Spring 2021 Return to Campus
From the Desk of Dr. Travis Feezell, Provost
To all students:
As you prepare to depart campus for the fall semester, I wanted to send along a couple of notes regarding the conclusion of this semester and of our plans for Spring 2021.
First, thank you for all your effort and good work this semester. It has been a challenging semester in so many ways … and yet, I have observed a lot of smiles and a lot of intentional effort so that we can be together.
Second, you will be returning “home” this week and with that comes new responsibility. Please remain careful of your health as you go back to a new living environment. Please continue practicing those skills that keep us safe: distancing, masking, handwashing.
Spring classes will begin on Tuesday, January 19th. Move-in to residence halls will be on Sunday, January 17th. More information will be forthcoming over the break on the move-in process.
In addition, below you will find the guidelines and requirements for a safe return to campus in Spring 2021.
- ALL TRADITIONAL STUDENTS (NON-CCPS STUDENTS) WHETHER LIVING ON CAMPUS OR HAVING STATUS AS A COMMUTER WILL BE REQUIRED TO PRESENT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TO BEGIN THE SPRING SEMESTER:
- A NEGATIVE COVID TEST DATED JANUARY 9, 2021 OR LATER.
- A POSITIVE COVID TEST DATED NOVEMBER 1, 2020 OR LATER.
- This is absolutely vital as we begin the semester. The process to submit these test results will be communicated during the break.
- Vice Provost and Dean of Student Life, Tom MacAlester, has sent out exemption request forms for remote learning in Spring 2021 due to health situations. We are asking that these be returned no later than December 15th, 2020 to assist us in planning for the semester.
- Those students who did not sign our Community Covenant form will be asked to do so for the Spring semester. These students will be contacted directly.
Lastly, please pay attention to your BAC email over the break. We will be sending information and reminders to you consistently to ensure we have a smooth transition to a new semester.
Sincerely,
Dr. Travis Feezell
Provost
Commonly Asked Questions
While we encourage getting a vaccine if it is possible for you, given our timing it seems unlikely its efficacy can replace our current requirements. Because the vaccine requires two injections and does not become effective until 7 days after the second dose, you must still have a negative test after January 9, or a positive test after November 1, 2020, in order to return to campus.
Dual-enrolled students joining our community this Spring must follow the same procedures outlined above. We consider these students the same as commuters. All dual-enrolled students must then provide a negative COVID test dated January 9, 2021 or later, or a positive COVID test dated November 1, 2020 or later.
The COVID-19 Visitation Policy remains in place from the Fall 2020 semester to promote safety for our residential students as they return to campus. Two weeks after the start of classes, February 2nd, we will begin a review of the policy and the current COVID climate to re-evaluate if any changes are possible. We believe that adherence to limited visitation during the second half of the fall 2020 semester contributed to our lower case numbers.
As a reminder, the COVID-19 Visitation Policy limits any visitors or guests from entering Residence Hall spaces. Students are welcome to visit their suitemates during this time, as BAC considers individual suites as “family units”. Students may not visit suites nor rooms outside of their assignment. Students who violate this policy endanger the health of our campus community and will be referred to our student conduct process and face residential probation to suspension, depending on the circumstances.
As we see COVID-19 cases rise in the US, we recognize that off-campus gatherings and activities can impact our on-campus functions. It is important that our commuter students take seriously the current NC guidelines for indoor and outdoor gatherings and take special consideration that they are a part of our educational community as well. Off-campus students who violate state and local ordinances related to gatherings can and will be referred to the student conduct process and face probation and class-only restrictions.
As announced on January 6, 2021, the State of North Carolina has extended the 10 p.m. – 5 a.m. curfew until January 29th. In accordance with this statewide curfew, we will adjust quiet hours on campus to begin at 10 p.m. in all Residence Halls daily. Students will be expected to be in their rooms by 10 pm for the evening. As always, 24-hour courtesy hours are also in effect. For more information on Governor Cooper’s curfew extension, please visit: https://www.nc.gov/covid-19/covid-19-orders-directives.