Frequently Asked Questions

In MMC’s Virtual Classes/Open Campus model, all classes will be online and there is no requirement to be on campus to complete the semester.

Several classes will have an in-person option but no requirement to be in-person (see list of those courses here). In-person science labs will be conducted in compliance with all health and safety directives, with students and faculty wearing required face coverings and practicing social distancing. Science department faculty will be reaching out to students in lab courses with more information.

The Course Bulletin shows the meeting days and times for classes. Students need to be available during these times so that they can participate in online class sessions. If you see a classroom listed on the Course Bulletin or on your class schedule, do not worry—you are not required to attend classes in person.

MMC’s Spring 2021 Virtual Campus will provide an enhanced educational experience for students. Students choose MMC for a reason, and our goal is to foster a vibrant academic and student life experience that keeps our students engaged with the College and with each other, whether virtually or in person, while adhering to recommended health and safety guidelines.

MMC’s enhanced Virtual Campus will feature:

• Courses that are small, personalized, and immersive to ensure an easy exchange of ideas and a high level of individual attention in all courses—unlike traditional online courses.
• A variety of engagement opportunities, leadership development experiences, and social connections, that foster student connection and immersion in the opportunities of New York City, no matter where students are located, near or far.
• Co-curricular programs and events, both in-person and virtually, to ensure a signature MMC experience is available to all students.

Students who live in different time zones should notify their professors as soon as possible. They will work with you to make a plan that allows you to participate in your classes while taking into consideration this time difference.

All virtual classes will include synchronous components—meaning that students will meet with each other and their professors in “real time” throughout the semester. Professors will discuss their specific plans for these synchronous meetings at the start of the semester, but all students should plan to be available during the days/times listed for each of their classes.

Classes will also include asynchronous work—work that students will complete outside of the assigned class meeting times.

Yes! Although some classes will be conducted online, the campus will remain open at reduced occupancy levels (subject to federal and state guidelines and directives). We are continuing to implement safety measures in spaces such as the Library and Nugent Lounge. We are also identifying additional spaces on campus such as computer labs and classrooms to be available to students throughout the day. To ensure compliance with social distancing and building capacity requirements, there may be limitations to how and when students use campus facilities, including the implementation of a reservation system for spaces and workstations. 

Several dance classes will be offered both in-person and virtually (see list of courses). Additionally, a few theatre classes will also offer some type of in-person component, which is optional. Because performance-based classes come with increased risk of COVID-19 transmission and higher health and safety standards, many classes will continue to be conducted virtually. However, on-campus studios and performance spaces will be available for faculty and students to reserve throughout the semester. As with all classes, no faculty or students will be required to come to campus, but these spaces will be available for reservation for those who choose to utilize them. 

Unfortunately nothing is completely guaranteed during this pandemic. Currently, we plan to continue keeping our main campus buildings open during the Spring 2021 semester, and we have developed a reservation system so that we can ensure proper social distancing and safety measures for the students and faculty who wish to make use of campus. But we all know that things can change quickly given the trajectory of the pandemic—we will keep you posted on any changes that must be made to our plans due to local and state directives and public health guidelines!

MMC’s Virtual Classes/Open Campus model allows for continuity of instruction for all MMC students, regardless of location or the status of the physical campus. It’s possible that MMC’s physical campus could close, depending on official public health guidance and the College’s own determinations regarding health and safety, but you will be able to continue your classes without interruption.

You are urged to clear your locker prior to leaving New York for an extended period. In the event of an announced campus closure, you will be given as much notice as possible to clear your locker. MMC is not responsible for returning items left behind in lockers, and items left behind will be discarded.

If you have borrowed a book, laptop, or equipment, please hold onto them and await further instructions. During this period, borrowers may continue to use their laptops, and MAC IT may contact borrowers regarding needed software and security updates. The Library will waive any fines accrued during this period. When it is safe for the return of these items, the Library will email borrowers with a new date for dropping off or mailing in the items.

There are several things students should keep in mind when returning to campus:

1. Keep MMC Healthy Pledge: We encourage all students, faculty, and staff to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and recommit to the Pledge to Keep MMC Healthy. We must all join in the mutual, continuous effort to keep our community safe and take responsibility for our own health and actions to protect ourselves and others.
2. Get a flu vaccine: The CDC recommends that everyone six months and older get a flu shot.
3. Testing: MMC recommends that all students, faculty, and staff be tested for COVID-19 in their home state in the 14 days prior to returning to campus or upon arrival, but testing will not be required. Positive cases must be reported to safety@mmm.edu in accordance with MMC’s screening process.
4. Screening: An electronic screening questionnaire will be used within Main Campus facilities daily and Residence Halls periodically to help control the spread of COVID-19 within the MMC community by ensuring that those individuals who are or who may be sick do not enter campus. Residential students will be required to complete the screening process upon move-in and weekly throughout the semester.

Per an Executive Order issued by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo on June 25, 2020, a travel advisory is in place for travelers from many countries and states with significant rates of transmission for COVID-19. Anyone arriving in New York from one of the restricted locations will be required to observe a 14-day quarantine upon arrival.

Effective November 4, 2020, individuals arriving to New York from one of the restricted locations will be allowed to “test out” of the mandatory 14-day quarantine by providing proof of two negative COVID-19 tests. The first test must be obtained within 3 days of departure from that state. The individual then must quarantine for 3 days upon arrival in New York. On the 4th day, a second COVID test must be obtained. If both tests come back negative, the individual is allowed to exit quarantine.

Students will be required to exercise the full 14-consecutive day quarantine if they do not obtain these two negative tests.

Please see New York State’s COVID-19 Travel Advisory webpage for more information, and please check the list of restricted states before you travel.

Read MMC’s Quarantine & Isolation 101 Guide for specific details about the quarantine requirements upon arrival. (Please note that this document is intended to provide guidance for students traveling to New York from out-of-state and living in the residence halls. Comprehensive, College-wide quarantine and isolation protocols for the full academic year will be shared via email and posted to the website prior to the beginning of the semester.)

If you are a student not living in MMC housing, you must make your own arrangements for quarantining. If you are a student living in MMC housing, you may quarantine in your assigned apartment/suite. If you are an MMC residential student from a restricted state and have quarantined for 14 days in a non-restricted state (including New York) prior to MMC housing move-in, you do not need to quarantine upon moving in, but we ask you to let residencelife@mmm.edu know you have completed your quarantine prior to your arrival.

If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, you should not come to campus and you should practice self-quarantine until your symptoms resolve. Please contact your doctor or the Dow Zanghi Student Health Center (call first!) and report your symptoms to Safety@mmm.edu immediately. If you are a residential student living in one of our three residences this fall, please copy ResidenceLife@mmm.edu in your message to Safety.

A member of our Safety team will follow up to ensure you are supported and obtaining medical care. The Dow Zanghi Student Health Center is available for student use free of charge, in-person or for telehealth appointments.

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 will require isolation. The College has set aside isolation spaces for students living in the residence halls. Non-residential students, faculty, and staff will be required to isolate in their own homes.

If a case of COVID-19 is confirmed on campus or within the MMC campus community, MMC Contact Tracers will inform NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH). To the extent possible, Contact Tracers will work with the NYC DOHMH to conduct contact tracing.

Contact Tracers will conduct contact tracing to help identify:

• MMC facilities that may require cleaning and disinfection after a confirmed case has been identified; and
• “Close contacts” (as defined by the CDC) of the confirmed case. Close contact is defined as the proximity of 6 feet or closer for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period with a person who tests positive.

Additionally, Contact Tracers will seek out the help of NYC DOHMH (to the extent possible) to determine what, if any, community transmission has been identified and whether MMC can continue to contain/manage confirmed case(s) within their own facilities.

Yes, if you are registered for Spring 2021, notify Residence Life of your plans for the breaks, and consolidate your belongings in your room. Unlike in previous years, MMC is allowing residential students to remain in the residence halls through Winter Break, except in the event of an announced campus closure. Should the residence halls close, residents will be responsible for retrieving all personal property by a yet-to-be-determined date in the spring semester.
Options for retrieval include:

• Scheduling a socially distanced pick-up
• Working with a College-identified packer/shipper to ship your belongings home at your expense

In the event of an announced campus closure, residential students will be provided with as much notice as possible to pack their belongings before departure. Students should plan to take all belongings with them. If that is not possible, students will need to opt for one of the following:

1. Pack, box, and label all personal property so it can be shipped at your expense in the event that you cannot return to the residence halls. Keys should be turned in prior to leaving; or,
2. Pack, box, and label all personal property so that you can pick it up at a scheduled date and time as determined by Residence Life. Keys should be turned in prior to leaving.