Dear Students and Parents,
We have officially wrapped up the fall semester with last week’s conclusion of final exams, and we are continuing to plan for spring. Please read the following email carefully, as it contains important information about students’ safe return to campus in January.
Returning to Campus Spring 2021 COVID-19 Guide
- Repopulation of Campus
- Monitoring Health Conditions and Detecting Infection
- Containment to Spread of the Disease When Detected
- Shutdown Considerations if Necessitated by Severe Conditions and/or Public Health Guidance
- A link to the Athletic Resocialization Policy, which includes guidance from the NCAA and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference on intercollegiate athletics.
This plan has been reviewed by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and has been found to be compliant in containing the required components of the “Higher Education Reopening Guidance,” which was developed in consultation with the Virginia Department of Health. The document is archived on the University's
COVID-19 resource page and will be continuously updated as new information becomes available.
Pre-Arrival Quarantine and Mandatory COVID-19 Testing
All students returning for in-person instruction this spring must submit (as they did in the fall) a negative COVID-19 test result and quarantine for 14 days prior to arrival.
Please review the following information carefully:
- A copy of official COVID-19 test results dated on or after January 11, 2021, must be emailed to covidsafe@vwu.edu prior to a student’s arrival to campus. Students who do not submit negative test results will not be allowed on campus. There will be no exceptions to this requirement.
- Students should quarantine at home beginning January 11 (14 days prior to returning to campus) and remain vigilant in social distancing, use of face coverings, and washing hands frequently. (Please keep in mind that individuals returning sooner—student-athletes, resident assistants, etc.—must quarantine for 14 days prior to their date of arrival on campus).
- Please consider contacting your primary care physician (PCP) as a first step in the testing process. PCPs are able to prescribe testing per CDC regulations that identify colleges and universities as congregate settings and qualify students for testing. You may also visit the CDC website for more information about COVID-19 testing and to locate a testing site near you.
- Students who report to campus without a test result on record will not be allowed to move into their rooms or to attend class. These students will be accommodated with up to three weeks of remote instruction, after which they may be subject to administrative withdrawal and financial implications associated with the University’s refund policy.
- Students that test positive must self-isolate at home, consult a medical professional immediately, and notify the University by email at covidsafe@vwu.edu. The Student Health Management Team will follow up accordingly.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter and your dedication to keeping our Marlin community safe and healthy. We hope you enjoy your break and get some much-needed rest and relaxation. Please remain vigilant in protecting yourself and others during the holiday season. Continue to abide by the governor’s
restrictions and practice
CDC guidelines. An overview of the University’s status remains available through
VWU CovidSafe.
Sincerely,
The Emergency Response Team
