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In this communication and on an updated Website for Welcoming You Back to Spring 2021 to Rebuild the Bubble*, you will find links by subject and audience with information about:
Dear Clarkson Community,
While it seems like students just left for Winter Break, we are already getting ready to welcome all of you back to campus for a new semester in January. We continue to build from our successful reopening plans for the Fall Semester that demonstrated that when we work together we can keep our campus safe.
The health, safety and well-being of our greater Clarkson community is our highest priority as we set out to rebuild the bubble when you return. In the opening days of the fall semester, we created a bubble that was free from COVID-19 and together we stopped it in its tracks. We must maintain that same mindset this semester. Here's what you need to know to start classes and to rebuild the bubble that stops the spread of COVID-19. All the information is here at clarkson.edu/spring-2021.
Classes Resume
The current plan is for classes for the Spring Semester will begin remotely on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 for all students. We will resume in-person classes beginning on Monday, January 18, 2021. In preparation for students from non-contiguous states (non-bordering states) arriving on campus on January 10, 2021 we are asking you to start rebuilding your bubble as your New Year’s resolutions. That means in order to keep both your Clarkson community and your hometown community safe and free of COVID-19, you should begin taking the added precautions for following social distancing protocols.
We are closely monitoring New York State directives to the public sector institutions and have contingency plans in place if the Governor announces that all universities must delay their in-person reopening plans in Spring 2021.
Pre-Arrival Testing
Before students come on campus for the Spring 2021 semester, they will need to undergo COVID-19 testing with RT-PCR (not serology). Please review the testing scenarios below to determine the date by which students should test. Information for undergraduate students here. Information for graduate students here.
Academic Calendar
We are again asking students to stay on campus for the duration of the semester through final exams. We have made some updates to the academic calendar to reflect those changes.
Risk Alert Levels
For Spring 2021, we are using a color-coded risk alert system based on the prevalence of COVID-19 in the regional community. This includes parameters for gathering sizes and activities. This replaces the “Stages” used in the Fall 2020 semester. The semester will begin on January 2 as “red” with everyone returning and as we rebuild the bubble.
Daily Health Screening Tool
Clarkson has a daily screening tool for all employees and students that are also on the footer of every web page for clarkson.edu.
Spring FAQs
After reviewing the web site and our updated Reopening Plan submitted to New York State and its appendices, we know you will still have questions. That’s why we have created a Spring FAQ page. We answer questions about pre-arrival testing requirements, ongoing testing, residential move-in, NYS mandated quarantine, and other questions related to academics, student life, and other issues.
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
Clarkson is actively working with St. Lawrence County Public Health to be a location that offers COVID-19 vaccinations for our campus and the community. We have also worked with St. Lawrence Health System to provide a ULT Freezer that is needed to hold vaccine solutions at -70°C. The University has not made any decisions on whether we would encourage or require COVID-19 vaccinations during the Spring semester for students, faculty, and staff, when such a vaccine becomes available and our populations become eligible.
Our assessment will be based on an evaluation of the science. Clarkson will review the guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as well as New York State. Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced a Clinical Advisory Task Force and a Vaccine Distribution and Implementation Task Force.
We will CU in January!
Thank you for your diligence in supporting the University’s plans to rebuild the bubble and to keep everyone safe. Please keep following your https://announcements.clarkson.edu/ and look to http://www.clarkson.edu/Spring-2021 for quick ways to find the latest information. Have a wonderful holiday season and we look forward to seeing you in January!
Kelly Chezum
VP for External Relations
Restart/Rebuild Lead for Communications
community@clarkson.edu
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