Dear Bereans,
This is the campus update for Tuesday, July 26, 2022. There was little to report last week, but there are some significant developments to make you aware of now.
At this point, we have three on-campus students in quarantine. Among on-campus employees, we have a total of six Bereans quarantining, as well some close contacts who are monitoring. All the positive cases are in two areas, Facilities and Public Safety.
Dear Bereans,
This is the campus update for Tuesday, July 12, 2022. I haven’t sent updates in a month because there has been little to report. Cases among students on campus were very few, and employee quarantines were staying quite low, as well, and things have been operating more or less normally on campus. In the last few days we have encountered some difficulties at the CDL, so it seemed reasonable to put out an update.
At this point, we do not have any on-campus students in quarantine and have not had any student cases in the prior two weeks, either. Among on-campus employees we have Bereans who work in IS&S, HR and the CDL (one each) quarantining. The CDL case, which originated with a child who tested positive, also resulted in a number of staff close contacts and the closure of three classrooms through tomorrow. To the families and the staff affected, please know we are thinking of you and hoping that all will be back to normal and that no one will have a serious case to deal with.
Dear Bereans,
This is the campus update for Tuesday, June 14, 2022. I did an update just last week, but the situation locally has changed a bit and we have a new policy statement to share.
At this point, similar to last week, we have three students in quarantine (one is quarantining at home and the other two on campus). We also have five (down from eight last week) current, on-campus employee quarantines. The work locations of the on-campus employees who are quarantined are: Hafer-Gibson, Edwards, the MAC building (2), and Lincoln Hall.
Dear Bereans,
This is the campus update for Tuesday, June 7, 2022. I haven’t provided updates for about three weeks and thought some members of the campus community would like to have a status report.
At this point we have three students in quarantine (one Ecovillage student, one off-campus student and one on-campus student). All three quarantines are scheduled to end tomorrow. We also have eight current, on-campus employee quarantines. The work locations of the on-campus employees who are quarantined are: Hafer-Gibson, Middletown School, Facilities (2), Edwards, the CDL, the MAC building, and Lincoln Hall.
Dear Bereans,
This is the campus update for Tuesday, May 17, 2022. The main purpose for sharing this update is some policy adjustments that the AC would like you to be aware of.
At this point we have just one student in quarantine (off campus), and another student who planned to return to campus, but tested positive and so is quarantining at home. We also have four current employee quarantines, three of them of on-campus employees and the fourth, a PFE employee who does not work on campus. The work locations of the three on-campus employees who are quarantined are: the CDL, Edwards Hall, and Seabury Center.
Dear Bereans,
This is the campus update for Monday, May 2, 2022.
A notice was sent regarding a campus outbreak last week. There have been 14 student cases associated with that outbreak. Four have already completed quarantine and ten remain, nine housed on campus and one at home.
As to on-campus employees, there were a number of close contacts identified as a result of the student outbreak, and all have been urged to test. So far one of those tests has come back negative (a Student Life employee), and we have another unrelated case as well, that individual works in Edwards Hall, but had not been on campus in the days prior to the positive test. I also regret to inform you that both of the occupants of the President’s house are quarantining due to positive tests, mine last Wednesday while on travel for Berea, and the First Lady then on Saturday morning. I am happy to say that although neither of us are particularly enjoying our quarantine, we are both doing well and hope to return to action fairly soon. Anyway, that makes a total of four employee cases at the moment.
Dear Bereans,
This is the campus update for Monday, April 25, 2022. At this point I am no longer sending updates on a weekly basis unless there is important information to share. There is some important information this week regarding financial aid and we now have a few more cases in the campus community that I need to make you aware of.
There will be funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP or HEERF III) released early next week for remaining spring term or summer expenses. While the funds will be released to you as in the past, they should be used for your remaining spring term expenses (student account) or upcoming summer expenses. As stated in the ARP legislation, students are to use these funds for Cost of Attendance items, such as housing, meals, books and supplies, child care, etc. These are grant funds and do not have to be repaid, nor do students have to provide receipts of expenditures. All students are eligible for these funds, including international and DACA students. Uses for things other than the stated purpose could be considered fraudulent use of federal funds.
May and Summer graduates will be receiving $650 from these funds in a couple of weeks. This, too, will be the last disbursement of this type.
Dear Bereans,
This is the campus update for Monday, March 28, 2022. At this point I am no longer sending updates on a weekly basis unless there is important information to share. There is some important information this week regarding financial aid. Hence this streamlined update.
There will be funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP or HEERF III) released early next week for spring term expenses. While the funds will be released to you as in the past, they should be used for your spring term expenses (student account). If that is paid in full, then the funds can be used for summer start-up expenses. As stated in the ARP legislation, students are to use these funds for Cost of Attendance items, such as housing, meals, books and supplies, child care, etc. These are grant funds and do not have to be repaid, nor do students have to provide receipts of expenditures.
All students are eligible for these funds, including international and DACA students.
The chart below outlines the amounts each student will receive based on need as determined by 2021-22 Expected Family Contribution (EFC):
Dear Bereans,
This is the campus update for Monday, March 21, 2022.
Overall cases are declining in our county and in our state this week, and the campus numbers are quite good, too. As of today, we have three students in isolation, one quarantining on campus and the other two off campus.
As to on-campus employees, there are no positive cases or close contacts. (A week ago there were three active on-campus employee cases.)
Dear Bereans,
This is the campus update for Monday, 3.14, 2022. (Happy Pi Day, everyone.) Welcome back from Spring Break, if you traveled. Remember to monitor for symptoms and get tested right away if you experience any. On COVID-19 Day 730 we passed the two year point from when we announced the campus would be closing for in-person instruction on Tuesday, March 10, 2020.