Dear Students,
We are excited to welcome you back, in-person, to the Valpo community this Fall. We have almost 90% of our community members (faculty, staff, and students) vaccinated for COVID-19 and we are thrilled to be moving forward with our reopening plans. Since the beginning of the pandemic, in March of 2020, the University has always placed the health, safety, and well-being of our entire campus community at the center of our considerations and decision process, and we continue to do so now 18 months into this pandemic. Given the current CDC national guidelines and assessment placing Porter County in the “orange level” and Indiana in the “red level”, and the concern regarding the recent surge in the Delta variant of COVID-19, below are a few COVID-19 related guidelines and processes you need to be aware of prior to the start of the academic year. Please note that some of these items may be updated as circumstances change.
1. In line with CDC guidelines, from August 17 through September 6, the University is requiring all community members to wear face-coverings while in indoor settings. Further, the University is strongly encouraging community members to wear face-coverings while outdoors at large gatherings. This period of time will allow our campus “bubble” to develop, and assist in protecting the health and wellness of the campus community. After this period, a decision will be made whether to make face-covering usage optional for individuals that are fully vaccinated.
2. Individuals that are unvaccinated due to an approved exemption, or who are midway through the vaccination process, will be required to wear a face-covering in all campus buildings, public areas, and at outdoor events at all times until further notice.
3. Residential Life will reserve quarantine and isolation rooms for residential students. Non-residential students will need to develop an off-campus quarantine/isolation plan in case they are required to enter into a quarantine or isolation status. If you are contact traced due to direct exposure to a positive COVID-19 individual, quarantine and isolation procedures will be as follows:
o Vaccinated students will be allowed to go to class, but will be required to wear a face-covering until released from the Student Health Center. If the vaccinated student develops COVID-19 symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19, they will be temporarily relocated to a quarantine housing room until released from the Student Health Center.
o Unvaccinated students due to an exemption, regardless if symptomatic or not, will be immediately placed into quarantine housing (if a residential student) or subject to off-campus quarantine (if a non-residential student) for 10 to 14 days or until released from the Student Health Center.
o Both vaccinated and unvaccinated students will be required to complete a COVID-19 test with the Student Health Center 3 to 5 days from the date of direct contact with the positive individual.
4. Other than the mask requirement for the first few weeks of classes, all University events and activities will resume normal planning & operations. At this time, there are no limits to group size nor any other restrictions for fully vaccinated students. Unvaccinated individuals due to an exemption may participate in University events and activities, but will be required to wear face-coverings.
Additional COVID-19 information, details, and updates can be found at http://www.valpo.edu/covid-info. This website will also host our COVID-19 dashboard and FAQs. We look forward to welcoming you back to campus and to resume the in-person Valpo experience. Until then, please be safe and healthy.
Student Life Team
