Dear Colgate Community,
Today, we announce plans for the end of in-person instruction next month, and Associate Vice President Dan Gough has kindly agreed to provide us with details. So I’m turning my keyboard over to him (after cleaning it with a Clorox wipe) and look forward to talking to you again on Friday.
Laura H. Jack
Vice President for Communications
Dear Colgate Community,
I write today to share details about the end of the on-campus portion of the fall semester and the logistics regarding departure and winter recess.
Student departure from campus will begin on Wednesday, Nov. 18, for those without course commitments and will extend to Sunday, Nov. 22. Students who have not been approved to remain on campus during the winter recess need to depart from campus by noon on Nov. 22. Students must register their departure date and time window. This extended departure period and new registration process are to help promote physical distancing and provide traffic control during this year’s move out.
Some important details to consider prior to departure:
- Take home all essential belongings.
- Pack and take home any technology you may need. Because global and national conditions may change throughout the break, it is important that everyone be prepared for a scenario that could disrupt in-person learning on campus for the spring.
- If you are on campus now and plan to shift to remote learning in the spring, please pack and remove all of your belongings. Individuals will assume responsibility for moving or storage costs if they do not return to campus for the spring semester.
- Students seeking to sell textbooks prior to departure may do so through the Colgate Bookstore online.
- Clean out your refrigerators of all items that will spoil before your return in January and remove all perishable items from cupboards and counters.
- Remember, no guest is permitted into the residential buildings. This includes parents. Student pickup and departure will take place during scheduled 30-minute time frames to reduce traffic as much as possible. Wear a face covering. Maintain 6 feet of distance. Practice thorough hand hygiene.
- During the move-out timeframe, students are permitted to use personal vehicles.
- Additional departure details may also be found online.
Airport transportation
Students who will be traveling by air from Syracuse’s Hancock International Airport should sign up for airport shuttles by Nov. 10. The following dates and times have been established:
Friday, November 20, at 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 21, at 9:00 a.m., noon, and 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 22, at 9:00 a.m., noon, and 5:00 p.m.
Monday, November 23, at 9:00 a.m. and noon (for CLs and students with delayed flights)
Check out
- Students who are returning to their residences in the spring should follow the Office of Residential Life’s protocol to prepare their rooms for extended absence and campus departure. A checklist of items that need to be completed prior to departure (e.g. closing and locking windows, turning out lights, unplugging all items, cleaning room, discarding trash, etc.) will be provided on resident doors, via email, and at the community leaders’ closing floor meetings. Students will keep their keys for their room assignment. Card access will be activated only for those approved for winter-break housing.
- Students who are not returning for the spring semester will sign up for a check-out time directly with their community leader. During the checkout, CLs will:
- Ensure all items have been removed from the room — including non-University–owned furnishings, personal belongings, garbage, etc.
- Ensure that the room has been cleaned properly and discuss with the student any damage that occurred that will require damage billing
- Collect the key from the resident
- Lock the room upon resident departure
- Students who have a room assignment change from fall to spring semester (relocating) will be required to move their items to their new room no later than Saturday, Nov. 21, at 5:00 p.m. Students will be required to conduct an in-person checkout with their CL for the space they are vacating. This largely impacts only students needing to relocate to a fraternity or sorority house on Broad Street.
A note on COVID-19 testing
All students will receive a Let’s Get Checked COVID-19 test kit prior to departing campus. This test kit is to be used for the required at-home test to be taken between January 11 and 13 before returning to the campus for the spring semester. Test kit distribution details will be shared as we get closer to departure. Students should not depart campus without one of these kits in hand. In addition, students are reminded to carefully store these kits, as they will need to be activated prior to the spring return to campus. Misplaced or lost test kits can be replaced at a charge of $125 billed directly to a student’s term bill.
Because of the excellent adherence by the Colgate community to the Commitment to Community Health, continued random testing, and wastewater monitoring, the COVID-19 test positivity rate in this area is very low and indicates no need for testing all students prior to departure. Be aware that travel can increase risk of infection, so please be careful and continue to follow all public health prevention guidelines (e.g. face coverings, physical distancing, frequent hand washing, etc.) while in transit. If you experience conditions during your travel that may put you at risk, please consider quarantining upon arriving at your destination.
Students who wish to receive a test before leaving campus may do so through a number of local providers as listed by the Madison County Department of Health.
Winter recess
Students seeking to remain on campus throughout the winter recess must receive approval. If you have not yet requested approval, you may do so by completing this form through Friday, Oct. 23. Please note that, due to cleaning, sustainability goals, and to better provide support services, students who remain on campus may be asked to move into vacant rooms during the winter recess to consolidate the number of residence halls in use.
The University is now developing plans to support students who are remaining on campus during the winter recess period. Details about dining, fitness center usage, mail services, counseling services, random testing, Colgate Cruiser schedules, and other activities will be shared before the fall semester concludes.
Many thanks for your cooperation and patience as we continue to manage this extended public health crisis.
Respectfully,
Dan Gough
Associate Vice President
Campus Safety, Environmental Health, and Emergency Management