These FAQs were released Friday, April 16, 2021.
*If you have questions after reviewing the information presented here, please email
aboutcovid19@hendrix.edu.
Academics and Student Life:
Are students expected to be vaccinated before the fall semester?
The College expects you to get the COVID-19
vaccine unless you have a religious or medical reason not to be vaccinated. If the
vast majority of the student body is vaccinated, the College can return to a
more regular campus life with community events and student activities in the
fall. Vaccinated students will also be exempt from biweekly surveillance
testing and quarantining protocols. It is very important that you submit
your proof of vaccination.
Widespread vaccination is key to a successful, healthy fall semester. Knowing
the percentage of our community that is vaccinated will greatly influence our plans
for campus events and adjustments to our policies.
Will face-masking be
required on campus in the fall?
At this point, masking will be required during
the rest of the spring semester and through the summer. The COVID Steering
Committee and College administration will monitor testing positivity, number of
COVID-19 cases, and vaccination rates in the community and on campus, and if
warranted, announce any changes to the masking policy prior to the start of
fall semester.
Will larger campus
events and gatherings be allowed on campus in the fall?
As referenced in the previous answer, if a
vast majority of students are vaccinated, larger campus events and gatherings
will be allowed (subject to indoor space capacities calculated according to
recommended social distancing standards per the CDC). Larger groups will be
possible outdoors. Further details, including policies for requesting large
gatherings and events, will be available before the semester starts.
How will classes be
conducted in Fall 2021?
Barring a resurgence in coronavirus activity, the College
expects that all classes will be conducted in person for the fall 2021
semester.
Given the updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, all classes will be held in person this fall. Certain on-campus
activities, such as labs, arts, music, and theatre arts and dance, may still be
altered to accommodate distancing requirements. Traffic patterns that were in
effect in many buildings on campus will be lifted following the Spring 2021
semester.
Will the start times
of classes be different?
Unlike the spring 2021 semester, which ran on a modified
schedule allowing 15 minutes between class meetings, the College will return to
its usual class schedule (link to the calendar page).
How will
intercollegiate athletics take place this coming year?
The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Hendrix
COVID Response Coordinator continue to work with other Southern Athletic
Association Conference colleges to maintain COVID safety standards and
scheduling for all 21 intercollegiate sports and esports.
Will the fall semester
calendar be modified?
The College anticipates a
usual fall semester, with traditional Fall and Thanksgiving Breaks (view the academic calendars).
Pandemic Protocols:
Note: The College follows
the CDC and Arkansas Department of Health policies and guidelines as a minimum
standard. In addition, the Fall 2021 Steering Group will monitor and evaluate
any changes to CDC and ADH recommendations and guidance for colleges and
universities to determine how they may most fittingly apply to the Hendrix
community. The College reserves the right to re-impose restrictions in the
event of a surge in COVID-19 cases.
What is the process
for self-screening?
All students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to monitor their
health and complete a daily health screening via #CampusClear. View
the instructions for downloading and using the app.
What COVID-19 safety
protocols will be in place in classrooms?
As with the previous semester, students and professors will wear
face masks when in the classroom and inside all College buildings (except while
working or studying alone in a confined space, such as an office or laboratory)
until further notice. Classrooms will be arranged to ensure CDC-recommended
social distancing, will be thoroughly cleaned early every morning, and students
and professors will clean their work areas at the end of every class (each
classroom will have appropriate cleaning supplies).
Will there be
surveillance testing for COVID-19 in the fall? If so, is there a way to apply
for an exemption?
You will not have to undergo surveillance testing if you have
been fully vaccinated. Those who have been fully vaccinated or tested positive
for COVID-19 in the past 90 days should submit proof of such using the Proof of COVID Vaccination Form. To complete this form, you must upload
documentation from a medical provider of a positive COVID-19 test result or
proof of vaccination. This documentation will be reviewed by the College’s
Testing and Contact Tracing Coordinator.
What happens if a
student arrives at Hendrix unvaccinated, and with no proof of having tested
positive for COVID-19 within the past 90 days?
As of April 2021, the College’s fall 2021 plan for unvaccinated
or partially vaccinated students is to require them to obtain a COVID-19 test
upon move-in, then to quarantine in their on-campus residence until a negative
test result is received (usually about 24 hours). Students who are not fully
vaccinated will be required to undergo ongoing surveillance testing (students
who are unwilling to be vaccinated will be surveillance tested at their own
expense).
How will the College handle
contact tracing?
The staff members who were trained in contact tracing for the spring
2021 semester have agreed to continue serving as contact tracers in the fall
2021 semester, as needed.
What happens if
quarantining or isolation is needed in the fall 2021 semester?
The College will continue
to maintain limited quarantine and isolation space in several locations on
campus. If a student who lives in an apartment setting has a need to quarantine
or isolate, they may do so in place; students in residence hall settings may
need to relocate temporarily. For details, view this informational video about the support provided to students who
must isolate.