As noted in the Plan for a Safe Return to Campus, all students are required to complete a personal Student Emergency Plan to identify issues that must be considered should it be necessary to close the College and vacate campus. 

The form is now available on myLVC. To access the form, click on the “MyInfo for Students” link and sign in if you aren’t already signed in. Once on the students page, in the MANAGE MYINFO section, click the “Student Emergency Plan” link. Please complete your plan by Aug. 15 to be eligible to return to campus. Students will not be permitted to return to the College without having completed this emergency plan.

It is a privilege to be a member of the Lebanon Valley College community of learners. The foundation of our community rests upon the principle that we are only as good as the sum of our parts. For this reason, we embrace our responsibilities to support, assist, challenge, and hold each other to account. As we prepare for a new academic year during this pandemic, let us reaffirm our beliefs and values, both personal and communal, to foster a safe, healthy, and high-quality educational environment. By engaging as a member of the College community, each of us commits to uphold the policies, procedures, and mitigation strategies set forth by Lebanon Valley College:

• Self-monitor for symptoms.
• Refrain from behaviors that will compromise my health and the health of others within our community to include adhering to traffic flow guidelines, guest and visitation policies, any directives to self-isolate as appropriate, and limit my exposure to others who choose to do otherwise.
• Adhere to safe practices such as wearing face coverings, practice physical distancing, employ good hygiene practices such as frequent handwashing and use of hand sanitizer, and greet others without shaking hands.
• Regularly clean and disinfect my personal space and items.
• Prioritize virtual or outdoor meetings with physical distancing.
• Communicate potential health concerns, including COVID-19 symptoms, to appropriate personnel in Shroyer Health Center (students) or my personal physician (employees), and to report all health-related issues as instructed by College policy.
• Hold others accountable to uphold these standards as members of the LVC community.
• Demonstrate care and concern for others.

Those who do not follow the College’s employee and COVID-19 policies or the Student Conduct Code will be prohibited from campus property. LVC policies and protocols may be stricter than county color-status guidelines.

The number of visitors to campus will be minimized. A visitor is defined as an individual who is not a current employee or student of the College.

• Student guests are limited; guidelines are presented above and in the Student Handbook.
• Visitors must comply with College policies, including physical distancing and required face coverings.
• Visits must take place outdoors or in areas that permit physical distancing. Visitors to indoor spaces including the library and Arnold Sports Center are not permitted unless approved by LVC Human Resources.
• Prospective students and their families may visit under the guidance of the admission and/or athletics staff.
• Vendors contracted with the College and package and meal deliverers can deliver goods and services.
• Guest lecturers may visit under the aegis of a faculty member. It will be the responsibility of the host employee to assure visitors abide by all LVC Policies and the Returning to Campus After COVID-19 Handbook.
• Volunteers pre-approved to assist with college academic or operational functions may visit under the direction of a supervisor.
• Guidance for visitors who wish to attend athletic events will be determined based on forthcoming NCAA and MAC guidance.
• Any potential visitor with COVID-19 symptoms or a fever of 100.4°F or higher is not permitted on campus.

Students, employees, and visitors to campus acknowledge that COVID-19 is a public health risk, and even with LVC following recommendations and guidelines from the CDC, the PDH, and PDE, LVC cannot guarantee safety or immunity from infection, and that students, employees, and visitors accept those risks.

Pedestrian Flow and Signage

The College will post signage highlighting pedestrian flow, proper hygiene and handwashing, symptoms checklists, proper physical distancing techniques, and symptom reporting information in all residence halls and administrative buildings. Educational materials will be distributed electronically (email, digital screens, website, social media) and in print.

Ventilation

To promote indoor air quality, HVAC systems will receive regular maintenance and air flows rates will be increased where possible.

Communal Areas and Bathrooms

In addition to the College’s preexisting cleaning protocols of using hospital-grade disinfectant, we will add additional protocols to clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces routinely and in accordance with official CDC guidelines.

Residence Halls and Academic Buildings

• Restrooms and shower areas will be cleaned and disinfected daily; high-touch areas will receive additional cleaning daily.
• Communal areas will be cleaned and disinfected daily.
• High-touch areas will be cleaned and disinfected daily.
• Disinfectant will be available for students and employees to clean communal areas, with supplies refilled daily.

Office Spaces

• Offices will be cleaned and disinfected weekly.
• Disinfectant and paper towels will be available for employees to do additional cleaning, with supplies refilled daily.

Public Bathrooms

Restrooms will be cleaned and disinfected daily; high-touch areas will receive additional cleaning daily.

CDC and PDH have indicated that the COVID-19 virus is easily killed via the use of standard disinfectants and normal use of a washing machine. All cleaning solutions LVC currently uses have gone through testing and been approved for Emerging Pathogen use.

Housekeeping procedures follow guidelines and recommendations from the CDC and PDH, focusing on frequent cleaning of high-touch and communal areas, including bathrooms, elevators, classrooms, and doorknobs in student-facing areas. Housekeeping staff will be provided with appropriate PPE for cleaning and disinfecting non-clinical spaces per CDC guidelines.

Cleaning supplies will be provided so that employees will be able to clean surfaces in their offices. Instructions on the proper use of the cleaning supplies will also be provided.

Face Coverings

Coverings of the nose and mouth are required. They should be worn by all students and employees in all classrooms, communal areas, and public shared spaces on campus, and in areas where physical distancing cannot be observed. As a courtesy, LVC will distribute one cloth (washable and reusable) face mask to all students at the beginning of the Fall 2020 semester. Students and employees may use their own cloth face coverings. The College will provide additional face masks (as needed) to employees where frequent face mask use is required. LVC has secured a stock of disposable face masks if someone has forgotten or misplaced their own.

Barriers

LVC will adapt spaces to promote physical separation in areas where faculty, staff, or students interact closely or exchange materials such as payments or documents, as well as areas with high volumes of interactions.

Gloves

Gloves will be provided where the use of gloves is a requirement of the job function. In general, the use of gloves for repeated tasks unrelated to housekeeping is not recommended.

All students and employees are required to self-monitor for symptoms and fever of 100.4°F or above and report symptoms using the colleges Digital Symptom Tracker. Students should complete the tracker daily starting August 1. The tracker refreshes daily at 5 a.m.

Report only new symptoms. You do not need to report chronic symptoms you have experience pre-COVID-19.

STUDENTS: If your results are a green checkmark, you are clear to attend class or come to campus.

If your results are a red X, follow the Protocol for Symptomatic Students.

EMPLOYEES: Complete the tracker every time before coming to campus. Employees with a red X should not report to campus and should refer to LVC’s Returning to Campus After COVID-19 policy and Employee Exposure to COVID-19 response found in ADP. Employees seeking testing should contact their healthcare provider. Shroyer Health Center orders tests only for students.

FACULTY who have a red X or who have to self-quarantine should stay home and deliver classes online until they are cleared to return to face to face instruction. Report your red X to Melissa Sherwood or Ann Hayes so the College can follow up and begin contact tracing if necessary. Faculty members are responsible for notifying students and their department chair of this change. If a faculty member needs to cancel a class due to illness, then they should follow the standard protocols, which include notifying the registrar and department chair and posting on Canvas. Do not contact Shroyer Health Center for a test.

Anyone experiencing a health emergency should call 911.

Self-quarantine: For asymptomatic individuals with potential exposure to COVID-19 or those who have traveled to states defined as hotspots by the Pennsylvania government.

• Stay in your room if you are a residential student, or stay home if you are a commuter. Leave your room only to use the bathroom or to go outside for fresh air following safety protocols. Practice vigilant physical distancing, wear a cloth mask, and wash your hands often. Take your classes virtually. 
• Do not go to work or socialize with friends or family outside your immediate household or roommate(s). The other members of your household or your roommate may go to work and class but should self-monitor closely for COVID-19 symptoms. They should be diligent about wearing a mask, hand washing, and physical distancing.
• If you have potentially been exposed to COVID-19, your healthcare provider will provide you with an end-date for self-quarantine. If you have traveled to a hotspot, you must self-quarantine for 14 days upon return. Per CDC and state public health guidelines, a negative COVID-19 test does not automatically end your self-quarantine. 
• If you are given additional or different instructions from a contact tracer or healthcare provider, follow those instructions and contact Shroyer Health Center immediately to share these instructions. While considering instructions from any off-campus health care providers, students should know that established LVC protocols will ultimately guide appropriate response regarding quarantine, isolation, and return to in-person classes.
   

Self-isolation: For those who have symptoms of COVID-19 or have either tested positive or are awaiting test results.

• Stay at home except to receive medical care.
• Stay separate from family members and pets, use a different bathroom if possible, do not share personal items, and wear a mask around other people.
• Your healthcare provider will advise you when to stop self-isolating. Per CDC and state public health guidelines, a negative COVID-19 test or the resolution of symptoms does not automatically end self-isolation.
• If you are given additional or different instructions from a contact tracer or healthcare provider, follow those instructions and contact Shroyer Health Center immediately to share these instructions. While considering instructions from any off-campus health care providers, students should know that established LVC protocols will ultimately guide appropriate response regarding quarantine, isolation, and return to in-person classes.

If you have any questions about LVC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, please email information@lvc.edu or call 717-867-6555.

Each member of the LVC community must follow these hygiene and health practices:

• Avoid handshakes
• Limit the touching of one’s eyes, nose, and mouth
• Wash hands vigorously, frequently, and thoroughly
• Shield coughing and sneezing

Hand sanitizing stations will be placed throughout campus to support good personal hygiene.

LVC is working with Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and WellSpan to manage COVID-19 care and advise the College to adapt plans as needed. These partners are:

• Assisting with COVID-19 screening, testing, and contact tracing;
• Reviewing and providing input on LVC’s policies and protocols for a safe return to campus (student and employee policies and protocol flowchart for employee exposure to COVID-19);
• Confirming guidance and recommendations are consistent with CDC guidance;
• Providing support for return-to-campus activities to enhance the safety of LVC students and employees; and
• Offering urgent and follow-up care for those diagnosed with COVID-19.

These services will supplement the existing on-campus health center nursing support that LVC students have access to during regular hours. The hours for health services have been extended to meet the needs of students during the pandemic.

Employees experiencing symptoms or seeking testing should work with their own healthcare provider.

LVC is committed to:

• Delivering a quality educational and student experience across modalities;
• Taking steps to decrease health and safety risks presented by in-person instruction and residential living;
• Following and adopting guidelines from state and federal public health agencies;
• Preserving as many jobs as possible while protecting the financial health of the institution;
• Providing options for members of its community that require accommodations; and
• Adapting its response and planning as needed as the pandemic situation evolves and more information becomes available.

The LVC COVID-19 Academic Response Faculty Task Force has designed the fall academic experience according to principles emphasizing flexibility, clear course outcomes, faculty mentoring, personalized education, support for student success, and streamlined online learning processes.

All classes, athletics, social activities, events, meetings, performances, and co-curricular activities must follow physical distancing guidelines issued by the CDC and PDH.

Available seating in communal areas will be properly designated via signage or reconfiguration to ensure recommended physical distancing.

The College will report presumed and confirmed cases to public health authorities.

The College’s healthcare partner will assist trained LVC staff with contact tracing. Anyone designated by contact tracing as having had potential COVID-19 exposure will be required to self-isolate at home or in their residence hall for an amount of time determined by their healthcare provider.

Students exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms will be housed temporarily in one of the College’s dedicated isolation beds, and most will be asked to return home to self-isolate. Self-isolation means you should stay in your assigned isolation room or at home until otherwise notified. You must stay away from others and use a separate bathroom and continue to wear a mask and practice good hygiene.

Students in self-isolation should continue classes online if able. Those in self-isolation on-campus can order meals through Metz and have a friend or student affairs staff member deliver the meals to their door (see Protocol for Symptomatic Students). Appropriate cleaning procedures will be followed.

COVID-19 positive students can only return to their residence halls and in-person classes after receiving clearance from a physician and providing documentation of this clearance to the Shroyer Health Center. Faculty and staff should follow LVC Human Resources policies.

Employees seeking testing should work with their own healthcare provider. Shroyer Health Center is providing tests to students only.

The use of online meeting platforms such as Zoom and WebEx will be used whenever possible for administrative meetings even when the participants are on campus. All in-person gatherings will be restricted in size in accordance the limits imposed by the Health & Safety Protocols guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Students may not host off-campus guests in their residence hall or house, including in their rooms or communal areas. Guests include but are not limited to non-LVC persons such as parents, guardians, siblings, extended family, partners, and friends. This prohibition includes short visits, periods of time to study, socialization, and overnight stays.

Additionally, LVC students may only enter their assigned residence hall (e.g. they may NOT enter a residence hall in which they are not living).

Students may socialize only in outdoor public spaces and must maintain physical distancing.

Exemptions

• Students who require medical assistance may request visitation by a parent or guardian responding to assure the wellness of the student. Affected students or their parent/guardian must obtain prior permission for visitation by an administrator from the Student Affairs Division. Call 717-867-6233 for permission.
• Personal care attendants for students with disabilities are permitted on campus and in facilities as needed.
• Visitors may assist students during move-in and move-out as established by College policy but are not permitted to remain on campus after completing move-in/move-out.

All students are subject to College policy and the Student Conduct Code. This code includes additional expectations to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Student on-campus employees should follow the same protocols and policies required for LVC’s faculty and staff. Students working off-campus should wear masks and follow all hygiene guidance from CDC, PDH, and their employers.

LVC highly encourages students to remain on campus during the academic year. The spread of COVID-19 can take place anywhere groups congregate. We strongly advise students against home and weekend visits or leaving campus to attend social events or visit other colleges and universities.

LVC’s counseling services will offer in-person and online services for the Fall 2020 semester. The office has temporarily relocated to the second floor east end of the Vernon and Doris Bishop Library. Students can find clinicians and the 5050 Peer Helpers in the space directly above Bishop Brews. To schedule an in-person or online appointment, students can email counselingservices@lvc.edu, call 717-867-6232, or visit during open hours weekdays (in-person), 11 a.m.–noon in the Bishop Library location or online noon–1p.m.

Shroyer Health Center will extend service hours and increase clinical staff to respond to health issues and concerns in Fall 2020. Students will be asked to call health services at 717-867-6232 before reporting to Shroyer Hall for instructions regarding appropriate care and response. Our health services care will be informed by CDC, PDH, and American College Health Association guidelines. 

The Metz dining services team is preparing venues to serve members of the campus community in accordance with health and safety protocols.

• All dining staff must always wear face masks and gloves while working and interacting with the public.
• Dining services staff must follow infection prevention guidelines including staying home when ill; practicing physical distancing whenever possible at work; practicing proper hand hygiene; avoiding touching the eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands; cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces throughout the workday; and undergoing temperature checks before shifts.
• All diners must wear face masks or coverings while in a dining space. Masks should be worn during movement within the dining facility and can only be removed when sitting and dining.
• The capacity of the primary dining hall, Lehr and Phillips Dining Hall, will be decreased to allow for physical distancing in seating configurations. Once at capacity new diners will only be allowed to enter after others have left.
• Self-serve food options will no longer be available in the primary dining hall; dining services staff will prepare and serve all meals to students. Beverage dispensers will be cleaned regularly, and adaptations are being designed.
• The meal exchange option will be extended to other venues on campus and a newly created take-out location will be established.  The main dining hall will serve kosher, vegetarian, and vegan options.

Take-out service is encouraged, as is the use of outdoor seating during peak dining service hours.

Commuting students can take advantage of a variety of spaces for studying between classes and activities. All gathering spaces will have signage directing physical distancing, and students will be required to follow those directives. Additionally, commuters are encouraged to use outdoor spaces for study or relaxing between classes including the Mund College Center patio, Peace Garden, Yuhas Commons plaza, and green spaces such as the Academic and Social quads. Commuting students must register their vehicles with public safety and can park in the Green Lots (Summit Street along the railroad tracks) and Mund College Center parking lot. Overflow parking is available in the North parking lots.

Students participating in clinical education or student teaching experiences must follow LVC, academic department, and clinical/educational site guidelines. Students will only be allowed to participate after they receive proper permission, training, and initial guidance (either by written or video instruction) before starting their experience. Training will include general considerations for using appropriate PPE at the site. If students change locations mid-term or participate at multiple sites, they will be required to meet the guidelines and protocols of each site.

Teaching labs, research labs, stockrooms, and instrument labs will be adjusted to promote physical distancing when labs are in use. The maximum capacity for each space will be marked at the lab entrance. The College will adopt the following strategies regarding these spaces:

• Students will receive initial guidance (either by written or video instruction), before entering these spaces. Training will include general considerations for the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) before entering the space and best practices for working there.
• Only approved students who receive proper training and permission will be permitted in these spaces.
• In a research laboratory, students will be assigned a primary workspace where they should conduct as much of their work as possible.
• After receiving guidance and permission to work in these spaces, students who wish to enter a research lab space will first notify their research mentor or department chair.
• Lab equipment, moveable benches, and chairs will be configured to support physical distancing.
• If labs support multiple students, schedules will be established to minimize the number of people present in the lab at one time. Students are prohibited from using the labs outside their scheduled times and from exceeding the posted room occupancy.
• Students must always wear appropriate PPE in labs.
• Each person using lab instruments, supplies, reagent bottles, or any other lab equipment is required to wipe down those items with a sanitizing cleaner before and after use.
• Students will be educated to avoid cross-contamination and will wipe down all common surfaces such as door handles, bench surfaces, and hood sashes.
• If students are using multiple spaces during one lab session (i.e. research lab and instrument room or stockroom), they must notify their research mentor and department chair to avoid conflicts with other users.
• Teaching labs, research labs, stockrooms, and instrument labs will remain locked when not in use.

In the event of a chemical spill or other emergency, students must leave the lab immediately and notify their research mentor or department chair.

Ensembles, which include choir and marching band, will be adjusted to meet COVID-19 related modifications in accordance with guidance from the CDC, PDE, PDH, and healthcare partners. Musical performances will be made public online. Private music lessons will be held in-person and online when appropriate. Masking, physical distancing, sanitizing, and cleaning protocols will be in place.

The College is seeking further guidance on performance and music-related protocols.

The Spring 2021 calendar has also been modified and will start one week later, on Jan. 26, with a single break March 31–April 6. The last day of classes is May 11, and Commencement will be Sunday, May 23, 2021.

See the full 2020–21 Academic Calendar.

The fall academic calendar has been adjusted to limit the times large numbers of students travel to and from campus to decrease the risk of exposure and infection. The semester will start one week early, with undergraduate and graduate classes beginning Monday, Aug. 24. There will be no Fall Break. On-campus learning will end by Thanksgiving break and instruction will continue online through Dec. 4. Finals are Dec. 7–11. With approval, some students may remain on campus after Thanksgiving for clinicals, student teaching, or athletics.

See the full 2020–21 Academic Calendar.