Individual & Shared Response to COVID-19

Sept. 28, 2021

Dear Andrews University students,

We have been blessed by spectacular fall weather as we begin our 2021–2022 school year here in Berrien Springs. Unfortunately, along with that beautiful weather, we must also continue to carefully and proactively weather the ongoing threats of COVID-19 and the Delta variant and continue to understand and uphold expectations designed for the well-being of our entire community.

As we do all of that, I wanted to take a moment to share with you some important reminders from our updated Community Covenant of Care.

1. Mask Mandate: As was communicated to you by our president and provost through a campus email on Sept. 17, 2021, our masking guidelines indoors will remain in place through at least Oct. 31 due to a significant level of infection and community spread of COVID-19 in Berrien County.
    
2. Safety Equipment: Equipment, such as the plexiglass dividers that have been installed in various offices as well as those on tabletops in the Terrace Cafe and the Campus Center, should not be removed or tampered with for any purpose.
    
3. Unvaccinated: For those who have not been vaccinated or do not have acquired immunity through a previous COVID-19 infection, I want to remind you that a monthly negative COVID-19 test is required, and at your personal expense, for involvement in on-campus, in-person activities.
   
   If you’re part of this group of individuals, your next COVID-19 test should be completed before Thursday, Sept. 30, and then at the end of each month following until campus guidelines change. To help confirm compliance with this guideline, the University will also randomly screen for COVID-19 test results; if you’re part of the group randomly selected in any given month, you’ll be contacted directly by our COVID-19 team via email from covid19@andrews.edu.
   
   If you need more information on local COVID-19 testing options, you can find out more here.

4. Considering a COVID-19 Vaccination: You can review local options for vaccinations here, which includes the option of COVID-19 vaccinations at our local Rite Aid pharmacy in Berrien Springs. Schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment at the Berrien Springs Rite Aid, or other local Rite Aid pharmacies, here.

Our COVID Administrative Team understands that each one of us is exhausted from the ongoing threat and toll of COVID-19 on our world and our own community. Nevertheless, all students, and our entire Andrews University community, are expected to continue to abide by the Community Covenant of Care and any additional related guidelines that may be communicated throughout the semester. This also means that students should expect to be held accountable should they fail to follow any COVID-19 community guidelines communicated by the University.

My thoughts of care and support are with each of you as we together continue in our commitment to care for our own well-being and the welfare of our entire Andrews community in the days ahead.

With care,

Frances Faehner
Vice President for Campus & Student Life