VPSL Column | December 4, 2020

Happy Friday, Students! And Happy December! The semester finish line is in sight. Winter break is in reach. And you have handled yourselves so well this semester, all things considered, in a time of great uncertainty. Well done, Pios!

While most of you have returned home to complete your semester remotely, we still have about 160 students living on campus through finals. As you wrap up your semesters, we are hard at work finalizing plans for your return to campus for spring semester. Please read this message closely so you can begin to plan for January. We’ll be sending you a number of additional communications in the coming days and weeks.

• COVID-19 Pre-Departure testing: The Health Service will be conducting a testing clinic on Monday, December 7, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The cost for the test will be $65 per person and will be billed to your student account. We will provide you with instructions allowing you to bill this cost to your insurance for reimbursement. Please review the message that Health Service sent this morning.

• Spring semester COVID-19 re-entry testing: Across all three campuses, the first week of classes in January will be conducted remotely. This will allow us to complete baseline testing with all students. More information to come.

• COVID-19 cases: As of yesterday, we have had six positive COVID-19 tests out of the 2,709 tests we’ve conducted on campus, a positivity percentage of 0.22%.

• Health Service availability: To give the hardworking staff a chance to rest and recuperate, the Health Service will be closed from December 11, 2020 through January 10, 2021. Students will be provided instruction in how to respond to any COVID-like symptoms between December 12 and January 10: Utilize nurseline, and then DispatchHealth (on-site medical assessment and COVID testing, billed to insurance) if needed.

• Small-group check-ins with students remaining on campus: From Monday, December 14, through Monday, December 21, I will be hosting small-group Zoom calls with students who are planning on remaining on campus through the winter break. My hope is that these check-ins, in groups of about 7 students, will give students an opportunity to talk about their needs and concerns going into winter break. Please email VPSL@lclark.edu to schedule.

Take care yourselves and those around you. Stay well and stay safe. And as always, WeB4Me@LC.

Sincerely,

Robin H. Holmes-Sullivan
Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students