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
- Extension of the indoor mask requirement
- Testing locations and information
- Class of 2020 Commencement information
Status Update
- Seven new COVID-19 cases were confirmed among Elon students and employees last week, through Sunday, August 22. The dashboard on the Healthy Elon website is updated weekly on Monday mornings.
- As of today, nearly 96 percent of undergraduates, 88 percent of graduate students, and 88 percent of full-time employees are vaccinated.
- All North Carolina counties remain 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.
Extension of University Indoor Mask Requirement
At the recommendation of the Healthy Elon Committee and the COVID-19 Data Team, the university’s indoor mask requirement has been extended. The mask requirement will be in place until the high transmission rates in our area – as measured by the CDC and state – decrease in Alamance/Guilford counties.
- All students, faculty, staff and visitors, regardless of their vaccination status, must wear masks in indoor campus spaces, except when alone in private offices, residence halls/apartment rooms, or while eating or drinking.
- Elon School of Law is following the indoor mask requirement adopted by Guilford County.
We continue to hope the indoor mask requirement will be temporary, but we have pledged to monitor the situation and adjust policies as needed and as conditions warrant. This extension is intended to protect the campus community, mitigate the spread of the virus and variants, and avoid disruptions in university academic programs and operations.
In addition to the extension of the indoor mask requirement, several other campus guidelines are in effect:
- Everyone on campus, regardless of vaccination status, should carry a mask with them at all times and use it any time they feel ill, are in crowded spaces, feel the need for extra protection, etc. See the CDC mask guidelines for more information.
- Elon Dining employees will continue to wear masks at all times indoors, in line with current Harvest Table company policies.
- All unvaccinated visitors and contractors must wear masks in indoor campus spaces.
- Masks are not required outdoors, but may be advisable in large-group or crowded settings.
- Everyone on campus should monitor the Healthy Elon website and local conditions in order to be able to meet masking expectations.
Testing Information
- Students and employees who are not fully vaccinated and have not submitted vaccination documentation are required to test weekly at the screening center in McCoy Commons of the Oaks residential neighborhood. Employees started weekly testing the week of August 16, and students have been contacted directly to sign up for their weekly testing times no later than Thursday, August 26.
- If you feel ill or you have been identified as a close contact you should not visit the screening testing location in McCoy Commons. Instead, follow these guidelines:
- Students: Call Student Health Services at 336-278-7230 or visit the PhoenixHealth patient portal to schedule an appointment for an evaluation/rapid antigen test, if needed. After hours, follow the guidance on the Student Health Services website.
- Faculty and Staff: Contact your health care provider or the Faculty/Staff Wellness Clinic. Contact Human Resources (HREmployeeCovid@elon.edu or 336-278-5560) and your supervisor to discuss how to ensure your care and privacy, as well as make work arrangements.
- Information about finding testing options in the community can be found on the NC Department of Health and Human Services “Find My Testing Place” website.
- Additional information about testing and how the university supports positive cases and quarantine/isolation can be found here on the Healthy Elon website.
Class of 2020 Commencement Information
This morning, information was shared with members of the Class of 2020 about changes to their upcoming Commencement Weekend, September 3-5, due to evolving COVID conditions and the large number of visitors coming to campus without verified vaccination status. Among the announced changes:
- The Class of 2020 Commencement Ceremony will be relocated outdoors, Under the Oaks, and held at 9:30 a.m., Sunday, September 5.
- Due to the large number of visitors and the seating setup Under the Oaks, everyone attending the outdoor Commencement ceremony must wear a mask.
- With the change in time and location for the Commencement ceremony, several other weekend events have been relocated or will be held at new times. Details on the weekend events are available on the Commencement website.
Health and wellness information for students or employees – including what to do if you feel ill or test positive – can be found here. The Healthy Elon website also offers responses to frequently asked questions about academics, vaccination, and employee information.
The next email update will be sent by Wednesday, September 1, at 10:45 a.m., unless an additional message is warranted before then. Additional information is always available on the Healthy Elon website at: www.elon.edu/healthyelon.
—
Dr. Jon Dooley
Vice President for Student Life