Dear Carls,
Happy ninth week! As we near the end of another term, I know many of you have been awaiting information about testing for COVID-19 prior to your travel away from campus. I have good news to share on that front: Carleton received word from the Minnesota Department of Health this week that test kits will again be provided to us for this purpose. More information on this end-of-term testing is below, along with additional spring break building access information, baseline testing schedule for Spring Term, and Fall Term 2021 advising and registration.
COVID-19 Data
Last week, Carleton administered 656 tests for COVID-19 and recorded no new cases of the virus within our on-campus community. As a result, among the College’s threshold measures, our 14-day infection rate dropped to 0.0%, our surveillance testing positivity rate remained at 0.0%, and the average number of close contacts per case remained at 0.
The campus action level remains at Level 2: Medium, as we continue to be concerned about the risks that variants of the coronavirus could pose to our community. Detailed data for the week of Sunday, Feb. 21, through Saturday, Feb. 27, is available on the dashboard.
End-of-Term Testing
In partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health, Carleton will again make saliva tests available to all students, faculty, staff, and contractors who wish to be tested for COVID-19 prior to Spring Break. Tests are self-administered and will be available for pick-up and drop-off in Great Hall at the following times:
- Wednesday-Friday, March 10-12; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Saturday-Sunday, March 13-14; 1-4 p.m.
- Monday, March 15; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
More detailed information about how to collect, submit, and report your sample will be shared with you next week.
Spring Break Building Access
All students who are permitted to remain on campus over spring break will have OneCard access to Weitz, Anderson, and Sayles-Hill from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily over the course of the break. Additional break building access hours are as follows:
- Skinner Memorial Chapel will be accessible from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
- Gould Library will be open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The library will be closed on weekends.
- The Rec Center will be open weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturday, March 20, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sunday, March 21, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will be closed from March 27 to April 4 during the “lie low” period. Please note that the Rec Center will continue to limit capacity by requiring individuals to sign up for 45-minute time slots during hours of operation.
Spring Term Baseline Testing
All students who are approved to be on campus during Spring Term are required to be tested twice for COVID-19 at the start of the term. The baseline testing schedule is as follows:
Test #1
- Friday, March 26; 12-8 p.m.: First test for students remaining on campus for spring break, Northfield Option students, and New Student Week leaders
- Saturday–Sunday, March 27-28; 12-8 p.m.: First test for returning students
- Monday, March 29; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.: First test for late-arriving students
Test #2
- Thursday, April 1; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.: Second test for students remaining on campus for spring break, Northfield Option students, and New Student Week leaders
- Friday-Saturday, April 2-3; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.: Second test for returning students
- Saturday, April 3; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.: Second test for late-arriving students
Fall Term Advising & Registration
While we hope that conditions next fall will be more “normal,” we may not know for several months what the pandemic situation is likely to be. Consequently, the Dean of the College, in consultation with the Education and Curriculum Committee, has decided to delay preparation of next year’s course schedule until late in Spring Term, when we hope to have better information about the circumstances that will affect how we deliver classes especially in Fall Term.
Advising days and registration for the Classes of ‘22, ‘23, and ‘24 will therefore be delayed until summer, with advising days held the week of August 2-6, and priority registration for Fall Term classes the week of August 9-12. The course schedule will be available in mid-July. You will receive additional information about advising and registration later in the spring.
Enjoy the sunshine, Carls, and stay safe.
Dean Livingston