January 26, 2021 Update

Winter Term Update

Dear Students Approved for Winter On-Campus Enrollment,

Thank you very much for all you have done to help to take care of yourselves, your friends, and the community. Now that most of you have been released from the on-campus arrival quarantine period, we have some important updates and reminders for you. We'll also post this at https://student-affairs.dartmouth.edu/resources/2020-2021-planning-information/community-messages for ease of reference.

As Dr. Reed's messages have emphasized, and as Provost Helble reinforced last week during the Community Conversations broadcast:

...... for those of us in Hanover, employees and students alike, regular surveillance testing is an essential part of our effort to support campus and community health. To keep our campus and our facilities operating as normally as we can in COVID times, it was an essential part in our strategy to keep the campus successfully open through fall term, it remains so as we look at head to winter term and spring term beyond. Testing, masking, social distancing, avoiding large gatherings, hand-washing, completing the daily TSA symptoms check, all of it matters, all of it is essential.

Although we are emerging from arrival quarantine, we all need to continue to be vigilant. Once again:

*Weekly testing:  Please be sure to comply with mandatory testing twice a week at Thompson Arena - testing first on Monday or Tuesday, and second on Thursday or Friday. If you haven't already done so, please schedule those tests through the remainder of the term now. PLEASE NOTE: If you miss two tests in one week, one test in two successive weeks, or three tests overall, your on campus privileges will be revoked. Please do not put yourself, your peers or our collective ability to get through the term successfully at risk. To retain your winter approval and avoid revocation, you should prioritize getting these done each week.

*Symptom and temperature monitoring: Please remember to do the TSA daily, using the TSA tile on DartHub. And if you are feeling ill for any reason, call the Health Service at 603-646-9440, 24/7, to consult with a clinician. If you are experiencing any symptoms or are concerned about a possible exposure, please remain in your room and do not enter College facilities.

DINING and FOOD

53 Commons, Collis, Novack and Ramekin are now open for pick-up. New hours, including late night through midnight at 1953 Commons and Novack, are posted at: https://dining.dartmouth.edu/hours-and-locations/winter-term-dining-schedule

As was the case in the fall, overall capacity has been significantly reduced and seating has been adjusted to align with physical distancing requirements. For now, all meals will be to-go to reduce risk. Once DDS is cleared to offer dine-in services, keep in mind that there may be significant wait times during what would normally be peak meal hours. You should be prepared to primarily use to-go in all DDS locations.

You may use a new Open Table app to reserve a table in 53 Commons & Sarner Underground for use up to 30 minutes. You may also order ahead for food pick-up utilizing the GET app at Collis and Novack for your convenience. Due to physical distancing requirements and the configuration of spaces, there will be very limited seating in all DDS dining rooms.

When meals are to go, you may eat in the open air, physically distanced, or in your room. Food and drink are not permitted in most facilities - including classrooms, the libraries, and other buildings. Food may not be consumed in meeting and gathering spaces that might have included food offerings prior to the pandemic (e.g., residence hall lounges, the Collis TV Lounge, study rooms, various locations in the library, and classrooms). Because consuming food requires face covering removal, food consumption in these other locations is not allowed. Please keep your disinfectant bottles with you and wipe every surface you touch before and after use.  Disinfectant replacement bottles can be picked up in the lobby of 1953 Commons.

IN-ROOM VISITING AND GATHERINGS

Students approved for on-campus enrollment may now visit friends in the residence halls, provided that all involved comply with all health guidelines, including wearing face coverings, maintaining 6' physical distance in all directions at all times, group gathering limitations, and all posted occupancy and use guidelines for common spaces and bathrooms. Hosts may allow their guests into their building, provided all health guidelines are followed.

You must follow all group gathering guidelines. In some instances, such as use of athletic facilities and performance rehearsal activities, the physical distancing requirement increases to at least 10'. Given the risk of transmission at large gatherings, any student present at a gathering of more than nine students, on or off campus, indoors or outside, will be subject to revocation and transition to learning remotely.

BUILDING INFORMATION

As planned, Dartmouth facilities will begin opening for undergraduate use for approved students after noon today. Key hours follow below. Watch for a message from the Office of Student Life later this morning for more details about all of the facilities, programs and activities that begin this week.

LIBRARY - Baker Berry will be open 10 am until 10 pm Sunday through Thursday, and 10 am to 6 pm Saturday and Sunday. For more information about hours, services and library resources, go to https://www.library.dartmouth.edu/

COLLIS - Collis and Sarner Underground will be open daily until 2 a.m. The Hop, the Black Visual Arts Center, Haldeman and Kemeny will open at 5 pm daily for evening informal study hours. Watch for the Student Life message for more details.

THE GYM - Alumni Gym and the Zimmerman Fitness Center reopen Tuesday at 1 pm. Regular hours will be 6 am - 11:30 pm Monday through Friday, and 9 am through 1130 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Advance reservations are required. For more information, go to https://dartmouth.universitytickets.com/.

THE UPPER VALLEY AND TRAVEL

The Undergraduate Travel Policy is less restrictive than it was this fall. Please be sure to plan accordingly.

Personal travel is strongly discouraged. With the exception of arriving for the start of term and returning home at the end of term, undergraduate students enrolled on campus may not travel outside of New Hampshire or Vermont. Undergraduate students who choose to travel outside of their state of residence, whether to New Hampshire or Vermont, must follow the COVID-19 travel and quarantine requirements for both states. This includes day trips. If state guidance requires, undergraduate students must, upon return, quarantine before accessing Dartmouth campuses and buildings. In the event of a family emergency, undergraduate students should contact the undergraduate student affairs office at dean.of.the.college@dartmouth.edu to consult and request support.

SUPPORT RESOURCES

Please don't hesitate to reach out to campus resources if you need support. The Undergraduate Deans Office, Health Service, Counseling, the Student Wellness Center and the Tucker Center stand by to help. On-call resources are available through Safety and Security after hours and on weekends, at 603-646-4000. Health Service clinicians are available round the clock at 603-646-9440.

Congratulations and thank you for helping us get to this point.

All my best,

Dean Lively