Key Reminders:
- Responsible actions and health-conscious behaviors remain critically important to ensure a smooth finish to the Fall 2022 semester.
- Join us for IC Community Brunch, free to all students regardless if on meal plan or not, at the Campus Center Dining Hall and CC Express locations on Saturday, December 10.
- Ithaca College is a community of care. Please practice good public health habits to protect yourself and others from spreading communicable illnesses such as COVID-19 and flu.
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Dear Ithaca College Students,
I share this message with you today with great excitement as we enter the final days of the Fall 2022 semester and approach our much-anticipated winter break. It is both an exciting and critical time as we reach the culmination of all our hard work from the past semester. It is also typically a time that we come together as a community to celebrate all that we have accomplished in the fall.
End-of-semester activities and celebrations are a wonderful part of the college experience; however, I urge members of our IC community to continue to conduct yourselves with caution and care in the semester’s remaining days. Prioritizing your mental and physical well-being will be critically important to putting your best effort into a strong finish as you complete your academic coursework, as well as helping to ensure there are no disruptions to your final exams or travel plans for the upcoming winter break.
I want to take a moment to highlight an exciting upcoming Ithaca College-sponsored event to celebrate the conclusion of the semester.
IC Community Brunch and Augmented Dining Hours – Saturday, December 10
Ithaca College Dining Services will be hosting a special event and will have augmented dining hours on Saturday, December 10, to celebrate the conclusion of the fall semester.
The Campus Center Dining Hall will be hosting a special IC Community Brunch on Saturday, December 10, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This event is open to all students of our IC community free of charge, regardless of whether you have an existing IC meal plan or not. Please be prepared to show your Ithaca College ID to gain entry.
The Campus Center Express, located in the Campus Center lobby, will also be participating in this free meal initiative for students looking to grab something while on the go. The CC Express location will be open from 8:00-10:30 a.m. Students again should be prepared to display Ithaca College ID to partake.
The Food Court in IC Square will also have special hours of operation on Saturday between the hours of 1:30-5:30 p.m. In addition, Ithaca Bakery will be open for their normal operating hours, 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Please note that both of these locations will not be a part of the free Community Brunch.
Ithaca College Dining Services encourages you to stop by and dine on your favorite brunch offerings to help fuel up for your final exam studies.
Public Health Reminders for Gathering Safely
As we enter deeper into the colder winter months, the prevalence and risk for spread of COVID-19, flu, and other communicable illnesses pose an increased threat to our community’s collective health. I remind our community that last year, our campus experienced a significant COVID spike during finals week. I want to stress to our community that it is extremely important to keep good public health actions and behaviors foremost in our thoughts during this crucial moment of the semester. I encourage individuals who plan to participate in end-of-semester celebrations, both Ithaca College-sponsored and unsanctioned events, to make the intentional choice to prioritize good public health actions. These include:
- Utilizing face coverings, particularly in situations where adequate physical distancing cannot be maintained.
- Practicing frequent hand washing and sanitizing.
- Monitoring your health for potential symptoms of illness and limiting contact with others if feeling unwell.
- Knowing your illness status and seeking immediate testing if you are experiencing symptoms.
As we enter into the winter break and upcoming social opportunities that typically come during the holiday season, Ithaca College strongly encourages members of our community to stay up-to-date with your immunizations by receiving an updated COVID-19 booster and flu shot. Getting vaccinated is an important way to reduce risk of severe illness as a result of these viruses. The vaccines.gov website is a great way to learn more about these vaccines and get connected with appointment opportunities near you.
Lastly, I urge students planning to host end-of-semester celebrations to be good neighbors and responsible hosts. Please pay special attention to abide by all laws and local noise ordinances, and to take responsibility in respecting the people and property in our shared Ithaca community. I encourage our students to watch out for one another and be willing to intervene as prosocial bystanders if situations arise that have the potential for danger or harm.
I wish you all the very best during the semester’s closing days and hope you enjoy great success during the upcoming finals week. Let’s close the semester on a positive note and I wish you a well-deserved restorative winter break!
Sincerely,
Bonnie Prunty
Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Life