As Spring Break approaches, the College wants to remind the MICA community to relax, have fun, and enjoy a well-deserved break — but be safe and continue to use best practices as the situation around COVID-19 continues to evolve throughout the country and around the globe.

Here are a few recommendations and updates from the College:

TRAVEL
Whether you are planning to travel for fun, or returning home for the break, the College is reminding students to be aware of travel guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Those guidelines can be found here. 

We understand the CDC’s recommendations are broad and you may have questions about how they apply to your specific situation. MICA has been working with the appropriate groups to help answer these questions as well as ensure the safety of every member of our community and the continuity of the educational experience here at the College. Please see “College Planning” below for more on this subject.

HYGIENE
Please remember to follow best practice recommendations from the CDC, which include handwashing with soap and water for more than 20 seconds or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are unavailable. 

The CDC also recommends avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. 

The CDC does not recommend wearing facemasks as a preventative measure, and someone should only wear a mask if a healthcare professional recommends it. Misusing masks can deplete resources for those who become sick, as well as those in healthcare settings.

For more preventative measures recommended by the CDC, click here.

COMMUNAL GATHERING
As there are no cases of COVID-19 in Maryland or on MICA’s campus, the College is continuing as normal with scheduled classes and events, and is not suspending large gatherings or courses in spaces like Falvey Hall. 

If any of these policies change, those details will be communicated via email, official social media channels, and on MICA’s website at www.mica.edu/coronavirus, which contains up-to-date information on the College’s response to COVID-19.  

COLLEGE PLANNING
MICA is regularly convening its Emergency Leadership Group and Critical Incident Management teams to assess the ongoing situations on campus and with our international programs around the world. These cross-functional groups are composed of members with expertise in the fields of emergency management, health and wellness, education, and government, and inform and shape the College’s recommendations and actions. 

A few of the issues currently under discussion include:

• Travel difficulties for non-resident students, faculty, and staff

• Summer needs of students who may not be able to return home

• Educational continuity and remote learning for affected students

• Human resources considerations for faculty and staff unable to work on campus

• Upcoming events and gatherings like commencement

The College will continue to provide updates on these and other issues as needed. Remember, you can check MICA’s COVID-19 Website at www.mica.edu/coronavirus for the most recent information on the College’s response to this evolving situation.

MICA is continuing to monitor this situation, with student, faculty, and staff safety as our top priority.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact MICA’s Student Health Center at 410-225-4118. Additional contact information for other College resources can be found here.