Hello, dear future Oles!
I hope you are all doing well in these tough and trying times. Please, stay safe and keep holding on! We would like to kick off our joint blogging adventure in the upcoming weeks with an update on how St. Olaf College responded to the covid-19 pandemic. St. Olaf College will continue to prioritize our health and safety, as it monitors the ever changing situation.
The U.S. started to feel the effects of COVID-19 by March 2020. Here’s a timeline of how the college responded:
Spring 2020
- In the Spring 2020 semester during the end of March 2020, the college responded quickly by shutting down all in-person classes and sending all students home.
- The college resumed classes online for the rest of the semester.
- The students who weren’t able to go back home (travel restrictions/other home related issues) were allowed to stay on campus.
- The college cafeteria continued to run and the resource center provided groceries for students.
Summer 2020
- The college housed students unable to go back home for the entire summer. Rules on social distancing were enforced.
- Rooms in academic buildings were given max person gathering limits.
- All students were shifted to Larson hall and every room housed only one student to further enforce constant distancing amongst the students.
- The kitchens were open for students to cook, the college provided transportation services to grocery stores (Target, Cub Foods, Aldi, Family Fare, Food Co-op etc.).
- Masks were made mandatory everywhere towards the end of summer as students started returning to campus.
Fall 2020
- Most students returned to campus, however some chose to stay at home and take all classes online.
- The semester began with a quarantine period of 2 weeks where no student was allowed to leave their room. Classes were 100% online for the first 2 weeks of the semester.
- Students had to sign up for 30 minute time slots each to go to the cafeteria for each of their meals. They could also choose to get their meals packed. Different dorms had different time slots to choose from to avoid students from cross-contaminating with other dorms.
- There were gathering limits in academic buildings and dorm rooms. Students were required to wear masks everywhere except when in their room or eating at the cafeteria.
- During the quarantine period, students were given regular free COVID tests and had their results given back to them in 1-2 days. The college provided regular updates on the statistics and percentage of students, faculty and staff who tested positive.
- Students who tested positive were quarantined for 2 weeks in college owned houses very close to campus. They were taken care of by student workers who helped them with daily meals and other necessary supplies. They were monitored closely for symptoms and had a case manager assigned to them for daily wellness checks.
- The students who were in contact with students who tested positive were asked to quarantine themselves in their rooms. They also had a case manager regularly check on them and were provided with meals to their rooms.
- After the initial 2 week quarantine period, students were allowed to leave their dorms. Classes started turning hybrid/in-person. Some classes continued online.
- The college continued providing free COVID tests for all students and regular updates on the stats of cases.
Winter Break 2021 and Interim 2021
- Students returned home earlier than usual for a longer winter break.
- Students were given free COVID tests before their travel for safety during travel and for international travel requirements.
- Interim 2021 was completely online and most students continued to stay at home and attended classes from there.
- Students who were unable to go back home were housed on campus.
Spring 2021
- Similar rules as Fall 2021 were observed, however the rules slowly relaxed as the virus was more under control. (Social Distancing, entering other dorms, in-person classes etc.)
- The college continued regular free COVID testing and updated the students on the statistics.
- When the cases appeared to spike, the college added restrictions (not being allowed in other dorms, enforcing social distancing, gathering limits etc.)
- Towards the end of spring semester, students and essential workers were given free Pfizer vaccines on-campus. 75% students and 83% of staff were vaccinated by the end of the semester.
Summer Break 2021
- The campus offered housing for students. Kitchens were open and there were transportation services to grocery stores.
- There was a resource center for students to get essential groceries from. Students facing any form of hardships could utilize these resources.
- Masks were made optional during the beginning of summer, however unvaccinated students were still advised to wear masks.
- As per President David Anderson’s email on Jun 15, 2021, the college required ALL students, faculty and staff to be fully vaccinated at the start of the Fall 2021 Semester
Fall 2021
- Students returned to campus
- The New International Student Class experienced Intentional Student Orientation in person!
- Depending on the amount of cases on campus, the COVID Response Team changed their alerts and with each alert had rules in place
- Campus provided everyone with the opportunity to get their booster shot
- People who experienced symptoms had to self report and test
- Close contacts also had to self-report and test
- Whoever tested positive for COVID-19 had to quarantine according to CDC guidelines
- Study abroad programs occured
Winter Break 2022 and Interim 2022
- Cases rose significantly
- Campus provided everyone with the opportunity to get their booster shot
- The college decided to make Interim online with an exception of studio, lab, and athletic classes
- Whoever was on campus could stay and get tested
- Most students did not return to campus for Interim, however, whoever did had to go through testing (twice)
- Study abroad programs were canceled or moved online
Spring 2022
- Students returned for a normal semester, everyone tested before classes began
- Masks were required at all times when campus was at a yellow alert
- Campus went through a high spike in cases mid Spring semester
- By the end of the semester campus stayed in green alert and finished the year as normal
- Study abroad programs occurred
Alerts:
Red – High levels of campus transmission and/or severity of cases is substantially limiting campus operations, and/or local hospital capacity is limited.
Yellow – Campus transmission is rising and/or above expected levels, putting strain on campus services and activities.
Green – Campus transmission is low and has minimal impact on campus operations.
These are just some of the precautions and support the College offered in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you would like to see more details please visit this website or email any questions or concerns to c19@stolaf.edu.