Dear <name> -
With only 117 days until the start of Andover Summer, I am writing with some important updates for enrolled students and families. We are incredibly excited to be planning for our return to campus, but remain cautious as we monitor public health conditions, travel advisories, and our regular session students’ return to in-person learning. At this moment, though, Andover Summer’s on-campus program remains ON, and we can’t wait to welcome you in person on Tuesday, June 29th!
We have published a draft set of covid risk-mitigation protocols and campus guidelines that we anticipate following this summer, and we ask you to review these carefully. In the interest of full transparency, the most important elements of these plans (and those most likely to impact students’ summer experiences with us) are listed below.
- Students will be required to submit all necessary health paperwork no later than May 15, 2021. *The portal to submit health forms, including an up-to-date physical, will open on April 1, 2021.
- Upon arrival, all students will be asked to provide evidence of a negative covid-19 test taken no more than 72 hours prior to arrival on campus.
- Residential students will complete a 10-day quarantine period in their dormitories, which will involve online classes and virtual orientation activities, supervised outdoor activities and free time, and online dorm activities. Because they will be learning virtually for that period, students will need to bring a laptop or other device that can be used to participate in synchronous learning activities and complete work independently.
- All students will participate in our weekly testing cohort, with saliva-based PCR tests administered two times per week and will complete a daily symptom screening form.
- Our campus will be closed this summer, meaning residential students may not leave campus for any reason (including errands, exercise, field trips, or overnight visits). The creation of a sealed “residential bubble” is essential for students’ health and safety, so no campus visitors will be allowed.
- Day students will be required to adhere to a specific set of safety protocols governing their physical presence on campus. To reduce contact with residential students, day students will have their own designated areas on campus in which they can study and store their belongings.
- If a student tests positive, they must leave campus within 24 hours (if they reside within driving distance) OR have a family member come to campus to care for them in isolation for the duration of their illness. Impacted students may continue learning remotely for the duration of the program.
We understand you may have questions or concerns about these plans, and are offering a Q&A with our summer program leaders and Dr. Amy Patel, campus Medical Director, on Thursday, March 18th and 7pm EST. This will be recorded and shared on our website immediately afterward.
Please know that we will endeavor to keep all our students healthy and safe this summer, while also making the experience the kind of fun, transformative one that has defined Andover Summer for over 75 years. While it won’t be the same as when we last lived together on campus, we are confident that even with these restrictive protocols in place, the joy of community, fellowship, and shared academic challenges will ensure that the students of Andover Summer 2021 make positive memories that will last a lifetime.
We will be in touch with more information over the next few months. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions to summer@andover.edu or visit our website, which we update regularly.
Sincerely,
Beth Friedman
Director of Outreach & Summer Session