COVID-19 Resources

Dear Allegheny College Community,

Yesterday, May 31, Governor Wolf announced the lifting of significant COVID-19 restrictions. Following guidance from our epidemiological, medical, and risk management experts on ACHA, Allegheny College will adopt some of these changes, but not all of them.

Allegheny College’s revised policies as of today, June 1, are as follows:

Masking:

• Vaccinated persons may remove their masks on campus while outside, including on campus tours.
• Unvaccinated persons should keep their masks on at all times.
• While indoors, all persons are required to wear masks.

Visitors:

• Visitors are welcome on campus in outdoor spaces.
• Only vaccinated visitors are permitted inside buildings at this time and are required to comply with our campus-wide policy of remaining masked indoors at all times.
• Unvaccinated visitors must remain masked on campus, even outdoors.

Daily Health Screen:
The daily health screen will be discontinued effective immediately. Please continue to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and contact your healthcare provider or ACHA with any questions or concerns.

We still only have 65% of reporting students vaccinated. While 96% of reporting employees are vaccinated, 185 employees have not yet reported their status. Students can report their vaccination status here, and employees can report here. Students can review the exemption policies here. The deadline for students to submit a request for a medical or religious exemption is July 2, 2021.

ACHA is pleased to welcome Cindy Huya as our full-time nurse during the upcoming academic year. Cindy will be reaching out to employees and students to confirm vaccine status so that we can get a definitive snapshot of vaccination rates on our campus, which will further inform our pandemic planning for fall. Please respond! You can reach Cindy at chuya@allegheny.edu. All information is kept confidential.

At ACHA, we put the health of our community above all else and make decisions following deep deliberation, the most up-to-date research, and based on CDC guidelines for congregant living. We hope for further lifting of restrictions in the fall, with details to be announced in early August.

Gator Strong!

Dr. Morrow

Dear Allegheny College Community,

We have received many questions about masking on campus, especially given the CDC’s new guidance and President Biden’s recent press conference.

Right now, 65% of responding Allegheny College students report full or partial vaccination status. That is not enough to safely remove masks at this time on campus. Please continue to wear your mask inside and outside. As a reminder, students can report their vaccination status here.

Masks will be required at Commencement this weekend. Students are permitted up to two visitors, and that will include elderly or medically vulnerable guests who may or may not be vaccinated. To protect those at risk for severe illness from COVID-19, we ask that you and your guests adhere to the mask requirement.

Starting on June 1, vaccinated students and employees are welcome to remove their masks outside on campus. Please wear your mask when enjoying the company of five or more people or when you enter buildings. Guidance on masking for the fall semester will be determined later this summer.

Also starting on June 1, vaccinated family members of current employees, retired employees, and Wise Center community members are welcome at the Wise Center. Please contact Jared Luteran at jluteran@allegheny.edu for further information and to submit your vaccine card.

Some people will not be ready to take off their masks. Gators support each other with patience and understanding. Take your time.

Gator Strong.

Dr. Morrow

To the Allegheny College community,

We are writing to announce that Allegheny College will require all students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine prior to returning to campus for the fall semester. This is essential for us to provide the full in-person experience for fall that we announced several weeks ago. Our requirement mirrors policies at many other academic institutions, including Bucknell University, DePauw University, Dickinson College, Kalamazoo College, Kenyon College, and more.

Everyone who lives, learns, and works at Allegheny College is part of an interconnected environment. Being vaccinated not only protects you, but it also protects the Allegheny community of which you are an integral part. If you do not receive the vaccine and then, in turn, contract the virus, anyone who comes into contact with you is at risk of contracting COVID-19, including students, faculty, employees, and healthcare workers.

Students can upload their vaccination record here. Students can click on vaccines.gov for information on where to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine locally or email Dean Gretchen Beck at gbeck@allegheny.edu for assistance. Those seeking a medical or religious exemption can find Allegheny’s exemption policy here.

We are pleased to report over 95% of reporting employees have voluntarily been vaccinated. We would be grateful if faculty and staff would continue to update their vaccination status here.

You can expect a lot of positive changes for fall, especially for those who are vaccinated. Stay tuned.

Gator Strong.

Dean of Students April Thompson, Winslow Health Center, and the Allegheny College Health Agency

Dear Allegheny College Campus Community,

I am pleased to inform you that the recent cluster appears to have subsided. Credit goes to the wonderful students who facilitated contact tracing and tolerated isolation and quarantine, as well as to a handful of those amazing people who were vaccinated as soon as it was available to them.

Planning is underway for next year — when we will be fully in-person — and relevant policies are being drafted. We are looking forward to a “new normal” for the upcoming academic year with a return to in-person classes, labs, studios, residence, dining, student activities, and campus events. As we move forward, the foundation of our “new normal” will be based on appropriate health practices, an assumption that vaccinations will be widely available, and Allegheny’s deep commitment to academic quality and supporting the best possible student experience. An updated Allegheny College Pandemic Safety Policy will be published in the next few weeks.

Three weeks to the end of the semester!

Gator Strong.

Dr. Morrow

Dear Allegheny Campus Community:

Three weeks are left in the semester! Let’s finish strong. Right now, we have nine students in isolation who tested positive for COVID-19. While eight appear to be socially related, there was no egregious behavior noted.

It continues to be a challenging time with students in isolation and quarantine, and I encourage everyone to break the stigma associated with COVID-19. Trust that those who test positive are making good choices and taking precautions. Shaming or blaming people who test positive for COVID-19 hurts us all and makes others reluctant to be completely honest about who they’ve been in contact with — and this information is critical in keeping us all healthy and safe. Fortunately, due to extensive contact tracing, we hope that all the persons who may have been exposed are now in quarantine — except, of course, those who are vaccinated! They are in class, participating in extracurriculars, and hanging out with friends.

For students who would like to be tested before leaving campus at the end of the semester, rapid antigen testing will be available at the following times:

• Friday, May 14, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:40 a.m.
• Wednesday, May 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:40 p.m.
• Thursday, May 20, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:40 p.m.

On Wednesday, May 12, ACHA will send an email providing instructions to schedule an appointment in one of these time slots if that is something you would like to do. If you miss these windows, you can obtain COVID-19 testing at Vernon Express Care or Med Express in Meadville.

Congratulations, seniors! We would like to welcome back seniors who are studying remotely or who graduated early to attend awards ceremonies and senior day activities. There are some limitations; please carefully read our Events Policy for Early Graduates and Seniors Studying Remotely to ensure a safe, fun experience for all.

As you think about leaving campus for the summer, prioritize the safety of your family and friends. If you are vaccinated, when you go home, please enjoy unmasked visits with small groups of other vaccinated persons. Hug them and hold them close!

For those who remain unvaccinated or partially vaccinated:

• Quarantine for 14 days when you arrive at your destination.
• Monitor your symptoms and stay home if you feel ill.
• When visiting others, keep the visit short.
• Stay outdoors, wash your hands frequently, mask up, and keep physically distanced.

We all look forward to brighter days ahead!

Dr. Morrow

Dear Allegheny College Community,

Great news! The COVID-19 vaccine is available to everyone over age 15 in Pennsylvania as of RIGHT NOW. The date was changed from April 19 to April 13 by the Pennsylvania Department of Health with college students in mind: everyone wants to ensure that you get your second dose before the semester ends. You can sign up immediately on the Meadville Medical Center website for an appointment for the Pfizer vaccine. The vaccine is free for everyone. Students may check the CATA bus schedule for transportation options.

In order for us all to have a safe, fully in-person experience next fall, a large percentage of students need to be vaccinated. The vast majority of faculty and staff were vaccinated in early February, leading to a significantly lower number of COVID-19 positive employees this semester and many fewer people in quarantine.

Allegheny administrators and I have been brainstorming how the vaccine will improve Fall 2021. Here is what we came up with so far.

For vaccinated students:

• Minimal “campus quarantine” upon returning to campus in Fall 2021 — only two days!
• Go home to see your families as much as you like, without quarantine or testing to return
• Travel without quarantine over fall break and spring break
• There usually will be no need to quarantine if you are in contact with a person testing positive for COVID-19, including through athletic practices, social events, and meals together
• Enjoy sit-down meals with friends in the dining halls
• Enjoy social gatherings, club meetings, and athletic practices with far fewer restrictions

Those who are not vaccinated will be required to do the following — for their own safety and the safety of their fellow community members:

• Extra PCR and rapid testing throughout the semester
• Prolonged quarantine upon arrival on campus (8-9 days)
• Limited travel over fall break and spring break with likely quarantine and PCR testing before returning to campus
• Limited travel with athletic teams for competitions
• Quarantine for 14 days if in contact with a person who tests positive for COVID-19

We hope that students will have a greater sense of well-being on campus and feel safe participating in activities and connecting with friends, faculty, and staff. For those currently not on campus, we encourage you to receive the vaccine as soon as possible in your home community. Medical and religious exemptions are available as needed; please email ACHA with questions.

As I have mentioned, COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death. Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines without issue.

Gator Strong.

Dr. Morrow

Dear Allegheny College Campus Community,

Students may now sign up online for the COVID-19 vaccine administered by Meadville Medical Center.

Transportation to the vaccination site will be offered by the Crawford Area Transportation Authority (CATA), and the schedule will be available next week. Any questions about transportation can be emailed to gbeck@allegheny.edu. Please remember to bring a photo ID and thank everyone that you meet.

In an effort to support Allegheny’s commitment to an excellent in-person educational experience for Fall 2021, the College is strongly recommending that all students receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine prevents serious illness, hospitalization, and death. Benefits specific to the Allegheny community include:

• Additional face-to-face classroom interactions and academic experiences
• Permission to work and volunteer in the local community
• Expanded athletic practices and competitions
• A wider range of activities offered at Allegheny, including live music, guest speakers, and school-sponsored trips
• Augmented dining options
• Greater interpersonal collaboration among faculty, students, staff, and administrators

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. As I have mentioned, millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history.

Join me in moving us forward to a better tomorrow. Gator strong.

Dr. Morrow

View full archive of CARES Act Student Aid Reports

In accordance with Section 18004(e) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act” or the “Act”), The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (“HEERF”) contained in Section 18004 of the CARES Act, and the guidance issued by the United States Department of Education, including Office of Postsecondary Education’s guidance dated May 6, 2020, Allegheny College submits this report concerning the first award Allegheny College received under the HEERF consisting of funds for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

1. Acknowledgement of Funding and Certification

Allegheny College reviewed, signed and returned the U.S. Department of Educations’ Certification and Agreement for these funds on April 14, 2020. Allegheny College received a grant award notification on April 23, 2020. As required by the certification, Allegheny College will use no less than fifty percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants directly to students.

2. Funds Awarded for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students

Allegheny College received $871,541 under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act designated for distribution to students impacted by campus disruptions due to COVID-19.

3. Emergency Financial Aid Grants Distributed to Students to Date Under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act

Of the $871,541 Allegheny College received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act designated for distribution to students impacted by campus disruptions due to COVID-19, Allegheny College had distributed $790,714 as of December 31st, 2020, and an additional $12,598.76 as of March 31st, 2021, bringing the total to $803,312.76.

4. Eligible Students

Allegheny College has had approximately 1,850 students as of the date of this report that may be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 by filing a valid FAFSA for the 2019-2020 and/or 2020-2021 academic year and, thus, may be eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

5. Eligible Students Receiving CARES Act Aid

Allegheny College has distributed funds it received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act designated for distribution to students impacted by campus disruptions due to COVID-19. A total of 1,187 awards were given to 983 eligible students as of March 31st, 2021. Some students received multiple awards.

6. Distribution Method

Funds Already Distributed

In order to qualify for Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, Allegheny College students must first be eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and incur expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus. Of those students that qualified, Allegheny College chose to provide an initial disbursement of Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students who qualified for needs-based room and board grants under Allegheny’s internal criteria because it determined those students were most in need those and necessarily incurred COVID-19 pandemic related expenses following the loss of on-campus room and board.

In order to calculate these students’ COVID-19 related expenses, Allegheny College used its institutional policy for estimating needs-based commuter student room and board costs for the remaining 40% of the spring semester. This calculation resulted in an Emergency Financial Aid Grant maximum award of $800 per student.

In order to distribute this grant as expeditiously as possible, beginning on April 13, 2020, Allegheny College provided Emergency Federal Aid Grant relief to students in the same manner as it had previously provided institutional need-based aid, through students’ online accounts. Because Allegheny College began providing qualifying relief funds to qualifying students prior to Allegheny College’s receipt of any CARES Act funding, in accordance with United States Department of Education guidance, Allegheny College reimbursed itself from a portion of the CARES Act funding it received in the amount it advanced to its students in accordance with the above methodology.

Funds Reserved for Future Distribution

Allegheny College has reserved $186,192 for eligible students that incur other additional expenses related to the disruption of on-campus instruction as a result of COVID-19. The reserve amount in Emergency Financial Aid Grants for students under Section 18004(a)(1) may be applied for using the Success Grant application available on the Allegheny College’s Dean of Students webpage. As of March 31st, 2021 the balance in the reserve for eligible students is $68,228.24. Allegheny College has not finalized its distribution methodology for these funds and reserves its right to modify this report as needed.

7. Communication to Students Concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants

All students who were enrolled in the 2020 spring semester, as well as those enrolled in the 2020 fall semester, were notified of the opportunity to apply for this funding via email. Students are asked to include in the application the amount and brief description of the expense incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is used to determine an award amount. For students already issued Emergency Financial Aid Grants under Section 18004(a)(1), the expense must be in addition to the expense for which they already received funds.

Dear Allegheny College Campus Community,

I am thrilled to announce that Meadville Medical Center (MMC) has agreed to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to all Allegheny students as part of their mass vaccination efforts starting April 19! This includes students who are residents of other states and those students who hail from other countries. ALL OF YOU.

MMC has been selected as a “preferred vaccine provider” and thus expects to receive a steady supply of Pfizer vaccines moving forward, therefore having no issues vaccinating everyone who wants to be vaccinated. MMC is working hard to plan for this vaccination effort; as soon as they post sign-up links on their website, you may sign up. I will also email those links to all students.

• Sign up ASAP for your first dose, to ensure that you get your second dose three weeks later before the semester ends. It is very hard to get your second vaccine dose at an alternative vaccination site.
• Don’t miss your appointment! This opportunity is precious!
• Bring a photo ID.
• Thank everyone at the site; feel free to bring a handwritten note of gratitude about what the vaccine means to you.

The Allegheny College administration encourages everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible, as do the CDC and ACHA. Vaccinated persons are less likely to contract COVID-19, become severely ill from COVID-19 or transmit COVID-19. They do not need to quarantine after most travel and do not need to quarantine if exposed to a COVID-19 positive person. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history.

Want to help? Meadville Medical Center is looking for volunteers to help with vaccine distribution. What a great way to help others and be part of history! Students, employees, and families — anyone and everyone — are welcome to sign up here. I will forward the list to MMC, and they will follow up with you.

So — here we are. Students are getting vaccinated and even helping with the effort. WOW. Talk about Gator Strong.

Dr. Morrow

Dear Allegheny College Campus Community,

Last week was another successful week at Allegheny College, with very low COVID-19 transmission on campus. Amid a global pandemic, with colleges around us experiencing high transmission rates, Allegheny students are on campus, learning in person and keeping COVID-19 at bay. This is not luck: students and employees wear masks and keep physical distance.

Vaccines continue to be administered to the local Crawford County community. I mentioned in a prior email that if one can get the vaccine, I recommended accepting it. I should clarify: when you qualify. There are still vulnerable people who have not yet been able to obtain the vaccine in Pennsylvania; make sure you are eligible before you sign up.

To quote the new CDC director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, we have “so much reason to hope.” But we are not done yet. COVID-19 is continuing to ravage our country: the national case rates for the last two weeks are equal to last October’s numbers. President Biden is urging people to continue to wear masks. While this is usually the time of year when we all start looking forward to summer, we don’t know what summer will hold. Even if fun events exist, safety continues to be a question.

One of the challenges of the pandemic is living with uncertainty. As we muddle through, it is critical to hone our coping skills. I recommend finding what works for you, and if or when it stops working, try something else. Netflix is a good distraction. Brisk walks, with or without earbuds, are great for stress relief. Enjoy lunch outside with a friend. Offer gratitude to an essential worker. Call the Counseling Center or send me an email.

Hang in there.

Dr. Morrow