Last updated March 16, 2022

At madiSTEM 2022, we will promote safe interactions and protect the health of all madiSTEM participants and volunteers. We appreciate your cooperation with these policies as we plan a fun and safe event! 

Vaccination or Testing 

All conference participants (students and adults) are required to either be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 on the day of the conference or have a negative COVID test no more than 72 hours before the start of the conference. Proof of vaccination status or negative test will be required at check-in on the day of the conference. Proof must be presented in person at check-in and cannot be sent in beforehand.  Please see below for the requirements for documentation of vaccination or negative test.  

Vaccination Documentation Requirements 

We consider a person fully vaccinated if they have received two doses of Pfizer or Moderna or one dose of J&J (Janssen), and the last dose was administered on or before March 12, 2022.  (If you received a different vaccine, please email us at madistem@jmu.edu.) 

Acceptable forms of documentation of full vaccination are: 

• An official, government-issued vaccine card showing your name, the brand of vaccine, and the dates of the vaccine dose(s). 
• A photo or digital version of an official, government-issued vaccine card showing your name, the brand of vaccine, and the dates of the vaccine dose(s).  (If you received your vaccine dose(s) in Virginia, or have reported them to VDH, you can access and download your vaccine record from the VDH vaccine site: https://vase.vdh.virginia.gov/vacapps/f?p=545:1) 

Negative Test Documentation Requirements 

All tests must be administered or proctored/witnessed by a health official or patient platform who can provide official documentation of your negative test result.  Self-administered antigen tests that are witnessed virtually by an official provider are acceptable.  We will accept antigen tests as well as PCR/NAAT tests.  Antibody tests or recent positive tests are not accepted.   

Tests are offered at many pharmacies and through community test sites.  You may also find testing options through your student’s medical provider or through various telehealth services.  Some companies who make at-home tests offer virtual test verification services; any service which would meet the CDC guidelines for travel-related testing is acceptable. 

Printed or digital documentation of a negative test must include ALL of the following: 

• The type of test (antigen, PCR, etc) 
• Who issued the result and their phone/fax number or email address (for example, a pharmacy, laboratory, healthcare entity, or telehealth service) 
• Date the test was taken - the test sample must be collected no earlier than 7am on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 
• The name of the person being tested 
• The test result 

Please note that there may be a cost associated with testing, and please be aware of the turnaround time for the results of any non-rapid tests.  If you have a cost or scheduling constraint related to COVID testing that would prohibit your student from being able to attend madiSTEM, please email us at madistem@jmu.edu by Wednesday, March 23rd. 

If you are unsure whether your testing plan or vaccine documentation will meet these requirements, please contact us at madistem@jmu.edu.   

Masks 

High-quality, medical-grade masks (surgical/procedure, KN95, KF94, or N95) must be worn at all times while indoors by every madiSTEM participant and volunteer, regardless of vaccination status.
 
We encourage all participants and volunteers to arrive in a highly protective mask that fits them well; we will have medical-grade masks in adult and tween sizes available at registration who needs one. Anyone wearing only a cloth mask will be required to replace or supplement it with a more protective mask. 
 
Appropriate mask-wearing will be required throughout the day; any participant or volunteer who refuses to wear their mask correctly over their nose and mouth will be required to leave the conference. Eating will not be allowed in workshop rooms. Masks can be removed during conference meals, briefly while drinking, and while outside. 

Additional Details 

• All attendees will be required to have a completed COVID Assumption of Risk form on file in order to participate.  
• If any attendee or volunteer has been exposed to COVID-19 within 3 days of the conference or is not feeling well on the morning of the conference, we ask that they not come to the conference. 
• To reduce contacts, conference participants will be kept in cohorts throughout the day, including for all conference activities and at lunch. 
• A parent or teacher may attend madiSTEM with a registered student, but all adults attending the conference must either stay with one specific student all day or remain in the conference-designated adult space all day.  The adult space is primarily intended for chaperones of groups who must remain in the building during the conference.  Other parents/teachers who do not want to stay with one student throughout the day are strongly encouraged to explore alternate locations at JMU or in Harrisonburg instead of staying in the building. A list of suggestions of such locations will be provided. 
• JMU students who volunteer at madiSTEM are also required to be fully vaccinated or have a negative COVID test.