Throughout Fall Semester, Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley is providing regular email update messages to keep students and parents informed about the efforts for a healthy semester.
Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
Summary of updates in this message
- Status update on campus and in Alamance County
- Reminders about mask and vaccine policies announced last week
- Information about new student arrival this week and Healthy Elon guidance for students and families
- New information and resources posted to the Healthy Elon website
Status Update
- Six new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed among Elon students and employees in the past week. The dashboard on the Healthy Elon website is updated weekly on Monday mornings.
- As of today, 94 percent of undergraduates, 87 percent of graduate students, and 87 percent of full-time employees are vaccinated.
- We strongly recommend that those who are still eligible to be vaccinated do so immediately and submit their documentation.
- All North Carolina counties are now in the high community transmission category.
- The CDC and state health officials strongly recommend wearing masks in public indoor settings, including stores, restaurants and other businesses.
- All students and employees who have not been fully vaccinated have been emailed instructions to sign up for weekly COVID-19 antigen testing.
Fall 2021 Policy Reminders
Due to changing conditions in our region and across the country, and with large numbers of people traveling to campus at the start of the semester, updated policies for the beginning of the semester were announced last week. The full notice can be found here and highlights include:
Everyone must wear masks in indoor campus spaces through Sunday, August 29.
All students and employees who have not submitted vaccine documentation are expected to participate in antigen testing weekly.
Elon School of Law is following the indoor mask requirement adopted by Guilford County.
New Student Arrival Information and Healthy Elon Guidance
- This Friday, August 20, will be move-in day for new first-year and transfer students.
Students have been assigned specific arrival times, which were posted to their Acorn Accounts in late July. Students and families should not arrive prior to their assigned times.
As much as possible, students should limit the number of family members who help them move-in.
On arrival to campus, all new students and their guests must report first to the centralized check-in at the Schar Center. At that location, students will receive their New Student Orientation materials and directions to their move-in location. - Before clearing students for check-in, staff will verify that students have satisfied the COVID-19 and state vaccines requirement/exemption processes. Testing will also be offered on site for those required to test weekly.
- All students, employees and visitors must wear masks in indoor campus spaces throughout the weekend.
- Due to the large number of visitors from around the world during move-in weekend, everyone attending the outdoor New Student Convocation on Saturday, August 21, must wear a mask.
- Driving directions and other information are available at the New Student Orientation website.
New Information on the Healthy Elon Website
- Myths and facts video messages about the COVID-19 vaccine and the Delta variant with University Physician, Dr. Ginette Archinal, are available here.
- The Healthy Elon Commitment, with expectations for all members of the Elon University community, is available here.
- Guidance for faculty teaching in undergraduate programs, including frequently asked questions, is available here.
- Guidance for staff, including frequently asked questions for employees, is available here.
As we prepare for the start of undergraduate courses next Tuesday, August 24, remember that a number of resources are available on the Academics tab of the Healthy Elon website. Most importantly, remember that Elon classes will be held in-person this year and will not be taught in the hybrid or fully virtual formats used in some classes last academic year. Missed classes and work due to quarantine or other illness-related absences will be handled on a case-by-case basis per faculty discretion and policies set in course syllabi.
Health and wellness information for students or employees – including what to do if you feel ill or test positive – can be found here.
We look forward to the launch of the academic year in the coming week. The next email update will be sent by Wednesday, August 25 at 10:45 a.m., unless an additional message is warranted before that time. Additional information is always available on the Healthy Elon website at: www.elon.edu/healthyelon.
—
Dr. Jon Dooley
Vice President for Student Life