Throughout the fall semester, Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley is providing regular email update messages to keep students and parents informed about the efforts related to COVID-19.
Dear Students,
This week we are initiating the regular email update messages to keep you informed about university efforts related to COVID-19 throughout the semester. Returning students will remember these weekly messages from the spring, but we will have a few changes as we shift into the fall communications:
The weekly message will be distributed on Wednesday mornings around 10:45 a.m.
At the end of the email we will always include a link to the university’s COVID-19 dashboard, where we report and update statistics of confirmed cases among individuals on campus, and provide links to the North Carolina dashboard.
Elon’s Ready and Resilient website remains an important source of updated information about the upcoming semester. I encourage you to take time to visit the site and review the materials there. Today’s email update highlights a few key messages, but know that we keep the site continually updated, with recent updates and announcements highlighted on the front page.
Checklist for the fall semester
If you have not already taken care of the following important steps, please make sure you do so now. Several of these are required before you can attend classes. You can find information about the health requirements and resources online here or via the links below.
- Complete your pre-semester PCR COVID-19 test, either through the test available through the university or by uploading other PCR test results. (all students – new and returning)
- View the COVID-19 training modules and sign the Healthy Elon Commitment. (all students – new and returning)
- Make your plans to head to the Health Check-In at Schar Center as soon as you arrive on campus and before you enter campus facilities. (all students – new and returning)
- Upload your immunization record, health information form and tuberculosis screening questionnaire to your PhoenixHealth Portal – instructions here. (all new students)
- Submit your Phoenix Card student identification photo at https://myphoto.elon.edu/. (all new students)
- Complete the online training for AlcoholEdu, DiversityEdu, and Sexual Assault Prevention, using the customized links emailed earlier this summer. (all new undergraduate students)
Remote-only learning option
Today, August 5, is the deadline to submit a request for a remote-only learning option, either based on disability or health-related accommodations or based on other unique circumstances or concerns.
Lessons learned from in-person instruction this summer
Click here to view some advice from Dr. Becky Neiduski, Dean of the School of Health Sciences, on what’s been learned from their past ten weeks of in-person classes in the Francis Center.
Shared responsibility, guidelines, and accountability this fall
This fall there are a number of temporary residence hall guidelines to support healthy communities and Elon Dining has developed extensive plans to support a safe dining environment.
Elon students are the leaders and citizens we need in moments of challenge. Whether on campus or in the local community, we expect that students can and will rise to this moment and demonstrate sound decision-making this fall. Students have asked how we will address violations of university policies and expectations related to COVID-19. We will take decisive action, of course, for the sake of our community and what is at stake. An explanation of our shared responsibility and accountability is available online here. Note that the Town of Elon also plans to strictly enforce local and state guidelines.
COVID-19 and anti-Asian discrimination
Along with the COVID-19 pandemic, our nation has experienced an increase in acts of discrimination, racism and violence against Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islanders. The Elon community condemns anti-Asian bigotry, remarks, behaviors and all acts of xenophobia and rejects the racialization of the COVID-19 pandemic and the association of nationality to the disease. Read the full language against anti-Asian racism on the R&R site.
Any act or expression of bias or bigotry should be reported to the Center for Equity and Inclusive Excellence using Elon’s bias response system, which can be found here.
Sources of information
Since the first positive COVID-19 case at the university at the end of May, there have been a cumulative total of 9 laboratory-confirmed cases among students, faculty, or staff who were on campus during the period of infection. The last case was reported on July 21. Information about positive cases at the university is updated on the university COVID-19 dashboard as it becomes available.
We recommend the following sources for those seeking more information about the COVID-19 pandemic and the university response:
- The university Ready and Resilient website: https://www.elon.edu/u/ready-and-resilient/
- The coronavirus website maintained jointly by several federal agencies: https://www.coronavirus.gov/
- The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services with information about the state-level response to COVID-19: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/
- The Today at Elon website with news and information from across the university, featuring important updates and stories about Elon students, faculty, staff and alumni: https://www.elon.edu/u/news/
The next weekly COVID-19 update will be sent to all students, faculty, and staff at 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, August 12, unless an earlier message is warranted.
—
Dr. Jon Dooley
Vice President for Student Life