UPDATE: September 24, 2021
COVID Update

Dear Campus Community,

I am delighted and thankful to report that our COVID cases have declined significantly since my last communication on September 8. We have averaged only two new cases per day since the mask mandate went into effect on September 10. Nearly 2500 tests have been administered since the beginning of the semester with 113 total positive results. In addition, the number of students in isolation and quarantine has dropped precipitously – 34 of 39 isolation beds are currently available. On September 8, we were down to about five available beds. All of this is certainly a wonderful answer to prayer.

This good news justifies an attitude of cautious optimism and a position of increased flexibility with regard to our COVID prevention measures. However, we know that the coronavirus is a serious threat, and that some within our community must manage heightened risk concerns for themselves or family members. I continue to believe quite firmly that sensitivity to those concerns is rooted in the tenets of biblical love and principles of mutual respect. In other words, I will readily wear a mask if I am asked, not because I understand or agree with the need in every case, but because I see it as an opportunity to demonstrate care for the interests of others.   

While the presence of COVID on our campus appears to be greatly reduced, a diversity of understandable concerns remains. Therefore, please be advised of the following policies which will take effect beginning tomorrow, September 25:

• The indoor masking mandate will be lifted. An indoor mask-wearing requirement may be reestablished if future circumstances necessitate proactive measures similar to those at the time of the September 8^th directive, such as spiking case numbers or diminishing isolation housing.
• However, professors with specific health concerns may require mask-wearing in their classes, and other employees may do the same for their office spaces, such as in Zerbe. Students must comply with these requirements. If a professor or employee establishes this policy, any student who refuses to wear a mask will be instructed to leave the class or the work area.
• Masks will be required for next week’s Career Fair on September 29. This is particularly important as a courtesy to the large number of recruiter guests at the event.
• Social distancing where possible, prompt attention to COVID symptoms, and avoidance of off-campus higher-risk indoor gatherings are important prevention measures. Current case numbers and related information indicate that there is more COVID in the surrounding community than on campus. Please be mindful of this risk when leaving campus.
• Indoor athletic events may also necessitate spectator mask-wearing in compliance with PAC conference policies. Further guidance on this will be provided.

I continue to recommend vaccinations, especially for mitigating symptoms and avoiding hospitalization. More than 85% of those who have tested positive were unvaccinated. While students are blessed with reduced risk of serious illness, risk does indeed exist. If you need assistance in identifying where to obtain a vaccination, please contact Student Life and Learning.

We are already one-third of the way through this semester. My hope and prayer are that in the weeks to come the presence of COVID will remain low and that our campus will be a distinctive place of abundant patience and sincere respect as we work through this challenge together. I believe we can be a model of grace as we maintain a safe and healthy environment.

In His peace,
P. McNulty

 

UPDATE: September 9, 2021
COVID Update

Dear Campus Community,

I have heard from a significant number of students, parents, and others since the semester began, and particularly in the last few days, on the subject of COVID prevention measures. The thoughtfulness and respectfulness of these communications is truly appreciated.  Our current considerations of a shift in policies have reminded me of the weight felt in March of 2020 with the unprecedented decisions we faced at that time. One key difference at this juncture in the pandemic is that the road ahead appears to be much more promising.

First, some good news.  Over the past two days more than 80 students have tested negative for COVID. This includes symptomatic and quarantined students.  And there have been no new employee cases. Also, only four varsity athletes have tested positive out of approximately 1200 surveillance tests administered so far this semester.  However, the not so good news is that 13 students have tested positive since Tuesday. At that pace, we would be approaching 100 cases within the first three weeks. Keep in mind that we had less than 250 cases all of last year.  We need to slow the spread of the virus for the sake of those who might be more vulnerable to its most significant threats and to manage our limited resources.

Therefore, beginning with Friday classes and continuing until the spread slows down, everyone is required to wear a mask indoors with the following exceptions:

1. Dining, but masks should be worn until actually eating;
2. Exercising;
3. Alone in an office or study area where there is obvious social distancing;
4. In a residence hall room alone or with a roommate(s);
5. Teaching or presenting when there is social distance between the speaker and the audience;
6. When everyone in the room is vaccinated.

I rarely fail to mention in my communications that Grove City College is a special community. That doesn’t mean we all think alike on every complex issue, especially this one. But it does mean that we value virtue, which includes humility and selfless regard for others. C.S. Lewis defined humility as not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.  When we walk into a doctor’s office or Zerbe wearing a mask, we don’t think (I hope), “It really makes me angry to be forced to wear this.” Instead, we understand that it’s a special environment with heightened concern for spreading the coronavirus.  Well, this too is a special environment with heightened concern. Please accept this change in policy in that spirit as we work our way through this momentary spike in COVID cases.

In His peace,
P. McNulty

 

UPDATE: August 30, 2021
Important COVID Update

Dear Students,

As you begin week two of classes, it’s a joy to be together with you on campus. I know the heat of these late August days can be uncomfortable, so I admire your good spirits and determination to make the most of this special experience. We all want this to be a wonderful year. That’s why I need to flag a few issues regarding COVID to keep us on a good path. Some colleges and universities have had to implement difficult measures to stop the spread of the virus. Liberty University, for example, just shifted temporarily to all online classes and cancelled indoor activities. We want to avoid such drastic shifts in our policies as much as possible.

First, be conscientious about social distancing whenever and wherever you can so that your contact lists will not be enormous. Long contact lists create a heavy burden on the College’s testing, housing, and dining resources. It’s expected that some students will be exposed to those who test positive, but the goal is to have shorter, not longer, and accurate exposure lists. Also, even if you’re vaccinated, you need to keep this in mind because some “breakthrough” cases are occurring.

Second, beware of being in smaller enclosed spaces (e.g., rooms, lounges) with a group of folks for an extended period of time. If someone has COVID (and usually symptomatic to some degree) the likelihood of spread can be very high. The Delta variant is affecting your age cohort more than last year’s version.

Third, as you continue to monitor for symptoms (and folks are doing a good job with that), please be patient with all of us, especially our nursing team at Zerbe when you need to be tested. They are swamped at the moment, and they and the Covid team are working very hard to meet the high demand. Our quarantine care team is back in service, and those folks will do all they can to help you get through this.

If we share responsibility as a community to stay on top of this challenge, we will enjoy the life together we desire. What I love about GCC, and what I am deeply thankful for, is that we strive to be special, to be distinctive. Let’s meet that standard at this time in our journey together.

In His peace,
P. McNulty

 

UPDATE: August 27, 2021
As We Close Our First Week, Let’s Look Ahead

Dear GCC Community,

My thanks to those who have faithfully monitored their health for COVID-19 like symptoms each day. Your doing so, and where appropriate providing the Zerbe Health team with the opportunity to evaluate your health and conduct testing, has been invaluable. While many of those who have visited Zerbe have tested negative, we have already seen multiple positive cases on campus. We are grateful, however, that the decisive action of those who have tested positive, along with the multiple rapid testing options at Zerbe, have allowed the College’s Covid Response Team to move quickly and, prayerfully, curb the spread.

Although I know Residence Life emphasized the steps we are asking members of our community to take during their building meetings, I want to put these steps into one email so you can refer to it as needed throughout the semester. Please take the time to read through these details now before saving this email where you can find it later.

Self-Screening
We would ask that you assess your health daily before leaving your room or home. Please stay home or self-isolate in your room if you have concerns about any of the following symptoms and follow the steps outlined below.

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Reporting Symptoms via the MyGCC Portal
Use the Covid portal to report concerning symptoms. Please log onto MyGCC, click on the Student tab, locate the red box at the top of the page, and click on the associated link before completing the assessment. The Zerbe Health and Wellness team will receive this information and respond to complete a health assessment. Please self-isolate in your room until seen by the team in Zerbe, and unsilence your phone so they can reach you. The portal will notify your professors of your need to miss class or attend online rather than in-person. Commuting students can certainly meet with their personal physician but should still enter their information in the Covid portal.  

Testing
The Zerbe team has the capability to complete rapid testing on symptomatic students and provide results before the student leaves the Health Center. While students can certainly test elsewhere, there is no need to do so because of the speed and specificity associated with this testing.  

While our hope is that you will test negative and have the peace of mind that comes from having been tested, the College has a team in place to come along side those who receive a positive result. This team will help to relocate the student to Covid positive housing and initiate the contact tracing process.     

Emergencies
Zerbe is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Please call Campus Safety at 724-458-3000 should you experience exacerbated symptoms and need medical care outside of these hours. Please make them aware of your symptoms during the call.

Exposure
Those who receive word they have been exposed to a Covid positive individual (family member, friend, etc.) should immediately self-isolate, email CovidUpdate@gcc.edu to make the Covid Team aware of the need to quarantine and be tested, and use the Covid portal to notify Zerbe and one’s professors.  

Caution
Please do not test elsewhere to avoid initiating the College’s contact tracing process. The speed and specificity of testing now available in Zerbe means no one will ever need to self-isolate or quarantine while awaiting a result. The testing available at Zerbe will provide the fastest results and your best course of action is to proceed through the steps outlined in this email should the need for testing arise.  

Thank you for reading through this information and for being attentive to your health during the semester ahead. It is our hope that in doing so we will help to limit others’ exposure to the virus, keep our community healthy, and limit the impact on our living learning community. We are one community – Wolverines together.

In Him,
Mr. H.

 

UPDATE: July 30, 2021
Fall 2021 Return COVID Guidelines

Greetings GCC Community,

Wherever you may be, we pray you are well and enjoying opportunities for rest and reflection. While we are grateful for the rhythms best found during the summer months, our campus is far too quiet without you and we long for your return.

The Goal

Throughout last year our target was to remain on-campus in-person, and by God’s grace we accomplished that goal. This year our goal is to return to pre-pandemic normalcy wherever possible. Outlined below you will find our return to campus plan and protocols for the 2021-2022 academic year.  In short, we believe that if we start well, isolate and report symptoms to Zerbe promptly, conduct thorough contact tracing, and work together we can enjoy the experiences that make this place so special.  While we realize the need may arise from time to time for us to adjust our plan, it is our great hope that these steps will result in a safe and especially rewarding semester together.

Ensuring a Safe Return to Campus

It is essential that we make every effort to minimize the presence of COVID-19 on campus to start the semester.  As a result, we will again be requiring students to conduct PCR or antigen testing prior to their arrival on campus.  Please review the details below concerning testing and more.  It is our hope that this information will aid in your preparation for the Fall semester.

Students enrolled for eight or more credit hours in the Fall of 2021 must provide one of the following:  

•  Proof of a Negative PCR or antigen test taken within seven (7) Days of one’s planned arrival to campus
  • Please use the following link to locate no-cost testing options
  • Antibody test cannot be used as a substitute.
  • Those who have begun the vaccination process but have not yet reached immunization (two weeks beyond the final dose of a vaccine) must submit a negative test result obtained within seven (7) days of their planned arrival.
  • Please look for an email this coming week with the subject line “Where to submit COVID documentation.”  In it you will find a dedicated link for negative test results.
• Proof of a Positive COVID-19 test taken within 90 Days of one’s planned arrival
  • Positive test results dated more than 90 days prior to scheduled arrival will not be accepted.  While we would welcome an extension of this 90 day window, this is the CDC, and thus the state’s, quarantine requirement for those who have had a previous positive COVID test.
  • Antibody tests also cannot be accepted in the place of a positive COVID-19 test.
  • Please look for an email this coming week with the subject line “Where to submit COVID documentation.”  In it you will find a dedicated link for positive test results due to summer illness.
  • Please note this documentation will also be used to exempt you from quarantine for 90 days following your original testing date.
• Verification of Vaccination
  • Students who submit this verification must show they have received the full dose of a vaccine with Emergency Use Authorization from the Food and Drug Administration to be exempted from testing at this time.
  • Those who have begun the vaccination process but have not yet reached immunization (two weeks beyond the final dose of a vaccine) must submit a negative test result obtained within seven (7) days of their planned arrival.
    • You may later provide documentation of your completed vaccination using covidupdate@gcc.edu and you will be exempted from quarantine effective 14 days after your last dose.  
  • Please look for an email this coming week with the subject line “Where to submit COVID documentation.”  In it you will find a dedicated link for submitting this verification of vaccination.  
  • Please note this documentation will also be used to exempt you from quarantine.
  • How To Locate a Vaccination Site in My Area

Students are not eligible to return to campus until they have completed this process.  

All records submitted to the College will be kept confidential and will only be accessible to a limited number of staff who are directly involved in carrying out the College’s COVID-19 protocols.

*Note: While dual-enrolled high school students and the very small number of those scheduled to take less than 8 credit hours are exempt from testing, they should pay close attention to the non-testing portion of this email.

Special Note for Those Pursuing Testing

While testing (and vaccinations) will aid tremendously in our effort to establish a healthy start to the semester, maintaining healthy habits in the days before arrival is just as imperative. As such, all residential and commuter students who have not been fully vaccinated are asked to be vigilant in social distancing, avoiding large gatherings and unnecessary travel, limiting contacts, wearing masks when appropriate, frequently washing hands, and taking any other measure necessary in the intervening time between their testing and arrival to campus. This is especially important given the very recent elevation in COVID-19 cases in parts of the United States. Our efforts in January were effective, but they also affirmed the importance of taking these additional precautionary steps.  Taking your COVID test closer to your departure may also limit possible exposure, but please leave yourself room to receive your results before departing. Vaccinated students are also encouraged to be vigilant.

Safe Travel

We would ask that you not return to campus if you or someone with whom you have had close contact are experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19.  Remain at home and notify us of your condition (we will provide a notification link in a future email).  Please also submit your name and information on the COVID-19 portal found on the Student page of myGCC. Doing so is the only way in which a student can obtain a Provost’s Excuse and attend class remotely until he or she has been cleared to return to campus. We’ll gladly notify your professors and help with your delayed return should you find yourself in this situation.

If your return requires travel by air, bus, or train, we ask that you take extra measures to remain safe and healthy while traveling (maintaining distance from others, washing hands frequently, not touching your face, and possibly wearing a double or filtered mask).

Special Considerations for Timing

For Vaccinations

At present, vaccinations with the necessary Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have different procedures for administering doses. Students who are pursuing a vaccine with multiple doses should take into account the amount of time necessary between doses. Per CDC guidelines, an individual is considered immune once two weeks have elapsed since their final dose has been administered. In the event a student returns to campus prior to receiving the final dose of the vaccine, that student must submit documentation of a negative PCR test result taken within seven (7) days of his or her arrival to campus. Such vaccination will, however, limit the student’s need to quarantine following the completion of the two-week window following final dosage. The College has confirmed vaccinations are available in Grove City at Rite Aid, Rx Xpress, Hometown Pharmacy (inside County Market), and Walmart.

For Testing

In order to establish a healthy baseline for our campus community, testing should take place within seven (7) days of one’s planned arrival with results being received by the College prior to arrival. Students are encouraged to contact their testing provider to determine how far in advance to complete their individual testing. This is particularly important for those in communities where PCR test results may be significantly delayed.  

Campus Procedures Post-Return

• Contact Tracing
  • For Vaccinated Students
    • Per guidelines set forth by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH), students who are two weeks beyond receiving their final dose of a vaccine will not need to quarantine in the event they are in direct exposure to a COVID-positive individual.
    • Per these same guidelines, vaccinated students who are exposed to a COVID-positive individual will also not need to be tested unless they develop symptoms associated with COVID-19.
  • For Unvaccinated Students
    • Per guidelines set forth by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH), unvaccinated students will need to quarantine if they are identified as a direct exposure to a COVID-positive individual.
    • The exposed student will be tested using molecular testing on day five post-exposure. In the event the test result is negative, and the student develops no later symptoms, the exposed student will quarantine for a total of seven full days post-exposure with release coming on the morning of the eighth day post-exposure.
• Isolation & Quarantine
  • Isolation of Positive Students
    • Students who test positive for COVID-19 will need to isolate for the requisite amount of time before returning to their normal activities. A COVID-positive student may return home to isolate or remain on campus in one of the housing areas designated for these purposes if space is available (priority given to those from further distances).
    • Those who test positive must be cleared by a medical professional before they can be cleared from isolation.
  • Quarantine of Unvaccinated Exposed Students
    • Students who have been directly exposed to a COVID-positive person (within six feet for more than 15 minutes) will quarantine in their residence hall rooms for the requisite amount of time, most likely seven days with a negative molecular or PCR test on or after day five post-exposure. The College has worked with our food service provider to ensure students quarantining in their room can pick up meals in a safe and convenient manner.
    • Vaccinated students who are exposed to a COVID-positive person will not be required to quarantine.
• Testing
  • Testing will still be available at the Zerbe Health and Wellness Center for students who are symptomatic.
  • Zerbe will work with exposed students on testing arrangements.
• COVID-19 Portal
  • A student who has to miss in-person class time for a COVID-19-related reason (whether positive, symptomatic, or exposed), must enter his or her information into the COVID-19 portal, found under the Student tab on myGCC. This is the only way to receive the necessary Provost’s Excuse to be permitted to attend classes online.
  • Students are reminded not to attend classes, et cetera, if they are ill with symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Please err on the side of caution, as the failure to do so can be consequential.   
• Masking
  • On June 28, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania eliminated its mandate requiring individuals to wear masks as a mitigation effort against COVID-19.
  • Vaccinated Students
    • Per CDC and PADOH guidelines, vaccinated individuals do not need to mask whether indoors or outside.
  • Unvaccinated Students
    • Per CDC and PADOH guidelines, masking is recommended indoors and where social distancing is not possible.
    • Therefore, masks are not required at this time but are recommended for students who are unvaccinated or have not tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 90 days.
  • Students are encouraged to bring masks in case they become ill, or in the event we must comply with a future government mandate.
    • In preparation for either of these circumstances, students seeking permission to wear a face shield for medical reasons should complete this form as soon as possible and provide medical documentation for this semester to Mr. Joe Cirelli (at jacirelli@gcc.edu) regardless of whether they received permission in the past.
• Note On Secondary Exposures
  • In an effort to curtail the spread of COVID-19 on our campus last year, the College instituted a secondary exposure protocol wherein students who were in close contact with a person directly exposed to COVID-19 would quarantine in their room until the direct exposure received a negative test result. In reviewing the spread of COVID-19 on our campus, we determined this step is no longer necessary.
• COVID-19 Symptoms
  • https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html
• Precautions to Help Prevent Spread of the Virus
  • https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html

We want to thank you in advance for doing your part to help establish the healthy baseline needed if we hope to return to normalcy.  While there are many competing views, and much developing science, regarding COVID 19 that make navigating this process more than difficult, we celebrate the fact that we are in this together.  Please know we desire for you, and our community, to thrive this coming semester.  With that said, we have not entered into these decisions lightly and ask that you provide us with grace and understanding as we work to serve you and our community well.

Please also know the College’s Health and Safety Committee will continue to revisit our policies and procedures and may make changes as we work together to navigate the year ahead.  It is our great hope that these efforts will result in a healthy, full, and meaningful year together.

In Him,
Mr. H.

 

UPDATE: July 29, 2021
Fall Return Health and Safety Plan

Dear Campus Community,

It’s the summer of short supply. Car makers are waiting for computer chips. Manufacturing has stalled for want of essential chemicals and other critical parts. Restaurants have reduced hours because of a shortage of staff. Prices are higher; orders are backlogged. Isn’t it a comfort to know that “the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is his faithfulness (Lam. 3:22).” There is an abundance of what we need the most.

Seeing things correctly is one of life’s toughest challenges. In fact, a central theme for the coming year will be character formation and the quest for wisdom. The fall chapel schedule is being built around this virtue as we consider the teachings of Jesus, Old Testament wisdom literature, and insights from outstanding guest speakers entitled “Word to the Wise.” In addition, a faculty committee is currently studying how wisdom development is advanced in our core curriculum. Indeed, the subject of wisdom demands our attention. We live at a time of seemingly unlimited information, but genuine wisdom is too often a rare commodity.

Consequently, effective leadership is especially challenging, perhaps more so than at any other time in my professional life. If cultural consensus is a useful guide, sharp division on key issues severely limits this resource. Leaders must work hard to discern the most prudent courses of action and hope for a measure of grace from those affected by the decisions.

Last summer we faced what seemed like a mountain of difficulty. The turmoil stemming from COVID-19 and racial unrest demanded special insight and sound judgment. As the weeks passed by, we experienced a heightened sense of dependence on God’s grace. A remarkably dedicated team charted a course for GCC that served us well in a memorable year.

One of the major challenges throughout this long ordeal is the need to make policies while important new facts continue to unfold. For example, if the College had formulated a plan for the coming fall semester in early June, significant information regarding the Delta variant would have been less of a factor in our thinking than it is today. And Delta will undoubtedly have a different influence two or three months from now. Therefore, the best we can do is review the information available to us now and establish wise policies for the future. Your prayers for the success of this work are greatly appreciated. God has wonderfully blessed Grove City College over this past year and a half.

A necessary place to start in thinking about our policies for this coming academic year is with applicable government directives and the facts. Last year we were subject to an extensive list of government mandates, as well as tremendous uncertainty about how COVID-19 might impact our campus community. This year many of the mandates have either been lifted or changed to expectations and recommendations, and we know a lot more about the nature of the COVID-19 threat. And, of course, the availability of a vaccine is a tremendous help and mercifully addresses the primary concern of protecting those especially vulnerable to major illness.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Education, and the PA Departments of Health and Education have issued a mix of recommendations and guidance, but there is clearly an increased deference to the judgments of local authorities, organizations, and institutions, based in part on the level of COVID-19 outbreak. It is generally expected, however, that institutions of higher education will continue testing, contact tracing, isolating positive COVID-19 students, and quarantining those directly exposed. In other words, we should have measures in place to curb the spread of COVID-19 on campus.

With these policies as a starting point, our principal goal for this fall semester is to restore normalcy to campus life by taking reasonable steps to limit the spread of COVID-19 within our community. The prospect of hundreds of students being sick at the same time, again a real risk with what we know today about the contagiousness of the Delta variant, would be a major disruption to academic, extracurricular, and residential life operations. The comforting news is that with some basic proactive measures, we can prevent this from happening, Lord willing.

Here are the key elements of our plan for the fall semester:

• Students must be healthy when they return to campus in August. Establishing a healthy baseline was an effective measure last January as COVID numbers were on the rise. Now the CDC advises that our face mask policies should be aligned with case counts. If we can keep our COVID-19 cases low, we will have more flexibility in relation to face masks and other protocols.

Therefore, unvaccinated students scheduled to take eight or more credit hours of classes during the upcoming semester will be required to obtain a negative COVID-19 test result (PCR or antigen) within seven days of their planned return to campus or provide documentation of a positive test result and full recovery within 90 days of arrival. These tests are easy and free – just sign up at your local pharmacy. Brenda and I were tested four times for our recent trip to Ireland – a small inconvenience for the joy of visiting our daughter and son-in-law, or in this case, serving our wonderful community.

If you test positive for COVID-19 or have direct contact with someone who does, please contact Student Life and wait to return to campus. You can take your first class or two online.

• We will continue our COVID-19 testing process for those who are experiencing symptoms or have been directly exposed (6/15 rule) to those who have the virus. While we will continue to use our houses and other campus locations to isolate those with symptoms or who test positive, we will discontinue using the hotels for quarantines. Exposed students will be able to stay in their rooms.
• Vaccinated students will not be subject to contact tracing and quarantines unless in the rare circumstance they become ill and test positive for COVID. The College encourages families to consider getting vaccinated. Second doses, and first, can be obtained at Rite Aid, Rx Xpress, and other locations here in Grove City.
• As long as the spread of COVID-19 is not high in our area, which it is not at this time, vaccinated students and employees are not being advised by the CDC or other agencies that they should wear masks. They recommend that unvaccinated persons wear masks indoors and when unable to maintain physical distancing from others. The College supports this recommendation.
• Unvaccinated student-athletes and coaches may be subject to additional testing and masking requirements established by the NCAA or the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. The Athletics Department will provide further information.
• Generally speaking, campus activities, services, and the use of facilities will return to pre-pandemic life. However, in the providence of God, we may need to establish additional restrictions if health risks take an unexpected turn.
• The Office of Student Life and Learning will be providing more detailed information tomorrow.

It’s important to understand that because we live and work together in such close proximity, our conscientiousness about the spread of this disease must be greater than when we are away from campus. Those who have worked at camps this summer understand this distinction. If we can share this frame of mind, our fast-approaching academic year will be much closer to the normalcy we all long to experience. Care for one another must not be in short supply.

In His abundant peace,
P. McNulty