Office of Student Life publishes COVID-19 guidelines for on-campus clubs, emphasizing virtual engagements and health precautions.
On August 21, Office of Student Life emailed student leaders special guidelines for organizations on campus. Student club officers must work with the office to decide if an event should be held virtually, rescheduled to a later date, or hosted in person if it is important.
“To mitigate the risks surrounding COVID-19, student organizations should think critically and creatively on how to accomplish goals while prioritizing health and safety for all” the COVID-19 Policies & Guidelines for Clubs/Orgs states.
In assessing the club events, the Office of Student Life uses four guiding criteria.
Four Guiding Criteria
Pursue truth relentlessly encourages exploration of identity and calling. Reflect on life as an act of service urges students to seek services off campus under safe environment. Adapt to a new way of being underlines importance of new life styles and health decisions. Lastly, adhere to the Dominican Caritas Commitment Return to Campus Guidelines requires student participants to wear face masks and take measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 prompts the office to ban off campus events and travels, food and drinks, and outside guests. Mask-wearing is essential, or a group may be suspended from hosting any in person meetings.
Information Tabling
The Office of Student Life also allows information tabling in an open-air space.
The approved locations for information tabling are spaces by Lincoln monument, area by Legacy statue near Cyber, and sidewalk in front of the Quad. Students can request one table with 2 chair or 2 tables with 2 chairs. The guideline also suggests students to wear gloves for handouts and provide hand sanitizer.
Club Gathering Guidelines
For executive board meeting and gatherings of club memebrs, the guide requests a maximum capacity of 25 people with EngageDU RSVPs in advance.
Student Involvement also limits a maximum capacity of 5 students for executive meetings and 25 students for group meetings.
Additionally, organizations can request outdoor events with social distancing during months with good weather. Even with outdoor event permissions, Student Involvement encourages holding virtual events for fall 2020.
Club Publicity and Marketing
In terms of publicity, Student Involvement will print 8.5 x 17” fliers for events that are open to all students. The staff will help to hang a total of 15 colored fliers per club around campus.
To request for fliers, club leaders must send the flyer in PDF format to beinvolved@dom.edu, after the event’s approval on engageDU. Clubs can also send in email requests for advertising via Student Life’s Instagram story or screen displays on the campus TV system.
Student Involvement Resource Center (SIRC) Hours
The SIRC will open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the month of September. The SIRC might add more hours in the preceding months.
Students can schedule a 1 hour reservation at one of the 4 workstations at SIRC by calling the office at 708-524-6511. The reservations follow a first come, first serve procedure.
Safety protocols in the SIRC include wearing face mask, prohibiting food or drink, wiping down areas after use, and strategizing the best use of the space.