Week of November 16, 2020
Campus Update
Sent: November 17th, 2020
To the Dickinson community:
This weekend, we received notice that two additional students have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing our number of positive student cases on campus to three. These students now are living in private rooms with private bathrooms in a separate building from other students. Individuals who were in contact with the students testing positive have been contacted and are being tested. Those individuals are quarantining pending results.
We also have three employees who have tested positive, as I mentioned in my previous message.
The virus is increasing in Pennsylvania and spiking in Cumberland County. It is imperative that everyone wear masks, avoid gatherings and practice social distancing. In addition, please wash your hands frequently, for 20 seconds at a time. As of yesterday, we have mandated that on-campus students restrict their movements for the next two weeks and only leave their residence to get meals from the dining hall, visit the Wellness Center or go outside for exercise. The Wellness Center is also providing COVID tests to interested students before they leave campus for the semester.
We must continue to practice the necessary safety and health guidelines. This is particularly important over the Thanksgiving break. Please use good judgement over the holiday and avoid any large, extended family gatherings. Please for a healthy Thanksgiving.
Upcoming Information
I recognize that Dickinson employees have been working nonstop since March. Thank you all for your tireless efforts. To provide an opportunity for you to get much-needed rest, we are extending our winter break this year. The campus will be closed from December 13 through January 2. Some departments will be unable to observe this closing, and additional information will be provided to employees in those departments about alternate days off.
Also, with our reopening plans well underway, we are beginning the process of contacting furloughed employees to provide information on their return-to-work dates. These dates are closely linked to the college’s current plans to allow students to return to campus for the spring semester. It should be noted that if the pandemic continues to escalate and requires any change to our current spring semester plans, these return dates may be impacted. Please note that it remains our intent to provide the maximum amount of notice possible, however the 30-day notice previously provided for employment decisions may not always be feasible.
While we are all tired of dealing with COVID-19, the danger is not over. Some experts predict that the most dangerous period is still ahead. We must not become complacent. Please continue to stay safe and healthy and observe the practices that will help us get through this until a vaccine is available. Wear a mask, practice social distancing and wash your hands regularly.
Together, we will emerge from this challenging period. Thank you for your hard work this semester, and your resilience in very trying times. Stay Dickinson strong.
Sincerely,
Margee M. Ensign
President
Campus Update
Sent: November 16th, 2020
To the Dickinson community:
During the weekend, we received notice that two additional students have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing our number of positive student cases on campus to three. These students now are living in private rooms with private bathrooms in a separate building from other students. Individuals who were in contact with the students testing positive have been contacted and are being tested. Those individuals are quarantining pending results.
We also have three employees who have tested positive, as I mentioned in my previous message.
The virus is increasing in Pennsylvania and spiking in Cumberland County. It is imperative that everyone on campus wear masks, avoid gatherings and practice social distancing. In addition, please wash your hands frequently, for 20 seconds at a time.
Because of the increase in cases on campus and in the community, we are mandating that all on-campus students restrict their movements for the next two weeks, effective immediately.
Thanksgiving
We ask on-campus students to stay here during the Thanksgiving break. Any on-campus student who has decided to travel for Thanksgiving must take their belongings and not return to campus for the remainder of the semester.
Students returning home at the end of the semester will be able to receive COVID tests from the Wellness Center before leaving. On-campus students can contact the Wellness Center to schedule an appointment for a test (717-245-1663). Students who have not yet gotten their flu vaccine can call the Wellness Center for this as well. Please call early for these services, as it has been taking several days to receive COVID-19 test results and it takes time for the flu vaccine to take effect.
Spring Reopening
As I wrote last week, we will be having two virtual sessions for parents and students who have questions about our plans for next semester. The session for first year and sophomore students and parents will take place at 5 p.m. (EST) tomorrow. Another session for junior and senior students and parents will be held at 5 p.m. (EST) Thursday. Information on accessing those sessions can be found at the bottom of this email.
We are regularly updating our Campus Reopening pages, which include answers to frequently asked questions, and we invite you to check those pages regularly.
While we are all tired of dealing with COVID-19, the danger is not over. Some experts predict that the most dangerous period is still ahead. We must not become complacent. Please continue to stay safe and healthy and observe the practices that will help us get through this until a vaccine is available. Wear a mask, practice social distancing and wash your hands regularly.
Together, we will emerge from this challenging period. Thank you for your hard work this semester, and your resilience in very trying times. Stay Dickinson strong.
Sincerely,
Margee M. Ensign
President
Campus Update
Sent: November 17th, 2020
To the Dickinson community:
This weekend, we received notice that two additional students have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing our number of positive student cases on campus to three. These students now are living in private rooms with private bathrooms in a separate building from other students. Individuals who were in contact with the students testing positive have been contacted and are being tested. Those individuals are quarantining pending results.
We also have three employees who have tested positive, as I mentioned in my previous message.
The virus is increasing in Pennsylvania and spiking in Cumberland County. It is imperative that everyone wear masks, avoid gatherings and practice social distancing. In addition, please wash your hands frequently, for 20 seconds at a time. As of yesterday, we have mandated that on-campus students restrict their movements for the next two weeks and only leave their residence to get meals from the dining hall, visit the Wellness Center or go outside for exercise. The Wellness Center is also providing COVID tests to interested students before they leave campus for the semester.
We must continue to practice the necessary safety and health guidelines. This is particularly important over the Thanksgiving break. Please use good judgement over the holiday and avoid any large, extended family gatherings. Please for a healthy Thanksgiving.
Upcoming Information
I recognize that Dickinson employees have been working nonstop since March. Thank you all for your tireless efforts. To provide an opportunity for you to get much-needed rest, we are extending our winter break this year. The campus will be closed from December 13 through January 2. Some departments will be unable to observe this closing, and additional information will be provided to employees in those departments about alternate days off.
Also, with our reopening plans well underway, we are beginning the process of contacting furloughed employees to provide information on their return-to-work dates. These dates are closely linked to the college’s current plans to allow students to return to campus for the spring semester. It should be noted that if the pandemic continues to escalate and requires any change to our current spring semester plans, these return dates may be impacted. Please note that it remains our intent to provide the maximum amount of notice possible, however the 30-day notice previously provided for employment decisions may not always be feasible.
While we are all tired of dealing with COVID-19, the danger is not over. Some experts predict that the most dangerous period is still ahead. We must not become complacent. Please continue to stay safe and healthy and observe the practices that will help us get through this until a vaccine is available. Wear a mask, practice social distancing and wash your hands regularly.
Together, we will emerge from this challenging period. Thank you for your hard work this semester, and your resilience in very trying times. Stay Dickinson strong.
Sincerely,
Margee M. Ensign
President