In this email we will address the following:

  • Spouse and Partner ID Card Access to Athletics Facilities 
  • Vaccination Policy Update
  • Discontinuing Middlebury’s COVID-19 Reporting Dashboard
  • COVID-19 Testing on Campus
  • Antigen Tests for Students and Employees
  • Vaccine Clinic in Middlebury 
  • Thank You

Spouse and Partner ID Card Access to Athletics Facilities 

We are pleased to announce that beginning Wednesday, June 1, the fitness facilities within the Peterson Family Athletics Complex will once again be open to spouses and partners of benefits-eligible employees. These guests must be accompanied by the employee or have a Middlebury ID card to enter the facility. IDs for eligible partners and spouses can be requested by emailing middcard@middlebury.edu and providing a photo. Please allow five business days for ID creation.

Vaccination Policy Update

As previously announced, all employees must be up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations as defined by Middlebury’s vaccination policy or have approved medical or religious exemptions. Going forward, Middlebury will audit employee data for all programs periodically, and we expect that our community will remain at or above 90 percent vaccinated. If audit findings indicate otherwise, we will take further steps. 

Discontinuing Middlebury’s COVID-19 Reporting Dashboard

Following the state of Vermont’s decision to discontinue its COVID-19 reporting dashboard on May 18, primarily due to the unreliability of case counts and positivity rates, we have decided to pause Middlebury’s reporting dashboard as well after May 31. We will continue to evaluate the best way to share information about COVID-19 and will keep you updated as needed. 

The state publishes a weekly report on Wednesdays that provides a comprehensive view of COVID-19 activity in Vermont. You can find the latest reports on the Vermont Department of Health’s COVID-19 Activity and Surveillance page. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to designate many counties in Vermont, including Addison, with medium or high COVID-19 community levels.

On campus, we have received reports from individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 who tested negative, sometimes more than once, before testing positive for the virus. We continue to recommend that anyone who has symptoms but tests negative with an antigen test confirm the result with a PCR test. 

COVID-19 Testing on Campus

PCR testing for COVID-19 will be available weekly in June at the testing window at Centeno House, 136 South Main Street, accessible via the patio facing the Service Building. No appointment is needed. Following is the schedule, which will be updated this summer on the COVID-19 Testing page:

  • Wednesday, June 1, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Tuesday, June 7, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
  • Tuesday, June 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
  • Tuesday, June 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Students who need to take a PCR COVID-19 test for travel requirements should schedule a test at a Vermont Department of Health site or local pharmacy, or contact Health Services. Please note that the lab that processes results will be closed on Sunday, May 29, and Monday, May 30, so there may be delays.

Employees who are symptomatic may use a home antigen test kit and/or arrange testing through their healthcare provider, the Vermont Department of Health, or a local pharmacy. See also COVID-19 Testing and Reporting Instructions.

Antigen Tests for Students and Employees

We continue the distribution of antigen tests on campus as follows:

  • For Students: Antigen tests are available in the dining halls at check-in (through Sunday, May 29), at the Davis Family Library circulation desk, and at Health Services, Centeno House. Please note that Health Services will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, May 30 and 31. 
  • For Employees: Antigen test kits and N-95 and KN-95 masks are available at the Human Resources Office at Marble Works, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and at the Davis Family Library circulation desk. 

As a reminder, the state of Vermont will phase out state-run COVID-19 testing sites starting this month and continuing into June. This will shift testing back to the healthcare system, doctors’ offices, and pharmacies and to home antigen tests, which are widely available.

Vaccine Clinic in Middlebury

The state continues to offer a COVID-19 vaccine clinic that is walking distance from campus, at the Middlebury Regional EMS headquarters, 55 Collins Drive, next to Porter Hospital. Clinic hours are Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. No appointment is necessary. Vaccinations for the primary series and first or second boosters of Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson are available. 

You can learn more from the Vermont Department of Health. If you have questions, please talk to your healthcare provider. Students who receive their boosters should upload documentation of this to their student health portal. Employees may upload their new records to Sentry MD.  

Thank You

A heartfelt thank you to all of our faculty, staff, and students for working together to keep our community healthy and safe. We look forward to celebrating with many at our two upcoming Commencement ceremonies. We will update you on fall plans later in the summer. In the meantime, please write to COVIDInfo@middlebury.edu if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Mark Peluso

Chief Health Officer and College Physician

Smita Ruzicka

Vice President for Student Affairs

Caitlin Goss

Vice President for Human Resources and Chief People Officer