Reminders for Safely Returning to Campus This Fall
Dear St. Catherine Community,
We are so excited to begin the 2020-2021 academic year tomorrow, but recognize that it will be different than in previous years. Thank you for your ongoing support, patience, and commitment to each other during this time.
Safely Returning to Campus
One of the key tenets of our Community Commitment is to safeguard health. For those who will be on campus, we cannot stress enough the importance of adhering to the health and safety guidelines in the Preparedness Plan. We want to welcome everyone back to campus, and while we can’t do that just yet, we want to ensure that those who will be here can stay.
To help highlight our safety protocols, we enlisted Dr. Amy Kelly, director of the Health and Wellness Center, and Katie Cat to prepare this Safely Returning to Campus Video.
All community members coming to campus this fall should also review the COVID-19 Health Best Practices and complete the Safe Return to Campus Quiz before their first visit to campus, and remember to:
- Maintain a social distance of at least six (6) feet between yourself and others, both inside and outdoors
- Wear a mask in all shared and public spaces
- Complete the Daily Symptom Checker via the LiveSafe app or online
- Wash your hands often
- Cover your cough or sneeze
- Stay home if you’re sick and contact your health care provider or the Health and Wellness Clinic if you have symptoms of COVID-19
Reminder: All St. Kate’s faculty, staff, and students are required to self-report if they have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through the COVID-19 Diagnosis Notification Form.
Current COVID-19 Information
As we move into the fall, we have updated the COVID-19 section of our website to provide you with easily accessible, up-to-date information about our response. You’ll find quick access to forms, policies, and general resources to help keep you safe and informed.
On Thursday, September 10, we will also launch our COVID-19 Dashboard to provide you with an overview of how the virus is impacting campus. This page will be updated weekly as the pandemic continues.
Building and Office Hours
Buildings and Campus Offices
As the semester begins, be sure to review this list for details on availability and hours for campus and student services.
Faculty Office Hours
To help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 through social distancing, faculty office hours will be held remotely. Instructors will have at least three online sessions each week, which may either be open, virtual hours, or available by appointment. Additional details for each class will be provided by instructors, and appointments can be set through Student Success.
Any other faculty-student meetings, including advising sessions, also will be virtual.
Shared Spaces and Study Areas on Campus
On campus, select common areas and study rooms will be available for use. A complete list — including information about and areas identified for dining and eating — is available on the website. Please remember to follow all established health and safety protocols, including:
- Maintaining social distancing (6 feet)
- Wearing a mask
- Cleaning the area used with provided supplies
- Don’t move furniture, which has been placed to allow for social distancing
Student Success
With so many courses, meetings, and activities taking place via technology at the moment, the Student Success online platform is a great way to stay in touch and support one another. Student Success provides quick and easy opportunities to connect with faculty and staff and reach out to offices on services on campus. Students will also receive academic updates from faculty via this platform, so be sure to log in before classes begin and update your profile.
All students who fill out your Tell Us About Yourself questionnaire in Student Success by September 26 will be automatically entered into a drawing for St. Kate's swag.
Questions?
If you have questions as classes resume, please check the Preparedness Plan and COVID-19 web section. Faculty should also refer to the Fall 2020 Faculty Guide. If you don’t find the information you are looking for, you can also email healthresponse@stkate.edu.
Wishing you a healthy and safe fall semester,
Safely Returning to Campus Committee Co-Chairs
Amy Kelly, MD, MPH, Director, Health and Wellness Clinic
Ann Garvey, Interim Assistant Provost for Student Affairs
Pat Pratt-Cook, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Equity and Inclusion
Lynda Szymanski, PhD, Associate Provost