68 Items
| by Mark Peluso
With the arrival of student leaders on the Vermont campus this week, we had the first opportunity to conduct COVID-19 testing with a large group returning for the fall semester on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 18 and 19. I am writing to report that, of the 284 tests taken, zero were positive, 279 were negative, and five had an insufficient sample result and will be retested today.
| by Derek Doucet, Mark Peluso, and Jennifer Kazmierczak
I’m writing with information about our new mandated health-screening mobile app called PolicyPath, which is available to download today. The state of Vermont requires health screenings prior to arrival as well as on a daily basis, and Middlebury requires all students living on campus—or commuting to classes from the surrounding area—to use this app every day. The app is part of the Student Health Pledge that every student must sign before starting the fall semester at Middlebury.
| by Mark Peluso and Laurie L Patton
Will college students return to Middlebury in the fall? If so, how will we ensure their safety and the safety of the wider Middlebury community? These are the questions that have driven us at the College since we sent the great majority of students home last spring and effectively evacuated the campus.
| by Baishakhi Taylor, Mark Peluso, and Derek Doucet
We hope this finds you well and successfully completing your academic work, which we know hasn’t been easy during this semester of unprecedented challenges. Traditionally, this is the time of year to gather and celebrate your hard work and accomplishments. And it’s natural to want to gather together.
| by Jeff Cason, Karen Miller, and Mark Peluso
It is understandable that you may be eager to get back to work on campus. All of us would like this to happen but for the sake of everyone’s health and safety, if you have been working from home, please continue to do so until you have permission to return. Human Resources will coordinate with supervisors to plan a transition back to campus, and supervisors will continue to communicate directly with staff.
| by Mark Peluso, Jeff Cason, and Karen Miller
It is important for all of us to make a plan should we or a member of our family become sick from COVID-19. This message is especially relevant for those staff in Vermont deemed essential since they have continued to work on campus. We ask that supervisors of essential staff make sure to share this information with their employees.
| by Mark Peluso and Baishakhi Taylor
We’re writing today with two important resources for you: The new Student Life Remote Resources Guide, which we revised after receiving your good feedback. And a reminder that social distancing is essential.
| by Mark Peluso and Jennifer Kazmierczak
Like most of us, you’re probably feeling pent up and tired of not getting out to socialize with friends and family, especially as the weather gets nicer. We’re all missing many things we love these days. But we also hope you’re aware that the social distancing so many of us have been practicing is starting to produce glimmers of hope that we may be flattening the curve.
| by David Provost and Mark Peluso
We write to let you know that a Middlebury staff member in Vermont has notified the College that they have tested positive for COVID-19. Our colleague, who has been off campus, is recuperating in isolation at home and is reported to be doing well. This is the first positive employee test result in the Middlebury College community.
| by David Provost, Mark Peluso, and Karen Miller
We write today to follow up on President Patton’s recent email that mentioned the College’s work to support the community. As part of this effort, the College will provide urgently needed temporary housing for a small number of University of Vermont Health Network/Porter Medical Center employees, maximizing safety for all members of the College community.
