Date: March 9, 2021
From: Rick Culliton
Subject: COVID Safety and Spring Sports Update
To the Wesleyan Community:
The Pandemic Planning Committee continues to monitor conditions on campus and in the surrounding community. Campus has seen only a small number of COVID-19 cases, which are attributable, we believe, to students visiting one another without wearing masks. The success of this semester depends on everyone taking the COVID safety precautions – wearing masks, maintaining appropriate distance and limiting indoor interactions.
We are encouraged by the declining positivity rates in the surrounding community, with Middletown lowering its alert level from Red to Orange. Wesleyan’s alert level remains at yellow. Wearing a mask in public – whether on campus or off – is still critical for reducing risk to the campus community. With warmer weather this week, we ask you to look for opportunities to meet with others outside rather than inside to reduce risk of transmission.
Please note the following changes and reminders:
- Dining: Grab-and-go dining is available at campus venues; there is limited indoor dining in the Usdan marketplace. See the Dining Website for more information.
- Travel: Students may leave campus only for travel within Middletown – be it trips to grocery stores, pharmacies, or for medical appointments. Students may also go into Middletown for work, internships, retail shopping and take-out dining. But, students are restricted from dine-in restaurants and off-campus fitness centers. Other off-campus travel is not permitted without prior approval from Davison Health Center.
- Residence Halls: Students may visit with others who live in the same residence hall or program house, while adhering to safety protocols—wearing masks, maintaining six-foot distancing—and abiding by COVID capacities. Students living in wood frames and apartments are permitted to welcome other students to visit their units, if other residents are comfortable. Keep in mind the COVID capacity applies to the entire house or apartment, so communication with roommates is essential to ensure compliance. Community Advisors (CAS) are available to advise housemates on having these conversations and negotiating terms to ensure everyone feels comfortable.
- Usdan University Center is open and available to students. No visitors are permitted.
- Testing and Contact Tracing: Please be sure you are complying with the University’s requirement for ongoing COVID-19 testing. Students and employees should schedule their own tests, which must take place at the campus testing site. Students who miss more than three tests will be immediately required to leave campus and study remotely for the rest of the semester. Please use this form if you must miss a test due to extenuating circumstances.
The NESCAC presidents have reached agreement on a limited schedule of conference competition for spring sports from mid-April to mid-May. Each institution will make its own decision whether to participate, based on local considerations and restrictions, and competition will take place in a sport only if at least six NESCAC teams sponsor play. Wesleyan will participate in NESCAC intercollegiate competitions with appropriate safeguards if pandemic conditions remain stable. See the Athletics Website for more information. In addition to athletics, the student activities office will be sharing information to reserve outdoor spaces for student use as well as reinstalling tents for student programming. Opportunities for supervised off-campus activities by academic programs and student groups will be reviewed by student activities staff.
Finally, please ensure that you are familiar with the spring COVID Code of Conduct and continue to follow all the guidelines detailed within. We appreciate your care and attention in keeping our community safe.
Thank you,
Rick Culliton
Dean of Students
Chair, Pandemic Planning Committee