Potsdam Campus Community,
Effective on Sunday, January 31, Clarkson will update its Risk Alert Level for the University to Orange, Level II– Moderate Risk. This communication covers:
- The Risk Alert Level System and what “orange” opens up;
- The CUSA Executive Board & Administrations’ Q&A Session this past week;
- COVID-19 daily screening, testing and where to get testing beyond campus resources; and
- Scheduling time at the fitness and recreation facilities.
The Risk Alert Level system and policies related to gatherings for students at each level are explained at: https://www.clarkson.edu/risk-alert-system-and-gathering-policies. Orange Level II information from this site is repeated below. Employees will continue to have no in-person school or department-based meetings or gatherings without approval from clarksonhr@clarkson.edu.
The change in alert levels is in recognition of everyone’s commitment in the first two weeks of classes to rebuilding the bubble and following the measures to stop the spread of COVID-19.
As our dashboard on testing and positive cases indicates on our Spring 2021 web page, we do have active cases completing their required isolations and quarantines among our in person community inclusive of faculty, staff, and graduate students at both our hill and downtown campuses, and undergraduate students on the hill campus. While a cohort is finishing their isolation and quarantines this weekend, we do have other students still fulfilling these protocols and we are grateful for the proactive steps they are taking during this challenge.
We are still doing random COVID-19 testing for all faculty, staff, and students throughout the semester in order to manage early detection of COVID-19 and ensure students stay on track for degree completion. We are also doing testing of persons exhibiting symptoms and based on responses to the daily screening form. If you want to seek other testing sites, please refer to the St. Lawrence Health System Web site for more information on the publicly available options.
The CUSA Executive Board hosted a Q&A session for undergraduates earlier this week with administrators engaged in the Restart/Rebuild which was recorded for playback.
We began the semester in “red” while we completed our surveillance testing. We have balanced this decision to move to orange based on the aggregate information we have about the positive cases and assessing the connections among them. For example, the majority of the current cases are individuals asked to quarantine based on exposure as the semester resumed. It is imperative that everyone keeps following the protocols to wear a mask, deploy good hand hygiene, practice social distancing, complete the daily screening tool, scan in with the check-in tool in gathering locations and keep your primary social interactions among your immediate family unit (your roommates.)
The color-coded alert level is shared at the top of every Clarkson.Edu web page with a link to the Spring 2021 opening plans and recent COVID-19 related announcements.
The reservation system for the Deneka and Yianoukos Fitness Centers and Fuller pool, through EZ facility, will begin taking appointments on Sunday January 31st for opening on Monday Feb. 1st, via ClarksonUniversity.EZfaciltiy.com or the MemberMe app. If you are a new member to the Clarkson Community this semester you will receive a separate communication on how to access EZ facility.
Due to your diligent work to rebuild the bubble, we are able to lower the alert level to Orange which allows for some smaller gatherings on or off-campus. The Restart Task Force will make recommendations to President Collins on adjusting the risk alert level. These are subject to change based on federal, state and local requirements.
The Color-Coded Risk Alert System & Guidelines for Orange, Level II
Repeated from: https://www.clarkson.edu/risk-alert-system-and-gathering-policies
Level II, Orange Alert Expectations
- Gatherings
- Students may host and participate in non-essential gatherings (on- or off-campus) of up to 10 people. Non-essential gatherings include but are not limited to meetings, social events, and extracurricular activities.
- Communal food/beverages are not permitted.
- Events with food/beverages are permitted in a limited capacity after submission and approval of a COVID-19 Event Safety Plan.
- Events with alcohol are suspended.
- Tabling
- Outdoor tabling is permitted.
- Tables must be at least 6 feet apart from each other (recommended 10 feet apart).
- Tables are permitted on one side of the sidewalk only.
- A maximum of 3 tables per concourse sidewalk are permitted.
- Plexiglass is available to be used with the tables and can be picked up with the table in the Student Organization Suite.
- Student Guests in the Family Unit
- See definition for family unit and student guest under Level I Expectations.
- Up to two student guests at a time are permitted in the family unit.
- Student guests must reside in the same building as the student/room they are visiting.
- Off-Campus Guests
- Same as Level I Expectations.
- An off-campus guest is considered any person who is not currently taking in-person classes or working in University operated buildings (e.g. remote students, family, friends not enrolled at Clarkson, etc.). These guests are not permitted to access University facilities. If a guest must drop off items to a student, the student shall meet the guest outside, where both parties shall wear a face mask (covering nose and mouth) and maintain social distancing.
- With limited exceptions, no non-essential visitors are authorized on campus. Use this form to make a request for both essential and non-essential visitors.
- Fitness Center Facilities
- Fuller Pool is open for 8 lanes. Appointments are required.
- Fitness Centers are open at 33% capacity. Appointments are required.
- Fieldhouse is closed.
- Student Organizations
- Gatherings, both on- and off-campus, must be registered and approved on Knight Life and must adhere to the safety standards set forth by the University.
- Club sports with approved safety plans are permitted to host in-person gatherings in accordance with Gatherings, above.
- With an approved safety plan, low and medium risk club sports are permitted to begin in-person practices in accordance with Gatherings above, based on EHS guidelines from NYS. Contact is not permitted.
- Club sports and performance-based clubs that submitted Safety Plans last semester, must resubmit any Safety Plans that were created with the intent for outdoor-only activities that are now moving indoors.
- If you are a leader of a club sport that did not submit a Safety Plan last semester, please reach out to Kristen Avery in Student Affairs at kavery@clarkson.edu to learn the process of submitting a Safety Plan or to check the approval status of your club’s original safety plan.
- Carpooling for Local Travel
- Vehicles shall be occupied at no more than 50%. Students are encouraged to have windows down to encourage better airflow.
- Students will wear face masks (covering nose and mouth) throughout the duration of travel.
Thank you for your diligence Golden Knights. Keep the bubble!
Kelly Chezum, VP for External Relations
Restart Rebuild Communications Lead
kchezum@clarkson.edu