Residence Life COVID Updates Spring 2022

Jan. 7, 2022

Dear parents,

Our residence hall students received COVID-19 protocol and testing updates from our Residence Life team on Wednesday, Jan. 5. We wanted to again make sure that our parents were also aware of Andrews University’s testing requirements for spring semester, even though your student may not currently live in one of our residence halls.

Please note that as we anticipate and prepare for a growing number of residents who may return from break with positive COVID-19 test results, due to the high transmission rate of the Omicron variant, we are concerned about our limited number of isolation spaces. Therefore, we want to encourage our students, if at all possible, to take the time to complete their COVID-19 testing expectations before they arrive on campus (you can review a copy of a Jan. 3 letter to students with further details on testing expectations at this link).

As a result, if you are planning to drop your student off, please consider waiting for them to take their rapid test (if a test was not completed prior to arrival) before you leave campus. If your student receives a positive test result either before or upon arrival, you and your student as well as the University may conclude that it is best for them to return home with you for their isolation period.

If your student is returning to Andrews University without you but lives within a reasonable driving distance, the University may also ask that they, with your support, consider returning home to complete their prescribed isolation period because of the limited number of isolation spaces on campus available for our students.

If needed, whether your student isolates at home or on campus, they will be provided online access to the content of their academic classes.

In addition, after consulting with our local health department, we have determined that for those who have tested positive and are in isolation, two students will be assigned to each isolation room in order to increase our capacity.

Thank you for your crucial assistance as we seek to create a workable plan for our students to have a safe and available place to reside should they need to be isolated as we begin our in-person studies this spring semester on our main campus.

You can find a complete copy of our Residence Life Jan. 5 letter below:

Jan. 5, 2022

Dear residents,

We wanted to share some important information for each one of our residence hall students regarding the start of spring semester.

As was shared in the email you received from President Luxton and Provost Arthur on Monday, 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 have a positive COVID-19 test result, do not travel to campus until your isolation is completed.

If you are unable to meet that expectation, you will be required to take a rapid COVID-19 test immediately upon your return to campus (and no more than two hours after your arrival). A rapid test and instructions will be available at the front desk of your residence hall, beginning Thursday evening, Jan. 6.

Whether you complete the test prior to your return or upon arrival, please submit the results using this form immediately upon receiving your results.

Please carefully note that due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the U.S. and around the world, face coverings are now required in all common areas of the residence halls (including hallways, laundry rooms, stairwells, etc.), regardless of vaccination status. This increased vigilance will be re-evaluated at the end of January to determine if/when we can return to the residence hall reduced masking expectations that were in place at the end of fall semester.

Please refer to the COVID-19 website for additional information on current mitigation guidelines. Should you have any questions, please contact covid19@andrews.edu. Thank you for your continued commitment to helping to keep each other, and our entire residence hall community, as safe as possible.

Our prayers are with you as you begin a new semester.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Burrill
Assistant Vice President for Residence Life
Dean for Student Life

Once again, we are grateful for your care, understanding and support amidst the critical and ongoing challenges presented by the global COVID-19 pandemic and, in particular, the rapid spread of infections caused by the Omicron variant.

You, and your student, continue to be in our prayers.

With care,

Frances Faehner
Vice President for Campus & Student Life