In preparation for the first day of classes on Wednesday, Jan. 13, students have begun returning to Elon after the break, with all students, faculty and staff completing COVID-19 tests.
With Winter Term classes set to start on Wednesday, Jan. 13, students are beginning to return to Elon following the holiday break.
This year, Elon has shifted the schedule for Winter Term in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A later start to classes helps accommodate COVID-19 testing for all students, faculty and staff when returning to campus, with student testing to take place daily beginning on Sunday. More information about the testing requirements and testing dates and times is available here.
The university is able to use rapid antigen tests for arrival testing, which allows for results to be known within three hours. All students must quarantine in their rooms, either in campus housing or off-campus, until they receive a negative test result. While awaiting results, students may go to dining halls, wearing masks, to pick up meals. No other access to campus facilities will be allowed. More information about the testing process is available here.
In the winter and spring, and to better identify positive cases, all undergraduates will be required to participate in on-campus PCR testing every other week and weekly antigen testing when supplies become available. More information will be shared in the coming weeks.
A reminder – all students must receive the annual flu vaccine before classes begin in January. Those students who had not completed this requirement by mid-December received a direct email with instructions for uploading confirmation of the flu vaccine to your Phoenix Health portal or requesting an exemption. Click here for additional information.
From Sunday through Tuesday, the university is offering a special series of events for first-year students to promote connection, wellness, engagement and fun. First-year students should check Phoenix Connect to learn more about what’s planned.
All students should watch for additional in-person activities taking place during Winter and Spring Term, including smaller, in-person organization fairs and the return of athletic contests in the spring. All events will prioritize safe practices, including wearing masks.
As Winter Term prepares to begin, all students should review the following guidelines and expectations.
- The revised Healthy Elon Commitment – shared practices to protect the community and decrease virus spread.
- Campus expectations for Shared Responsibility and Accountability, including student conduct outcomes expected for violations of university policies and local/state orders.
- Event and gathering guidelines are included on the website here. The Town of Elon emergency declaration continues to limit non-university-sponsored and unregistered social gatherings to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.
- NC Stay at Home Order extended through January 29: North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper extended the Modified Stay at Home Order, through Friday, January 29.
- The order requires all North Carolina residents—including students—to remain in their residence between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless traveling for work, grocery shopping, seeking medical attention or other essential services.
- Restaurants may remain open after 10 p.m. for take-out or delivery service only.
- Impacts on campus services and facilities include:
- Facilities, including Koury Athletic Center, all recreation facilities, Belk Library, and Moseley Campus Center will close at 10 p.m.
- Residential dining locations will be closed no later than 10 p.m., but take-out options will remain available after that time. Late Night in Lakeside will not be scheduled during Winter Term.
- Even as we plan more in-person campus activities, they will conclude no later than 10 p.m.
When they get underway on Wednesday, most Winter Term classes will be held in-person or in hybrid mode, similar to the models that faculty used during fall semester. First session classes will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, and second session classes will be held from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Winter Term classes will conclude on Feb. 2, with exams on Feb. 3, followed by the start of Spring Semester on Feb. 8.
More information about the Winter Term and Spring Semester schedules is available here.