Throughout Fall Semester, Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley is providing regular email update messages to keep students and parents informed about the efforts for a healthy semester.
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,
Summary of updates in this message
- Status update on campus and in Alamance County
- COVID-19 vaccine information
- Plans for a safe and healthy fan experience with the return of fall football
- Class of 2020 Commencement information
Status Update
- 14 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed among Elon students and employees last week, through Sunday, August 29.
- Last week 611 COVID-19 tests were conducted on campus, with 8 positive cases identified: a 1.3 percent positivity rate.
- The dashboard on the Healthy Elon website is updated weekly on Monday mornings.
- All North Carolina counties remain in the high community transmission category. The CDC and state health officials strongly recommend wearing masks in public indoor settings, including stores, restaurants, and other businesses.
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
- Based on widely available data and the expertise of researchers, physicians, public health officials, vaccination remains one of the key tools for slowing the spread of COVID-19 and mitigating the negative health impact of the virus.
- As of today, nearly 96 percent of undergraduates, 90 percent of graduate students, and 90 percent of full-time employees are vaccinated.
- Last week, on August 23, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for individuals 16 and older. It continues to be widely available for individuals 12 to 15 through Emergency Use Authorization.
- Those students who previously requested an exemption to the university vaccine requirement, or employees who have not yet submitted vaccination documentation, may still do so. Visit the university’s vaccination central website for information about where to get vaccinated and how to submit documentation to the university.
Elon Football Fan Health and Safety
As the university prepares for the return of fall football this weekend, Athletics is dedicated to providing a safe and fun environment at Rhodes Stadium.
- Among the previously announced changes are contactless entry and the ability to use any gate for entry, social distancing in entry and concession lines and the ability to use grass areas and hills for distancing, enhanced sanitation stations, and signage and announcements to remind fans about protective measures.
- Tailgating will return for the 2021 season, using all available parking spaces available in the lots. Parking lots will open at 9:00 a.m. for each home game, with a 2:00 p.m. kickoff, and gates and ticket booths will open at 1:00 p.m.
Class of 2020 Commencement Information
This week the campus is preparing for the return of many members of the Class of 2020, as the university celebrates commencement activities.
- To support a healthy and safe environment for the weekend, a number of the events have been moved outdoors, including the Commencement Ceremony Under the Oaks, at 9:30 a.m. Sunday morning, September 5.
- Due to the large number of visitors and the seating setup Under the Oaks, everyone attending the outdoor Commencement ceremony must wear a mask.
- Details on the weekend events are available on the Commencement website.
Health and wellness information for students or employees – including what to do if you feel ill or test positive – can be found here. The Healthy Elon website also offers responses to frequently asked questions about academics, vaccination, and employee information.
The next email update will be sent by Wednesday, September 8, at 10:45 a.m., unless an additional message is warranted before then. Additional information is always available on the Healthy Elon website at: www.elon.edu/healthyelon.
—
Dr. Jon Dooley
Vice President for Student Life