I trust you are well and enjoying the holidays.
Although it has been said before, thank you for being a Wofford student during a most unusual time. I am thankful to our students, faculty and staff members for following our COVID-19 guidelines so the majority of students could learn in person and enjoy living on our historic campus.
What did we learn from the Fall?
Since you left the campus on November 20, the college’s Working Group and members of the administration have reviewed the facts from the fall semester in order to improve our guidelines and your experiences on campus.
- There were 164 positive cases identified within the campus community, 152 were students and 12 were college employees.
- 403 individuals were quarantined due to potential exposure, of this number 360 were students and 43 were employees.
- There were 266 violations of the community wellness guidelines; sanctions ranged from formal warnings and online educational modules to eviction from campus housing.
- The leading causes of students being placed in quarantine were gatherings on and off campus, where wellness guidelines were ignored, specifically when large groups of students dined at local restaurants or attended unauthorized parties.
- We are pleased to report that there was no evidence of COVID-19 transmissions from any classroom setting on campus.
In addition to reviewing the data, we also listened to you. We know that you want increased transparency and clarity. We understand that you desire greater autonomy and freedom. We know that you are eager to enjoy many of the events and traditions that make campus life exciting. We are too! To do this, we must remain vigilant by following our guidelines, wearing masks and maintaining an appropriate physical distance of 6 feet or more.
How will life on-campus change in the Spring?
As we prepare for you to return in January we have updated the Community Wellness Guidelines with staggered levels of operating. We think these updated guidelines are clearer, easier to navigate and provide the framework necessary to keep our community healthy.
The updated guidelines are attached to this email. Though they are lengthy, these guidelines are the foundation of our plan to maintain the in-person experiences we all enjoy at Wofford. Please know that everyone on our campus is expected to adhere to them.
You’ll notice that these guidelines are divided into levels. We will begin the semester at Level 4 in order to allow for a safe return to campus. As a campus, we will remain at Level 4 through at least January 17. Each week members of our staff will meet to review campus/community data and other relevant information to decide our level for the following week. Of course, exceptional circumstances may require more frequent review.
Also, remember that all students and employees planning to be on-campus in the spring must adhere to the pre-arrival testing requirement. You can find out more at Wofford Together. If you have any questions, you can email covid@wofford.edu.
Finally, please note that the college’s administrative offices closed Friday, Dec. 19, and will remain so until Monday, January 4, 2021. Campus Safety officers will be on campus 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you need assistance during the holidays.
On behalf of the Campus Life and Student Development staff, we look forward to seeing you on campus in just a few weeks. We hope you have a peaceful holiday season and wonderful new year!
Roberta L. Hurley
Dean of Students
Vice President
Division of Campus Life and Student Development