The following e-mail was sent to the Maryville College campus community this afternoon.
TO: MC Students & Faculty/Staff Colleagues
FROM: Bryan F. Coker, Ph.D., President
DATE: January 21, 2021
RE: Spring 2021 Semester Updates
Greetings to all of you, on this first official day of the 2021 Spring Semester!
Whether you have already moved back to residence halls, are packing for your return, beginning a virtual semester at home, working on campus, or working remotely, I hope you are glad to be back in a routine and reconnected to members of this very special community.
The pandemic continues to inform and shape our College operations, and the latest updates are detailed below. This communication is likely to be one of many you will receive in the next few months. I ask that you please stay engaged and patient as we navigate the inevitable challenges, uncertainties and ever-evolving situations during this unique year.
The email address response@maryvillecollege.edu continues to serve as a place where you may ask questions, offer feedback, or report issues related to the College’s operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Financial assistance
We learned earlier this month that the College – and our students – were eligible for funding from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) II, under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) of 2021. Much like the CARES Act grants which were distributed to Maryville College students last Spring, HEERF funding will be made available to students whose learning has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. How students can access this assistance – and for how much they are eligible – is still being determined, and details will be sent to students’ MC email accounts soon.
Guaranteed Snow/Scots Days
As was announced last semester, the Spring 2021 Semester will unfortunately not include a Spring Break, due to the risk that large simultaneous exits from campus pose for virus spread. We heard from many who were concerned about the mental, emotional, and physical toll of a 15-week-long semester. To address these concerns, the College has committed to guaranteeing students two “snow days” later in the semester IF Mother Nature doesn’t provide us with them earlier. These “Scots Days” would be announced a few days in advance and are meant to give students time to rest, recharge, and catch up. The College will remain open on these days, which will provide an opportunity for faculty and staff to catch up on their work. Please remember that the College will also be closed on April 2 in observance of Good Friday.
Expanded COVID-19 Matrix
On January 27, the College will resume its weekly posting of a COVID-19 Matrix on the COVID-19 webpage. In addition to assessing those factors that could cause the College to pivot from current practices, the matrix will include the number of new cases, active cases, and inactive cases reported among students, faculty, and staff. We hope this new feature will answer many community members’ requests for statistics which inform the capacity-assessment portion of the matrix.
COVID vaccine and campus policies
Earlier this month, the College, through the Tennessee Independent College and University Association, joined an appeal by other higher education institutions in Tennessee requesting that the higher education community be elevated to phase 1B of the state’s COVID vaccination schedule. That request was recently declined by the state’s legal counsel, but we will continue to advocate for members of our campus community to have earlier access to the vaccine. While we are not currently requiring members of the campus community to be vaccinated, we certainly encourage it, as a high rate of vaccination will allow us to ease COVID behavioral expectations sooner.
Further, as of today, being vaccinated for a COVID-19 does not negate the College’s requirement that people who are exposed to the virus quarantine for 14 days. This is in accordance with CDC guidance, which acknowledges that medical experts need to understand more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide in real-world conditions.
Thank you for your continued adaptability, as we endeavor to remain largely in-person for this academic year. We acknowledge the special challenges this year has presented and could not be prouder of this community’s efforts during these unprecedented times. Thank you for the respective role you each play in the MC community. Wear those masks, and take care!
