Our commitment to the health and well-being of our campus community
As we begin our fourth academic year effected by the Sars-cov-2 virus (COVID-19) The College of Wooster is continuing to take a layered approach (i.e. vaccination, masking, testing, and isolation) to decrease community spread and reduce the strain on the campus community. This approach relies on students, staff, and faculty to be active and crucial participants in keeping the community healthy. As such, we offer the following guidance for all students, employees, and visitors of The College of Wooster.
Our plans for campus continue to be informed by expert guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, experts at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center, and input from state health officials and the local Wayne County Health Department. As we have done since the start of the pandemic, we will continue to monitor overall rates of infection on campus, infection and hospitalization rates in Wayne County, the state, and nationally, and we will continue to update our COVID-19 dashboard Monday afternoons, and adjust guidelines as needed.
Wayne County’s COVID-19 Community Level is LOW. Our current campus positivity rate is 0.1%. The weekly rolling average positivity rate for campus from 9/25-10/1 was 0.1%, well below our campus threshold of 3%.
The College maintains a mask optional policy for all faculty, staff, students, and visitors, with a few notable 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, until the required isolation protocol has been completed. Masks should be worn until symptoms have passed, as we are also quickly approaching flu season.
- Faculty and staff may continue to require masks in their classrooms and personal offices.
Masks must be worn over the nose. Click here to make sure you are wearing your mask properly.
Vaccination
Because Wooster is a fully residential campus, where all students live together in communal residence halls and houses, all College of Wooster students are required to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations prior to arrival and remain up to date with any recommended COVID-19 booster vaccinations while a student at The College of Wooster. Our current student vaccination rate is 98 percent. Click here for CDC COVID Vaccination Information.
When Are You Up to Date? You are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines if you have completed a COVID-19 vaccine primary series and received the most recent booster dose recommended for you by CDC.
Please report any changes in your vaccination status using the Student Wellness Vaccination Portal. Students should have their CDC or WHO vaccination card with them on campus.
Learn more about our vaccination protocols.
Testing
The College will continue to conduct mandatory surveillance testing of orgs, floors, teams, and other groups based on evidence of potential clusters as defined by the Wayne County Health Department. Instructions will be provided to students and/or group leads on requirements for this testing. Follow these steps if you believe you were exposed to COVID-19. Learn more about our Testing protocols.
Isolation
The College of Wooster has moved to a practice of isolating in place for all COVID-19 positive students. Click here for more information on isolation protocols.