I share this message with you today with great optimism as we have enjoyed a wonderful start to the Spring 2022 semester. Due to the effort and commitment of our collective Ithaca College community, we have been able to successfully navigate our return to campus and the resumption of academic classes and campus operations with little incidence of positive COVID-19 cases within our campus community. As a result, Ithaca College is moving forward with the Health and Safety Advisory Group’s (HSAG) recommendation and is updating its COVID-19 operating status to Green: Lower Risk, effective immediately.
This shift to Green: Lower Risk operating status means that at the current moment COVID-19 positive cases are infrequent and there is no indication of significant transmission within our Ithaca College community due to our collective commitment to adhering to public health guidance. The decision to update the college’s operating status follows significant analysis of available data and trends by the HSAG. Enacting this update to our operational status is another exciting step in our efforts to provide a vibrant and engaging IC experience this spring; however, it is imperative that we continue to keep good public health practices at the forefront in order for us to sustain this status moving forward.
Full vaccination and a booster dose against COVID-19 are critical to maintaining campus operations and experiences and our status at Green: Lower Risk. The deadline for students to complete their COVID-19 vaccine booster and submit documentation to the Hammond Health Center is Tuesday, February 15, 2022, or 30 days after becoming eligible if your eligibility date falls after the February 15 deadline. All students, unless having already received a college-approved exemption, are REQUIRED to receive a vaccine booster in order to continue participating in the Spring 2022 semester.
The Ithaca College vaccine webpage includes information on how to submit documentation, learn more about local vaccine resources, and get connected with vaccine appointments near you.
Please keep reading to learn more about what this shift to Green: Lower Risk operating status entails and key public health reminders to keep in mind for us to maintain this status as we continue this spring.
Academics
Ithaca College resumed the in-person academic experience on Monday, January 31. All classes, clinics and labs will continue to proceed in their approved modality.
Social Gatherings
At this time, Ithaca College is relaxing its previous restriction on in-person social gatherings. Events including student club and organization meetings and other non-academic extracurricular programs will be able to proceed. Larger scale events, which may or may not include refreshments, should be carefully considered and have a documented health and safety plan in place for review.
Residential Hall Visitation
At this time, Ithaca College is relaxing its previous restriction on visitation between different residence communities on campus. Students are allowed to host friends who may live in a different residence community. Please note that use of tightly fitting face coverings is required when not with your roommate or members of your own household.
Athletics
Intercollegiate athletics will continue to operate as planned following sport medicine guidelines. Potential schedule changes are subject to Liberty League and/or local conditions. Please refer to the Ithaca Athletics website for latest schedule updates.
Campus Visitors and Updated Spectator Policy
Effective immediately, Ithaca College is repealing restrictions to its campus visitor policy. Outside visitors will be allowed to attend intercollegiate athletic events; performances by Ithaca College’s Department of Theatre Arts and School of Music; and additional programming and events open to the general public. All campus visitors must abide by all outlined Ithaca College public health policies.
If visitors are positive for COVID-19 or are experiencing any symptoms of illness, Ithaca College requests that they please refrain from coming to campus until they have satisfied their isolation period or symptoms have subsided.
Moving Forward – Important Public Health Reminders
Although our shift to Green: Lower Risk operating status is a major step in our progression toward a vibrant and fully engaging spring semester, it is extremely important that we continue to remain vigilant and not get complacent in our attention to good public health practice.
If you are experiencing symptoms of illness, be sure to limit your interactions with others and seek out testing opportunities as soon as possible. Students can utilize the Emerson Hall testing site, which is open seven days a week between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Employees experiencing active symptoms of COVID-19 should seek out local resources for testing including urgent care facilities, pharmacies, or the Cayuga Health System mall testing site.
If you have any questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine or COVID-19 testing please contact caremanager@ithaca.edu for more information.
The collective actions of our campus community are the greatest determinants of how the semester will unfold. Please make the following basics of good public health practice a constant priority in the weeks and months ahead:
- Appropriate use of tightly fitting face coverings that cover both the nose and mouth
- Physical distancing at least six feet apart from others
- Frequent hand washing
- Responsible structured interactions, where good public health practices are being observed, in both on-campus and off-campus settings
- Seek out testing if you are feeling symptoms of illness
- Be vaccinated for COVID-19 and maintain your immunity by getting a vaccine booster!
The Health and Safety Advisory Group will continue to evaluate all available data and will provide timely updates to the campus community as needed. Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to maintaining the health and safety of our IC community.
Sincerely,
Samm Swarts
Assistant Director, Emergency Preparedness and Response