First Week of Spring Semester FAQs

Originally, it was communicated that students must keep their interactions limited to roommates/suitemates/apartment-mates. This is still true, but students may also interact in pods of four during this period. Students who live with three other students (e.g., North Village, Clark Murphy suites) are automatically in their assigned pods and cannot change them for this period. Students living in singles and doubles may identify other students living in singles and doubles, restricted to the same floor/wing of the same housing unit, to create their pods. There should be no intermixing of pods during this time.

Pods may hang out together in campus housing (6-foot minimum distancing, if not roommates), and have low-contact activity with each other outdoors (e.g., walking the lake, throwing a Frisbee). All other housing visitation policies still apply.

Students living in North Village and The Vinings should not have visitors in their apartments during this first week.

Pods should not ride in vehicles together.

Meals will be grab-and-go from the dining hall. Students should not leave campus to eat in restaurants. Students are permitted to order food from delivery services, but touchless delivery is strongly recommended. Grab-and-go service in the dining hall increases the overall dining cost; however, dining plan charges are not being adjusted.

The PalaDen, Bread & Bowl, and Library Café will be open for grab-and-go as well.

All classes and labs will operate remotely until January 25. If infection rates on campus during the first week of the semester are significantly elevated, extension of remote classes may be continued. Instructors will communicate the specific expectations for remote participation per course policies.

Yes, during the first week the Duke Library will be open between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday for students who live in shared bedrooms to find a quiet space to take remote classes, as not to disrupt their roommate. Students may reserve a study room in Duke at https://libguides.furman.edu/library/floor-plans. Face coverings must be worn at all times, even in individual study rooms. These spaces will not be available for group study or other gatherings during this period.

Students who live in private rooms should not use these spaces (e.g. students living in The Vinings, North Village private apartments, or singles in the residence halls).

Students are encouraged to bring noise-canceling headphones/earbuds since many students will be in remote classes at the same time in the same room with their roommate.

The Duke Library, the Trone Student Center and Daniel Chapel will be open between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday for students who live in shared bedrooms to find a quiet space to take remote classes, as not to disrupt their roommate. Students may reserve a study room in Duke at https://libguides.furman.edu/library/floor-plans. Spaces in Trone and Daniel Chapel are first-come, first-serve. Face coverings must be worn at all times, even in individual study rooms. These spaces will not be available for group study or other gatherings during this period.

Students who live in private rooms should not use these spaces (e.g. students living in The Vinings, North Village private apartments, or singles in the residence halls).

Students will not be able to use the practice rooms in the music building or studios in the art buildings for the first week of the semester. Once in-person classes resume, these buildings will be accessible for after-hours and weekend use, following roughly the same procedures that were used in the Fall 2020 semester.

Students who need to make arrangements to pick up or drop off their musical instrument from the music building should contact the Dr. Hugh Floyd, Interim Chair, Department of Music.

Students who feel it is vital that they practice their instrument during the first week of the semester may want to consider a delayed return to campus.

The PAC will not be open during this period. Students are encouraged to exercise outdoors if the weather permits.

Yes. Students will be able to purchase their books and other items. Starbucks will be open for grab-and-go purchases as well.

Yes.

Yes, but only virtually. Clubs and organizations should not meet in person during this period. Fraternity and sorority recruitment will proceed virtually as planned.

Yes. Furman Athletics will continue to follow the NCAA and SoCon’s guidelines for health and safety during practice and competition. Student-athletes also will continue to be required to be tested more frequently than the general student body, and supervised by coaches and athletic training staff, per NCAA/SoCon guidelines. Outside of their sport, student-athletes will be expected to adhere to the same campus safety precautions and temporary restrictions during the low-to-no contact period. Student spectators will not be able to attend athletic events during this period.

Where possible, student workers should work remotely. Some jobs will require in-person work (e.g. resident assistants), but supervisors have been asked to limit such occurrences to those who are absolutely necessary, and ensure full compliance with Furman’s COVID safety protocols.

Students are STRONGLY discouraged from going off campus during this period. Students who must work off-campus jobs or seek medical care off campus are encouraged to follow Furman’s travel policy and guidelines. Students who work off campus may request more frequent surveillance testing by emailing Furman Focused.

Furman will be open and operating. The Earle Student Health Center will be open and available for in-person visits and telehealth visits. Students may access the Counseling Center, SOAR, Center for Academic Success, Malone Career Center, and Office of Spiritual Life virtually during normal business hours, noting that many of these offices continue to offer virtual options as well. The Furman Police Department will be open 24/7.

Commuters should not come to campus until January 25, except to pick up textbooks from Barnes and Noble or to participate in the surveillance testing, as instructed.

If comfortable doing so, students are encouraged to establish their pod of four or fewer to help minimize feelings of isolation. Students are encouraged to go outdoors if the weather allows. Students who are concerned about being on campus during this low-to-no-contact period should consider delaying their return to campus until they feel more comfortable. Of course, students can elect to be remote learners for the entire semester.

All residential and commuter students are required to be tested on campus January 19-20 and again January 26-27. Students will receive instructions via Furman email no later than the day before their scheduled testing date. This testing does not take the place of the required negative test upon returning to campus. The purpose of the negative test result prior to arriving to campus is to prevent asymptomatic students from moving onto campus.