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.

As per the College’s vacation policy, all accrued carryover vacation hours, from fiscal year 2020 were set to expire Sept. 1, 2020. 

Due to the pandemic and disruption in previously scheduled vacation, the College will permit employees to carry over up to 10 vacation days through Dec. 31, 2020. Please note that this special carryover vacation (up to 10 days) will not be paid out if an employee should leave their position prior Dec. 31, 2020.

Dear Campus Community,

I hope this update finds you and your family safe and well. I write to share some key updates on Lebanon Valley College’s planning for an in-person, on-time start to the Fall 2020 semester. I am closely coordinating with President-elect James MacLaren, the president’s staff, the Critical Incident and Emergency Management Team, and several Provost-led faculty task forces to develop a playbook to guide our efforts.

I’ve noted in the past that the successful and rapid pivot this spring demonstrated LVC at its best. The same is true of the planning underway. Administrators and faculty are working very hard researching, developing, and crystalizing complex plans that have many intertwined consequences that must be thought through.

We are basing our plans on a defined set of guiding principles and gating conditions placing the well-being of our campus community as the highest priority and emphasizing academic quality, equity, financial sustainability, and compliance with federal and state guidelines. We are closely following guidance from the PA Department of Education to build the playbook.

Fall Calendar and Academic Experience
The academic calendar will be adjusted to limit the number of times large numbers of students travel to and from campus. 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. Class times, locations, and schedules will be adjusted to allow for physical distancing. These changes will be communicated when finalized. We plan to accommodate students who may need to remain on campus after Thanksgiving for clinicals or athletics.

All classes will be delivered in-person and online at the same time to accommodate students with underlying conditions or those who become ill. Faculty are developing online learning components so they can give students support and attention. Clear course outcomes will be articulated, and support services will be emphasized perhaps now more than ever. Additionally, faculty will use Canvas and other LVC-supported technology whenever possible to streamline electronic course delivery.

Residential Life
We will decrease the density in our residential facilities for the fall. Currently, we plan on double occupancy with strict hygiene and physical distancing practices in place. The College has temporarily extended the Housing Exemption process to allow current residential students the opportunity to live off-campus in the local community and expanded the commuting radius to allow current residential students who live beyond 30 miles of campus the opportunity to commute for the 2020–21 academic year. A staggered move-in and modified orientation schedule will be developed. Plans for these will be communicated soon.

Health Protocols
The College is identifying a healthcare partner or partners who can advise and assist us with temperature-taking, testing, tracing, and managing suspected or confirmed cases should they occur on campus. More information will be shared when the partnership has been finalized. Protocols for dining, masking, physical distancing, and pedestrian flow are being developed, and there will be an educational campaign to promote these habits and hygiene practices. Learning spaces will be reconfigured so that desks and podiums can be organized to support physical distancing. Facility services already uses the proper cleaning products to disinfect spaces and is acquiring hand sanitizer stations to place throughout campus. We are bringing employees back to campus to prepare for the return of students through a phased process guided by new pandemic and employee policies that employees can find in ADP.

If there are any positive COVID-19 cases in the campus community, an alert will be issued to employees and students via email and text through the College’s emergency alert system (Omnilert) and posted to the LVC website and social media. Even in instances when the risk is low, we want to ensure all members of our community have the information they need to make decisions about their well-being.

Future Communications
Virtual town halls will be held throughout the summer for returning and new students, faculty, staff, trustees, leadership council members, and prospective students to hear directly from campus leadership and have their questions answered.

Additionally, faculty, staff, students, families, and trustees will regularly receive an LVC Forward e-newsletter with information about the latest decisions and developments. All updates and alerts will be posted to a new LVC Forward blog on the LVC website as well. This searchable space will serve as a hub for all information related to our return to campus and strategic initiatives that unfold as part of the process.

The College will continue to adapt and add detail to the plans as we receive additional guidance from the federal government, the PA Department of Health and Department of Education, the NCAA and MAC Conference, and any healthcare partners. The remaining unknowns and uncertainties require us all to remain flexible and agile so that we can quickly adjust to new circumstances as needed.

My tenure at the College concludes at the end of this month. Dorry and I are so grateful to have been a part of this community, which delivers one of the finest educational experiences in the nation. You can be confident that LVC is welcoming a leader who has proven experience in managing a crisis. Dr. MacLaren was instrumental in Tulane University’s recovery after Hurricane Katrina. He and his wife, Gina, will arrive in Annville very soon. With his leadership and the enduring dedication and resilience of all, LVC will emerge from this global crisis stronger than ever.

Warmly, 
President Thayne 

Our college’s educational mission and the importance of supporting our students are the foundations for our academic approach to this upcoming semester. The COVID academic response faculty task force has developed these guidelines to help all of us as faculty guide our planning for what will be an unusual fall for everyone. We value the experience of meeting with our students face to face, and we hope to preserve that experience as much as possible, while also respecting scientific developments and individual health concerns.

Here are some principles for a successful fall: 

1) A Confident & Flexible Mindset: This fall, we will need to cater to various student audiences, including students who may become ill, may need to self-quarantine, or who may be immunocompromised and therefore unable to attend any in-person classes. This means that all classes must be able to be delivered both in-person and online at the same time. We need to have online learning components as developed and polished as possible before the semester begins. Building out our courses’ Canvas structure and content over the summer will minimize the stress produced by these potential fall events, and will better enable us to give our all of our students the support and attention they will need from day one. The online course development institute will help us all plan for how to create clear and compelling course content to address the diverse needs of our students.

2)  Clear Course Outcomes: What can students expect to learn from our classes? Why does this course matter? Student motivation is critical in these uncertain times, so we need to be clear about what students will get from their time with us regardless of modality. This means putting all of our course objectives front and center so that students understand what they’re learning and why it matters. This clarity in outcomes is good for students, because it increases motivation, and also good for us as instructors because it encourages us to be intentional in framing our in-person and online components to lead back to course objectives and student learning, which is the heart of our mission.  

3) Authentic LVC: Faculty Mentoring & More: Students come to us for a personalized, engaged, supportive education. Our students benefit from classes that create a community of learners, active learning strategies, one-on-one contact with professors, frequent interaction with other students, and access to the many supports for learning that we provide, like counseling, tutoring, library resources, and accessibility services. An LVC education delivered in any modality retains all of these strengths. We, as faculty, will need to be thoughtful and intentional in how we make sure that the LVC promise is fulfilled for all students, even in unprecedented circumstances.  The Online Course Development Institute will help all of us to develop courses that create these connections online.

4) Relational Education: Personalized attention is a hallmark of an LVC education. There are ways to create such relationships in different modalities. Just a few ideas to consider include: require office hour attendance or set up one-on-one appointments in the first two weeks to get to know your students individually; incentivize office hour attendance in the participation grade or extra credit; in online components, include some synchronous discussions with clear expectations for participation and engagement; create small group projects or activities that encourage students to connect with you and with each other. The Online Course Development Institute will help us create courses that foster these important connections. 

5) Support for Student Success: Many students are experiencing a great deal of stress due to the current situation, driven by various factors like economic anxiety, career prospects, family obligations and fears, and general uncertainty. Consider how you can support student success in your classes through practices like 1) including early, low-stakes assignments that allow students to gauge expectations and change behaviors early in the course, 2) minimizing dependence on high-stakes assignments, 3) incentivizing or integrating campus support services like study pods, 4) scaffolding large assignments to help students manage their time and produce better final products, and 5) monitoring student attendance and performance, and sending a CARE referral when concerns arise. 

6)  Streamlining the e-Delivery of Learning Materials: To whatever degree possible, use Canvas and LVC-supported supplemental technology. This will reduce the learning curve for students. Students are enrolled in 4-5 fall courses; if every course is using different styles of communication, organization, and varied technological tools, then students have to spend extra time learning and adjusting to each course’s particularities when that time could have been spent on the course’s content and skills. The online learning task force is working to provide guidance in this area so that we are able to honor academic freedom/disciplinary choices while being student-centered.

Know that the two faculty COVID response task forces (academic response & online learning) are working to enable successful fall for all the members of our LVC community. We will be in frequent communication, and you may also reach out to our faculty liaisons:

Academic Response TF liaison: Laura Eldred, eldred@lvc.edu
Online Learning/Digital Divide TF liaison: TBD

Our best wishes for a safe and successful year,

The members of the COVID academic response faculty task force:
Patrick Brewer
Monica Cowart (Chair)
Deanna Dodson
Tom Dompier
Laura Eldred
Jen Kanupka
Courtney Lappas
Joerg Meindl
Renee Norris
Wally Patton
Jeff Robbins

Employees should review this handbook before returning to campus and continue to follow the guidelines while working on campus.

LVC Forward serves as a hub detailing how Lebanon Valley College is preparing for an in-person start to the fall 2020 semester. We are also using this time as an opportunity to create new ways to learn and develop new programs so that students are well-prepared for the future.

Check back for updates often.

The best defense against contracting or spreading the COVID-19 virus lies in your own hands—literally. By following recommendations for the use of facemasks when physical distancing is not possible, frequent hand washing, avoiding touching your face, and maintaining recommended social distancing, you will provide yourself with significant protection.

Face Masks

• As a courtesy, we will distribute one cloth (washable/reusable) face mask to all students at the beginning of the semester.
• Students and employees will provide their own cloth face masks for use on campus just as they have for use in other public spaces.
• We will provide additional face masks (as needed) to those employees where frequent face mask use is required.
• LVC has secured a stock of disposable face masks to be used if someone has forgotten or misplaced their own.
  

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 not related to housekeeping is not recommended.
  

Physical Barriers (Sneeze Guards)

• Locations where individual staff or students interact in close proximity for an extended conversation or exchange materials such as payments or documents—or areas with high volumes of interactions—will be candidates for the installation of a physical barrier.
• The exact size and configuration will be determined based on the actual use of the space. These locations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and PA Department of Health (DOH) have indicated that the COVID-19 virus, where it might be found on surfaces or clothing, is relatively easily killed via the use of standard disinfectants and normal use of a washing machine. All the cleaning solutions LVC currently uses have gone through testing and been approved for Emerging Pathogen use.

The housekeeping staff is following guidelines and recommendations from the CDC and DOH, focusing on frequent cleaning of high-touch areas.

Cleaning supplies will be provided so that employees will be able to clean surfaces in their offices as needed.

Instructions will be included to assure the proper use of these supplies.

Provost Cowart has convened four task forces to focus on planning for stabilization in the fall semester and transformation and innovation in the short- and long-term.

1. COVID-19 Academic Response Task Force (Stabilization Phase)

Committee Members: Patrick Brewer, Deanna Dodson, Tom Dompier, Laura Eldred, Jennifer Kanupka, Courtney Lappas, Joerg Meindl, Renee Norris, Wally Patton, Jeff Robbins

This group will focus on using Governor Wolf’s guidelines for PA colleges and universities, recommendations from accrediting bodies, and recommendations from other key organizations, such as the CDC, to help guide the formation of an academic plan for next year. The task force will create COVID-specific protocols and recommendations to guide faculty in delivering a student-centered learning experience that assumes an in-person fall start.

Sample Questions:

• What are the major challenges departments have identified regarding the fall semester?
• What academic guidelines, policies or protocols do we need to augment or create?
• What lessons have we learned from going online this spring that will inform our strategy for fall?
• How do we best prioritize classes for in-person teaching if we have a hybrid curriculum?
• How do we ensure that our plans are truly student-centered (i.e., focused on student needs and best interests)?
• What guidance will we provide for the possibility of multiple “pivots” so that high quality learning outcomes are preserved?
• How do we prioritize academic rigor while still meeting student needs?
  

2. Online Learning & Digital Strength Task Force (Stabilization Phase)

Committee Members: Maureen Bentz, Jasmine Bucher, Ivette Guzman Zavala, Jennifer Kuntz, Dave Shapiro, Susan Tammaro, Lori Thomas, Keith Veenhuizen, Holly Wendt

This group is examining how LVC’s online policies and pedagogical choices can address current challenges while further affirming our institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and student success. It is determining what policies, practices, and professional development opportunities are needed to help faculty members create first-rate online learning opportunities for our students. The team is also examining how LVC can address student needs, especially for those students who lack adequate resources or need help obtaining hardware, Internet, etc.

3. Task Force on College-wide Innovation (Transformation & Innovation Phase)

Committee Members: Eva Frank, Claudia Gazsi, Stacy Goodman, John Hinshaw, Kimberlee Josephson, Jeff Leferriere, Robert Machado, Lou Manza, Tonya Miller, Justin Morell

This task force is focusing on the ways in which LVC must continue to grow, innovate, and transform, especially given current conditions, to thrive in the coming years.

Sample Questions:

• What unexpected opportunities are emerging as a result of the pandemic and the current state of higher education? How can LVC leverage those opportunities in a mission-driven, strategic manner?
• What new academic programs need to be developed to meet current and emerging regional needs?
• What potential non-credit bearing opportunities are there for revenue generation?
• Could part of the undergraduate curriculum include hybrid and online classes for residential undergraduates? if so what should the target be?
• How could summer be used more effectively to accelerate degree completion more quickly?
• What “innovation-opportunities” exist outside of program development?
• What is the role of community partnerships in our overall strategy? What relationships are in place and what key relationships with community leaders need to be developed/cultivated?
• How do we innovate and transform while staying true to LVC’s core identity and traditions?
• What approval process can be created to “test” or “pilot” promising ideas?
  

4. Task Force on Non-Credit Bearing Opportunities (Transformation & Innovation Phase)

Committee Members: Philip Bensech, Kristen Boeshore, Andrew Hildebrand, Joel Kline, Gabriella McEvoy, Justin Mierzwicki, Cindy Vejar, Ken Yarnall

This task force is focusing on the ways in which LVC can continue to grow, innovate, and transform to thrive in the coming years. Specifically, this task force will examine a variety of non-credit bearing opportunities (i.e., bootcamps, certificates, trainings, seminars, CEU opportunities, licensure test prep, etc.) and determine how these opportunities can be part of LVC’s strategy for success.

Sample Questions:

• What unexpected opportunities are emerging as a result of the pandemic, the current state of higher education, and industry needs in our area? How can LVC leverage those opportunities in a mission-driven, strategic manner?
• What potential non-credit bearing opportunities are a good institutional fit while also generating revenue? Which opportunities can be developed and launched quickly? Which ones require a long term strategy?
• How could summer be used more effectively to leverage these opportunities?
• What is the role of community partnerships in our overall strategy? What relationships are already in place and what key relationships with community leaders need to be developed/cultivated? What are our partners saying they need regarding employee professional development, etc.?
• What do community members or current students state that they need regarding non-credit bearing opportunities? How can we address these needs?
• How can LVC’s non-credit bearing strategy be nimble yet coordinated?
• How do we innovate and transform while staying true to LVC’s core identity and traditions?

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Please contact Jen Liedtka (liedtka@lvc.edu) or Renata Willilams (rwilliam@lvc.edu) if you are having difficulty accessing food. Connect with us, and we’ll help you find local resources.

May 6, 2020

Dear LVC Community,

As this historic Spring 2020 semester draws to a close, I am inspired by the accomplishments and agility of our students, their families, faculty, and staff. You have overcome challenges and adapted to often daily changes requiring strength of mind, body, emotion, and spirit. It has been an honor to lead the College for eight years and to once again see LVC at its best

Now the College has begun in earnest to prepare for what comes next. I am happy to report that the College is deep into planning for an in-person start of the fall 2020 semester. The College’s senior leadership and Critical Incident & Emergency Management Team are developing several scenarios for opening up LVC gradually over the summer. These plans will be based on guidance the Pennsylvania Department of Health expects to release May 15, as well as recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. We are also vetting potential partners to advise and assist with any needed mitigation strategies.

The team is working closely with incoming president Dr. James MacLaren to define the next eight weeks, and he will take the lead on planning for the next academic year. His experience as part of the team that led Tulane University Katrina-recovery efforts will be invaluable to this process.

The scenarios we are outlining will be flexible. Scheduling may change to reduce density in classrooms and labs. Residence halls may hold fewer students, and there might temporarily be more commuters. Even though the way students learn in the fall will likely be different from how it has been in the past, rest assured that Lebanon Valley College is committed to maintaining the same level of personalized attention it has always given to students. Student affairs will develop co-curricular programming to maintain the community connectedness that makes LVC so special. Learning outcomes will not change, and students will be on the same path to graduate on-time and fully prepared for their careers or post-graduate studies.

There are still many unknowns, including questions related to athletics, student worker opportunities for fall, move-in and Orientation, dining services, and the status of the virus and its spread. As conditions change, LVC will keep you informed.

Please continue to practice physical distancing, and encourage each other—remotely—as we show the world what it means to be #LVCStrong.

Warmest Regards,

President Lewis E. Thayne