Dear Bereans,

This is the campus update for Tuesday, May 17, 2022.  The main purpose for sharing this update is some policy adjustments that the AC would like you to be aware of.

Quarantine update

At this point we have just one student in quarantine (off campus), and another student who planned to return to campus, but tested positive and so is quarantining at home.  We also have four current employee quarantines, three of them of on-campus employees and the fourth, a PFE employee who does not work on campus.  The work locations of the three on-campus employees who are quarantined are: the CDL, Edwards Hall, and Seabury Center.

Policy updates

Mask Policy Update

As we move into the Summer Term with fewer members of the community on campus, resulting in a return to very few on-campus COVID cases (we have three active cases among on-campus employees and one reported cases among on-campus students), effective immediately, the indoor masking policy is no longer in effect, except for the following:

Classrooms, Laboratories, Studios

Instructors or the responsible person has discretion to require masking for teaching and learning spaces.

Labor Departments

Labor Supervisors have discretion to require masking during labor.

Faculty and Labor Supervisors are encouraged to inform themselves about the health situation of their students (and, of course, themselves) when determining masking requirements for their course or department.  Please also keep in mind this statement from the Accessibility Advisory Committee: “The Accessibility Advisory Committee wants to remind our campus community that Berea College serves a disproportionate number of medically vulnerable students compared to other institutions. Students do not always feel comfortable advocating for themselves. Given these facts, as well as the power dynamics between students and faculty, we encourage faculty to open a dialogue about masking, to listen to all and be supportive of their students who may request the continuation of masking in the classroom.”

Any person who wishes to continue wearing a mask is welcome at any time to do so.  Please also note that this decision is subject to change should the number of cases on campus or in the area warrant the return to indoor masking.

Student Immunization Policy for the Fall 2022 Term

The Administrative Committee (AC) has been discussing the student Immunization Policy for the Fall 2022 Term.  We would like to make you aware of the following tentative requirement and invite comment in response:

Given that students live, work, and learn in close proximity to one another and other Bereans, safe campus operations will require continuation of immunization mandates for attendance at Berea College.  Now that safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines are available for persons of most ages, being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 will be added to the list of required immunizations in the Immunization Policy.  Being “fully vaccinated” will mean being up-to-date on all vaccinations and boosters for which a student is eligible.  The AC will continue the practice of allowing requests for medical or religious exemptions to be evaluated by panels of experts.

COVID-19 Community Level

As of last Friday, Madison County remains in the “Green” in terms of COVID-19 Community Level.  Most of Kentucky remains in the green, except for Jefferson County (Louisville), two far western counties, and nine counties on the eastern border of the state.  Those counties are all at the yellow level.

The CDC level and guidance for these levels can be found here. 

 

Kentucky update

The Commonwealth is still reporting only on positivity rate and the number of new COVID deaths.  The former for the past week is 9.35%, which continues to go in the wrong direction.  The number of deaths in the state is staying fairly low, in comparison to earlier surges.  There have been about 400 deaths over the last three weeks, for an average daily rate of about 20.

Stay safe, get vaccinated,
Lyle Roelofs, President
Berea College