Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020
The following letter was sent to the residents of Gulick Hall from Student Affairs staff this evening, Wednesday, Oct. 28. A preventive decision was made tonight to quarantine the residents of Gulick Hall for two weeks after more positive cases of COVID were reported.
Dear Gulick Residents,
We are sending this detailed information as a follow up to tonight’s meeting. Please share this letter with your family so they are informed of the quarantine plan. We also want to thank you for your patience, understanding, flexibility, and willingness to do what it will take to keep you and the rest of campus safe and healthy.
This quarantine is preventative and proactive, and done out of an abundance of caution to protect the students in Gulick Hall and the greater campus community. All known positive individuals and their close contacts have been removed from Gulick Hall and are placed in supported housing.
Enhanced and more extensive cleaning protocols have been implemented and will continue throughout quarantine.
If you are a current Gulick resident, not currently living elsewhere in supported isolation or quarantine, we ask that you please complete this form immediately to inform us of your plans to remain on campus for the duration of the quarantine or to go home for the duration of the quarantine. This form also has a place for you to coordinate your dietary restrictions with Harvest Table, so we can all best support you.
Your faculty and the Academic Advising Center are prepared to support you with your academic work over the next two weeks.
For students remaining on campus:
Harvest Table will provide your meals each day in the main lounge of Gulick. If you need to contact Harvest Table directly, Ryan Melino may be reached at melino-ryan@harvesttableculinary.com. All dietary restrictions and requests are captured in the Residence Life form above.
The meal schedule is as follows:
Monday - Friday
Breakfast - 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Lunch - 11:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Dinner - 5 - 7 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday
Brunch - 10 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
Dinner - 5 - 7 p.m.
We have established Quarantine Liaisons and you will be hearing from them regularly to check-in and provide assistance. Even those students who have gone home will be included in the communications. Additional information will be communicated via email.
While you can’t go into any campus buildings other than Gulick Hall, nor in any individual room other than your own, you can be outside (wearing a mask and socially distant) and we ask you to follow all recommended guidelines. You can go for a run or a walk outside.
A plan is being developed to get your mail and packages delivered to Gulick.
If you need a print book from the Library’s collection, send them a message at ask@springfield.libanswers.com. In this email include your name and SC ID number and the book details (author, title, and date of publication). If it is available, they will check out the book to your account and deliver it. Delivery times may vary depending on when the request is submitted and processing time. Please include your cell phone number in your email request so they can coordinate contactless drop-off.
For students going home:
You may choose to go home, or to a relative’s home, at any time during the two-week quarantine. If you decide to go home after you’ve already submitted the form, please notify the Office of Residence Life at reslife@springfield.edu or 413-748-3102 prior to your departure from campus. Once you leave campus, you must remain at home for the duration of the two weeks.
Your Quarantine Liaison will check in with you periodically. If you have questions or concerns please contact your liaison or the Office of Student Affairs for assistance.
Testing:
Students remaining on campus to quarantine:
You should be tested this week (if you have not already had a test). If scheduled for a test next week (the week of 11/2-11/6), you should come as scheduled next week. You should then come for another test on 11/9/20 or 11/10/20. As long as that test is negative you can resume in-person classes and other activities on campus on 11/11/20.
For those students who opt to go home to quarantine:
We recommend you test before you leave if you have not already been tested this week. If you are local, you should come to campus for your testing during your normal weekly rotation. All students should obtain a COVID test (and the results) 72 hours prior to return to campus. Upon return to campus 11/10/20 or 11/11/20, come immediately to the Health Center for your COVID test, you may resume in-person classes and other activities once negative results are received.
For all students:
We understand that this is a difficult time and an imposition for you, and we appreciate all the effort you have taken to keep our community safe. Whether off campus or on, you are on our minds and we are here to support you.
Your faculty will work with you to remain engaged with all of your classes and to keep up with your work.
While in quarantine, please join any virtual programs or activities offered by CAB and other departments on campus. Check the Week-At-A-Glance email each week for a list of programs and the links.
We will continue to send out further communications with additional information and details periodically. If you have any questions, know that you can reach out to StudentAffairs@springfield.edu.
Best,
Sue Nowlan
Dean of Students
