Guidance for Winter Break
Dear Wake Forest Students,
Next week brings classes on campus to a close, and most of you will return home for Thanksgiving. By following public health guidance, you made it possible to reach this significant milestone in the academic calendar and keep rates of COVID-19 infection among our University community relatively low. For that, I am extremely grateful.
As you work to conclude a semester of rigorous coursework and compliance with COVID-related policies and protocols, you deserve a much-needed break. I wish you success on your final exams and projects. The following guidance applies to the period from Nov. 24, 2020, through Jan. 23, 2021.
Campus Access and Operations
Reynolda Campus operations and services will be limited after November 24. As of December 13, only students who have made prior arrangements with Residence Life and Housing or an academic or administrative department will be able to access campus and campus facilities. All students who have met pre-arrival requirements (see preliminary information below) will be granted access to campus on January 23, 2021, or at the start of the spring academic term for graduate programs.
SneezSafe Compliance
If you access campus at any time you are required to submit your daily wellness screening through SneezSafe and comply with all University policies and protocols. If you are not accessing campus after November 24, you may discontinue use of SneezSafe until returning to campus for the spring semester (the system will be monitored should students choose to use it).
Student Health Service
From December 12 through January 10, the Student Health Service on campus is closed for clinical services. A nurse is available 24/7 during that time by phone to assist students with medical concerns (illnesses, injuries, or other acute medical problems). If you are in Winston-Salem during winter break and experience health concerns, the nurse may direct you to off-campus providers for medical care.
Return to Campus for Spring Semester
As infectious disease experts have warned, the colder temperatures and subsequent indoor gatherings have contributed to a resurgence of COVID-19 across the country. We chose our academic schedule for the express purpose of giving you the ability to limit contact with others outside of your household before returning to campus. To minimize the spread of COVID-19 between communities, if you are traveling home during the break, please avoid returning to Winston-Salem before the start of official semester activities in January.
Students returning to campus in January are required to submit their influenza vaccination documentation to the Student Health Service before Dec. 15, 2020, in accordance with the University’s Influenza Policy. Details can be found here.
Undergraduate students will be required to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test before returning to campus for the start of the spring semester. Before the end of December, we will communicate instructions for completing this and other requirements.
I am grateful for your partnership in helping to create a healthy and meaningful Wake Forest experience. I wish you well during the last few weeks of the semester, and I look forward to your return in January.
Sincerely,
Penny Rue
Vice President for Campus Life