Dear Bereans,
This is the campus update for Monday, November 29, 2021. (I apologize for the length of this update but do think that everything included is worthy of your attention.)
Welcome back to all for the last couple of weeks of the Fall 2021 term. I encourage everyone to be vigilant for COVID symptoms and seek immediate testing, especially if you traveled or participated in gatherings over the Thanksgiving break. We’ve done really well preventing any outbreaks on campus, and it would be great to finish strong!
Omicron
By now we have all heard about the discovery of a new and concerning variant of the COVID-19 virus, first reported in South Africa, but now already being detected in quite a number of other countries, usually as a result of travelers arriving from an affected country. As of this morning, no cases have been reported in the US.
Although much is unknown at this point, it is known that this variant has a number of mutations on the spike protein, which is the component of the virus targeted by antibodies from vaccination and monoclonal antibodies used for treating the disease. Those medical interventions may therefore be less effective against this new variant, although initial data from South Africa is that the disease has so far been detected mostly among unvaccinated persons. In response to this new threat, medical authorities around the world are urging all unvaccinated persons to seek vaccination in anticipation of a world-wide surge of this variant.
This morning Dr. Anthony Fauci stated in an interview that scientific studies are proceeding with great urgency, but that it will take some weeks before everything we need to know has been determined.
We also cannot know at this point what the effects of a widespread outbreak in the US might be for our operations in the coming semester. Please do know that the AC will be monitoring the official and authoritative reporting on this situation and making any prudent adjustments as soon as they can be reasonably determined.
Quarantine, testing and vaccination update
One student who had left for campus has tested positive and is quarantining at home. As to on-campus employees, we have one person (FM) continuing in isolation from last week and one new positive test of a CDL staff member. The latter has not been working in the CDL of late, and so we will not need to close any more classrooms. We also have one close contact (AG/Farm), also continued from last week. The new case noted above may result in other close contacts, but we do not know that yet.
Our overall employee vaccination percentage has increased by 1% to 91%, and, for non-PFE employees, our percentage is now 93.2% another increase of 1%.
Kentucky and Madison County update
Madison County had a total of 207 new cases for the week ending yesterday. This is a 33% reduction from last week, but it is unclear whether there was full reporting due to the holiday. The average number of new cases per day goes down to about 30, which keeps us in the Red zone. We have had five more deaths in the county in the last week, which brings the total to 195. The vaccination rate in the County is 48.0%.
Kentucky reported 9,807 new cases for the week ending today for an average of 1,401 cases/day, down by about 8% from last week’s number. The Commonwealth has reported 206 deaths over the last week for an average number of deaths/day of 29, which is down a lot from last week. The test positivity rate is still increasing and is now 8.14%.
It looks like somewhat of an improvement in Kentucky, but it could well be that the Thanksgiving holiday interrupted some reporting.
GREAT NEWS from the Student Financial Aid Office
Current active students will receive funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP, or HEERF III) early next week. As stated in the ARP legislation, students are to use these funds for Cost of Attendance items, such as housing, meals, child care, etc. These are grant funds and do not have to be repaid, nor do students have to provide receipts of expenditures. All students are eligible for these funds, including international and DACA students.
The chart below outlines the amounts each student will receive based on need as determined by 2021-22 Expected Family Contribution (EFC):
| EFC | Disbursement Amount |
| $0 | $700 |
| $1 – 2999 | $675 |
| $3000 – 5830 | $650 |
| $5831 – 9999 | $625 |
| $10,000 and above | $400 |
We hope the timing of these funds will assist students with their Winter Break (four weeks) costs.
2) Fall graduates will be awarded $650 to assist with their after-graduation start-up expenses, once the official list of graduates is received. Again, these are grant funds that do not need to be repaid.
If you have any questions, please contact Student Financial Aid counselors at finaid@berea.edu.
CDL Update
To maintain continuity of service during a period of reduced staffing, the CDL will have reduced hours beginning Wednesday December 1st. Hiring and training is underway in an effort to return to normal as soon as possible, but the community should anticipate reduced hours for some time. The CDL staff and the Administrative Committee recognize the significant challenges this causes individuals and our community. Berea College student needs are being addressed at this time and we ask all supervisors of employees impacted by reduced hours to facilitate early pickup and working from home or with altered hours.
Vaccination policy at other colleges and universities
As of this morning, the Chronicle of Higher Education lists 1,142 schools that are requiring vaccination in the current term, an increase of eight schools over last week.
Hydro Project
Our hydroelectric generating project on the Kentucky River has received some very nice attention recently. On Saturday, the Herald Leader released an on-line piece about the project and today’s paper has that article on the front page of the print edition, as well as an editorial by yours truly on the significance of the project for the College, for the Commonwealth and for the environment that we all share. (Thanks very much to Jodi Whitaker and Jason Miller of Marketing and Communications for their assistance in developing and placing reports and pieces of this sort in the media.)
Stay safe, get vaccinated and boosted, stay in touch,
Lyle Roelofs, President
Berea College