Dear Faculty and Staff,
Commencement for the class of 2021 this past Saturday was fantastic! What an accomplishment for those graduates, and for each of you. This was a community effort and we have one more class to celebrate this Saturday — the class of 2020. A special thanks to everyone involved in making these in-person ceremonies possible.
We are excited to have 343 students living in campus housing during the May X term, 62 commuting to campus and another 69 remote learners taking an online May X course. We are also pleased to report that 80% of May X students on campus have submitted their partially or fully completed vaccination cards to the Earle Student Health Center.
Please note, students and employees are not considered fully vaccinated until two weeks after completing the vaccination sequence (e.g., both doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine) and submitting documentation to the ESHC (students) or Human Resources (employees).
Please carefully read the following information.
Campus operational phase
We will be operating in the PURPLE: Basic Precautions phase until further notice. Read more about our operational phases here.
Yesterday’s CDC guidance
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced yesterday that individuals who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can forgo wearing masks and physical distancing in many indoor settings. This recent announcement will not result in an immediate relaxation of our distancing and masking protocols either indoors or outdoors beyond the adjustments outlined in this message, because the guidance specifically applies to fully vaccinated individuals. Currently, we still have a significant number of unvaccinated individuals in our classrooms, labs, work areas and residence halls.
Although we have not yet achieved a level of campus-wide vaccination that allows us to operate institutionally as though everyone is vaccinated, we are aggressively working to determine when such changes may be possible. A high vaccination rate among our students and employees will ultimately allow us to adjust our COVID public health protocols in the weeks ahead. Key to that effort is for students, faculty and staff to understand the importance and impact of completing and registering their vaccinations with the Earle Student Health Center or Human Resources, respectively. As a reminder, you cannot ask students about their vaccination status.
Return to in-person work
Some units have been working in person for many months now. It’s anticipated that units that have been remote will return to in-person work in the weeks ahead. Division heads and supervisors will communicate a “return to in-person work plan” with their units to ensure a smooth start to the fall semester.
Employees no longer need to submit the daily LiveSafe health survey prior to coming to campus, unless they are symptomatic, positive for COVID-19 or a close contact.
Masking and distancing outdoors
Fully vaccinated individuals are no longer required to wear a mask or physically distance outdoors on Furman’s campus under the following conditions:
- Individuals are fully vaccinated; and
- Individuals are not in a crowded setting. (Furman has defined a crowded setting as more than 10 individuals.)
Individuals who are NOT fully vaccinated must wear masks outdoors at all times whenever they will encounter others at distances less than 6 feet.
Masking and distancing indoors
Physical distancing (at least 6 feet) is still required indoors. Masks are still required for all individuals inside any campus building with the following exceptions:
- Employees alone in their assigned office or workspace: Fully vaccinated employees who are alone in their assigned office or workspace may now remove their masks without the requirement of having their door closed, provided that physical distancing is maintained.
- Students inside their assigned housing space: Masking is still required for all students when in common areas, hallways, stairwells and bathrooms in the residence halls.
Employees may meet in person with students as long as masks are worn and 6 feet of distancing is maintained.
Travel guidelines
In the PURPLE phase, faculty and staff may travel for university business with supervisor approval. Employee travelers should follow CDC guidance on safe travel.
In the PURPLE phase, students and student groups may travel with the appropriate student organization governing council and advisor approvals. Student travelers should follow CDC guidance on safe travel.
Furman sponsored field trips and community activities
In the PURPLE phase, faculty, staff and student organization advisors may coordinate employee-led activities for students in the local community. Follow the approval process here.
Faculty may read more information here about summer research guidelines.
Guidelines for eating off campus
In the PURPLE phase, faculty and staff may eat outdoors at a restaurant with students. Eating indoors at a restaurant with students is not recommended until the GREEN phase.
As long as Furman remains in the PURPLE or GREEN phase, students may travel to faculty and staff member’s homes (following normal COVID precautions for travel) and socialize outside. If food is served, 6-feet physical distancing must be maintained and food must be provided as individual meals, rather than provided in a buffet/family-style setting where food, utensils, etc. are shared.
Read more about Furman’s guidelines on eating and drinking on and off campus here.
Group activities and meetings
- Indoor organized events may include over 30 individuals, as long as they do not exceed the maximum capacity of the event space. Physical distancing and masking are still required. Student groups and organizations may continue to plan indoor meetings following these guidelines.
- Outdoor organized events must be approved and cannot exceed the maximum capacity of the outdoor space. Physical distancing and masking are still required for groups larger than 10. Gatherings that include food or beverages must be approved by Furman Focused and managed by Dining Services. Student groups and organizations may continue to plan outdoor meetings following these guidelines.
- Individuals also may informally gather outdoors in groups of up to 30. These larger informal gatherings (more than 10) should continue to remain physically distanced with masking, and should not include food or beverages.
Campus buildings
All campus buildings will resume their normal summer (non-COVID) schedule. Check building websites for summer hours. Students who need access to academic buildings after hours and on weekends (e.g., research students) must make those arrangements with their instructors.
Dining options for employees
Unfortunately, the Dining Hall is only available to students during May X and camps and conferences participants during the summer. However, Starbucks at Barnes & Noble and the Traditions Grille at the golf course are open during normal hours for students, faculty and staff. If any dining locations (or tents) are made available to faculty and staff for the summer, we will notify the campus community. In the meantime, please plan accordingly.
Support services for students
All of the standard support services are available during the May term and summer.
- The Counseling Center is open and available for both in person or telehealth visits. Students may utilize the 24/7 crisis and mental health support line at 864-294-3031, option #3 from anywhere at any time. Online self-help toolsare always available as well.
- The Earle Student Health Center is open for in-person or virtual visits Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. SmartExams are available after hours.
- Connect with the Center for Academic Success (CAS), Writing & Media Lab, Peer Assisted Learning (PAL), or Student Office for Accessibility Resources (SOAR).
- For emergencies, call the Furman Police at 864-294-2111.
PAC hours
The PAC is currently open for students and employees only. The pool and locker rooms are also available.
- Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Saturday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Sunday, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
We will continue to monitor the utilization of the PAC in its continued reduced capacity to determine when it is safe to reopen the PAC to dependents and retirees. Thank you for your continued patience.
Campus visitors
The campus will officially reopen to the public on Monday, May 17, for outdoor use (e.g., lake walking and biking), so you may see more community members on campus in the upcoming weeks. The only indoor location accessible to the general public is the Barnes & Noble Bookstore. Summer camps and conferences will also start in June.
COVID vaccination
Furman has not yet made a final decision about whether we will require students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine but is strongly encouraging all members of the campus community to be vaccinated.
Students, faculty and staff may use https://vaxlocator.dhec.sc.gov as a resource for scheduling an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Faculty and staff who have received the complete dose of the COVID vaccination are encouraged to voluntarily share their vaccination record by emailing a copy of your vaccination card to humanresources@furman.edu. This information will not be shared or stored as part of personnel records, and no personnel actions will be taken based on whether employees have received the vaccine. Please submit only your vaccination record and do not include any medical information along with it.
If you have any questions, please email furman.focused@furman.edu. Be well.
Sincerely,
The COVID Response Committee