To ACPHS Community,

As the pandemic continues into its third year, we remain committed to in-person learning while maintaining the health and safety of the ACPHS community. Given the current surge of COVID-19 cases, we have decided to implement the following protocols:

All didactic courses (including lab courses) will be remote from 1/10 thru 1/21 with in-person classes to resume on 1/24. This will reduce density on campus and mitigate the spread of the virus. Students do not need to update their schedule. Program Directors will send a follow-up email to their students to provide additional information and answer any academic questions. Work study students are not required to return to campus until 1/24.

Students are required to get a COVID-19 test (either rapid or PCR) within 24-72 hours of campus reentry, and upload their test result into Share My Health. Students can go to a state testing site or use at-home tests that can be purchased online or at pharmacies. Students who test positive for COVID-19 will not be allowed to return to campus until they complete their 10-day isolation period. Employees are strongly encouraged to get tested.

In addition to protecting our College community, we also want to do all we can to enable our students to graduate on time and continue to participate in athletics. Though all students can return to campus, the student groups listed below can return to face-to-face activity on 1/9:

As noted above, students must submit proof of their negative COVID test before they will be allowed to return to housing. Once students upload their negative test result, they will be able to move into the residence halls beginning 1/9 at noon. Please email ResLife@acphs.edu if you have any questions about moving back into your residence hall room. The dining hall, library, and fitness center will be open with adjusted hours. A follow up email will be sent soon with the specific hours of operation.

All students and employees who are eligible are required to get their COVID-19 booster and upload documentation into ShareMy.Health by 1/24. Those who are not currently eligible, must receive their booster within 14 days of becoming eligible. If you have received a primary series of a WHO-listed vaccine not available in the United States, and it has been at least six months since your last dose, we are following CDC guidance and advise that you receive a booster dose of vaccine with only the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

We will be having an on-campus booster clinic January 13 for students and employees - more details to follow. In the meantime, we encourage you to get your booster at a state site or local pharmacy.

Students and employees with approved medical or religious exemptions will continue to be tested weekly on campus.

Everyone on campus, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, must wear masks and complete the daily health screener. Anyone experiencing symptoms is expected to stay home. Symptoms include:

If you have questions regarding testing, boosters, or daily health screening, please email COVIDTesting@acphs.edu.

We will continue to closely monitor community transmission of COVID-19 and will promptly inform you if additional measures need to be taken to protect our community. Thank you for your continued patience and cooperation.

 

Greg Dewey

ACPHS President