Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information and Resources
General Information
What is COVID-19 or coronavirus?
COVID-19 (previously 2019 novel coronavirus or 2019-nCoV) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. A novel coronavirus called SARS-CoV2 is the cause of COVID-19 and the outbreak first recognized in China in December 2019. Since then, the virus has been classified as a pandemic. COVID-19 has caused mild to severe symptoms and in cases of extreme illness has caused death. Symptoms appear to be worse for older adults and those with chronic health conditions.
There are a wealth of resources above to help you stay up to date and prepared. The wellbeing of our community continues to be our top priority. To that end Albertus Magnus College is guided by local and state officials, the American College Health Association and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Albertus Magnus College Students, Faculty and Staff can access additional information regarding COVID-19, campus response and procedures on the myAlbertus Health & Wellness tile, Coronavirus (COVID-19) page. Please follow the Albertus Reporting Requirements.
What are the recommendations for COVID-19?
1. How to Protect Yourself (New Info!) - Coronavirus spreads from person-to-person when droplets from an infected person travels when they sneeze, cough or talk. They can travel up to 6 ft! That’s why we are hearing all about social distancing - staying at least 6 ft away from people who are sick, staying 6ft away from others when possible, and keeping group gatherings (especially outside your home) to less than 10. Coronavirus can possibly spread from someone who is infected but doesn't feel sick so you want to maintain distance even if people are feeling well. And of course we want to keep up the good hygiene! Especially handwashing. The CDC released new recommendations on the wearing of cloth face masks when unable to effectively social distance. Get all the information on protecting yourself at this link Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
2. The U.S. President’s 30 Days to Slow the Spread - On 3/16, the U.S. President announced his Slow the Spread campaign. Why is it important? When we take these actions we not only help keep ourselves safe - we help stop the spread of coronavirus across our communities, country, and globe. Learn more at 15 Days to Slow the Spread. On 3/29, the U.S. President extended social distancing to the end of April. Students - check out this video message from your peers about social distancing.
3. If You Think You Are Sick - In Connecticut and in many communities across the country there is now community transmission of coronavirus. That means that you can get sick without having traveled to a high risk area or without being in close contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19. Know the symptoms of COVID-19 and if you feel unwell at all, distance yourself from others and call your healthcare provider for further instruction. Symptoms can range from very mild to serious. If you have respiratory symptoms, like cough or sneezing and have a face mask, put it on before being around other people. Find details at this link If You Are Sick. You can also scroll down to access the CDC's Coronavirus Self-Checker tool.
4. Disinfecting Your Home If Someone is Sick - Disinfecting and cleaning are not the same and all products are not effective against human coronavirus. But you don’t necessarily need fancy products to kill the virus. Find all the details at this link Disinfecting Your Home If Someone Is Sick.
5. What You Need To Know - Get information about Symptoms, important guidelines for Older Adults & those with Health Conditions and learn how to Prepare Your Family at this link CDC Coronavirus (COVID-19).
6. Get the Latest Updates from National and Local Resources - Always get the latest information from reputable sources! Misinformation can be dangerous. This CDC link will tell you what’s new and enables you to sign up for email alerts and updates by RSS Feed. Spread of coronavirus varies in different communities. Follow the sources at the top of this page. If you are outside of CT find your State DPH website and follow your governor’s office online or on social media. If you live in a large city your local Department of Public Health may also have a social media channel to follow for the latest updates. Live in CT? Follow @GovNedLamont on Twitter.
7. COVID Cases in the U.S. and Global Cases - This interactive map of the US is updated daily by the CDC. Hover over a state to see the latest case count.
8. Our Mental Health - These are unprecedented times and they are stressful! Be sure to focus on all of your health needs. Health & Wellness has a page with resources here. Follow us on Instagram @albertushealth for more! Find a great resource? Let us know about it at counseling@albertus.edu. Students who need help connecting to a resource can contact counseling@Albertus.edu. Staff and faculty can contact human resources to discuss EAP.
9. The New Normal….at least for a little while - Efforts to reduce the spread of coronavirus have drastically changed the way we live our lives. Many of us are now primarily in our homes with a small number of friends or family - or maybe even living alone. The way we socialize, work, study, and keep ourselves healthy are all different right now. So it’s time to adapt - and the good thing is that in our digital age there are MANY ways to do it! The world is coming together - because we are ALL in this together. Many businesses are changing their hours and making information free and online. Some helpful things we’ve seen (this is a very small list):
- The Apple App Store has a list of helpful apps for connection, productivity, physical health, mental health, kids learning and more.
- Planet Fitness is now offering FREE 20 minute, no equipment needed workout classes to anyone via Facebook Live. All you need is an internet connection!
- Grocery stores and pharmacies have early hours for high risk individuals.
- Places of worship going online! Check with yours.
- Koru Mindfulness which we normally teach on campus has created a resource for all at https://student.korumindfulness.org/ .
10. Find time to laugh, inject fun and humor into your day and connect with other people - We can tell you that laughter lowers blood pressure and reduces stress but you already know you feel better when someone sends a hilarious meme or you watch that kitten video online for the 10th time (or the 100th!). Find the coloring book someone gave you for Christmas that you forgot about, follow some positive social media, see how many creative ways you can cook your non-perishable foods on Pinterest….be informed and prepared but also be human. Smile. And remember we are here to support you.
CDC Coronavirus Self-Checker
The purpose of the Coronavirus Self-Checker is to help people make decisions about seeking appropriate medical care. This system is not intended for the diagnosis or treatment of disease or other conditions, including COVID-19. This system is intended only for people who are currently located in the United States.
Reporting Requirements to Albertus Magnus College
It is the responsibility of every individual to identify and communicate their risks for the protection of others.
All Albertus Magnus College students, staff, faculty and contracted employees should report:
- Known or suspected exposure to a Person Under Investigation (PUI) for COVID-19 or a person with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19
- Status as a PUI or diagnosis with COVID-19
- Any other circumstance requiring isolation for coronavirus 2019 per local, state or federal guidelines
- Students should report to the Student Health Clinic: (203) 773-8938
Staff, faculty & contracted employees should report to Human Resources: (203)773-4474.
Individuals residing on campus should contact Campus Security in addition to the numbers above. Campus Security will notify the designated professional staff.
CDC COVID-19 Microsite
If the microsite does not load, please visit Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Financial Aid
Attention Borrowers
Due to the COVID-19 national emergency, the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) has announced it is providing temporary relief for federal loan borrowers by suspending federal loan payments and setting interest rates to 0% for a period of at least 60 days. The Department of Education is actively working with federal student loan servicers to implement these relief measures.
Unfortunately, there are several known scams occurring, including phone calls to borrowers from individuals claiming to be from a loan servicer, the IRS, or an unidentified entity. You should not be receiving any phone calls soliciting money or personal information during this transitional period. Your federal loan servicer will contact you via email with any updates. If you suspect a phone call is a scam, do not disclose any information to that individual. Instead, call your federal loan servicer directly to determine what, if anything, needs to be provided.
If you are unsure of who your federal loan servicer is, you can view the information on https://studentaid.gov/ or contact the Albertus Magnus College Financial Aid Office at (203) 773-8508 or at financial_aid@albertus.edu.
For more information on the Coronavirus and Forbearance information for students, borrowers, and parents, visit FSA’s COVID-19 website page.
We hope you and your family are staying safe and healthy. Please know we are here to help during these uncertain times.
Albertus Quick Links
Helpful Resources
COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving global health issue. Information is available and consistently updated from the following sources:
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Website
- World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 Website
- Connecticut Department of Public Health COVID-19 Website - New Content Daily including CT Case Counts and FAQs on the State's actions regarding COVID-19
- City of New Haven COVID-19 Hub - a comprehensive resource for residents and non-residents.
- COVID-19 Videos by the CDC
- COVID-19 ASL Videos by the CDC
- COVID-19 Videos by the World Health Organization
Questions about the coronavirus? Need help?
- Connecticut Residents Can Call 2-1-1 or text CTCOVID to 898211
- The 2-1-1 hotline is available 24 hours a day. Multilingual assistance and TDD/TTY access for those with a hearing impairment is also available.
- The Yale New Haven Health COVID-19 call center can be reached at 203-688-1700. Learn More...
- Hartford HealthCare’s COVID-19 Clinical Command Center hotline, staffed by healthcare professionals, is now available to the community. To reach the 24-hour hotline, call 860-972-8100 or (toll-free) 833-621-0600.
- Bristol Hospital hotline 860-261-4111.
- Stamford Hospital hotline 203-276-4111.
Health Insurance
Messages to the Community
Update Message from President Marc M. Camille - May 29, 2020
Update Message from President Marc M. Camille - May 22, 2020
Update Message from President Marc M. Camille - May 15, 2020
Update Message from President Marc M. Camille - May 8, 2020
Update Message from President Marc M. Camille - May 1, 2020
Update Message from President Marc M. Camille - April 24, 2020
Message From The Albertus Magnus College Board Of Trustees - April 22, 2020
Update Message from President Marc M. Camille - April 17, 2020
Update Message from President Marc M. Camille - April 8, 2020
Update Message from President Marc M. Camille - April 3, 2020
An Important Message from President Marc M. Camille - April 1, 2020
A Message from President Marc M. Camille - March 27, 2020
An Important Message from President Marc M. Camille - March 20, 2020
Albertus Information Technology Update - March 19, 2020
Important PGS Mod Update - March 19, 2020
An Important Message from President Marc M. Camille - March 13, 2020
Important PGS Mod Information - March 12, 2020
An Important Message from President Marc M. Camille - March 11, 2020
Update from the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Management Team (Employees) - March 5, 2020
Update from the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Management Team (Students) - March 5, 2020
Health alert to Albertus Community - February 28, 2020
Information posted on the myAlbertus portal for students - February 26, 2020
Health alert to Albertus Community - January 29, 2020
Health alert to Albertus Community - January 22, 2020
SilverCloud (for Students)
As our campus community adapts in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, it’s normal to feel stressed, anxious or overwhelmed. As part of our commitment to our students’ whole health, we’re working with SilverCloud, a clinically proven online mental health platform, to offer programs that build resilience, help you manage anxiety or depression, and help you develop skills to manage stress and sleep issues. Based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness and positive psychology, these action-oriented programs build self-awareness and self-management skills for your emotional health.
To access SilverCloud log in to MyAlbertus and go to Health & Wellness/Health & Wellness Topics/SilverCloud. Students can click here to access SilverCloud.
The Federal CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund-IHE/Student Aid provides funding to institutions to provide emergency financial aid grants to students whose lives have been disrupted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19), many of whom are facing financial challenges and struggling to make ends meet. Albertus Magnus College has received $1,362,920 in Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF) by the Department of Education pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students. The College signed and returned the required Certification and Agreement to the Department of Education to receive the allocated funds on April 13, 2020. The College’s funding became available on April 20, 2020. The College assures that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act ($681,460) to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.
Albertus Magnus College has created an application for 2019-2020 HEERF funding in compliance with the Federal CARES Act. The application can be found on the Financial Aid tile of the myAlbertus Portal. Please note that emergency funding is limited and that completion of the application does not guarantee funding. To qualify for HEERF funding, students must be eligible to receive emergency financial aid grants, and only students who are or could be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), may receive emergency financial aid grants. Students must also not be a part of a fully online program. The Financial Aid Office encourages all students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the HEERF Application as institutional funding may be available to assist students who do not qualify for federal emergency financial aid grants.
Eligible students will receive HEERF funds based on the following awarding matrix:
| EFC* from 0 to 5576 | EFC* from 5577 to 999,999 or unknown | |
| Full-Time Students | $600 | $400 |
| Less-Than-Full-Time Students | $300 | $200 |
*Expected Family Contribution
As of April 5, 2021, the total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Federal CARES Act as of the date of submission is $681,500 to 1,180 students.
As of January 15, 2021, the total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Federal CARES Act as of the date of submission is $665,300 to 1,147 students.
As of October 26, 2020, the total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Federal CARES Act as of the date of submission is $665,300 to 1,147 students.
As of August 5, 2020, the total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Federal CARES Act as of the date of submission is $665,300 to 1,147 students.
As of June 30, 2020, the total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Federal CARES Act as of the date of submission is $665,300 to 1,147 students.
As of June 16, 2020 the total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Federal CARES Act as of the date of submission is $356,300 to 714 students.
As of May 22, 2020, the total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Federal CARES Act as of the date of submission is $116,600 to 227 students.
As of May 13, 2020, the total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Federal CARES Act as of the date of submission is $0 to 0 students.
As of April 20, 2020, the total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Federal CARES Act as of the date of submission is $0 to 0 students.
The estimated total number of students at the College eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Federal CARES Act is 1,250.
For more information on HEERF, please visit the Department of Education’s CARES Act: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund page.
In compliance with public reporting requirements, below are links to Quarterly Reports
for the College's Section 18004(a)(1) and (a)(2) expenditures:
1. Quarterly Report covering the period from first award through September 30, 2020
2. Quarterly Report covering the quarter of October 1 to December 31, 2020
3. Quarterly Report covering the quarter of January 1 to March 31, 2021
4. Quarterly Report covering the quarter of April 1 to June 30, 2021
5. Quarterly Report covering the quarter of July 1 to September 30, 2021
6. Quarterly Report covering the quarter of October 1 to December 31, 2021
If you have any questions regarding the FAFSA, HEERF Application, or the awarding matrix, please contact the Financial Aid Office at (203) 773-8508 or at financial_aid@albertus.edu.
To determine if your BankMobile refund selection is accurate, please review your choice online or contact the Business Office at bursar@albertus.edu.
Anti-Stigma Statement
Albertus Magnus College, a destination liberal arts-based college that embraces its Catholic identity and is rooted in its Dominican values, reaffirms its commitment to diversity, equality, and respect for all in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak. There have been increasing numbers of news reports of stereotyping, harassment, and bullying against people perceived to be Chinese-Americans or Asian in general, all because of the virus’ origin in China. Here at Albertus, people of all backgrounds are welcomed and are part of our diverse family. There is zero tolerance of discrimination, threats, or retaliation of any kind and policies and procedures are in place to protect students, staff, and faculty from being targets of this unwelcomed behavior. For more information, please visit Policies and Reports.