The message below was sent to faculty and staff with information related to testing of students, faculty and staff and a call for assistance for student testing.
Dear Colleagues,
Please see updates below regarding testing over the next few weeks, volunteer needs, and messages to share with students.
Optional staff & faculty test
One optional test: Although we are still waiting for some students to schedule their required weekly tests, we will move forward with plans to offer one optional test to staff and faculty. Staff and faculty on main campus and the Greensboro campus may sign up for one optional test either this week or next week. All testing is in Alumni Gym with the rapid Abbott BinaxNOW antigen test.
OR
Required student, faculty, staff Winter-Spring arrival/departure testing (Feb. 1-7)
- All students (graduate and undergraduate), faculty and staff are required to test once on campus from Feb. 1-7 as we transition from Winter Term to Spring Semester.
- Look for emails soon about how to sign up for your test appointment on campus, as well as information about monthly staff/faculty testing for Spring Semester.
Cadence for student testing
- Required weekly undergraduate testing began this week and will run through May. Students received emails about signing up for the first two weeks of testing.
- Graduate students (other than MHE apprentices working on campus) will test monthly and will receive information soon from their programs.
Volunteer needs
Thank you to the many staff and faculty who have volunteered. We are still in need of more volunteers, particularly as we make the shift to testing all undergraduates every week.
- Please sign up [HERE] for a weekly 3-3.5 hour shift, this week through May, as soon as possible, adding your full name, cell number, and email address in the block/time you are available. All volunteers will be tested.
Messages to share with students
Look for Jon Dooley’s email later today regarding topics for discussion with students. We ask your assistance in sharing important messages over the next few weeks. As you interact with students on campus, in offices, in classrooms or online, we ask that you discuss the following:
- Keeping our guard up:
- It’s important not to let COVID fatigue, cabin fever and optimism about vaccines and weekly testing, lessen our commitment to healthy practices.
- Wearing masks indoors and out, physical distancing, and keeping our social circles small are crucial—particularly during colder weather (when we tend to remain inside) and flu season—as COVID case numbers remain high nationally.
- Although an important tool in finding hidden cases and combating the exponential spread of the virus spread, weekly testing is not a panacea or a free pass that protects us from future infection.
- Self-care and well-being:
- We all need to take extra care of ourselves and each other during COVID-19. How can each of us ensure that we are regularly attending to our physical and mental well-being, getting and remaining connected, and finding meaning in our lives? How can we help others to do the same?
Thank you, and Happy Inauguration Day,
The Ready & Resilient Committee
- Jeff Stein, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Assistant Professor of English (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