Hello Bearcats and Bearcat Families!
I write with some COVID-related updates, many of which I shared with students during the all-School meeting on Friday. We have been on campus now for a little over a month. Thanks to everyone's efforts, School reopening has been successful and safe so far, and it has been great for all of us to return to some semblance of "normal" campus life. It is important to remember, however, that our ability to remain open as a residential community depends on all of us being careful and taking care of each other.
Given the good results we have achieved so far, I know the community is anxious for information about safety protocols. I am pleased to share a number of updates below. Please also note the information at the bottom of this message regarding an upcoming Zoom meeting for parents where we will answer additional questions.
ONE MONTH IN
Good results:
Needs improvement:
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Physical distancing: Staying 6' apart has proved challenging, requiring faculty and staff to remind students more often than we would like.
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Littering: Grab-n-go dining produces a lot of paper and plastic trash, and we are seeing litter around campus. We urge everyone to help keep the campus clean and beautiful.
LOOKING AHEAD
This summer, like many schools and universities, we envisioned a phased approach to reopening. Since we moved to "Reopening Phase 1," however, it has become clear that this approach is not granular enough to meet the changing needs of campus life and the dynamics of local conditions.
Therefore, going forward, we will refer to a "campus status" model. Each week, the COVID Steering Committee will assess School life based on a range of factors, including:
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Federal, state, and local government orders
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Local incidence of the virus, including the number of local cases, trajectory of infection rates, and positivity rates
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Testing on campus, including the number of tests given, positivity rate, and turnaround time
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Number of cases on campus and the evidence for virus spread
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Availability of resources, including isolation and quarantine space, Health Center capacity, supplies of PPE, disinfectant, and cleaning materials, and the ability of the School to staff critical services
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Behavior and compliance with our Community Compact
As a result of this process, the Steering Committee may opt to loosen certain safety protocols, but this is not guaranteed. In fact, protocols may be tightened if conditions warrant. Based on these assessments, every week we will publish a Campus Report Card that will provide the most up-to-date information available.
This week, we are watching a rise in virus cases in Connecticut and the nation as a whole. Incidence in the local area remains low, but we continue to monitor conditions. Based on the criteria noted above as well as the School's test results, the Steering Committee has approved the following updates to protocols this week (highlighted in the Campus Report Card):
- Students may now visit other floors in their own dorm, provided they remain masked, distanced, and in dorm corridors. Visiting other people's rooms is still not allowed (note exception for proctors below), and visiting other dorms is strictly prohibited.
- Proctors are allowed to host one guest from their floor in their room or to visit a student from their floor in the student's room. Both must be masked and distanced, and the window should be open.
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Study spaces in the main building are now open in the evenings for seniors by reservation. Later this month, upper mids will be able to reserve space as well. Work spaces (practice rooms, art rooms, etc.) are open to students completing class assignments.
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Sports and activities designated as lower risk by the State and the Steering Committee may move toward fuller play. Moderate and higher risk sports will continue to practice with modifications and limitations on contact. (Please see Campus Report Card for more information.)
Going forward, we ask all community members to read the Campus Report Card carefully to understand current safety protocols. It remains vital that we follow safe practices in community, and in particular, the three Ws: wear a mask (unless outside and alone), wash your hands, and watch your space. In addition, stay home if you don't feel well.
Across the School, we recognize that safety protocols can be difficult to live with. Yet we don't have to look far for examples of schools or institutions that have experienced major spreading events or have had to shut down as a result of inadequate respect for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We are charting a course that allows for the best possible community experience while not incurring undue risk of illness or the spread of the virus.
PLEASE JOIN UPCOMING ZOOM CALL
Please join me and Steve McKibben P '22, dean of community life, for an upcoming call for families. We will discuss specifics laid out in this letter as well as any new developments, and we welcome your questions in advance.
Family COVID Conversation
Monday, October 26
8 pm - 9 pm ET
This will likely continue to be a challenging year, but we can feel very good about where we are this week. I thank all community members for their continued care of themselves and each other.
Be strong, be kind, and be well,
Richard Davis
COVID Coordinator and Associate Dean of Faculty
