Spring 2021 Semester Plans

Prior to returning to campus for Spring 2021, each member of the W&J community will sign a Community Responsibility Statement agreeing to monitor one’s health and to follow the guidelines set forth by the College designed to promote the safety and security of our collective community. Our decisions about safety precautions (social distancing, wearing masks, hand washing, etc.) will be governed by CDC and PA Department of Health guidelines. An Addendum to the Student Code of Conduct has been posted and distributed to include modified policies for the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters.

All community members and guests must be diligent in protecting the health and safety of themselves and others. We believe compliance with these expectations is possible because of our shared commitment to uncommon integrity and mutual respect. Students, faculty, and staff have been provided with instructions and expectations for health monitoring (temperature and symptoms) and management, as well as methods for contact tracing and self-quarantine.

Based on the advice and counsel of our healthcare advisor and the Pennsylvania Department of Health Washington County State Health Center, we plan to require symptomatic members of the community to be tested at Washington Hospital and local medical clinics. This testing will be conducted by local off-campus providers and is covered by insurance. This plan ensures that the Department of Health will be notified and will subsequently monitor contact tracing and notification of all required parties, as is required by law.

Resident students were tested and quarantined upon their return to campus in August for the Fall 2020 semester; the same procedure will be in place upon their return to campus for the Spring 2021 semester.

Fall 2020 classes will end Tuesday, Nov. 24. JayTerm will begin on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021. All courses will be virtual for the two-week instruction period so that students can maintain quarantine protocols. The Spring Semester will begin Monday, Jan. 25, 2021. The immediate start of the Spring semester ensures that students will have safely completed their quarantine and can attend classes in-person and/or online. Please see the Academics FAQs below for more information.

Various safety protocols across the campus are being instituted, including health screening procedures, personal protective equipment procurement, cleaning and sanitization, physical distancing, visitor contact protocols, and information regarding employee health and response to positive COVID-19 cases and related symptoms. Each campus office is developing a staggered return to work process for staff to ensure that we are phasing people back into the workplace safely. Please see the Faculty & Staff FAQs below for more information.

The cleaning processes at W&J have been re-engineered through new cleaning techniques, supplies and equipment to achieve greater effectiveness. Each building will have a checklist provided to the custodians to reference frequencies for daily cleaning tasks. In addition to the cleaning methods, we will also be using the Maximo work order system to track and monitor the maintenance of our HVAC systems. This will include the changing of necessary filters in accordance with manufacturer’s guidelines and CDC recommendations.

Accommodations for physical distancing around campus have been made. Classrooms and other areas on campus have furniture arranged and signage placed to enforce physical distancing. Masks are required except when an individual is in a private space.  

Students in residence for Fall 2020 were required to complete a questionnaire to assist them with discussing sharing public and private spaces safely; the same procedure will be in place for students in residence for Spring 2021. These precautions are standard at nearly all U.S. colleges and universities and are considered the best practices for preventing the spread of illness.

Campus visitors will be expected to follow the guidelines and policies of the campus community, including masks, physical distancing, etc. Visitors will also need to complete this form.

Prospective student/parent visitors should work through Admission to make an appointment to visit campus. They will be advised of the campus guidelines and other matters related to their visit. No overnight visits will be permitted until guest are permitted in residence halls. 

Visitors will not be permitted in the residence halls. Students enrolled at W&J, but not living on campus, are considered visitors.