Don't let COVID hitch a ride back to campus. Before returning, limit social interactions, and self-quarantine is encouraged.

Classes for fall semester begin on Wednesday, Aug. 25, and the majority of MSU classes this fall will be offered face-to-face. The university is planning to resume normal operations this fall.

  • Precautions such as masks are encouraged but not required in group settings, particularly indoors.
  • Wash your hands often and use hand sanitizer when you can't use soap and water.
  • Keep tabs on your health and stay home when you're sick.
  • If you develop COVID-19 symptoms, seek testing.

Additional things to remember

Vaccines

While several vaccines are available throughout the U.S. and internationally, it is clear that not everyone has been vaccinated.

The Point:

Despite vaccines becoming available, we must all still remember to practice the proven COVID-19 precautions to minimize the spread of the virus.

Immunity

There is not a firm answer among doctors and scientists about how long immunity to COVID-19 lasts once a person has recovered from it or been vaccinated. A person who had COVID-19 could still spread the disease by coughing or by other means.

The Point:

Even if you had COVID-19 or have been vaccinated, we still encourage you to take precautions to help keep others from getting ill.

Symptomatic Testing

MSU's Student Testing Center will be open at Bobcat Stadium. The site offers free COVID-19 for any student who is showing symptoms of the virus.

The Point:

If you have symptoms, get tested and follow the directions from health officials and your health care providers on any quarantine or isolation.

 

 

 

Topics

Health and Safety

Precautionary self-quarantine recommended for those arriving from outside the U.S.

If arriving to campus from outside the U.S., a precautionary self-quarantine is recommended based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

 

Remember that with fall classes beginning Wednesday, Aug. 25, and our residence halls opening Aug. 21, that could mean that some students coming from international destinations would need to start their self-quarantine as early as Aug. 14.

Self-quarantine tips

  • Stay home unless you absolutely must leave, such as for groceries, medicine or health care.
  • Do your best to keep away from others, including members of your household and pets. Wear a mask if you can't separate yourself.
  • Use a separate bedroom and bathroom if you can.
  • Don't share utensils, plates, cups, bedding, towels or other personal items.
  • Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces in your area daily, such as phones, remote controls, door handles, toilets, keyboards, etc.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap often.
  • To the best of your ability, isolate yourself while traveling back to MSU.
  • Monitor your temperature and your overall health to watch for symptoms of COVID-19. If you have symptoms, seek testing.
  • Only come to campus if you're symptom-free.

Delay your return if you're sick

If you develop symptoms of the virus or receive a positive test result, do not come back to MSU until you receive the all-clear from your health care provider and local health office. You can reach out to your instructors to let them know your situation; they'll be prepared to help you start the semester with online work until you're able to join us safely in Bozeman.

General travel tips

  • Wear a mask on public transportation, such as trains, buses or airplanes.
  • Attempt to maintain social distancing by staying at least 6 feet from anyone who’s not a part of your household.
  • Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer that’s at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Additional travel guidance during the pandemic is available from the CDC.

Symptomatic Student Testing Center still available

The Symptomatic Student Testing Center at Bobcat Stadium will remain open and available for fall semester, offering free testing for students who show symptoms of the virus.

Vaccines

MSU has been approved to distribute COVID-19 vaccines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More information is available on our vaccine webpage.

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Academics

Additional information 

All classes that were held in-person before the pandemic will be conducted in-person in fall 2021. Courses that are part of online programs will continue to be offered fully online if that was how those courses were delivered before the pandemic. 

Residence Life

Some of the most important notes about moving in to the residence halls for fall semester are below. For additional information, visit the Residence Life fall 2021 Move-In Weekend webpage. 

Fall Move-in Weekend will be Saturday, Aug. 21, through Tuesday, Aug. 24

All students are required to sign-up for a move-in time unless they have signed up for an early arrival program that they are supposed to move into the residence halls prior to Saturday, Aug. 21. Students should visit the Move-In signup website to select their day and time for their move-in.

Move-in details

  • Each student will have two hours to move into their room.
  • If students need to cancel or change their move-in time, there will be a cancellation/change link in the confirmation email that they receive after they select their move-in time.
  • If students are not part of an early arrival program but need to request arrival prior to Saturday, Aug. 21, they need to complete an Early Arrival Request form found in the Housing Portal.
  • Any questions or concerns can be directed to the Residence Life Office at 406-994-2661 or housing@montana.edu to discuss their change.

Traffic and Parking

MSU is currently working on all of the logistics with regards to traffic and parking arrangements in and around the MSU campus. As soon as traffic maps and parking maps have been developed, they will be posted on the Residence Life Fall 2021 Move-In Weekend webpage for students and families to gain a better sense of what to expect navigating around campus during the move-in process.

All students and families that drive to campus will be expected to place a temporary move-in parking credential on their vehicle dashboard when parking  on campus. The parking credential can be dowloaded from this page or will be sent to all students and parents in an email later this summer.

Consider shipping your belongings

Residence Life is asking students and families to consider shipping personal belongings and items to their specific residence hall ahead of time to reduce the amount of items that are needed to move into the building during the move-in process. All personal belongings, packages, and orders shipped to the residence halls should plan to arrive on or after Monday, Aug. 16. Mailing addresses for each hall are listed on the Residence Life Fall 2021 Move-In Weekend page.

 

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