COVID-19 Policies and Communications

Dear Bereans,

This is the update for Monday, September 12, 2022.

I am sending this update out a little earlier in the week than lately because of some challenging developments and the resulting necessity to make a policy change.  (See below for the details of the changed circumstances pertaining to the College and the immediate area.)

Because of a surge of cases among students and the fact that the situation has also deteriorated in Madison County, the AC has decided on changes to our masking policy, effective immediately.   Because transmission among students is occurring in some classroom settings and seems to be concentrated in some residence halls:

• Masking will be required in all classroom settings
• Masking will be required in all residence hall settings, except in a student’s individual room
• Masking will be required in all music ensemble practices and performances
• Masking will be recommended for all Bereans in any indoor congregate settings
• Masking is strongly suggested for all Bereans in any off-campus public settings
• Masking will be required for all visitors at any campus events.

Continue reading COVID-19 Update: September 12, 2022 →

Dear Bereans,

This is the update for Tuesday, September 6, 2022.

Quarantine update

As of this morning, we have four students in quarantine having tested positive, two on campus and two at their homes. We have two on-campus employees quarantining with positive tests and three positive employees who work remotely.  The on-campus Bereans who have tested positive work in Lincoln Hall and Stephenson Hall.  (These numbers represent a slight improvement from last week.)

Continue reading COVID-19 Update: September 6, 2022 →

Dear Bereans,

This is the update for Tuesday, August 30, 2022.

Donation account for Berea colleagues

Several Partners for Education staff members were directly affected by the flooding in eastern Kentucky.  The damage to the homes, vehicles, and other property of our colleagues was significant, with some experiencing a near total loss of their home and possessions.  If you would like to help these Bereans directly, please visit this link and look for the “Eastern Kentucky Flood Fund” button.  Individuals can make donations up to $5,000 via this site.  If anyone wants to make a donation greater than $5,000, please contact Penny Jordan at jordanp@berea.edu or (859) 985-2602 for a check or ACH donation.  While these donations are not tax-deductible, they will provide much-needed support to these individuals and their families.

Employees are also reminded that everyone is permitted up to two additional vacation days through the end of September in order to engage in flood relief work; I have heard that a number of Bereans have already done that.  Thanks so very much!

Continue reading COVID-19 Update: August 30, 2022 →

Dear Bereans,

This is the update for Tuesday, August 23, 2022; welcome back to campus, everyone!

Quarantine update

As of yesterday, we have three students in quarantine having tested positive.  All are quarantining off campus.  One late-arriving international student is in quarantine.  We have a total of 7 on-campus employees quarantined with positive tests and 7 positive employees who work remotely.  The on-campus Bereans who have tested positive work in the following buildings/areas: Admissions; Facilities; Draper Hall; the MAC Building; Marketing; and Stephenson Hall.

Continue reading COVID-19 Update: August 23, 2022 →

Dear Bereans,

This is the campus update for Tuesday, August 16, 2022; safe travels to students as you make your way back to campus.  We are eager to welcome you!

Quarantine update

As of yesterday, we have only one off-campus student in quarantine and all of our incoming international students have cleared quarantine.  We have a total of 10 on-campus employees quarantined with positive tests and one positive employee who works remotely.  The on-campus Bereans who have tested positive work in the following buildings/areas: Facilities; Lincoln Hall; the MAC building; Fairchild; and Stephenson Hall.

Continue reading COVID-19 Update: August 16, 2022 →

Dear Bereans,

This is the campus update for Tuesday, August 9, 2022.  There was little to report last week, but there are some significant developments to make you aware of now.

Quarantine update

As of yesterday, we have only one on-campus student in quarantine; many students have left campus, of course, at the end of the second summer term.  Most of our incoming international students have arrived and are quarantining.  Among on-campus employees, we have a total of five Bereans quarantining, and one employee who works remotely.  The on-campus Bereans who have tested positive work in the following buildings/areas: Facilities; Marketing; Woods Penn; Forestry; Fairchild; and the MAC Building.

Kentucky update

The number of new reported cases in the Commonwealth is basically unchanged from two weeks ago:  15652 vs. 15,884 for two weeks ago.  We may have reached a plateau for the summer, and the level is still far below the earlier surges, where the state had upwards of 10,000 new cases every day.  The test positivity rate for the past week was 18.41%, down marginally from 19.1% two weeks ago.  The number of deaths in the state has increased a bit from two weeks ago to 67; it was 59 two weeks ago.

Continue reading COVID-19 Update: August 9, 2022 →

Dear Bereans,

This is the campus update for Tuesday, July 26, 2022.  There was little to report last week, but there are some significant developments to make you aware of now.

Quarantine update

At this point, we have three on-campus students in quarantine.  Among on-campus employees, we have a total of six Bereans quarantining, as well some close contacts who are monitoring.  All the positive cases are in two areas, Facilities and Public Safety.

Continue reading COVID-19 Update: July 26, 2022 →

Dear Bereans,

This is the campus update for Tuesday, July 12, 2022.  I haven’t sent updates in a month because there has been little to report.  Cases among students on campus were very few, and employee quarantines were staying quite low, as well, and things have been operating more or less normally on campus.  In the last few days we have encountered some difficulties at the CDL, so it seemed reasonable to put out an update.

Quarantine update

At this point, we do not have any on-campus students in quarantine and have not had any student cases in the prior two weeks, either.  Among on-campus employees we have Bereans who work in IS&S, HR and the CDL (one each) quarantining.  The CDL case, which originated with a child who tested positive, also resulted in a number of staff close contacts and the closure of three classrooms through tomorrow.  To the families and the staff affected, please know we are thinking of you and hoping that all will be back to normal and that no one will have a serious case to deal with.

Continue reading COVID-19 Update: July 12, 2022 →

Dear Bereans,

This is the campus update for Tuesday, June 14, 2022.  I did an update just last week, but the situation locally has changed a bit and we have a new policy statement to share.

Quarantine update

At this point, similar to last week, we have three students in quarantine (one is quarantining at home and the other two on campus).  We also have five (down from eight last week) current, on-campus employee quarantines.  The work locations of the on-campus employees who are quarantined are: Hafer-Gibson, Edwards, the MAC building (2), and Lincoln Hall.

Continue reading COVID-19 Update: June 14, 2022 →

Dear Bereans,

This is the campus update for Tuesday, June 7, 2022.  I haven’t provided updates for about three weeks and thought some members of the campus community would like to have a status report.

Quarantine update

At this point we have three students in quarantine (one Ecovillage student, one off-campus student and one on-campus student).  All three quarantines are scheduled to end tomorrow.  We also have eight current, on-campus employee quarantines.  The work locations of the on-campus employees who are quarantined are: Hafer-Gibson, Middletown School, Facilities (2), Edwards, the CDL, the MAC building, and Lincoln Hall.

Continue reading COVID-19 Update: June 7, 2022 →