Multnomah is open for the 20-21 Academic Year
After months of preparation, Multnomah University reopened and welcomed students back to campus. The campus is only available to current students, faculty, and staff for official university business. Keep scrolling and you can learn more specifics about what life looks like at MU to keep everyone safe. By God’s grace, we are here to unleash students into careers of impact through formative education and holistic support. Information on this page is subject to change at any time as decisions are made by Multnomah County, the State of Oregon, and the leadership of Multnomah University.
Campus Updates
In this section, we discuss new procedures and social-distancing adjustments to common spaces, classrooms, and more.
We worked within the guidelines set by the State of Oregon and Multnomah County to ensure that our classrooms, dining services, mail room, and coffee shop could function within physical distancing protocols to serve our students, faculty, and staff for the fall semester and beyond. We increased our sanitation routines of these areas to include touch points and common use areas. We adjusted capacity levels in classrooms, the dining hall, and the coffee shop to meet current CDC standards to maintain safety as well as an adequate level of service to all areas of our campus. Dining services function with a to-go model with limited seating capacity. Buildings and common areas were adjusted to allow for one-way traffic to minimize close interactions that could increase the chances of COVID-19 transmission. We remain steadfast in our commitment to provide the safest learning environment we can within the current standards while being as flexible as we can to respond to the changing realities of the current pandemic.
We primarily offer single occupancy rooms with the possible allowance of double occupancy rooms as needed or requested. Students can request double occupancy when they fill out their housing application. We limit the number of people in lounge areas at one time, observe social distancing, clean and sanitize spaces more often, and set aside rooms for quarantine as needed. Our events that meet the gathering size guidelines have been moved outdoors for social distancing requirements.
Face masks or face coverings are required in all public indoor spaces and indoor community spaces. Faculty members may require students to wear face mask or face coverings in their classrooms. Face masks or face coverings are not required outdoors where six feet of social distancing is maintained.
We are conducting in-person classes in an adaptive learning environment. Appropriate social-distancing measures have been implemented with limited class sizes. Faculty may require students to wear face coverings or face masks throughout class. Sanitation measures per CDC guidelines.
Lab activities are observing social distancing. Masks are required. Gloves and goggles are available. Lab spaces are receiving proper sanitation per CDC guidelines.
Restroom usage is subject to proper social distancing guidelines and CDC sanitation measures are being strictly followed.
The library has limited seating to implement social distancing guidelines and the above face mask guidelines is being followed. The library is receiving the proper sanitation measures per the CDC.
Study abroad for the spring semester is under discussion regarding the guidance from our health authorities. Contact your professor or program chair for more information.
Athletics will follow the guidelines of the NAIA and CCC.
All chapels are remote. However, some students are able to live-stream chapel in classrooms with appropriate social-distancing and/or face masks. Outside gatherings are limited to 50 people with face masks required when social distancing cannot be maintained.
Campus is open for instructional purposes and official university business only.
To maintain a healthy campus, we ask all students and employees to assess their health and the health of those they have been in contact with before coming to campus. Questions are outlined further down this page in the section entitled, “Health Check Questions”.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) exists to help students whose education was disrupted by the pandemic.
Multnomah County Phase Information
Our county remains in Phase 1 of reopening. There has been a limited reopening of restaurants, personal services, gyms, and malls. There are also limits on gathering sizes indoors. At this time, the county is not ready to apply for Phase 2 of reopening. Learn more about Multnomah County reopening.
Multnomah University COVID-19 Cases
0 Current Case | 27 Previous Cases
We have been working with Multnomah County Health Department, conducting contact-tracing, and contacting students and employees who may have interacted with these individuals. Please join us in praying for their recovery and following all safety protocols in place at Multnomah.
Quarantine Numbers
On-campus: 2
Off-campus: 1
Note: Positive Test Totals: 27
Covid-19 Update – January 26, 2021
In the past week, we have seen an increase in Covid-19 symptoms and cases in the Multnomah community. I’m writing to provide you with a timely update and reassurance that university leadership is responding with diligence. Our top priority is to keep our students and staff safe while continuing to provide the best possible educational experience.
There are currently four confirmed cases in our community, including students and staff. These positive cases were quickly identified and detailed contact tracing began immediately. As a result, 40 people were identified as being exposed and are currently in quarantine; 18 on campus. Per privacy laws, we are unable to identify those infected or in quarantine. However, students who were potentially exposed have been notified.
University staff is in daily communication with county health officials, and we continue to follow all CDC safety procedures. In addition, small group meetings and gatherings, including our weekly chapel services, will be conducted remotely until further notice. Classes will continue in person and through our adaptive educational environment.
As stated previously, the safety of students and staff is our top priority, while also ensuring that we deliver the best possible educational experience. We know that this is challenging for our students, which is why we continue to encourage them to reach out to staff and faculty for support and to take advantage of campus resources to help them succeed.
While this is a challenge, I trust that God remains in control, that He loves us, and that he is trustworthy. With His help, the Multnomah community will persevere.
Prayerfully,
G. Craig Williford, Ph.D.
President
Adaptive Learning Environment
In our Adaptive Learning Environment (ALE) students can learn with excellence, connect with others, grow in faith, and prepare for their future. Our ALE combines on-campus class sessions with enhanced online learning, which will allow our faculty to be responsive and engaged regardless of how the fall unfolds. We are prepared to move smoothly and quickly to an online learning environment if this becomes necessary at any point during the semester.
Personal Health Check Questions
We know that COVID-19 can be present with multiple symptoms or sometimes no symptoms at all. If everyone asks these questions and stays home if exposed to COVID-19 or experiences these symptoms, we have the best chance to keep the campus environment healthy.
- Do I have a cough?
- Have I been exposed to someone with a cough that could have transmitted COVID-19 to me?
- Do I have shortness of breath or difficulty breathing?
- Have I been exposed to someone with shortness of breath or difficulty breathing that could have transmitted COVID-19 to me?
- Am I experiencing or have I been exposed to someone with two of any of the following symptoms?
- Fever
- Chills
- Repeated shaking with chills
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
