Dear Wofford community,
We are beginning our third week of instruction with record numbers of people from our campus community with COVID-19: 63 active positive cases and 66 active quarantine cases as of Sunday, Jan. 17 (that’s more than 42% of the total from the entire fall semester). In addition, there were unauthorized parties both on and off campus during the past weekend, which were a violation of our community commitments.
In light of these conditions as well as a variety of other factors, beginning on Tuesday, Jan. 19 and continuing through Friday, Jan. 29, Wofford College will move to remote instruction. We will continue to monitor the situation with hopes of returning to in-person instruction on Feb. 1. The residence halls will remain open, and students are expected to remain on campus, but classes will move to remote only. The gravity of the situation requires immediate and resolute action to preserve the health and safety of our community and the completion of the spring term.
For the next two weeks, the following campus rules will be in place, superseding messages about Wellness Guidelines, testing protocols and the return to campus in the spring that were emailed to students Dec. 3, 11, 22, 28 and Jan. 7 and faculty/staff Dec. 4, 14, 28, 31 and Jan. 7.
FOR STUDENTS
- Masks should be worn at all times, unless sleeping, eating or showering.
- Only roommates and suitemates may be in residence hall rooms and apartments together, and all must be wearing masks.
- All AVI locations will serve to-go only.
- No visitors (including family and friends) will be allowed on campus or in campus residence halls.
- Students are asked to stay on campus.
- All organizations must meet virtually. In-person meetings and events are suspended at this time.
- Although there are no gatherings or events, students may spend time with no more than three friends outside — wearing masks — as long as everyone is at least 6 feet apart.
- Wash and sanitize hands frequently.
- Students who violate these rules, including those who held unauthorized parties over the weekend, will be sent home for a minimum of two weeks and then must submit a new negative COVID-19 test before being allowed to return to campus.
- Tuition and fees will not be adjusted since the college remains open and Wofford continues to deliver its mission to students.
FOR FACULTY/STAFF
- Faculty and staff should work remotely if possible. Those who cannot perform their jobs remotely should talk with their supervisors about flexible scheduling or accommodations that minimize physical contact.
- Faculty and staff who are on campus must wear masks, practice physical distancing and wash hands and high-touch areas frequently.
- In-person meetings, gatherings and events are suspended. All meetings should be held virtually.
- No visitors.
FOR EVERYONE
- Anyone who is on campus or coming to campus each day MUST complete the COVID-19 Daily Tracker on the Wellness Center portal (found on myWofford).
- Athletics teams will continue to be tested and compete without fans as dictated by NCAA guidelines.
I know this is inconvenient for many, but rising case counts, limited hospital capacity and the lack of compliance warrant a reset and greater commitment to protecting the health and safety of all members of our community. Still, there is hope.
- We will begin regular surveillance testing on Feb. 1 through the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
- We continue to get good news about a vaccine. Wofford College faculty and staff who are in contact with students are in group 1B.
We have a Faculty/Staff Town Hall event at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21. Register in advance and email questions to WoffordNews@Wofford.edu.
Also, remember you can find information at Wofford.edu/coronavirus and at Wofford.edu/woffordtogether.
Let’s all use this two-week period to recommit ourselves to our community. We can make it through the semester, and we can begin to enjoy more time together if we will just be patient and compliant with our campus guidelines a bit longer.
Nayef