February has brought its usual frigid temperatures and ice! I was very glad that unlike last year, heat, electricity, and our internet remained uninterrupted.

My appreciation goes to our Facilities Management team, SUPD, Student Life staff, and others who kept our campus safe on Thursday and Friday, and to Sodexo for your continued food service for our students during the winter storm. Also, students thank you for your patience during this unexpected weather event. I understand that this has been a very long year for you all with many adjustments to your schedule and changes to our COVID guidelines.

Health & Safety

We are seeing the predicted downward trend in the positivity rate of Williamson County, currently at 29.2%. Our campus is also seeing a lower positivity rate. Last week’s surveillance testing had a 7% student positivity rate and a 0% faculty/staff positivity rate. You can see the full results on the Health and Safety Dashboard.

I am very appreciative and want to thank our Southwestern students who surveyed the student body and sent me a letter on Monday addressing student concerns regarding Southwestern’s health and safety policies. Yesterday, the Health & Safety Committee, composed of science faculty members, University administration, and staff, had a productive conversation and I have included our responses.

• Hybrid Instruction Options: Southwestern faculty are not required to provide hybrid accommodations. They are allowed to support students as they are comfortable. Faculty should have measures in place for students who have to isolate or quarantine throughout the semester and for students who are awaiting test results. These measures could include engagement through remote office hours or email or asynchronous engagement through class assignments (such as discussion questions, reading summaries or critiques, problem sets, video recordings, etc.) until the student is cleared to return to class.
  
  
• Data on Classroom & Public Area Transmission: Southwestern has made our classrooms and other public areas the safest environments possible, including cleaning and disinfecting spaces daily, stocking hand sanitizer in every classroom and across campus, providing disinfecting wipes in every classroom and all high-volume areas, and regularly disinfecting high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs, faucets, and railings with a powerful electrostatic mist. Every classroom has been reconfigured so there is 3 feet distance between students, and campus signage serves as a helpful reminder of appropriate distancing and other safety guidelines. Where a positive case has been identified, the infected areas are cleaned and disinfected immediately. The University has also installed HEPA filters, HEPA is a "high-efficiency particulate air" filter that can theoretically remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns.
  
  
• Consistent Messaging: We share your frustration while recognizing that the pandemic is a rapidly changing environment, and appreciate your flexibility and understanding as we review our policies.
  
  
• Isolation Room Availability Clarification: As we approached the 19th of January, when all members of the SU community would be tested, it was reasonable to expect that the number of students who would test positive would exceed the number of isolation beds available. To date, since the beginning of the pandemic, we have reserved, maintained, assigned, and repeatedly sanitized spaces on campus to provide safe housing for students who needed to isolate or quarantine. We have accommodated every student who communicated the need for a space. Throughout the pandemic, we have offered access to housing to students with difficult circumstances even when housing was "closed." Every student who tests positive is contacted by a health professional and contact tracer who speaks with that student to understand their situation and help them navigate the isolation process. When feasible, students isolate off campus. When isolating off campus presents a challenge, students are provided a space on campus. At this time, there are 19 rooms available on campus for isolation or quarantine purposes.
  
  
• Isolation Policy Clarification and New Recommended Suggestion: Southwestern will continue to follow CDC guidelines and ask that anyone who tests positive isolate for 5 days. After 5 days, if you are symptom free, wear a mask (KN95 or N95 are strongly suggested) at all times when around others for an additional 5 days. If you have symptoms, continue to isolate.
  
  We also strongly recommend that you take an antigen test on day 5 (Antigen tests are readily available for purchase. Here are a few places you can purchase/request them: Amazon, CVS, CovidTests.gov, and others). If your antigen test comes back positive, we strongly recommend you continue to isolate for an additional 2 days.
  
  
• Greater Mask Availability: KN95 masks are available free of charge at the following locations:
  
  
  • Cullen Building: President’s Office, Business Office, Dean’s Office
  • Fondren–Jones Science Center: The Atrium (lobby)
  • Smith Library Center
  • McCombs Campus Center: The Commons and Student Life Offices
  • Prothro Center: Center for Career & Professional Development and Health Center
  • Robertson Center
  
  The Dean of the Faculty’s Office, located in Cullen, is also providing surgical masks. Please note the CDC does not recommend layering a KN95 mask with any other mask, but wearing a surgical mask underneath a cloth mask offers additional protection.
  
  
• Greater Use of Outdoor Classrooms: Indoor or outdoor instruction is at the discretion of the faculty member.

Testing Reminder

Tomorrow will be the second week of random testing for students, faculty, and staff. Check your email to see if you have been selected. Thanks to Sodexo, all selected participants will receive a coupon for an extra-large, freshly baked cookie from the Cove. Testing is open to the entire community, so if you would like to test, please take advantage of this on-campus testing location.

Booster Vaccine Records

Please submit your booster shot records to covidtesting@southwestern.edu. A photo of your COVID-19 vaccination record card is sufficient. Per CDC guidelines, if you have received your booster shot and are exposed, you do not have to quarantine. It’s important to ensure the Health Center knows your status so you can continue going to class and other events.

We are in the process of securing a second COVID-19 vaccine clinic on campus. Date is forthcoming.

Food and Valentine’s Treats on Campus

Stop by Ruter on your way to class tomorrow to pick up free breakfast from SUPD during Wake Up Wednesday. The Captain’s Sweet Surprise is back! Join us tomorrow from 1:30–3:00 p.m. for a special treat! Finally, on Saturday, channel your inner creative by creating valentines for those you are thankful for with Mosaic. 

You can keep up with all of Southwestern’s many events via our calendar.

Shout out . . .

To the SU men’s and women's swimming and diving teams for being selected by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) as Scholar All-America Teams! The men and women posted GPAs of 3.21 and 3.44, respectively, to earn the honors. These young men and women are not only winning in the pool, but also performing at the top of their game in the classroom! 

Open Office Hours

If you have further questions, I welcome students to come talk to me during my open office hours. I’m available every Friday from 2:00–5:00 p.m.