through August 6th.

Asymptomatic/Minimally Symptomatic Individuals

As long as you remain asymptomatic (having no symptoms) or minimally symptomatic and have improvement by end of isolation in addition to being fever free for 24 hours, then you can return to campus and activities with masking around others until Day 10. After day 10, masking is no longer required.

Moderate or Severe Symptoms

If symptoms persist past the normal 5 day isolation or if symptoms are severe, CDC recommends isolating for total of 10 days.

* Regardless of your symptoms, it is important to remember that you are at increased risk of transmitting the virus through day 10 and should avoid unnecessary exposures to individuals with increased risk of developing severe illness.

Emergency Alerts

Emergency alerts will be issued via SaderWatch. Students are automatically enrolled in SaderWatch and alerts will be sent to your WCU email. To set custom alerts, visit https://wmcarey.onelogin.com/trust/saml2/http-post/sso/8dd4f036-10e3-4ce4-9f19-0dd0a5720ffb

Instruction and Classes

Classes will be offered in face-to-face, hybrid and online formats. Students who become ill, have to miss class while in isolation or quarantine, or for other reasons connected with COVID-19 are unable to attend, will have options for remote participation in classes when possible. Face coverings are required in all classroom and instructional spaces and physical distancing will be observed. Class times will be modified to allow for disinfection and sanitization of instructional spaces between class meetings.

Students must regularly check their WCU email and Canvas for class updates and information and to share relevant information with their advisors and instructors.

Link to Canvas: https://wmcarey.instructure.com/

Residence Halls and Housing

Residential students may move in during designated move-in times. Common areas of residence halls will be regularly cleaned and sanitized, but students should prepare to do the same in their rooms and adjoining bathroom (if applicable).

Students are not required to wear a mask in their own room, but should wear a mask when in the hallway, lounge, lobby, laundry room, or any other shared space in the residence halls.

Students should check their Housing portal for more information, including check in times and procedures. Contact the Housing Office with questions at housing@wmcarey.edu

Off Campus Activities

Students should assist the University in safeguarding their health by following all MSDH and CDC guidelines related to physical distancing, masking and handwashing, both on and off campus.

Student Life

If you need a parking decal, please register online via your Indigo portal. All students will receive their parking decal via mail or on scheduled pick up days.

If you need a student ID card, please complete the online registration form. The link is posted on the Student Life webpage. Students may upload a picture after completing the application and student ID cards will be delivered via US mail or on scheduled pick up days.

To contact Student Life, call 601-318-6214 or email studentlife@wmcarey.edu.

Dining Hall

Wilkes Dining Hall will serve three meals a day and hours of operation are:

Monday – Thursday

Breakfast: 7am – 9:30am
Lunch: 11am – 1:30pm
Dinner: 4:30pm – 7pm

Friday

Breakfast: 7am – 9:30am
Lunch: 11am – 1:30pm
Dinner: 4:30pm – 6:30pm

Saturday

Brunch: 10am – 1:30pm
Dinner: 4:30pm – 6:30pm

Sunday

Lunch: 11am – 1:30pm
Dinner: 4:30pm – 7:00pm

Social distancing guidelines will be followed. Students, faculty and staff may dine in or carry out meals. Limited seating is available in the dining hall. All students and staff are encouraged to carry out their meals.

Hours and procedures may be adjusted to allow time for cleaning, sanitization, and safe physical distancing between customers.

Library Services and Bookstore

The library will be open to students for the fall term with hours of operation updated as needed on the library homepage. Building capacity is limited to allow for physical distancing, and a mask must be worn at all times in the buildings. Research assistance is available within the library using distancing protocols; however, virtual reference sessions can be scheduled from the library homepage. Online databases and journals are available anytime on or off campus. Visit the WCU library site for more information https://libguides.wmcarey.edu/COVID19policy

You can also use the ASK A LIBRARIAN service. Email askalibrarian@wmcarey.edu or text 601-348-0287 for assistance.

The WCU bookstore will be open for the fall term. Building capacity is limited to allow for physical distancing, and a mask must be worn at all times in the buildings. You may only purchase books online for the fall term. Free home delivery is available, or you may opt for curbside pick-up. For orders shipping to home or to pick up at the bookstore, processing requires 1-2 business days, and shipping normally takes 2 business days. The process may take longer if a text is temporarily out of stock. The bookstore will not have textbooks in the physical store for the fall term.

To order books, visit https://wmcarey.bncollege.com/shop/wmcarey/home.

Financial and Business Services

At this time, we are asking students to conduct business virtually or over the phone whenever possible. Please use the following contact information for questions or to schedule a virtual meeting:

WCU Main Line: 601-318-6051 or 800-962-5991

Financial Aid: 601-318-6153 or financialaid@wmcarey.edu

Registrar’s Office: 601-318-6195 or registrar@wmcarey.edu

Academic Affairs: 601-318-6101 or academicaffairs@wmcarey.edu

Business Office: 601-318-6127 or businessoffice@wmcarey.edu

Return to campus guidance

Personal Protective Equipment and Hygiene

Physical Distancing

How to report symptoms

What to do if you are sick

Emergency Alerts

Instruction and Classes

Residence Halls and Housing

Off Campus Activities

Student Life

Dining Hall

Library Services and Bookstore

Financial and Business Services

Student Success and Tutoring

Counseling Services

Student Activities

More Information

Prospects

Students

Alumni

Community

Hattiesburg

Tradition

Baton Rouge

Online Learning