The university returned to the Moderate Alert level after an earlier increase in the number of positive cases among the campus community subsided.
Dear Elon community,
Thank you. Together, we are approaching the halfway point of the semester and your continued vigilance has reduced the spread of COVID-19 that we experienced on campus over the past few weeks.
Return to Level 2 – Moderate Alert
Based on a number of key indicators on campus and in our region, Elon’s Alert System has been reduced from High Alert down to Level 2 – Moderate Alert, which is good news for the Elon community and shows that limiting exposure can help slow the spread of the virus.
Experience shows us that the number of COVID-19 cases may surge and dissipate at times, emphasizing the importance of keeping our guard up. Our personal behavior is critical and that means being vigilant about wearing masks, physical distancing and washing hands. Key to our success is to strictly limit the size of your social bubble – removing your mask and relaxing your behaviors only at home with your roommate or family members. If we continue these practices, even as our Alert Level is reduced, we can guard against another surge on campus.
Social Hiatus concludes end of day on Thursday, October 8
We appreciate the commitment and compromises made during the two-week social hiatus. Beginning first thing, Friday, October 9:
- In-person dining will resume, physically distanced and with limited capacity in facilities—masks should only be removed while eating or drinking.
- Minimal numbers of guests, will be allowed again in residence hall rooms and apartments (2 total occupants per single, 4 total occupants per double, and 6 total occupants per apartment, etc.). No overnight guests are allowed.
- Club sports, Elon Outdoors, and intramurals will resume in phases.
- Intercollegiate Athletics activities and operations will resume in phases.
- Non-essential travel to and from campus should remain limited.
- All scheduled in-person campus events will continue to be reviewed to assess risk.
- Academic instruction was not changed during the social hiatus and will continue as before.
Each of these changes should be undertaken within limits and with extreme care.
Talking about Safety & Guidelines
A new intervention guide has been added to the R&R Faculty & Staff page to help with difficult conversations about COVID-19. The guide will be helpful as we re-enter level 2 and to remind each other to avoid becoming lax in our behaviors.
As we approach our first Fall Break day, we strongly urge all faculty, staff, and students to recommit to the Healthy Elon Commitment. Campus cases have been caused by social spread among people not wearing masks or maintaining physical distancing both in social settings and during meals or breaks. It is imperative that we keep masks on outdoors and maintain at least six feet of distance at mealtimes. Any time masks are removed, we have the potential to spread the virus in our community.
Travel
We continue to strongly discourage any non-essential travel. Those who choose to travel should limit contact while away and once returned, arrange for their own testing (preferably six days after travel), and show extreme care while traveling and after returning so as not to put others at risk.
North Carolina Phase 3
Although North Carolina Governor Cooper has shifted the state to Phase 3, please remember that the Town of Elon remains at the 10 person indoors limit and 25 person outdoors limit for social occasions.
We greatly appreciate every member of this community honoring our shared commitments to keeping each other healthy.
Thank you,
The Ready & Resilient Committee
- Jeff Stein, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Assistant Professor of English (Chair)
- Dan Anderson, Vice President of University Communications
- Ginette Archinal, Medical Director of Student Health and University Physician
- MarQuita Barker, Director of Residence Life
- John Barnhill, Associate Vice President for University Advancement
- Tom Flood, Assistant Vice President of Physical Plant
- Jason Husser, Associate Professor of Political Science and Policy Studies, and Director of the Elon Poll (Academic Council Representative)
- Deandra Little, Assistant Provost, Director of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning and Professor of English
- Paul Miller, Assistant Provost for Academic Operations and Communications and Professor of Exercise Science
- Kelly Reimer, Director of Teaching and Learning Technologies (Staff Council Representative)
- Carrie Ryan, Director of Auxiliary Services
- Kelli Shuman, Associate Vice President for Human Resources & Chief Human Resources Officer
- Gabie Smith, Dean of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Psychology
- Mary Southern, Project Manager for Provost and Academic Affairs Operations (Project Manager)
- Mike Ward, Deputy Director of Athletics
- Randy Williams, Vice President and Associate Provost for Inclusive Excellence and Assistant Professor of Education