LaVie’s Back to the Books: How to stay safe

Spencer Paterick `21 Assistant Editor 

Guidelines for staying healthy on campus 

There is no doubt that life at LVC will be much different this semester. Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, everyone on campus is asked to act in accordance with guidelines and recommendations set by the state and federal governments. By following these guidelines, both staff and students will be able to ensure academic success, as well as the safety and well-being of the LVC community as a whole. 

Phased Move-in 

  • Freshmen and seniors will begin in-person classes on Aug. 24. Sophomores and juniors will move into residence halls between Sept. 11-13. 
  • Sophomores and juniors can choose to participate in hands-on or lab work on campus or may choose to attend classes completely online. 

Symptom Tracking 

  • All students and staff must report any symptoms via the symptom tracker app found on MyLVC. 
  • Students will not be allowed to attend in-person classes if they do not fill out the form or if they report any symptoms. 

Changes to Academic Calendar 

  • The Fall 2020 semester will begin one week early, on Monday, Aug. 24. 
  • There will not be a fall break. 
  • On-Campus learning will end prior to Thanksgiving break. 
  • Online learning will take place from Monday, Nov. 30 to Friday, Dec. 4. 
  • Finals week will run from Dec. 7-11. 
  • The Spring 2021 will begin one week later, on Monday, Jan. 26. 

Student Life 

  • All students must wear masks at all times while on campus. 
  • Masks are not required when students are in their own dorm rooms. 
  • LVC encourages students to minimize off-campus movement as much as possible 
  • Students are not to enter a residence hall other that their own 
  • Off-campus guests are not to stay in residence halls under any circumstances 
  • Students may socialize in outdoor environments as long as distancing measures are followed 
  • The College has optimized classroom spaces in order to maximize physical distancing 
  • All buildings have been assigned with new traffic flow patterns that will help to reduce interaction during peak hours 
  • The housekeeping staff will follow CDC cleaning guidelines, and also clean high touch areas throughout the day. 
  • Disinfectant supplies will be available for all students to clean communal areas 

Dining Guidelines 

  • Masks are required by all dining patrons when inside Mund Dining Hall 
  • Once students are seated with food, masks are not required 
  • Seating in the dining hall has been optimized for physical distancing guidelines 
  • All Metz kitchen staff will wear face masks and gloves while working 
  • Self-serve food will no longer be offered; students will be served by the Metz staff 
  • Meal exchange options have been extended to other dining locations on campus 

Athletics 

  • MAC sports for the fall semester have been cancelled 
  • The Arnold Sports Center will have a reduced capacity, and will operate under a first-come first-serve basis 
  • Students and staff members will be allowed to reserve spaces in the arena 
  • Arnold Sports Center will be closed to community members for the remainder of the fall semester 

Positive Cases 

  • In the case of a positive test for Covid-19, all students and faculty will be alerted via email. 
  • Infected person(s) will be isolated and healthcare partners will assist LVC staff with contact tracing measures. 
  • The College will work closely with healthcare partners to monitor cases in the event of an outbreak in order to determine the criteria in which the College would move to online classes. 

Students are expected to self-monitor for symptoms of Covid-19, adhere to physical guidelines and other mitigation efforts as well as minimize any off-campus interaction. 

As the semester progresses, these guidelines are subject to change. La Vie will continue to inform students of important changes throughout the year.