Responding to Covid-19

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Return-to-Better

 

Active cases
includes faculty/staff and students, both on and off campus
Recovered
includes faculty/staff and students, both on and off campus
Total
includes faculty/staff and students, both on and off campus
Last updated 05/13/2022

Total: Total number of cases (Active and Recovered) among Students, Faculty, and Staff, both on and off campus, since tracking began for the 2021-2022 academic year.
Active: Positive cases not yet recovered.
Recovered: Able to resume normal activities.

As of Friday, May 13, 2022, we have suspended tracking cases for the 2021-2022 Academic Year.

To date, no cases of COVID-19 among the community of Edgewood College have required hospitalization. 

 

 

Return to Better

We are committed to a return to classes on campus and in-person when the 2021-‘22 academic year gets underway.

Our students expect to engage with our outstanding faculty and with one another – both in and out of the classroom – and they expect to do that in-person, in one of the best college towns in America – Madison.  That's why we are committed to teaching and learning in classrooms, and in-person, this fall.

Our Return to Better Task Force is taking steps to make that happen - not to return to ‘normal,’ but to return to better, applying all the lessons we have learned and continue to learn through the experience of the pandemic.

Protocol Update - Masks Required Indoors

August 4, 2021

We are not out of this pandemic. Effective Thursday, August 5, 2021, masks are required inside campus buildings for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors. This requirement applies to everyone - those who are fully-vaccinated, and those who are not. As a valued member of the community, you will hear when this latest update to our protocol is no longer necessary. We do this for each other, because from the beginning of this pandemic, we have shown each other and Greater Madison that we live our values of Community and Compassion.

Again - getting vaccinated – for all who are eligible – is the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We urge each member of our community to be vaccinated. 

-Dr. Heather Harbach
V.P. for Student Development/Dean of Students

Update

July 1, 2021

As a community we have followed the guidance of our public health professionals since the beginning of this pandemic. The CDC and the Wis. Department of Health Services recommends that all who are eligible be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Therefore, we too are strongly urging each member of our community to be vaccinated.

Students – we have created a simple form for you to update your COVID-19 vaccination status, and have sent you the link via email. You will indicate whether you have been vaccinated, whether you plan to but have not yet, or whether you do not plan to be vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Please complete this simple form now, and no later than Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021.

There will be continued updates for students as we approach our fall semester, including some very attractive reasons for completing the form. (Did someone say ‘big scholarships?’ And ‘free parking spaces?’) Please remember to check your email often throughout the summer.

If you have any questions, please email deanofstudents@edgewood.edu. If you need assistance finding a vaccination appointment, reach out, we are here to help! 

Enjoy your summer!

-Dr. Heather Harbach
V.P. for Student Development/Dean of Students

Student, Faculty, and Staff Pledge 2020-21

Preventing the spread

In order to do everything we can to keep all of our community as safe as possible, the Edgewood College community will adhere to a number of safety protocols during the 2020-2021 Academic Year as a way of minimizing risk of the spread of COVID-19. These protocols are based on guidelines provided by Public Health Madison Dane County.

As a member of this Community, I will…

  • Wash my hands properly and regularly.
  • Cover any coughs or sneezes.
  • Comply with posted Public Health Madison Dane County requirements.  
  • Wear a mask covering my nose and mouth while in indoor spaces.
  • Maintain social distancing.
  • Assist in the use of disinfectant wipes to clean shared public workspaces prior to use.
  • Take reasonable precautions to avoid contracting COVID-19 both on- and off-campus.
  • Avoid public places and minimize interpersonal contacts if I have been exposed or have any symptoms of any illness.
  • Report any potential exposure or symptoms to the College and follow any instructions to seek medical care or to quarantine.
  • Agree to be tested for COVID-19, as prescribed by health care professionals. Agree to be cooperative and flexible as we work together to support one another and give our community the best balance of learning and safety.

COVID-19 Reporting for 2020-21

We tracked positive cases of COVID-19 beginning in August of 2020. Data includes students, faculty, and staff. This data includes both on-campus and off-campus students, faculty, and staff. We reached a peak of active cases (28) on September 19-20, 2020. 

For 2020-21, we managed a total of 171 positive cases. None of those cases are associated with on-campus transmission. No case required hospitalization, and all cases reported as recovered.

 

 

Covid-19 Updates

These pages are a resource for students, parents, and our entire community.

 

A Gradual Return to Campus

May 15, 2020, 1:00 PM

Dear Faculty & Staff Colleagues – 

The restrictions of the Dane County Safer at Home order will ease on May 26, allowing some businesses and organizations to resume limited on-ground operations. We are planning to get our campus offices open as safely as possible, and the purpose of this message is to communicate the protocol for that reopening. 

First, we’ll take a gradual approach. We will stagger the return of employees to campus so we can maintain social distancing practices and minimize in-person contact. To achieve this, we will develop schedules for employees that will involve a combination of on-campus work and telecommuting for most people. These schedules are being developed by the vice presidents, working with supervisors. We want offices open during regular business hours, but we will operate with skeleton crews on campus.

No one will be required to return to campus. Those who have comorbidity issues or are living with someone who does, those with childcare responsibilities and no childcare available, or those who simply do not yet feel safe returning to campus should contact their supervisors and indicate that they wish to continue to telecommute at this time. 

Second, for those who return to campus, we ask that you observe the following:

  • Wear a mask while inside buildings (masks will be available for those who do not have access to one).
  • Maintain social distancing practices (remain six feet apart) at all times on campus. In the near-term, please refrain from visiting the seating areas of Wingra and Phil’s, and other areas where people typically gather.  
  • DO NOT COME TO CAMPUS if you have any symptoms of illness or have been in contact in the most recent 14 days with someone known to have tested positive for Covid-19. Free testing is available in the Madison area though we ask that you contact your healthcare provider if you have questions or symptoms.
  • Wash hands regularly with soap and water while on campus.
  • All returning employees acknowledge that their return to campus is voluntary, they agree to follow campus protocols, and they will take all reasonable precautions to avoid contracting or spreading Covid-19 while on and away from campus. 

Third, Edgewood College will take the following steps to promote the health and safety of our campus community:

  • Cleaning protocols will be followed to clean surfaces and minimize the potential for spread of the virus. The College will provide departments with disinfecting products so individuals can regularly clean around their own working areas.
  • Offices configured and staffed in a way that will not allow social distancing may be temporarily moved to larger spaces.
  • Offices that receive visitors will have markings on the floor to show visitors where to stand to preserve social distance. 
  • Visitors will be requested to wear a mask while on campus. All visitors should be directed to the Campus Assistance Center where they can be checked in and where masks will be available for their use.
  • Meetings of more than three people shall be conducted via Webex. Meetings of three or fewer shall be conducted in a manner consistent with social distancing. 

Protocols in place upon our initial return will be modified as necessary based upon additional guidance from public health officials.

Thank you for your patience. Please contact your supervisor, dean, or V.P. if you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns. We look forward to welcoming the Edgewood College community back to campus, albeit gradually.

Thank you.

– Mary Ellen Gevelinger, O.P., Ed.D, Interim President