Reopen: MICA's Fall 2021 Reopening Plan

Revised & Expanded Operational Mode 4

Reopen: MICA's Fall 2021 Reopening Plan

Revised and Expanded Operational Mode 4

MICA will be functioning in an expanded Operational Mode 4 during Fall 2021 and will be near normal operations. As our community returns to campus, many have questions regarding a number of related topics and policies.

Below, you’ll find quick answers to these questions, along with links to in-depth information that fully outlines relevant guidelines and procedures during Operational Mode 4.

If you have any questions regarding the information on this page, please
contact communications@mica.edu.

Being on Campus

Will MICA’s campus be open in the fall?

MICA’s campus is open to MICA students, staff, and faculty.

Will visitors be allowed on campus?

Visitors are allowed on campus for essential educational and College activities.

Please see the On Campus Visitation Policy for full details.

Will there be a new social agreement?

Yes. In order to remain current with MICA’s evolving operations the Social Agreement has been updated for Fall 2021.

Read the Social Agreement for Operational Mode 4.

Will food services be available?

Food service available at all four campus locations beginning in Fall 2021.

In-person dining at Meyerhoff Dining Hall will be at lower density with physical distancing.

Grab and Go for Café Doris, with outdoor patio and tent seating on Cohen Plaza, and in one in Lazarus parking lot.

Grab and Go only for Glace Grill and Java Corner.

Read the Eating & Drinking guidance for Operational Mode 4.

Will pets be allowed on campus?

Fall 2021 Pet Policy is unchanged from the standard (pre-COVID) policy.

Will there be options for teleworking in the fall?

Job positions and employees are being assessed for telework eligibility.

Read more about MICA’s Provisional Teleworking Policy.

What are the rules for outside vendors coming to MICA?

Access by vendors is limited at normal levels.

Read MICA’s Vendor Social Agreement.

What if I need to travel to campus?

The pandemic continues to affect the safety and feasibility of travel, and MICA's Travel Policy has been updated to comply with state, local, national and international restrictions and guidelines.

The updated Travel Policy, however, does not apply to faculty, staff, and students who commute to campus.

Read the full Travel Policy.

Fall 2021 Academics

Will classes be in-person in the fall?

Educational experience prioritizes the return to the physical campus. Instruction is primarily in-person or hybrid.

What restrictions will there be for in-person classes?

In-person classes are mostly returned to pre-COVID size, with some modifications to occupancy and/or scheduling parameters to coordinate space use.

Indoor masking is required. Masks may be removed briefly in the classroom for beverage breaks. Meals will be permitted in designated MICA dining areas, including mask break tents, and outdoors.

Will events return to campus in the fall?

Curricular and co-curricular in-person engagements will be allowed with some modifications or restrictions; online/remote options may be used to avoid large gatherings.

Read more about our Auditorium and Large Meeting Space Guidelines.

Will students be able to access studios?

There will be modified to full access to studios, workspaces, shops, and fabrication studios for all students enrolled in classes.

Will fabrication studios be available?

There will be modified to full access to studios, workspaces, shops, and fabrication studios for all students enrolled in classes.

Service bureau/remote production will continue to facilitate fabrication instruction.

Will Decker Library be open?

Decker Library will be open for use by students, staff, and faculty with some modifications to
accommodate whatever limitations on gatherings exist at the time.

Visit Decker Library to learn more.

Will field-based experiences be in person?

Field-based experiences are primarily in-person. College and program policies for field-based activities are to be observed.

Will gallery spaces be open in the fall?

Campus gallery use is scheduled with priority for student exhibitions; limited outside visitors will be allowed as noted above.

Living on Campus

Will students be able to live in the residence halls?

Residence halls are open for normal use; designated quarantine and isolation spaces are being reserved.

Will the health center be open?

MICA Health Center will be open for normal operations.

Will the campus shuttles be running?

Campus Shuttles operating normal routes and schedules for on-campus buildings and residences, with limited hours for off-campus locations.

Staff & Faculty

Will staff and faculty be back on campus in the fall?

Staff and faculty will return to campus to support students/ campus operations and to provide hybrid or face-to-face instruction.

Will there be options for teleworking in the fall?

Job positions and employees are being assessed for telework eligibility.

Read more about MICA’s Provisional Teleworking Policy.

Facilities & Services

Will food services be available?

Food service will be available at all four campus locations beginning in Fall 2021.

In-person dining at Meyerhoff Dining Hall will be at lower density with physical distancing.

Grab and Go for Café Doris, with outdoor patio and tent seating on Cohen Plaza and in one in Lazarus parking lot.

Grab and Go only for Glace Grill and Java Corner.

Read the Food Service Guidelines for Operational Mode 4.

Will the MICA Store be open?

The MICA Store will be open for MICA students, staff, faculty, and essential MICA visitors only, with slightly lower capacity limits followed.

Visit the MICA Store for more information.

Can I send and receive mail on campus?

MICA Postal & Print is open five days a week for MICA students, staff, and faculty only.

Visit the Postal & Print webpages for updated information on their current operations.

Will campus shuttles be running?

Campus Shuttles operating normal routes and schedules for on-campus buildings and residences, with limited hours for off-campus locations.

What are campus buliding hours?

Building hours will return to normal for the fall. Everyone accessing MICA’s buildings will still be required to swipe into all buildings to help in contact tracing if necessary.

View all Building Hours and Access information.

Health & Safety

Will we be required to wear masks on campus?

Indoor masking required.

Breaks for safely unmasking, and eating, and drinking will be provided in all classes of extended length.

What are the rules for outside vendors coming to MICA?

Access by vendors is limited at normal levels.

Read MICA’s Vendor Social Agreement.

What filtration enhancements have been made to MICA buildings?

Prior to the Spring 2021 semester, the air filtration systems of most MICA buildings were upgraded from “MERV 8” and “MERV 11” filters to the much higher performance “MERV 13,” and on occasion “MERV 14” filters.

See MICA's Updated Air Filtration Systems page for details.

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Being on Campus

Will MICA’s campus be open in the fall?

Will visitors be allowed on campus?

Will there be a new social agreement?

Will food services be available?

Will pets be allowed on campus?

Will there be options for teleworking in the fall?

What are the rules for outside vendors coming to MICA?

What if I need to travel to campus?

Related Links

Fall 2021 Academics

Will classes be in-person in the fall?

What restrictions will there be for in-person classes?

Will events return to campus in the fall?

Will students be able to access studios?

Will fabrication studios be available?

Will Decker Library be open?

Will field-based experiences be in person?

Will gallery spaces be open in the fall?

Related Links

Living on Campus

Will students be able to live in the residence halls?

Will the health center be open?

Will the campus shuttles be running?

Staff & Faculty

Will staff and faculty be back on campus in the fall?

Will there be options for teleworking in the fall?

Related Links

Facilities & Services

Will food services be available?

Will the MICA Store be open?

Can I send and receive mail on campus?

Will campus shuttles be running?

What are campus buliding hours?

Related Links

Health & Safety

Will we be required to wear masks on campus?

What are the rules for outside vendors coming to MICA?

What filtration enhancements have been made to MICA buildings?

MICA INDEX