Updates from President Thierfelder

Conference Carolinas has made the difficult decision to cancel its spring championships and the remainder of its athletics competitions through the end of the 2019-20 academic year.

Originally Conference Carolinas desired to keep open the possibility of returning to athletics competition and host its spring championships in April, but it has been determined that this is no longer viable due to the continued evolution of the COVID-19 public health threat.

Last week, the NCAA made the decision to cancel all of its remaining winter and spring championships.
The safety and well-being of Conference Carolinas student-athletes, coaches, administrators and fans are always of the utmost importance. Conference Carolinas will continue to monitor all of the important and relevant information on the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Message from Belmont Abbey College President Dr. Bill Thierfelder:

Earlier today North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced his decision to close K-12 schools for two weeks and Bishop Peter Jugis from the Dioceses of Charlotte canceled all events with more than 100 participants including Sunday Masses. After conferring with our executive leadership team, I have decided that Belmont Abbey College will extend Spring Break until Monday, March 30th.

During this time we will continue to closely monitor the situation and prepare for course delivery by alternative methods, should circumstances require this shift. A decision regarding course delivery will be made no later than close of business Thursday, March 26th. Please continue to closely monitor this page, Crusader Alerts, and your email for further updates. We will continue to provide regular updates over the course of Spring Break.

The Belmont Abbey College campus will remain open, with dining, wellness, library and academic support services operating at a reduced capacity. Evening classes for our Center for Continuing & Professional Studies (CCPS) students will meet remotely until March 30th. Your professor will contact you regarding your studies. As this situation continues to evolve rapidly, no decisions beyond March 30th will be made at this time.

For our students currently on campus, you have the option to remain or to go home for the duration of Spring Break. For those of you choosing to stay on campus during the extension, all campus services will continue to be provided though in a limited form. With the goal of increasing social distance and in the best interest of our entire community, we encourage those that can remain at home during the extension to do so. If you intend to stay on campus or need to return before March 30th, and have not completed the following form, please do so before returning.

IMPORTANT PLEASE READ

• If you have a fever, cough, difficulty breathing or any flu like symptoms, please do not return to campus and self-quarantine at home for 14 days. This means you cannot be on campus for those 14 days to live or study.

• If you have traveled to a international or domestic hotspot, please do not return to campus until you have self-quarantined for 14 days.

• If you have a compromised immune or respiratory system, please do not return to campus until the situation regarding the virus has improved such that the risk of contracting the virus is low.

During this two week period Belmont Abbey College employees should discuss their work situation with their supervisor, understanding that those affected by the closing of local schools may need to work remotely. Employees should check with their supervisor for guidance.

The Belmont Abbey College community should check their email, this page, and Crusader Alerts for further updates.

Let us continue to pray for perseverance, healing for those struck with this illness, and God’s continued guidance on all that we do for the safety of our community. Thanks for all of your continuing support, patience, and prayers.

God Bless,

Dr. William K. Thierfelder
President

Update RE: Conference Carolinas Athletic Competition

Since my earlier email to you, I thought it was important for you to know that the NCAA has canceled all championship events through June of 2020. As a member of Conference Carolinas, and given the decision of the NCAA, I voted unanimously with the other presidents in the Conference to suspend all competition until further notice. I realize that this will be a great disappointment for many of you, especially for members of the Women’s Basketball team who were warming up on the court preparing for their first game in the NCAA tournament when they learned it had been canceled.

The situation remains very fluid and it is important that you frequently check this page for new developments affecting you and our entire community.

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A Message from Belmont Abbey College President Dr. Bill Thierfelder:

Based on the conversations of senior leadership around the evolving COVID-19 situation, here is the additional information regarding our campus community’s response to the situation. It is the fruit of extensive consultation. Our goal is to reduce risk and enhance safety for students, monks, faculty, staff, and their families while still fulfilling our commitment to our students for their education.

With Spring Break impending for traditional students and the second evening session starting for our CCPS students, it’s likely that everyone’s initial question is about the college’s plans for in-person classes. You will also have read about a number of larger institutions, as well as other institutions that have presumed and/or confirmed cases of COVID-19, suspending in-person classes and going to remote delivery of courses. At this time there are no presumed or confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Belmont Abbey College. Therefore, it is not our intention to move to remote delivery at this time but we are taking precautions to reduce risks and, where possible, increase social distancing for our on-campus classes. Unless otherwise notified, students should expect to return to normal operations and resume classes on March 23rd. Given the fluidity of the situation, we would encourage students to take essential academic materials or textbooks with them.

Each institution is unique and faces different concerns as they discern what is best for their own community. Small undergraduate colleges, such as Belmont Abbey College, differ in many ways from large university systems. As of today, the vast majority of undergraduate colleges in the nation and in North Carolina are continuing with their semesters as planned.

Our discernment is ongoing and we are constantly planning and preparing for different contingencies as we respond to this unprecedented situation. During Spring Break, a team of our outstanding faculty will be developing further training and resources for remote teaching that will be available to all faculty if it becomes necessary to go to remote delivery of courses across the curriculum. As part of our preparation, the college has arranged a new contract that will allow the use of Zoom video conferencing system by all members of the campus community and for Zoom integration with Google services and our LMS, Canvas. This will be available for use within the next few days.

We are also taking other steps meant to reduce risk for all members of our campus community. First, and most importantly, everyone should continue to follow the advice already given on this page and check it regularly for up-to-date information. Check your email and pay attention to our Crusader Alert for further updates.

Steps taken in other areas of campus include:

• Maintenance and housekeeping are increasing the frequency of cleaning surfaces in residence halls and other high-trafficked areas on campus.
• Dining services is wiping down all surfaces multiple times a day and preparing for alternative measures for meals. We are exploring other social distancing initiatives.
• Many events and occasions for travel, including College-sponsored international travel, have been cancelled or restricted.
• Students traveling for Spring Break have been advised to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and avoid international travel as well as any domestic hot spots.
• Abbey Athletics is continuing to evaluate spring competition schedules, travel, and related matters in conversation with Conference Carolinas, the NCAA, and local officials.

Finally, we do well to remember that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and other authorities, the vast majority of people who contract COVID-19 will not need serious medical attention and experience mild symptoms followed by full recovery.

Our efforts at social distancing and reducing risk are meant to safeguard those people more likely to be seriously harmed if infected and ensure that the healthcare system is not overloaded.

Although a crisis of this nature may require great sacrifices, it also provides a wonderful opportunity to think more of others than of ourselves. We have for that the best of examples in Christ, St. Benedict, and a “great cloud of witnesses” (Heb. 12:1). And hopefully we will be inspired to do likewise.

Thanks again for all of your continuing support and good work.

God Bless,

Dr. William K. Thierfelder
President