Ongoing Threat of COVID-19, Need to #FinishStrong

April 16, 2021

Dear Andrews students,

I am thankful for the steps you continue to take in support of our shared Community Covenant of Care.

Unfortunately, the risks of the COVID-19 pandemic have been made especially clear this past week for our own Andrews University community. There were only a few new cases on our campus, but they were unfortunately accompanied by a troubling increase in potential community transmission. Specifically, as we’ve done contact tracing for these recent positive COVID-19 cases, we’ve identified the need for a high number of quarantines. Those increased quarantines were necessary due to a substantial volume of close contact interactions between infected and/or symptomatic students and others on our main campus.

That’s a challenging development, but I believe we can continue to work together to #FinishStrong.

To keep each other safe, it is essential that we fully commit to our Community Covenant of Care by doing the following in the final few weeks of this semester:

• Stay at least six (6) feet away from others who do not live with you. This includes refraining from hugging or any other physical contact.
• Consistently use #CampusClear to record any and all symptoms.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Consistently wear a mask that completely covers your nose and mouth.
• Wash/sanitize your hands frequently.

We also strongly encourage each member of our community to receive a COVID-19 vaccine (though vaccines are not required by Andrews University). A list of vaccine sites in Berrien County is available on the Berrien County Health Department website; vaccines are offered to anyone age 16+. Additionally, we hope to announce details soon for an on-campus COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic before the school year ends.

In most cases I am in deep gratitude for the commitment and sacrifices our Andrews students have made day after day on this campus to keep each other safe. Nevertheless, I must also remind all of us that we have provided clear notice from the beginning of this academic year that a violation of the Community Covenant of Care would also constitute a violation of the Code of Student Conduct and potentially lead to disciplinary processes. Thus, students in violation of the Community Covenant of Care throughout this school year have received formal consequences, ranging from verbal counsel to suspension from the University.

For those reasons and more, I urge you to #FinishStrong in every way—healthy in body, mind and spirit as well as free from quarantine, isolation and disciplinary action.

Again, please know that each of you has our support and most of all our prayers that God will bless you and sustain you in these final weeks of spring semester. Along with our soon-to-be graduates, we are preparing for our deeply important, although limited, in-person spring graduation services in May. You can follow the latest updates and guidelines on spring graduation plans here.

With care,

Frances Faehner
Vice President for Campus & Student Life