COVID-10: What to expect in fall semester on campus

Q: Will I need to be fully vaccinated prior to Aug. 30, 2021, to enroll and attend classes at Augustana College this fall?  

A: The COVID-19 vaccine is strongly encouraged for all community members. The vaccination protects the person who receives it, their family, their friends and their communities. It is the surest way for students to be able to enjoy all the benefits and opportunities of living and learning on campus. It is also the most important step our community members can take to end the pandemic.

The vaccine is a safe and effective way to prevent COVID-19. Information about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine is available from the Centers of Disease Control. 

You are encouraged to become vaccinated before returning to campus, if possible. If it is not possible for you to find a vaccine, COVID-19 vaccines will be available to students at Augustana College this fall. Vaccinations may be offered through clinics or through the Augustana Convenient Care Clinic.

Q: Is the college going to verify my vaccination status? If so, how?

A: As an educational institution, making research-based and data-informed decisions is part of Augustana’s fabric. Learning the number of students who are fully vaccinated will give the college data to assist in planing for the fall semester. 

Students will be required to provide their vaccination status to the college on or before Aug. 1, 2021.

→ To do so, students should fill out this form to register their vaccination status.

Students who do not upload their vaccination card will need to adhere to all mitigation efforts for unvaccinated community members.  

The college will use this confidential information to assess the number of vaccinated individuals within the Augustana community, whether any herd immunity benefits may be available, and what other community-wide COVID-19 mitigation steps will be required.   

Q: Will any classes be offered remotely during the fall 2021 semester?

A: Classes only will be offered in person this fall. There are no plans for classes to be offered remotely or through hybrid sessions. All students should plan to physically be on the Augustana College campus in Rock Island, Ill., to start classes Aug. 30. 

If a student becomes ill or has been a close contact during the fall semester and needs to quarantine or isolate, remote instruction will not be available during the time the student is away from class. 

The college will return to the pre-pandemic management of absences: Students will need to work directly with their faculty members to determine how they will move forward in their coursework while being away from class due.

In some instances, extended absences create barriers to successful completion of coursework. Students will need to determine if dropping a course or withdrawing from the semester is necessary. In addition to communicating with faculty directly, students also should reach out to the Dean of Students regarding absences. That can occur via email or through the “I’m not feeling well” Starfish flag.  

Q: What can I anticipate my student experience will be like when the fall semester starts? 

A: While specific details continue to be determined, vaccinated students should anticipate a return to much of the pre-pandemic Augustana experience. For example, group gatherings will resume (gatherings must align with capacity of space — no overcrowding), student activities will be held at normal rates and capacities. Club and organization meetings will be held in person. Residential life in-hall programming will expand, and in-person socializing is strongly encouraged.  

There are no off-campus restrictions. Students are welcome to dine in restaurants or travel to visit family and friends. 

As was the case to start the 2020-2021 academic year, students will be expected to sign the Augie Allies Pledge that indicates support of and a willingness to adhere to expectations to responsibly co-exist with COVID-19. 

Q: What are the benefits of being vaccinated when I return to Augustana this fall? 

A: Fully vaccinated students can expect a return to much of the pre-pandemic normal. 

Per public health guidance, masking and physical distancing will not be required or expected for students who are vaccinated. Out of courtesy for the entire community, students are expected to have a mask readily available if the need arises.

Vaccinated students will not be expected to participate in surveillance testing. Contact tracing, quarantine and isolation will not apply to fully vaccinated students.

Students should monitor themselves for COVID symptoms and if they arise, students should isolate themselves, consult a medical professional, and follow the standard reporting procedure for possible COVID-19 infection which starts with a phone call to Augustana Public Safety at 309-794-7000. 

Q: If I am not fully vaccinated, will my experience be different?

A: Augustana College will expect students who are not fully vaccinated to continue adhering to all mitigation efforts recommended by current public health guidance and others that may be imposed by the college. 

These students will be expected to:

• Wear a face covering at all times in indoor common areas, including all classrooms, meeting spaces, and lounge areas (even when 6 feet of physical distance can be maintained). 

• Wear face coverings correctly, with both mouth AND nose fully covered (chin to bridge of nose). If wearing an approved face shield, the shield must be worn in the fully “down” position.

• Physically distance whenever possible. Examples would include classrooms, dining hall, and when exercising.

• Daily temperature checks will be expected. 

• Daily health screenings will be expected. 

• Participate in weekly COVID-19 surveillance testing. 

• Sequester, quarantine or isolate when students experience COVID-19 symptoms or when that student has been in close contact with someone else infected with COVID-19. 

Students should consult a medical professional and follow the standard reporting procedure for possible COVID-19 infection, which starts with a call to Augustana Public Safety at 309-794-7000.

Quarantine and isolation housing will be limited on campus, which may require students to have alternative plans if space is unavailable. (Reminder: Classes will not have a remote or hybrid option for students needing to be away from class for an extended period of time.)

Additionally, certain opportunities and extracurricular activities (theatre, athletics and music, for example) may not be available to unvaccinated students. Domestic and international travel options may be limited or unavailable. 

As more public health guidance is released regarding these specific activities and there is a better understanding of community vaccination levels, Augustana’s plans will be updated and shared. 

In the event of a health emergency caused by COVID-19, unvaccinated students may not be able to attend classes or live on campus.

Q: What will living on campus look like this fall? 

A: The plan is to offer a residential experience for the 2021-22 school year as close as possible to the pre-pandemic experience. Residential Life staff will resume face-to-face social activities to help students gather and build connections. Students will be welcome to bring up to four helpers to assist on move-in day. The  faculty-in-residence program will be expanded to Swanson and Erickson for the 2021-22 year.
 
Visitation restrictions that were put in place for the 2020-21 school year are being lifted. Normal residence hall and TLA visitation policies will be in effect. Students should still talk openly with their roommates and respect any concerns they have about hosting visitors in the room. If there is a conflict, the rights of the non-hosting student will prevail.

Non-student visitors are welcome in TLAs and residence hall lounges, but should not enter the student room corridors.
 
Vaccinated students will not be expected to wear masks or practice social distancing in the residence halls. Community kitchens will be reopened for student use in the residence halls.

College staff will continue to be vigilant in cleaning residence halls.
              
Isolation space will be available on campus for any students who develop COVID-19. A limited amount of quarantine space will be available to unvaccinated students who have had a close contact with COVID-19 and are advised to quarantine. If the need for quarantine space exceeds the supply, students may need to quarantine at home or at a hotel.

Q: What should I expect in dining this fall? 

A: Dining will blend pre-pandemic and current environments. Some COVID-19 changes that will continue include contactless transactions and the availability of pre-packaged “grab and go” items.

All buffet lines will return to self-service and the popular “To Go Box” program will return.   

Q: I plan to participate in co-curricular offerings such as music, theatre, or athletics this fall. What should I expect? 

A: In these high-participation co-curricular offerings and others, such as intramural and club sports, the college will align with public health and national organization guidance whenever possible. This guidance will be considered along with the status of the pandemic in the community and on campus, and the number of vaccinated community members.

As of now, organizations such as the NCAA and NIRSA have not released fall 2021 guidance. Augustana anticipates guidance related to vaccination requirements, travel, overnight trips, and visitor/fan information in the coming weeks. 

In review of the spring trends, the college anticipates competing in full fall sports schedules, traveling to away competitions (including overnight trips), and having 100% capacity at home contests.

Revised plans for theatre and music will be developed in the coming weeks as well.

Again, these assumptions will be dictated in large part by public health guidance and national organization recommendations surrounding music, theatre and athletics programs, and are subject to change based on new information. 

At this time, the college is unable to ensure students who are not fully vaccinated will be able to participate in certain opportunities and extracurricular activities such as athletics, music and theatre. To ensure participation, students should be fully vaccinated before returning to campus for pre-school activities (if applicable) or the start of the academic year.  

Q: How do I stay informed about Augustana’s ongoing response to COVID-19? 

A: Parents and their students will receive a Campus Update by email, generally once a week during the year.

Otherwise, check the COVID-19 information page. For more information, email or call the Dean of Students, 309-794-7533.

Q: What happens if my student is symptomatic or tests positive for COVID-19? Or if they are a close contact? 

A: Unvaccinated students will be expected to quarantine or isolate, depending on the situation. That quarantine or isolation typically lasts between seven and 14 days, depending on the situation. Quarantine or isolation housing may occur on campus, at off-campus housing (local hotel) or by traveling home. Housing refunds are not provided if a student leaves campus due to quarantine or isolation needs. 

It is important to note that Augustana College is not providing remote instruction during the 2021-2022 academic year. Therefore, if a student needs to miss class due to an illness, including quarantine or isolation for an extended period of time, that can have negative consequences on successful completion of that class. While faculty members work closely with students, extended absences are sometimes difficult to rebound from academically. Extended absences may mean dropping a class or even withdrawing for the semester. 

Students are expected to communicate directly with faculty when they will miss class and are also encouraged to use the Starfish flag “I’m not feeling well” to inform the Dean of Students.

One way to drastically decrease the likelihood of an extended absence due to COVID-19 is for the student to become fully vaccinated. 

Q: How does my student upload their vaccination card? 

A: Students will be required to provide their vaccination status to the college on or before Aug. 1, 2021. To do so, students should upload proof of vaccination.

Students who do not upload their vaccination card will need to adhere to all mitigation efforts for unvaccinated community members.  

The college will use this confidential information to assess the number of vaccinated individuals within the Augustana community, whether any herd immunity benefits may be available, and what other community-wide COVID-19 mitigation steps will be required.   

Q: Will I need to be fully vaccinated prior to Aug. 1 or Aug. 30, 2021, to continue working from campus or to return to on-campus work for the fall 2021 semester? 

A: The COVID-19 vaccine is strongly encouraged for all community members. The vaccination protects the person who receives it, their family, their friends and their communities. It is the surest way for faculty and staff to be able to enjoy all the benefits and opportunities of working on campus this fall. It is also the most important step our community members can take to end the pandemic and continue co-existing with COVID-19 responsibly.

The vaccine is a safe and effective way to prevent COVID-19. Information about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine is available from the Centers of Disease Control. 

COVID-19 vaccines will be available to all faculty and staff this fall. These may be offered through vaccine clinics or the Augustana Convenient Care Clinic. 

Q: Is the college going to require me to share my vaccination status? Will the college verify it? If so, how? 

A: As an educational institution, making research-based and data-informed decisions is part of Augustana’s fabric. Learning the number of students, faculty and staff who are fully vaccinated will provide the college important data to assist in finalizing plans for the fall 2021 semester. 

Employees will be required to provide their vaccination status to the college on or before Aug. 1, 2021. To do so, employees should upload proof of vaccination.

Employees who do not upload their vaccination cards will need to adhere to all mitigation efforts for unvaccinated community members.  

The college will use this confidential information to assess the number of vaccinated individuals within the Augustana community, determine whether any herd immunity benefits may be available, and what other community-wide COVID-19 mitigation steps will be required. Human Resources will have access to individual employee information. Aggregate data will be shared more broadly.

Q: What are the benefits of being vaccinated when I return to Augustana this fall? 

A: Fully vaccinated employees can return to much of the pre-pandemic normal at Augustana College. 

Per public health guidance, masking and physical distancing will not be required or expected of employees who are vaccinated. Out of courtesy for the entire community, employees are expected to have a mask readily available if the need arises.

Vaccinated employees will not be expected to participate in surveillance testing. Contact tracing, quarantine and isolation will not apply to fully vaccinated employees. 

Employees should monitor themselves for COVID symptoms and if they arise, employees should leave campus, isolate themselves, consult a medical professional and follow the standard reporting procedure for possible COVID-19 infection, which starts by alerting a supervisor or Human Resources.

Q: If I am not fully vaccinated, will my experience be different?

A: Augustana College will expect employees who are not fully vaccinated to continue adhering to all mitigation efforts recommended by current public health guidance. 

These employees will be expected to:

• Wear a face covering at all times in indoor common areas, including all classrooms, meeting spaces, and lounge areas (even when 6 feet of physical distance can be maintained). 

• Wear face coverings correctly, with both mouth AND nose fully covered (chin to bridge of nose). If wearing an approved face shield, the shield must be worn in the fully “down” position.

• Physically distance whenever possible. Examples would include classrooms, in meetings, and walking across campus.

• Continue using plexiglass barriers.  

• Participate in weekly surveillance testing at no financial cost to the employee.    

• Sequester, quarantine or isolate when the employee experiences COVID-19 symptoms or when that employee has been in close contact with someone else infected with COVID-19. 

Some unique positions that involve close contact such as live-in housing staff, athletic coaches, and music and theatre leaders may be required to be vaccinated. Those considerations are under review.  

In the event of a health emergency caused by COVID-19, unvaccinated employees may need to transition to remote work, if possible.    

Q: Will any classes be offered remotely during the fall 2021 semester?

A: Classes only will be offered in person this fall. There are no plans for classes to be offered remotely or through hybrid sessions. All students should physically be on the Augustana College campus in Rock Island, Ill., to start classes on Aug. 30. Faculty and staff should be working entirely from campus no later than Aug. 1 or as of dates specified in employment contracts to prepare for student arrivals later in the month.   

Faculty members working with quarantined or isolated students in their classes may return to pre-pandemic management of class absences. Students have been informed  that remote instruction will not be available during the time the student is away from class. 

Students are expected to work directly with their faculty members to determine how they will move forward in their coursework while being away from class due to illness. Students also have been made aware that in some instances, extended absences create barriers to successful completion of coursework and they will need to determine if dropping a course or withdrawing from the semester is necessary. 

Students have been reminded that they can also communicate with the Dean of Students regarding absences. That can occur via email or through the “I’m not feeling well” Starfish flag.    

Q: I’m uncomfortable with fewer campus-wide mitigation efforts with less than 100% of the Augustana community vaccinated. What can I do about that? 

A: Community members are encouraged to take responsibility for their own well-being. You should feel comfortable remaining masked and physically distanced wherever possible while on campus. If you deem that necessary, you are encouraged to do so even if you are a fully vaccinated community member. 

Augustana’s COVID-19 Alert Level document will continue to be used to determine the level of COVID-19 concern on campus. If the alert level changes, the reinstatement of some 2020-2021 mitigation efforts or newly designed mitigations will be implemented. 

Concerning behavior or non-compliance related to COVID-19 such as unvaccinated community members being unmasked may be reported through the online COVID Concern form.

Q: Can I hold and attend meetings in person on campus this fall? 

A: Yes, in-person meetings with colleagues, students, and even outside visitors is encouraged. While the virtual meeting format has served the college well, with the requirement of community members needing to work from campus as of Aug. 1, in-person meetings should become the norm.

Q: Can my family return to Augustana’s campus?

A: Yes, family members are welcome to return to campus to attend programs, athletic events, cultural events, music programs and theatre productions. Families may dine on campus and use recreational facilities as pre-pandemic. 

Unvaccinated family members should adhere to public health guidance including masking and physical distancing while on campus.

Q: Can I travel for work?

A: Effective July 1, 2021, off-campus travel for work-related purposes is allowed. 

In traveling for either work or personal reasons, employees are expected to adhere to public health guidance: