Students: COVID-19 Updates for Spring Semester

Jan. 5 Update: The Berrien County Health Department has recommended that it's best to wear masks that are at least two or three layers.

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Jan. 3, 2022

Happy New Year, Andrews University students,

This note is to make sure you are informed of COVID-19 expectations and protocols for the start of in-person studies for spring semester on Jan. 10. Please note that some of these expectations and protocols have changed due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the U.S. and around the world.

As you prepare for spring semester classes beginning on Monday, Jan. 10, there are key steps you must take as we recommit to the safety of our community.

• Please plan to limit your exposure, including being careful to use masking and distancing in group gatherings in the final three to five days before your arrival on campus for spring semester.
• With the increased risk of contagion to all individuals with the Omicron variant, if at all possible please take a COVID-19 test a maximum of 72 hours prior to your return to campus, regardless of your vaccination status. For those not vaccinated or with prior immunity this result must be uploaded (see details below).
• ALL residence hall students, irrespective of vaccination status, will be required to show the results of a negative COVID-19 test (either a PCR or antigen test) taken no more than 72 hours prior to arrival on campus. If you are unable to meet that expectation, you will be required to take a COVID-19 test when you arrive on campus. You’ll hear more details about these COVID-19 requirements and protocols directly from the Residence Life team.
• If you’ve not yet reported being vaccinated or having acquired immunity, please complete the Spring 2022 Screening Form to report vaccination, acquired immunity, or negative COVID-19 test results (the negative COVID-19 test result must be completed no more than 72 hours prior to your arrival on campus; if you have a positive COVID-19 test result, do not travel to campus until your isolation is completed).This must be completed and submitted prior to attending your first class.
• Please note that the Screening Form only allows access through an Andrews University email account. In most cases, if you see a permission notice from Google it is due to your web browser (such as Google Chrome) being logged in via your personal Gmail account versus your University account (which uses your Andrews email address). If you get this notice, you should switch accounts and be able to log in, then complete and submit the form.
• If you are registered for spring 2022 courses and have already reported being vaccinated or having acquired immunity, the COVID-19 Team will confirm your status with you via your University email address.
• Monthly testing at a student’s expense for those who are not vaccinated or have acquired immunity will be an ongoing expectation during spring semester. You can find local, southwest Michigan options for COVID-19 testing here.
• Please remember that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, is required to wear masks while indoors on campus. Our indoor mask mandate has been extended through Jan. 31.
• Decisions on in-person classes during inclement winter weather will follow the same approach as last school year, and we’ll plan to make decisions the night before. We will leave it at the discretion of individual faculty to communicate their expectations to their students regarding any remote teaching or assignments for that day.

Please reach out to our COVID-19 Team if you have any questions related to the Spring 2022 Screening Form. The COVID-19 Team can be reached at covid19@andrews.edu. To report symptoms/exposure, please use #CampusClear now or at any point during the semester as soon as you begin experiencing symptoms of illness or become aware of potential exposure.

Thank you once again for your shared and ongoing commitment to our Community Covenant of Care in this new year and new semester to come.

As 2022 begins, may God’s love and blessings continue to surround you, our campus community and our world.

Andrea Luxton
President

Christon Arthur
Provost