This update includes information about remaining at the current alert level and guidance on the two break days scheduled for March 16 and 17.
Members of the Elon community,
March looks to be filled with both optimism and the possibility of case increases. First the good news this week:
- Vaccine supplies are on the way, Elon employees are now eligible for vaccines, and updates are being posted to the R&R vaccines page.
- Students who are not student employees will be eligible in coming weeks.
- Our campus positivity rate remains at 0.71% after more than eight weeks and 48,000 tests since the beginning of Winter Term.
Below please find updates regarding ongoing concerns this month:
- Remaining at High Alert in March (with increases predicted)
- Advice for the March 16-17 Break Days
Remaining at High Alert
Local, state, and federal health officials remain concerned about the possibility of increases in cases across the country in March. In addition to faster spreading variant strains and COVID fatigue, at Elon we are also concerned about:
- The impact of unapproved student travel on March 16 and 17
- Increased social contact from eased restrictions in North Carolina
- Increased social contact connected with student groups
- Reduced individual vigilance regarding campus COVID precautions.
For these reasons, the campus will remain at Level 2 – High Alert for at least the next few weeks. In collaboration with local health officials, we will continue to monitor campus, local, and national case data carefully and stand ready to increase restrictions on campus if conditions warrant.
Remember, you can still contract and spread the virus once you have been a prior positive and after you have been vaccinated.
Keep your masks on and your social circle small. COVID remains an opportunistic and deadly virus, even during a pretty North Carolina spring and early stages of community vaccination.
Advice for March 16-17 Break Days
We are all optimistic about upcoming vaccine supplies and the potential for a more normal experience at Elon and beyond. On March 26 we will be announcing details regarding Commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2021. There are many other activities being planned for the remainder of this semester. Please do not jeopardize our plans for the weeks ahead. Now is not the time to let down our guard or our masks. Having killed more than 500,000 Americans, the virus is highly contagious. How we each handle the next few weeks is crucial.
We discourage travel away from campus during the month of March. If you leave campus, please follow Elon health guidelines. If you are exposed to someone who is positive or begin to feel symptoms:
Do not return to campus and put others at risk until you are sure you are well.
Self-quarantine and contact your primary healthcare provider about next steps.
Those who leave campus must still get tested before they leave and after they return.
Look for an email tomorrow with updates regarding vaccines.
Please take care this month as we look forward to our entire community receiving vaccinations soon,
Jeff Stein, Ready & Resilient Committee Chair
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