Student Retrieval of Belongings and Student Moves

Dear Faculty and Staff Colleagues,

We write to make you aware that during the next few weeks various students from the College will retrieve their belongings from campus while others will move.



The retrieval process and the moves have all been planned in advance and are taking place in accordance with Vermont’s health and safety guidelines as outlined below:

• Students Retrieving Belongings: On May 19, Governor Scott made a narrow exception to the 14-day quarantine rule allowing students to enter the state for one-day only, with no overnight stay and no non-essential stops within the state. 
  
  
  
  In accordance with the Governor’s requirement, Middlebury students or graduates who live within 500 miles of campus and are not returning this fall will come back to campus to retrieve their belongings between June 3-24. The organized process requires them to make a reservation, limit their time to no more than 90 minutes on campus, and abide by a Health Pledge when they return. Two Facilities Services employees will provide assistance to each student and students will have only brief access to their former residence halls. Students have received several communications about this. The specific details are as follows:
  • Student/proxy has self-quarantined and practiced social distancing for at least two weeks prior to appointment.
  • Student/proxy and their households have not currently, or within 24 hours of appointment, experienced any of the following symptoms:
    • fever above 100.4 degrees F,
    • cough, 
    • shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, 
    • chills,
    • muscle pain,
    • sore throat, 
    • headache,
    • new loss of taste or smell.   
  • No one in student’s or proxy’s household has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 21 days.
  • Student/proxy (whether showing symptoms or not) has not been in contact with anyone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days prior to appointment.
  • Students must make an appointment to return to campus for belongings via an online form.
  • Roommates/suitemates must avoid signing up for the same time slot to maintain social distancing. The Residential Life team reserves the right to reschedule appointments as needed to ensure social distancing occurs.
  • Students will have limited access to campus buildings but will have a custodial team to assist in the move out process.
  • Social distancing protocols remain in effect and must be followed. These include maintaining six feet of separation from others, washing hands frequently, and wearing cloth facemasks.
  • Hand sanitizers, boxes, tape, and markers will be available at selected entrances to dorms/buildings.
  • Absolutely no overnight stays will be allowed on campus.
  • All buildings other than residence halls will be closed.
  • There is a 90-minute window to arrive, move out, and then leave.
  • Only a limited number of students will be allowed back on any particular day.
  • Students planning to return when school opens will have items moved for them to their next room assignment by staff (i.e., they do not need to return).

Other Vermont colleges, including St. Michael’s and Landmark, are allowing students to return to retrieve their belongings as permitted by the Governor’s exception noted above.

• Students Leaving Campus: Some students who lived on campus through the end of the spring semester have moved elsewhere in Vermont or out of state and others will do so this weekend.
  
   
• Students Remaining on Campus: About 25 students will remain on campus during the summer. We have communicated the expectation that they abide by all College, state, and CDC social distancing and infection prevention guidelines.

Best wishes,



Baishakhi Taylor

VP for Student Affairs and Dean of Students