October 19 update from the Ready & Resilient Committee

An update from the Ready & Resilient Committee about an increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases among the university population.

Members of the Elon community,

Elon reported 12 positive cases today, as well as three additional clusters of cases. As reported last week, quarantining, tracing, and targeted testing have helped us to identify these additional cases and may lead to additional cases.

These cases and clusters have been linked through social gatherings—social contact without a mask and not socially distanced—which have enabled the spread of the virus on campus.

With only five weeks to go in the semester, we cannot let down our guards or engage in social contact that fuels virus spread. We all know the steps that allow us to protect each other, disrupt the spread, and continue our semester: Wear your mask whenever you are away from your home or personal office, stay physically distanced from others and limit your close personal connections.

The three clusters (five connected positive cases within a 14-day period), which will be reported to the state by the Alamance County Health Department, are connected to Phi Mu sorority, Carolina Hall, and Barney Hall. We have been working with all students in these locations/organizations to facilitate testing.

As predicted in our campus notice prior to the weekend, Elon has moved to Level 2 – Moderate Alert, based on campus data and the rising disease spread in Alamance and Guilford counties.

The next flu vaccination clinic for students is tomorrow, Oct. 20, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. in Alumni Gym. Appointments have closed, but some walk-in spots remain available. Elon and MedCall Campus will also provide flu vaccines to students Oct. 22 and 23 in Alumni Gym. To make an appointment, sign up online here. All students must receive a flu vaccine before returning to campus in January; details can be found online here.

Thank you for your continued efforts to stay healthy and protect others,

Jeff Stein, Ready & Resilient Committee Chair

    • Dan Anderson, Vice President of University Communications
    • Ginette Archinal, Medical Director of Student Health and University Physician
    • MarQuita Barker, Director of Residence Life
    • John Barnhill, Associate Vice President for University Advancement
    • Tom Flood, Assistant Vice President of Physical Plant
    • Jason Husser, Associate Professor of Political Science and Policy Studies, and Director of the Elon Poll (Academic Council Representative)
    • Deandra Little, Assistant Provost, Director of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning and Professor of English
    • Paul Miller, Assistant Provost for Academic Operations and Communications and Professor of Exercise Science
    • Kelly Reimer, Director of Teaching and Learning Technologies (Staff Council Representative)
    • Carrie Ryan, Director of Auxiliary Services
    • Kelli Shuman, Associate Vice President for Human Resources & Chief Human Resources Officer
    • Gabie Smith, Dean of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Psychology
    • Mary Southern, Project Manager for Provost and Academic Affairs Operations (Project Manager)
    • Mike Ward, Deputy Director of Athletics
    • Randy Williams, Vice President and Associate Provost for Inclusive Excellence and Assistant Professor of Education