Dear Campus Community,
It’s been a difficult week losing one of our own. Ryan Wood’s passing reminds us all of the important things in life. Please take a moment to remember Ryan, express your love to a friend or family member, and let us know if you need any support in the days and weeks ahead.
The COVID disease prevalence on campus is up this week, particularly the symptomatic positive cases. Our contact tracing shows that these increased cases were event-driven, meaning more students were gathering in larger numbers and spending more time in close proximities without wearing face coverings, often on campus. Unlike previous weeks, we have moved further away from the Purple Phase this week. Therefore, we will continue operating in the Yellow: Enhanced Precautions phase next week.
Please carefully read the following updates.
COVID Dashboard
We completed surveillance testing for 310 on-campus students this week, resulting in 3 asymptomatic positives (.97% positivity rate). In addition, there were 16 positive cases reported by the Earle Student Health Center. The Furman Focused Dashboard and Campus Operational Phases were updated yesterday.
Surveillance testing
We will continue with our COVID surveillance monitoring next week, testing 20% of the student pool, split between Monday and Wednesday. Selected students will receive instructions the day prior to testing. We will not conduct surveillance testing for employees next week.
Tip of the week: Be honest with contact tracers
It is crucial that students be honest with contact tracers about their close contacts. Recently, close contacts have come forward with concerns that the ESHC has not reached out to them due to an exposure. That is because students who are symptomatic or positive did not provide a complete list of their close contacts, which puts the community at risk. Students who intentionally fail to report all of their close contacts will be sent through the student conduct process.
Students with symptoms of COVID-19, or those who have recently had close contact with a symptomatic person, should remain in their residence and contact the health professionals at the Earle Student Health Center for additional guidance (864-522-2000, monitored 24 hours daily). The ESHC will administer testing on site with no out-of-pocket expense to symptomatic students or close contacts. Please do not go off campus to get tested on your own because it slows our ability to contact trace and quarantine/isolate students, thereby increasing risk for spread.
Face coverings reminder
Dining staff are reporting that students are getting a little too comfortable with not wearing face coverings properly (e.g., over the nose) or at all in the dining facilities. Please remain diligent. Wearing face coverings and wearing them properly is the most important safety measure we can all take.
Dining opportunities
Effective Monday, the Milford Mall lunch tent will open daily from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., featuring street food options for students. On Tuesday, March 16, the Pop Up Bistro will be at the lakeside tent from 6-8 p.m., serving Greek fare. Also, on March 16, the Snatch a Snack Truck will feature a Cereal Bar.
Kiddie pools on campus
Kiddie pools in North Village seems to be the spring weather activity of choice. To further support this fun, students may now check out a faucet key and hose from the Housing and Residence Life office in NV J 100. Students must supply their own pool (small pools only). Pools should be emptied nightly and stored off the grass and sidewalks to prevent damage to the grounds or obstacles in the walkways. Please continue to follow distancing guidelines.
St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day is Wednesday, March 17. Students are encouraged not to gather in groups larger than allowed in campus housing, and not to visit high-risk, off-campus venues where distancing and masking may not be rigorously followed (e.g., bars and crowded restaurants). Pub crawls are a violation of the Paladin Promise and will result in a minimum of a two-week remote learning period. Data shows this is where the most disease spread occurs.
Phase 1b vaccinations for employees
Eligible faculty, staff and student employees may want to consider using https://vaxlocator.dhec.sc.gov as a resource for scheduling an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine. Be patient, yet persistent, as approximately 3 million individuals in South Carolina are eligible in Phase 1b.
Recent CDC guidance on vaccinations
Earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released interim guidance for fully vaccinated individuals (i.e., those for whom ≥2 weeks have elapsed after receiving the second dose in a 2-dose series, or ≥2 weeks after a single-dose series). While this is exciting progress and provides hope about our ultimate “return to normal,” it is important to understand that at this time the CDC guidance is specific to the context of private settings (e.g., private homes). Furman is a public space, and the vast majority of college-aged students are not yet eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
At this time, all individuals (regardless of vaccine status) must continue to adhere to the tenets of the Paladin Promise, including wearing a well-fitted, 2-layer (minimum) mask, physically distancing, avoiding crowds, and using frequent hand hygiene.
Spring holiday weekend
In anticipation of the possibility that some students may travel for the long weekend on April 2-4, students are encouraged to review Furman’s Travel Policy and Guidelines as they make preparations. Furman will not require a negative COVID test to return to campus after that weekend.
Summer planning
For information about May X and summer courses, dates, costs and housing, see these frequently asked questions. We are also making plans for camps and conferences to occur this summer, while following our established health and safety measures and prioritizing the student experience.
Fall planning
Furman plans to hold in-person classes next fall. We will continue to follow CDC guidelines and our campus operational phases, with possible adjustments to phase restrictions based on the level of vaccination across the campus community. Masking and/or physical distancing may still be required in certain circumstances.
Furman is planning for off-campus activities in the fall. Community service, internships and research activities will follow all university and local protocols. To the extent that the health and regulatory conditions in the host countries permit it, study away will operate through our affiliate programs this fall. We are strongly encouraging everyone to be vaccinated because it will greatly impact in a positive way our ability to have in-person activities at increased capacities.
Students, remember that you can reach out to your peers on the student advisory group to ask questions and send them suggestions to share with the steering committee.
Please continue to follow the Paladin Promise, complete your daily LiveSafe health survey, and check the Furman Focused website and your email for regular updates.
We continue to be so proud of our campus community. We’ve reached the halfway point in the semester, so keep up the good work. Together, we can do this!
Sincerely,
Ken Peterson, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
Connie Carson, Vice President for Student Life
Co-Chairs, COVID Response Steering Committee