Weekly Update: Return to Campus Guide and Website

Dear Middlebury Community,

We are writing to inform you that the Middlebury 2020-21 website, which provides detailed descriptions of our phased return to the Vermont campus, is now live. As we prepare to bring our community together again during this unusual time, we continue to monitor conditions across the nation and locally, and we will adjust the website’s content as needed. It is crucial that each and every member of our community be prepared for a very different fall semester and year ahead. This website will be an essential resource.

The site includes the Return to Campus Guide, which covers everything students, staff, and faculty need to know about the College’s plans for the fall semester, from prearrival quarantine to what to expect in the classroom. The guide also fulfills the state of Vermont’s requirement that all colleges and universities provide a written Restart Plan that outlines how they will comply with state guidance. There is a lot here to process, but it is imperative that you take the time to read through and refer to this guide frequently and thoroughly—and that you adhere to every one of its directives.

Along with the guide, the Middlebury 2020-21 site includes the following important policy documents: the new COVID-19-Related Conduct Policy and Disciplinary Process and the Student and Employee Health Pledges.

Conduct Policy

The Conduct Policy and Disciplinary Process outlines health and safety-related conduct expectations and disciplinary outcomes for students, faculty, and staff. It also addresses the behavior of students residing off campus in Vermont—regardless of whether they are enrolled to study in person, remotely, or are on leave. The new administrative policy will be in effect until state of Vermont mandates are lifted.

Health Pledge

Before arrival, all students, faculty, and staff must sign the Middlebury Health Pledge. Faculty and staff must log into SafeColleges, an online training program, using their @middlebury.edu email address to sign the health pledge. Students will sign the health pledge as a part of an online course that will include information about campus life, the components of the pledge, and health skills. Access to the student course will be granted via email in advance of students’ arrival dates.

Prearrival Quarantine

A critical element of preparation for the fall semester is prearrival quarantine. All students returning to Middlebury for in-person learning must begin return-to-campus preparations two weeks ahead of their planned departure. During the 14-day prearrival quarantine, students must stay at home or in a single location and should separate themselves from others as much as possible and check for symptoms daily. Other household members may go to work, school, or on errands. While students may interact with others in their household during this time, they should maintain physical distance and wear a face covering whenever possible.

Students: If there is a reason you cannot complete the prearrival quarantine, you will be required to stay in room quarantine for your first week on campus. If you have a reason to request an exception, please complete the prearrival quarantine exemption form. 

Shared Responsibility

As President Laurie Patton has noted in her previous communications, we have a shared responsibility to work together at this challenging time. Living, working, and learning together in a pandemic requires incredible patience and diligence. It also presents opportunities for caring, collaboration, and cooperation. We cannot emphasize enough that regardless of where you are and who or what you are surrounded by, four personal mitigation measures protect yourself and those around you:

1. Stay home if you are sick.
2. Maintain physical distancing.
3. Wear a face covering.
4. Practice good hand hygiene.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have additional questions not answered on the Middlebury 2020-21 site, by writing to covidinfo@middlebury.edu.

Future updates will provide a step-by-step description of traveling safely to campus and what students can expect during their first 24 hours after arrival.

We look forward to being on campus with you soon.

 

Sincerely,

Derek Doucet

Dean of Students

Sujata Moorti

Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty

Karen Miller

Vice President for Human Resources and Chief Risk Officer