Dear Members of the Hamilton Community,
I write with an update as Colgate University students wrap up exams and papers on this final day of the fall 2021 semester.
Residences and dining halls close to most students tomorrow, though some of our undergraduates — particularly our international students — will remain on campus throughout the holiday season and winter break. Experience tells us that it won’t be long before “Happy Holidays” becomes “Happy New Year.” Therefore, even as we look forward to the close of term, the University has announced its protocols for January, when all students return for the spring 2022 semester.
The Task Force on Reopening and the Emergency Operations Center have remained focused on the University’s pandemic response in light of ever-changing conditions. With the emergence of the omicron variant, data about booster efficacy, and guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New York State Department of Health, Colgate will require all students, faculty, and staff to provide proof of receiving a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine booster, barring a religious or medical exemption.
We have asked that all members of the community do their utmost to receive their booster by Jan. 7, so that the dose will be fully effective when residence halls open again on Jan. 22. The official deadline for receiving a vaccine booster is Feb. 1, 2022.
The Task Force acknowledges that boosters may not eliminate the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 transmission at the start of the spring semester, but requiring booster doses will provide the best chance to limit the spread of the omicron variant in the Colgate population as we return to campus in January.
In addition to boosters, the University will require all students to provide proof of a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours prior to arrival for the spring semester. The University will require and provide both PCR and antigen tests for all students upon arrival, and students will be tested again three to five days later. Students who live within 300 miles of campus will be asked to return home to isolate should they test positive. This required testing regime gives the University the best chance at supporting the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and community.
In keeping with current University protocols and New York State regulations, masks will be worn indoors at all times, except when students are in their personal residences or when individuals are seated and eating.
These announcements represent the latest news from campus, but the foundation of our public health response remains unchanged: we rely on vaccination, masking, and a strong commitment to community health to see us through the evolving challenges of the pandemic. Our gratitude is also unwavering. Thank you for your support throughout this semester, and on behalf of the campus community, I wish you all the best this holiday season.
Sincerely,
Laura H. Jack
Vice President for Communications