September 6, 2020: Campus Life After Quarantine

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Date: September 6, 2020

Subject: Campus Life After Quarantine

From: Mike Whaley

To Our Wesleyan Community, 

As we close out two weeks of a campus-wide quarantine and look ahead to our first week of in-person classes, I want to thank everyone for your patience, perseverance, and continued efforts toward the safety and well-being of our shared campus community. Thanks to everyone doing their part in following and enforcing quarantine protocols, we have been able to maintain COVID positivity rates well below the levels predicted by modeling and can now move forward with the next phase of campus life post-quarantine.   

Although this is a significant milestone, it is important to note that we must still adhere to the safety guidelines and precautions that have proven effective thus far in keeping levels of infection down. For those of us on campus, this includes compliance with the Code of Conductand Community Agreement. For all of us, whether in Middletown or logging in remotely from home, continue practicing what is by now an ingrained part of our everyday routine: wear a mask at all times; maintain a six-foot social distance; avoid groups; wash your hands well and often. 

Note: Individuals who came from an affected state or from outside the U.S. and who arrived on campus after August 24 must remain in quarantine until they have completed a full 14 days. 

Beginning tomorrow, September 7, the following will apply: 

Academics 

Classes are now being taught in their indicated modality—in-person, hybrid, or online. For those students who are still in quarantine and unable to attend in-person classes, faculty members are prepared to accommodate you.  

Athletics 

  • The Freeman Athletic Center will resume operations on September 14 with restricted use for students only; students can sign up through a scheduling system application.  
  • Fall athletes can now begin phase 1 of their workouts. Intramural teams can practice if there is a facility available and a Wesleyan faculty or staff member to oversee the practice. Learn more about Athletics. 

Campus Life 

You can now move freely around campus and fully use outdoor space while maintaining six-foot distancing and always wearing a mask. This includes: 

  • Visiting with friends outdoors where distancing can be maintained.  
  • Traveling off-campus within a 25-mile radius.  
  • Attending meetings and informal gatherings (such as voluntary lectures, student group meetings, and social gatherings), which should be limited to 25 or fewer individuals and should take place outdoors or in venues where physical distancing requirements can be maintained. Face coverings/masks and distancing are required when interacting with anyone outside of your family unit. 

Student Activities and Leadership Development (SALD) is setting up an outdoor programming venue on Foss Hill in order to provide a safe venue to come together in larger groups over the coming months—please be in touch with stuact@wesleyan.edu with requests to use this space. 

Campus Resources 

Dining 

Dining will move indoors and to expanded locations. Learn more about dining services. 

Health Services 

The Davison Health Center is open by appointment only. Telemedicine and face-to-face visits are both provided. Prior to a face-to-face appointment, a student will be asked COVID-19 screening questions. If a student is having respiratory symptoms, they will be seen in the tent outside of the entrance. Students should call several minutes prior to arrival so a staff member can let them in (entrance is Davison Art Center side). The waiting room area is closed. Temperature will be checked upon arrival. Face coverings are mandatory.   

Hours of Operation:  

  • Monday through Thursday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
  • Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
  • Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
  • On-call services: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week   

Residential Life 

  • Students may now interact with any of the residents in their building while wearing masks and maintaining six-foot distancing.  
  • We encourage you to use the lounges, as no more than two people are permitted in bedrooms at a time, whether a single or double room.  
  • Kitchens are open for residents to use as of Tuesday, September 8.  Please abide by the maximum COVID-restricted occupancy that is posted in each common area.   
  • Wood-frame residents are permitted to have other students visit in their house up to the maximum COVID capacity, which is 30 percent of your fire code capacity. All students must wear masks and maintain six-foot distancing whenever someone from outside the family unit is in the house.   

Testing 

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 are required to remain on campus this semester.  

It is heartening to see how our extended Wesleyan community of students, faculty, staff, and parents have come together to protect and educate one another through this uncharted territory. Together we are off to a very good start. Let us keep working to maintain the positive results we have seen thus far. For those studying remotely this term, please take good care. We look forward to a successful semester and to all of us being together on campus again soon. 

Sincerely, 
 
Dean Mike Whaley 
Vice President for Student Affairs