To: Wofford students, faculty and staff
From: President’s cabinet
Date: January 6, 2022
Re: Interim and COVID-19 update

We trust you’re well and have enjoyed a nice holiday and start to the new year.

As planned before break, students return to campus and move into residence halls on Sunday, Jan. 9 for in-person instruction and the beginning of Interim. Residence halls open at noon. Because of the prevalence of the omicron variant, we are asking every member of our community to recommit to the health and wellness of all. Together we can successfully navigate the next phase of this pandemic.

As you prepare to return to campus, please review the following COVID-19 safety protocols.

PRE-ARRIVAL TESTING
Please note three options for completing the appropriate pre-arrival testing or certification. You must successfully perform one of the options.

  1. Wofford will require all students and employees (both vaccinated and unvaccinated) to submit a negative COVID-19 test prior to returning to campus for the start of classes. Tests must be administered by Jan. 8. The college will accept a lab test, a rapid test or an at-home test (if the test includes a personal virtual visit with an eMed certificate to prove person, date, time and results of test). Negative test results should be uploaded to the Wellness Center patient portal on my.Wofford.edu before returning to campus. Students should upload their results by 11 a.m. on Jan. 9 if possible.
  2. Some testing facilities have a backlog, so students may return to campus if they are awaiting results from a test taken Jan. 5-8, as long as they have no COVID-19 symptoms. Students in this situation should email COVID@wofford.edu, giving the date of their test, to get email permission to return.
  3. If you have tested positive in the past 90 days, please upload that test, and the Wellness Center will notify you of your return to campus date. You do not need to submit a negative test to return to campus if you have tested positive in the past 90 days, but we must have record of that positive test.

INTERIM AND SPRING SEMESTER COVID-19 TESTING
All unvaccinated students and employees MUST continue weekly testing and submission of results to the Wellness Center’s patient portal. The college will continue to host a DHEC testing site in the Benjamin Johnson Arena from 9:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. Anyone may take advantage of this service, and it’s a good way to ensure that you are not COVID-19 positive and asymptomatic. DHEC also has other testing days, times and locations in our area if that’s more convenient. Visit the FAQs at Wofford.edu/coronavirus to review consequences for failure to comply.

MASKS
Wofford will begin Interim with a strict masking policy in place. Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, will wear masks indoors in common spaces. We ask that you recommit to wearing your mask properly (covering the nose and mouth) when you walk into all campus buildings. You must wear a mask in dining areas unless actively eating or drinking. Masks also are required in the fitness center, administrative buildings and academic buildings, including all halls, auditoriums, study spaces, classrooms and labs. You are not required to wear a mask in residence halls or outdoors unless you are symptomatic or coming off quarantine for COVID-19.

ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE
Please familiarize yourself with the isolation and quarantine guidance from the CDC. If you contract COVID-19, you will be asked to provide your own isolation and quarantine housing if possible. Because we are all together for in-person learning, the college’s residence halls and apartments are full, with limited capacity for isolation and quarantine. The good news is that fully vaccinated students — that means students who have the original doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and the booster — will not be required to quarantine, unless symptomatic, so this should reduce significantly our need for extra beds.

COVID-19 VACCINE BOOSTERS
Public health experts highly recommend booster shots for COVID-19 because they more than double effectiveness against the omicron variant (to 80-85%) and are nearly 95% effective against delta. Boosters also reduce the severity of COVID among those infected. Students and employees who are boosted do not have to isolate or quarantine after contact with someone who has COVID-19.

Because keeping our community safe and together is our priority, Wofford College will require COVID-19 booster shots of all students, faculty and staff, unless previously exempted.

Booster proof must be uploaded to the college’s Wellness Center patient portal at my.Wofford.edu by the end of Spring Break (Sunday, April 10). We urge everyone to be boosted as soon as possible. Remember, individuals who are boosted will not need to isolate or quarantine after COVID-19 contact.

NOT FEELING WELL?
During Interim and the spring semester it is important that we all self-monitor our symptoms and do our part to protect others in our community. Contact the Wofford Wellness Center at covid@wofford.edu if you are not feeling well or suspect that you have been around someone with COVID-19.

As the pandemic enters its third year, we cannot thank you enough for your patience, flexibility and commitment to our community. We are all honored to serve this college and all of you.