Top Ten Frequently Asked Questions

The Marquette University Medical Clinic has registered to become a COVID-19 vaccinator and anticipates registration approval in the near future. Once approved and once vaccines become available, the university will begin rolling out the vaccine to students, faculty and staff based on their priority group. Marquette will follow priority guidelines from the City of Milwaukee Health Department and the State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

More information is available on Marquette Today.

Yes. As in the fall, outside guests will not be allowed into residence halls, and inter-hall visitation is also be suspended. These steps help reduce density, adhere to physical distancing guidelines and mitigate the spread of the virus on campus.

Yes. 

Because of the increase of cases in our community, the university has moved its COVID-19 alert level from Moderate to High.

In response to this heightened alert level, the university has implemented the following changes, effective immediately:

• Indoor gathering spaces may only be used if monitored by a faculty or staff member. If a faculty or staff monitor is not available, the rooms will be closed.
• All advising, academic meetings and tutoring will move to virtual-only meetings unless in-person is absolutely necessary and is endorsed by a department chair or college dean.
• All club and organization meetings and non-academic advising meetings must be virtual.
• All group Department of Recreational Sports activities have been canceled. Individual fitness activities remain available.
• MUPD will increase enforcement related to off campus parties.

Classrooms—including virtual learning rooms—will remain open, and in-person classes will continue. The Raynor Memorial Library and dining halls will also remain open. These spaces are properly set up for physical distancing and maintained according to public health guidelines.  There has been no evidence of spread in these areas.

Here are four steps that you should take now in order to provide a safe transition home for winter break:

1. Identify and limit your social circle.
   In his radio address on Nov. 5, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers suggested limiting social interactions to a circle of five. By specifically identifying your social circle and limiting gatherings to this circle, you limit potential spread, provide better ability for contact tracing and protect yourself, your family and your friends when you return home for break.
2. Wear a mask and physically distance at all times.
   It’s easy to fall into the mindset that masks and distancing protocols aren’t necessary when you’re with close friends. However, in order to keep your friends, your families and our community safe, we must all do our part by following mask and physical distancing protocols, no matter who we’re with.
3. Stay home whenever possible.
   Consider virtual visits with friends and family, use telehealth when possible for doctor’s visits, use grab-and-go or delivery options for food when possible and limit trips to the store for essential items. The more you stay home, the more you limit potential spread.
4. Stay home when ill and get tested.
   If positive, complete the self-disclosure form. It is important to provide your close contacts to further decrease transmission on campus.

To maintain a less residentially dense campus to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and to accommodate students with a fully remote spring semester schedule, the university is announcing the following changes to its university residency requirement for all current and incoming first-year, sophomore and transfer students for the spring 2021 semester only:

If you are able to register for and secure a fully online spring 2021 semester AND you will be living at your permanent home address, the university will release you from the on-campus residency requirement.

You must be enrolled in a full online schedule and submit a residency waiver request to the Office of Residence Life by Tuesday, Dec. 15, at 4 p.m. CST to exercise the residency requirement waiver. Release forms can be downloaded from the ORL website and emailed to ORL@marquette.edu when completed. Students who completed a form for the fall term will need to resubmit a form for the spring term.

Your eligibility will be based on a fully online course load as reflected in CheckMarq — self-reporting will not be sufficient. If your class schedule, as shown in CheckMarq changes from a fully online course load to include at least one in person class or hybrid class schedule on or before February 2, 2021, you will be assigned to a residence hall space and meal plan.

Additional guidance on the residency requirement changes is available at Marquette Today.

Yes, any student - including graduate students - can get a free test for COVID-19 on campus. The Marquette University Medical Clinic is currently testing symptomatic students and their close contacts. If you are currently experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, please call the Clinic at (414) 288-7184 to schedule a free test on campus. The City of Milwaukee also provides community testing in areas around the city. More information is available on their website at https://www.impactinc.org/impact-2-1-1/testing/.

Yes, based on guidance from public health experts and information detailed in our recovery plan, which was developed in accordance with medical and government guidelines, we have important updates regarding the Academic Calendar for the spring semester.

More information is available in Marquette Today.

Easter and Mid-term breaks in Spring 2021 will be replaced with four Mental Health Days, spread throughout the spring term. thos dates are:

• Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021
• Wednesday, March 10, 2021
• Tuesday, April 20, 2021
• Wednesday, May 5, 2021

University leadership recognizes that it can be difficult to manage the anxieties and stress associated with this pandemic. The Mental Health Days will provide students the opportunity to rest and recharge while also reducing unnecessary travel. The Counseling Center also has virtual services that are accessible now. Contact the Counseling Center at (414) 288-7172 if you are in need of mental health or counseling services.

The university will observe Good Friday, April 2, 2021, as a university-wide holiday. In addtion, four Mental Health

We have de-densified our halls and measured residence hall room spaces to ensure that there is at least 12 feet of space head to head when students are in their shared room spaces. We also have designated quarantine spaces for students who test positive for COVID-19. We are honoring apartment leases as signed.

Additionally, as part of living in a community, we all have a responsibility to care for each other. This means every student also plays an active role in following guidance from Marquette University and the Wisconsin Department of Public Health. This includes (but is not limited to) respecting physical distancing, monitoring your symptoms, washing your hands regularly, and wearing cloth face coverings in public areas.

Yes, please see our document "Faculty tips for students."