Dear Colgate Community,
Tomorrow is World Hello Day. That means the rest of the globe will be celebrating something that is already a part of Colgate tradition. Glad to see they’re catching up. In the meanwhile, as we head home for Thanksgiving and many of us remain on campus for the holiday, we need to embrace realities that the globe knows:
COVID can spread when we gather and when we travel. That means the importance of our Commitment to Community Health continues. It means that our travel policy and Gates are still in effect for students if you are staying on campus. And if you are leaving, you should not return to Hamilton after Thanksgiving unless you intend to quarantine for 14 days and comply with all testing requirements mandated by New York State. You should also know that you may not enter University buildings, because you will not have been a part of Colgate’s testing protocols. Local landlords and Hamilton residents have been notified of these policies, and students living in private off-campus housing will receive reminders.
This is my last update for the semester. It is also my last chance to say thank you (watch our video for my heartfelt second-to-last). Embracing the spirit of World Hello Day and the Colgate Hello, I won’t say goodbye. Rather, until next time.
Laura H. Jack
Vice President for Communications
Take Note
The Hamilton Housing Initiative is working diligently to build new housing in the Village of Hamilton. The Chenango Hill development will include 21 single-family homes within walking distance of downtown Hamilton, Hamilton Central School, and Colgate. Land lots within Chenango Hill are open for sale. Find more information, including a site plan and home model options, at hamilton-housing.com. You may also call 315-228-7422 or email info@hamilton-housing.com.
There will be no testing the week of Thanksgiving break. The University will resume regular surveillance testing of students and on-campus employees the week of Nov. 30. Testing will take place on Mondays, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14, and 1/4/21 at Andy Kerr Stadium. Students and employees who have been selected for surveillance testing will be notified via email and asked to sign up for a time slot.
Nominations are open for the Colgate Staff Excellence Awards. These awards — including team and individual excellence, outstanding contribution, and employee of the year — are designed to recognize staff members who demonstrate outstanding achievement in Colgate’s commitment to fostering a creative and expansive learning community. Awards will be presented in the spring of 2021. Place a nomination via this form before January 13, 2021.
If you would like to consult with a Fidelity representative regarding your investment plan, appointments are available Dec. 15, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments will take place by phone or Zoom. Register online at getguidance.fidelity.com or call 800-642-7131.
The deadline to earn 200 points through the CU Well program and receive your $300 flexible spending account for 2021 is Nov. 30. Log in at connect.simplywell.com. Remember, no biometric screening is required this year, and there are plenty of ways to earn points.
December is right around the corner. If you will be working on campus, remember log in to the portal and fill out your on-campus schedule for December. This information is vital to the Health Analytics Team and is used to generate the lists for COVID-19 surveillance testing.
Trudy Fitness Center and Lineberry Pool are closed Nov. 21–29 but will remain open to faculty, staff, and students with a limited schedule Nov. 30–Dec. 20, Dec. 28–31, and January 4–20.
Trudy hours on these days will be:
Monday–Friday, 6–9 a.m. and 5–8 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday, noon–3 p.m.
Lineberry hours on these days will be:
Monday–Friday, 6–7 a.m. and noon–1 p.m.
Employees, the Madison County Department of Health is conducting free indoor walk-thru COVID-19 testing Dec. 3, 4–8 p.m., in the Madison County Office Building, 138 North Court Street, Building 4 Lobby (DMV building) in Wampsville, N.Y. Anyone who would like to be tested should call 315-464-2582 and select option 0 to set up an appointment. High call volumes may result in long hold times.
Students, review the University Libraries’ FAQ as you pack for your return home. Remember that library staff members are still here to support teaching, learning, and research during remote instruction. The libraries also provide access to more than 1.1 million ebooks and 393 electronic databases, and the Colgate community has access to these electronic resources from off campus.
Due dates for all Colgate-owned library materials will automatically be extended until Feb. 13, 2021. But, please return unneeded materials before you leave campus. You may also request library material renewal at any time through your online library account.
A Closing Thought
Zoom will lift its 40-minute time limit on meetings during Thanksgiving. Many of you will have an opportunity for uninterrupted family time at a distance. Others will have to start thinking of new reasons why … can’t … hear … UNCLE FRANK, YOU’RE LAGGING. My internet is so unstable...
Upcoming Events
Colgate University Women's Ice Hockey at Syracuse
Nov. 20
6 p.m.
TV: CUSE Streaming Video
Colgate University Men's Ice Hockey vs Clarkson
Nov. 22
4 p.m.
TV: ESPN+ Streaming Video
MORE