Dear Students,
I hope everyone is enjoying the last few weeks of summer and you have had a chance to enjoy some downtime! We are thrilled to welcome students back to campus in a few weeks. I write today with the first of a number of updates for move-in and arrival to campus. Please read this email in its entirety. You can follow up with Shawnice Ross, your PCD, or myself with any questions.
What is in This Communication:
- Students are strongly encouraged to have a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival to campus.
- Masks are required in the Residential Halls during move-in for all students and guests.
- Students must get a COVID-19 test at Student Health Services within 2-3 days of arrival and must test the first two weeks.
- After initial surveillance testing, COVID-19 testing will be optional unless experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
- Masking is not required in most areas on campus, but more updates are forthcoming.
- Students testing positive for COVID-19 will be required to isolate in College isolation housing.
- Information about Dry Week at Scripps College and The Claremont Colleges.
COVID Testing
For all students, both new and returning, Scripps College strongly recommends a negative COVID-19 test BEFORE arrival. Students are allowed two guests to help during move-in. Guests are also strongly encouraged to have a negative test upon arrival. Masking is required in the residential halls during all move-in activities. All students will be expected to test within 2-3 days of arrival to campus¾this also applies to early arrivals and athletes. All testing will be done at Student Health Services, at the testing site located at the NE patio outside the Tranquada Center.
All students will be required to participate in COVID-19 surveillance testing during the first two weeks of the academic year. Meaning each student will test the week of August 29 and September 5. We will follow the same testing schedule as last academic year:
- Monday: First years
- Tuesday: Sophomores
- Wednesday: Juniors
- Thursday: Seniors and Post-Bacs
- Friday: Make-up testing
After the initial COVID-19 surveillance testing, testing for all community members at Scripps will be optional unless experiencing COVID symptoms. Students are strongly encouraged to continue to test regularly. Unvaccinated students will still be required to test twice a week.
Isolation and Quarantine
Any individual who tests positive or is experiencing COVID symptoms should not come to campus. Students testing positive should contact Shawnice Ross, COVID-19 Student Affairs Service Coordinator.
Any student who tests positive for COVID-19 will be required to isolate in College isolation housing. Students are required to isolate for ten (10) days; however, if a student meets certain criteria, including a negative antigen test administered by a medical professional from SHS, there is a possibility to end isolation on day six (6). Students will not be released on a self-administered test.
The College will also be notified once a student tests positive. The COVID Student Coordinator or the Dean on-call will be in touch with the student immediately to begin the process of moving the student into isolation. The College will provide transportation for students into isolation, to and from SHS, to test on day six (6), and back to campus once isolation has been completed.
Students who test positive at roughly the same time will be isolated together. Students in isolation will receive support from the COVID Student Affairs Coordinator, their Primary Contact Dean, and the Dean on-call for emergencies. Students will receive food items upon entering isolation and will receive food deliveries from Malott Commons during their time in isolation.
Masking
The College must comply with any health officer orders issued by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH). Recently, Public Health officials indicated they will not immediately move forward with universal indoor masking due to data suggesting COVID-19 transmission may be declining locally.
Masking is currently not required but is strongly encouraged indoors as well as crowded outdoor settings when social distancing is not achievable. The Claremont Colleges are considering whether faculty may determine whether masking is required in their classes. As we get closer to the beginning of the semester and arrival on campus, more masking updates will be made available. As a reminder, masking is required in residential halls during move-in for both students and guests. Surgical grade masks are available through the 240 House located at 240 E. 11th Street (east of Dartmouth Avenue) and the Dean of Students office.
Dry Week
To allow all students time to acclimate to the college community, Scripps College, along with the other undergraduate Claremont Colleges, will continue to honor Dry Week.
All Scripps students should note that Dry Week extends from the arrival of students for pre-semester training through the Sunday after classes begin, ending on September 4. During this period, the College does not permit alcoholic beverages to be served or consumed on campus. Possession of open containers is also prohibited. College policies concerning illegal drugs will be enforced as provided by the Guide to Student Life. Violations of Dry Week by students may result in a conduct violation.
More updates regarding the Scripps Student Community Compact, masking requirements, dining, and student gatherings and events will be sent in the next few weeks.
I look forward to seeing everyone on campus!
Warmly,
Dean di Bartolo-Beckman
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs