01-06-23: Community Health Message

Dear Campus Community, 

Thank you for the care each of you showed for the Fighting Scots community during first semester. We were able to safely resume activities almost similarly to pre-pandemic levels, with a return to full in-person classes, meetings, and gatherings. Our campus COVID-19 infection rates at no point surpassed the 3 percent threshold.

As we prepare for the start of Spring semester, our community’s continued cooperation and diligence in adhering to campus COVID-19 protocols remains paramount.

We will continue with our mask optional policy with the following exceptions: 

• Masks are required in the Longbrake Student Wellness Center
• Masks are required when using all College of Wooster transportation
• Masks absolutely must be worn by anyone who is COVID-19 positive or has symptoms of COVID-19, the required isolation protocol has been completed and symptoms have passed
• Faculty and staff may continue to require that students and guests wear masks in their classrooms and personal offices

As we did in the fall, we will continue to monitor campus and community infection and hospitalization rates to re-evaluate and make decisions based on the best available data. All updated information is available at wooster.edu/guide. Our campus positivity rate is currently 0 percent and Wayne County’s COVID-19 Community Level has now moved to Medium.

Currently, 98 percent of students are vaccinated. Vaccination is the best course of action to help protect the campus against new variants of the coronavirus. All College of Wooster students are required to stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccination (two doses) and boosters (bivalent shot strongly recommended), and employees and contracted employees are strongly encouraged to do the same.

The College continues to provide high-quality and well-fitting masks, self-administered rapid COVID-19 tests, and “masks required” door hangs to anyone who needs them. All of these items may be picked up at the Service Center. Students, staff, and faculty who are experiencing symptoms or would like to monitor their health will be able to pick up masks or a self-administered rapid test at the following campus locations: Lowry Center Information Desk, Andrews Library Circulation Desk, Wellness Center Door A and Door D, and Ruth Williams Hall Storeroom.

Upon receiving a positive test, students should contact Longbrake Student Wellness Center either through their individual health portal or call 330-263-2319. Positive students will be instructed to isolate in place. In all isolation cases, it is the student’s responsibility to connect with their faculty on arrangements for completing coursework while they are out. Students who test positive and are in isolation will continue to be assigned a support person through the duration of their isolation period and meals are to-go only at Lowry Dining. Click here for more information on isolation protocols.

Thank you for your continued dedication to the health and safety of campus. I wish you all safe travels back to campus and a great start to the new semester! 

Go Scots!  

Wayne Webster
Interim President

Posted in Community Message on January 6, 2023.