Hello, Colgate Community.
We have now received all results from our first round of arrival testing, and the tally of positive cases stands at 18, with 39 close contacts. We also received 73 surveillance test results from Wednesday’s efforts and, thankfully, there are no positives in that batch. Congratulations and thank you for everything you are doing to sustain this success and stop the spread.
Our second round of arrival testing for students begins this weekend. Please look at your checklists to confirm your time, and be sure to set an alarm if you’re in the early groups. (I know. Yesterday, I told you to wear a coat. Today, it’s set your alarm. Next week, it’ll be, “Call me because I worry.”)
Surveillance testing for the entire campus — students, faculty, and staff — will begin the week of Feb. 8, so we should all keep an eye on our email for signup forms, coming soon.
I hope you are surviving the big chill. My own happy place features warmer weather and a great book, which reminds me that my colleagues on the Summer Reading Selection Committee are still open to your nominations. Watch the digest for related events coming soon.
Happy reading, happy weekend, and I’ll talk to you on Monday.
Laura H. Jack
Vice President for Communications
Take Note
Career Services seeks volunteers to serve on the Summer Funding Review Committee. See student proposals firsthand and learn how students hope to apply their education to experiences beyond Colgate. If interested, please email Laura Hartpence at internship@colgate.edu. Volunteers will be invited to training on Feb. 22 or 23 and will review applications at their own pace between March 2 and March 24. We need extra hands this year, and all volunteers, new or experienced, are welcome.
All employees in an on-campus status this semester must complete the Commitment to Community Health and fill out your on-campus schedule for February and March. Both items can be found on the portal.
Sandy (Sheldon ’88) and Greg Drechsel ’88 invite Colgate employees to register for summer vacation at Colgate Camp, July 3–Aug. 21. Operations will be guided by the University’s current safety policies. Daily rates for 2021 include lodging, meals, and use of all recreational activities: adults, $83; youth 6–11 years of age, $45; and children 1–5 years of age, $40. Tax, gratuity, and incidentals are extra. Reservations are due by March 1, and questions may be addressed to sdrex19@gmail.com. Register.
This year’s annual Go Red Lunch and Learn will be hosted by Community Memorial Hospital in a virtual format on Feb. 5 at 11:30 a.m. Join for an afternoon of health, wellness, and a survivor story. RSVP by Jan. 31, and a Zoom link will be emailed to you. All registrants will automatically be entered into a giveaway.
As we head into the weekend, a few slots still remain for universal quarantine staffing. With many thanks for everything you have done so far to keep our community safe, we are including this link to the sign up form for those who can help fill the gaps.
Here’s the direct link to the application for orientation link staff, due on Sunday, Jan. 31, at 11:59 p.m. Serving as a link is a great way to give back to the Colgate community and help welcome hundreds of new students, who will join us in August. Students can also log into getinvolved.colgate.edu and go to the forms tab for Link Application 2021 Orientation.
The cold weather might have cut into outdoor activities, but there are still plenty of indoor recreation opportunities this weekend and next week. Keep an eye on the calendar of events, and remember that the cruiser is now running on a physical activity and wellness timetable.
The Student Academic Resource Guide pulls information together in one location to help you navigate in-person, hybrid, and remote learning spaces at Colgate. The semester is a journey. Here are some ideas, guidelines, and tools for helping you plan the trip.
The chaplains are a confidential resource available to provide individual pastoral care and counseling, share personal triumphs, provide advice, or offer comfort in times of sorrow or stress. Participation in religious observances is never required, before or after consultation. Zoom meetings can be scheduled directly with the chaplains. Rev. Corey MacPherson (cmacpherson@colgate.edu, 315-228-7889), Deacon Mark Shiner (mshiner@colgate.edu, 315-228-7680), or Rabbi Barry Baron (bbaron@colgate.edu, 315-228-7680).
A Closing Thought
“I am grateful for the help that the Southern Madison Heritage Trust received from students last fall in maintaining a trail at the Schapiro Reserve — wearing masks and keeping distance from board members and a volunteer also working on the trail. I was also especially pleased to see some students (masked) arriving as we were leaving. They were coming for a walk to enjoy the trail. They said they came often to get away from campus and studying, fulfilling one of our SMHT mission goals.”
— Harvey L. Kliman, President, Southern Madison Heritage Trust
Upcoming Events
Open Morning Meditation
Feb 1.
8:30 a.m.
Join Chapel House’s assistant director of programming, Rodney Agnant ’14, for a virtual daily morning meditation. These sessions are open to anyone of any experience level and any religious or non-religious affiliation.
Taking Advantage of LinkedIn Learning
Feb. 1
12:30 p.m.
Are you taking advantage of LinkedIn Learning? All Colgate faculty, staff, and students have access to LinkedIn Learning, an online library of thousands of courses and videos covering business, creative, and technical skills for learners at all levels.
This workshop will show you how to navigate LinkedIn Learning, search for topics, create a collection, and more.
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