Dear students, staff, and faculty,
At the request of state leaders, we were asked today to delay the start of in-person learning until January 18. Given this request and our desire to partner well with governing leaders and local health authorities, we have developed an adjusted Interim plan as we work toward protecting the health and safety of the Calvin community.
The 2021 Interim will still begin with remote instruction on Thursday, January 7, 2021, as was planned. However, in-person instruction is now set to begin on Monday, January 18. This means that remote instruction will continue through Friday, January 15.
Please note:
- To the extent possible, we have been asked to delay the return to on-campus housing to correspond to the start of in-person instruction. We recognize that some students are in need of on-campus housing before this time, and we will work to accommodate these needs (if you have already requested an earlier time, you’ll receive an email confirming those plans). The residence halls and Knollcrest East apartments will remain open to students who have already been granted permission to reside on campus over winter break. Please contact housing@calvin.edu with questions or specific requests.
- Students enrolled in an Interim class who plan to return to campus for the start of in-person instruction may do so beginning Thursday, January 14. Please stagger your arrival with your roommate(s) as much as possible. Dining halls will be open when you arrive.
- There are a small number of Calvin courses that cannot be delivered remotely, including some medical education, engineering education, and other technical training. In-person instruction is permitted in these subject areas. We are working to identify these courses, and students in these specific courses will be permitted to return to in-person instruction beginning Monday, January 11. The academic deans are working with faculty who teach such courses to confirm plans, and the Registrar will communicate with students in these classes next week to confirm that they are part of the small number of courses that will resume in-person instruction earlier. All other courses will resume in-person instruction on Monday, January 18 as stated above.
- All students, except those who will not be returning to campus in Interim or spring semester, are expected to complete a return-to-campus screening test as previously announced. Students will receive additional information next week inviting them to sign up for a specific screening test time that will correspond to their return to in-person instruction. If you sign up for a time but later need to change it, please cancel your "ticket" in Eventbrite and find a new date and time to coordinate with your arrival. For any questions about screening, please contact responseteam@calvin.edu.
- Please remember that since there are no additional charges for room and board during Interim, students who choose not to return to campus for Interim will not be eligible for any housing or meal plan refunds.
- Employees are encouraged to continue to work at home as much as possible but should check with their supervisors to ensure that they are not needed on campus.
As the situation continues to develop, and as we calibrate and clarify January plans, we will be sure to stay in touch with the latest updates. Note too that we still plan to have face-to-face, in-person instruction for the spring semester.
As always, stay healthy, stay safe and best wishes as a most-unusual 2020 comes to a close.
Michael K. Le Roy
President