This Web site is intended to provide the Carleton College community with information and resources about Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the College's response to this health issue. For more information, contact Sarah Maxwell, (507) 646-4183.
May 12: The student who had reported a low-grade fever on Friday, May 2, remains asymptomatic but will stay in isolation through Wednesday, May 14. The 10-day observation period is now over for the rest of the students who returned from Carleton's off-campus study program in China on Wednesday, April 30.
May 6: The China program participant who reported a low-grade fever on Friday, May 2 is now asymptomatic and feeling well. He received visiting nurse service over the weekend. He is quarantined and isolated in a private residence off-campus for a 10 day period.
Nine other participants from the China program are presently housed in "transition housing" off-campus. The five housemates of the student who became sick were isolated for a 72 hour period. That period has elapsed. None are symptomatic.
All China program participants, except the student in isolation, are under no restrictions other than not living in or visiting student housing. We have continued to encourage them act with prudence in their interactions with others for the 10-day observation period. All are reporting daily to The Wellness Center. At this writing, none has reported symptoms that warrant further restrictions. Assuming this remains the case for the rest of this week, all China program students who have requested campus housing will move into assigned spaces starting noon, Sunday, May 11. Residential Life is in the process of identifying open spaces and discussing this with prospective roommates.
The China program students have received from Professors Grow and Prime their extensive assignments for completing the term. Like all Carleton students, they have a lot of work to do.
Questions may be addressed directly to the Dean of Students Office: 507-646-4248/mgovoni@carleton.edu. Thank you.
May 2: A memo from Mark Govoni, dean of students:
I am writing to provide information and address a few concerns that have come forward:
1. One student who came down with a low-grade fever yesterday was released from Hennepin County Medical Center in the early evening. He is restricted to a single dwelling off-campus for a period of approximately 10-days. This has been done under the guidance of the Minnesota Department of Health. He will receive home nursing care if needed and other support from our staff. He cannot leave the dwelling or receive visitors. Though he is not manifesting any acute symptoms, he is classified with "suspect SARS" until 10 days after his fever returns to normal.
2. The five students who lived off-campus with him during the first 24 hours after arrival in the Twin Cities airport are restricted to their dwelling for 72 hours. They have to stay inside the house or very close to it. Our staff is providing support with food, etc. Again, no visitors.
3. Three other China program students have or will be housed in yet another off-campus dwelling. They are subject to the same protocols that all the program participants must follow. These protocols are printed on the website @: http://www.carleton.edu/campus/news/sars/sars_monitoring.html. There is another group of program participants who reside in Burnsville, and several students more who live in the Twin Cities area. They are free to come to campus--but restricted from student housing units. Each has been urged to use prudence in their interactions with others. The CDC and Minnesota Public Health Department do not recommend any further precautions than those in our protocol, as long as these students remain asymptomatic.
4. Students who may be worried about having interacted with any of the above students should call The Wellness Center. Cathy Carlson, Director of The Wellness Center, has announced the following: Starting May 2, 2003 precautionary measures are being taken at The Wellness Center. Anyone who wishes an appointment at The Wellness Center must call in advance for an appointment. No walk-ins will be allowed. The only students who should be in The Wellness Center are those with appointments.
Students, we encourage you to forward this email to your parents or to otherwise communicate its contents. If you have further concerns or questions, call or e-mail the Dean of Students Office. We'll try to respond as time allows.
Mark Govoni
Dean of Students
mgovoni@acs.carleton.edu
May 1: As reported earlier today, one of six students who returned to Carleton yesterday from an off-campus studies program in China was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center after developing a low-grade fever, a symptom of "suspect SARS." The student has been examined and released from HCMC after chest x-rays were clear and the student showed no other symptoms.
The student will return to campus and live alone for 10-days once the fever subsides. The College will support the student as prescribed by the Centers for Disease Control and the Minnesota Department of Health.
The five students with whom this student lived have been restricted to that residence for 72 hours. Other students on the Beijing program as well as those with whom this student has had contact have received follow-up guidelines on self-monitoring from the Wellness Center.
May 1: One of the six students who returned to Carleton College yesterday from an off-campus study program in China has developed a temperature above 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit, a symptom of suspect SARS. The student was taken by ambulance to Hennepin County Medical Center for tests.
The other five students remain asymptomatic, but will remain isolated in an off-campus house per directives from the Minnesota Department of Health. Two other program participants are residing at a separate off-campus house.
Thirty-five students were participating in a Carleton-sponsored comparative political economies program in China. The students left Beijing on April 15, and the program was moved out of China to the United States on Wednesday, April 30. The students who chose to return to their homes or other locations are under the same health surveillance protocol as the students who returned to campus.
Upon the students' return to the United States, college administrators implemented a protocol for monitoring their health, developed in consultation with the Minnesota Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control, and consulting physician Don Lum, a staff physician at Northfield. Hospital and Rice County medical consultant to the Minnesota Department of Public Health.
Students are to report to the College's Wellness Center twice daily with their recorded temperature and noticeable changes in their health.
May 1: On Wednesday, April 30, students on the Carleton political economics seminar in China arrived safely in the United States. The following is an update from Mark Govoni, dean of students:
As scheduled, 33 of the 35 China program students returned to the States on Weds., April 30 The flight carrying the majority of the students arrived an hour early, 3 hours earlier than when it took off (given the time changes).
All students were well, if a bit fatigued. Several parents joined Dean Govoni, Dean Ciner and Margit Johnson in welcoming the group. We held a 40 minute briefing on medical self-monitoring protocols (http://www.carleton.edu/campus/news/sars/sars_monitoring.html), then provided further information on housing (6 of the students are housed for the 10-observation period in an off-campus house), and the prohibition against residing in or visiting student housing units until May 10. We also discussed the principles of "prudence and precaution" with those students who are either residing nearby or likely to visit campus during the 10-day observation period. We then disbursed, with about 1/3 of the group moving on to connecting flights.
The students gave each of us gifts in gratitude for the many logistical arrangements made for them—a very touching moment.
One more student will join us on May 1.
April 30: Students returning from China were given a document outlining protocol to monitor their health for the next 10 days. Learn more.
April 30: Carleton students will return today from the political economy seminar in China. Learn more.
April 29: President Robert A. Oden Jr. hosted a community meeting at noon today to provide information and answer questions about SARS and the students returning from an off-campus study program in Beijing. Read the text of his remarks.
April 25: Bonnie-Jean Mork, director of human resources at Carleton College, has released a document outlining a systematic approach for the management of exposures to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) within the Carleton College workplace. Learn more.
April 25: A memo was sent to all Carleton students, staff and faculty, from Mark Govoni, dean of students and Bonnie-Jean Mork, director of human resources to provide follow-up information on students returning from the Beijing off-campus study program. Learn more.
April 25: We have scheduled an information session for the campus community to address questions or concerns: Common Time, noon, Tuesday, April 29 in the Concert Hall. Employees who have questions may call the Human Resources hotline (507-646-7729). Students and parents may call the Dean of Students Office (507-646-4248). The College Relations Office (507-646-4309) will handle calls from the public.
April 22: A memo to Carleton faculty, staff, and students, from Shelby Boardman, dean of the College:
As most of you are well aware, the SARS virus in Asia has led to escalating concern and progressively stronger reaction on the part of many governments in the region. The situation in China has reached the point that the College has decided to move the Beijing seminar out of China by April 29th or 30th. After lengthy conversations with program directors Roy Grow and Penny Prime, the College has determined that the current conditions in China preclude a fully satisfactory academic experience for the 35 students on the program. Those conditions include a significant shift in Chinese policy and procedures that deal with the SARS virus. While Professors Grow and Prime continue to believe that the risk of SARS infection remains very low, they now believe that their ability to manage the program and ensure the well-being of their students has been compromised by the Chinese bureaucracy and its response to controlling the virus.
The College and the program directors deeply regret the necessity of this decision. We understand that students, their families, and the directors themselves have planned for this program for several years. We all have worked overtime, especially Professors Grow and Prime, to make this program work in spite of rising challenges and conflicting information. Even as other study abroad programs in China withdrew their programs at the first or second alarm, we relied on a vast and reliable network of Chinese and U.S. colleagues and information from a wide range of sources to inform our decision to keep the students safe and in China. We will continue to monitor the situation daily and will be sure to notify you of any changes. As Professor Grow stated, "Ironically, it is not the SARS virus that damaged this program. It is the Chinese bureaucracy."
Upon completion of the on-site portion of the program and subsequent assignments, students will earn a full term of Carleton credit. Several students, including the seniors who will be graduating and those who live in Northfield, will be returning to Northfield and Carleton. Over the next few days we will finalize the procedures for accommodating them. Details will be forthcoming.
April 17: The following was issued by the Centers for Disease Control:
Health Alert Notice for International Travelers Arriving in the United States from China, Vietnam, and Singapore
TO THE TRAVELER: During your recent travel, you may have been exposed to cases of severe acute respiratory disease syndrome (SARS). You should monitor your health for at least 10 days. If you become ill with fever, cough, or difficulty in breathing, you should consult a physician. In advance of your visit to the physician, tell him or her about your recent travel to these regions and whether you were in contact with someone who had these symptoms.
For more information, contact: Sarah Maxwell
Director of Media Relations
507.646.4183
