Students, Faculty, Staff, Fall 2021

Dear Middlebury Community,

We are writing with essential reminders and instructions for departing and returning to campus after the Thanksgiving break.

Planning Ahead for Student Testing

We encourage all students to schedule COVID-19 testing appointments for the week of November 29 in advance through Bookings and to seek testing during the break if they develop any symptoms of COVID-19. More information about testing opportunities is below. Students staying in Middlebury for break and seeking testing resources can find options on the Center for Health and Wellness website. 

Delaying Return to Campus if Sick

Following are some guidelines for deciding when to return to campus:

  • Any student who receives a positive COVID-19 test result during the break should delay their return to campus, complete their isolation process, and notify Health Services and their dean.  
  • Any student experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should delay their return to campus and self-isolate at their location until they have received a negative PCR test from a testing site near them. 
  • Those who test negative for COVID-19 but are experiencing any flu-like symptoms also should consider delaying their return until symptoms are improved to avoid exposing others.
  • Additional information about what to do in the event of a COVID-19 illness or exposure during the Thanksgiving break is available here. Unvaccinated students should also refer to the email that was sent to them separately last week. 

On-going COVID-19 Testing for Students

We will continue to offer COVID-19 testing appointments after the break for students who are not experiencing symptoms but wish to be tested for travel or other reasons, through the fall semester. Students experiencing symptoms should continue to book testing appointments at Health Services through the student health portal. 

Appointments for asymptomatic students are still available on Monday and Tuesday, November 29 and 30, from noon to 3 p.m., at Virtue Field House. Students must sign up in advance by using this link to book a testing appointment. Appointments may be scheduled 10 days in advance of the testing date. 

Employee Testing Opportunities

Faculty and staff are encouraged to plan ahead for any COVID-19 testing needs after the Thanksgiving break and through the holiday season, to avoid difficulty in scheduling appointments. 

Following is some information about testing resources in Vermont:

People with or without symptoms can make an appointment through the Vermont Department of Health. Please note that testing and vaccination clinics are busy now, so it’s important to book ahead of time when possible. Drive up testing without an appointment is possible, but not guaranteed. Be sure to create an account if you have never had a test or vaccine through the state health department.

Following are the locations and hours of some local testing centers. (Testing also is available at local pharmacies and Porter Medical Center):

Middlebury

154 Creek Rd.

Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Closed on Wednesday, Nov. 24, and Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 25

Burlington

405 Pine Street

Monday, Tuesday, and Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wednesday and Thursday: Noon to 7 p.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Closed on Wednesday, Nov. 24, and Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 25

Burlington

294 North Winooski Ave., Suite 125 

(satellite location of Community Health Center of Burlington)

Monday: 12:30-5 p.m.

Tuesday: 11 a.m. to Noon and 12:30-3 p.m.

Wednesday: 8 a.m. to Noon

Friday: 8 a.m. to Noon and 12:30-2 p.m.

Rutland

Rutland Regional Medical Center

160 Allen Street

Monday through Friday: 9-10 a.m. and 4-5:20 p.m.

Saturday: 10-11:50 a.m.

Closed on Wednesday, Nov. 24, and Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 25

Williston

UVMMC Clinic - Taft Corners

300 Interstate Corp. Center (Next to TD Bank and across from Friendly’s)

Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to Noon and 1-3:30 p.m.

Closed on Wednesday, Nov. 24, and Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 25

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Vermont Department of Health recommend testing five to seven days after any exposure to COVID-19 for fully vaccinated, asymptomatic individuals. Unvaccinated, asymptomatic individuals who are close contacts must quarantine for 14 days or until they receive negative Day 0 and Day 7 PCR test results. 

Safe Departure from Campus

As a reminder, our Safe Departure from Campus website includes a checklist, information about our COVID-19 testing for students, instructions for those traveling to locations with special requirements, and advice for enjoying time together. 

You can find the latest information on the Campus Status webpage and the COVID-19 reporting dashboard. We will continue to provide timely updates via email as needed. Previous announcements are posted on the College website.

Sincerely,

Mark Peluso

Chief Health Officer and College Physician

Smita Ruzicka

Vice President for Student Affairs