By Chelsea Zhao
Dominican University elevates safety protocols and mask rules for the DU community.
“The following plan represents our best attempt, at the current time, of responding to the pandemic in ways that promote the success of our students while keeping our community safe,” the plan reads.
The university still expects students to follow the Caritas Commitment. Individuals not vaccinated or with compromised immune systems must wear a mask and social distance.
All guests can receive a visitor badge at Welcome and Information Desk. Unvaccinated guests must wear masks.
Dominican will also not cap the maximum classroom density, instead sorting the classes to online, in-person, or hybrid for best health precautions.
As of Sept. 10, fall modality for undergrad classes are 37% face-to-face, 23% hybrid, and 40% online. For graduate students, it’s 11% face-to-face, 14% hybrid and 76% online.
Returning students and incoming residents had to upload vaccination documentation to Wellness Center by Aug. 15th. New students had until September 3 to upload their vaccination record. Student athletes had until Aug. 5th to demonstrate fully vaccination status, or will undergo regular testing.
According to September 10th COVID-19 Dashboard, 93% students and 94% employees at DU have uploaded their vaccination records to the Wellness Center.
Unvaccinated students receive a $75 fine on Sept. 10 and $150 fine if continued to be unvaccinated by Sept. 17. Any missing vaccination records by Sept. 24 will result in dismissal of the student from the fall 2021 semester.
As of fall 2021, individuals will continue to use #CampusClear app to report positive COVID-19 cases. Only unvaccinated individuals need also to report COVID-19 symptoms. Wellness Center continues to use #CampusClear for contact-tracing.
Members of DU community can access free COVID-19 self-testing kits at the Welcome Information Desk. Students can drop off their samples at the Wellness Center or Coughlin commons on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Vaccinated individuals do not need to quarantine after exposure to COVID-19. However, with onset of COVID-19 symptoms, all individuals need to leave campus for 10 days and return only if symptom-free for 24 hours.
Residents who live within 120 miles need to isolate in their residence, those who live further than 120 miles will stay in isolation rooms on campus.
