Dear Members of the University Community,

I write today to update you on the status of COVID-19 on campus. We currently have two students who have tested positive and are awaiting test results for 16 students. 

A comprehensive status sheet is now available on the COVID-19 web page. The sheet lists all on-campus cases or suspected cases as reported to Student Health. This sheet will be updated regularly. The status of cases will be summarized each Friday in our weekly update.

With the arrival of COVID-19 on our campus, we have received questions on how we will manage an outbreak should one occur. Below are the factors that will be considered as well as our three-level alert system. This information is also available as a part of the complete Reopening Plan on the COVID-19 web page.

Factors considered in the decision to close residential facilities on campus and move classes online include:

• The University can no longer meet or provide essential functions such as safety, shelter, food service, cleaning/sanitation.
• The student population is saturated such that the University is actively quarantining or isolating 3% of the undergraduate population on campus.
• The University can no longer deliver courses (hybrid and in-person) safely.
• The number of positive cases in the greater Lynchburg community grows to a sufficient level so as to endanger the University community.
• Caseload grows to a level that cannot be adequately served by the University’s Student Health Center staff.
• Concern for the health and safety of faculty and staff.

The University of Lynchburg has defined a three-level alert system. 

• Alert Level 1 is defined as fewer than 3 active positive cases on campus.
• Campus will operate as defined in Virginia Phase III.
• Alert Level 2 is defined as 3 or more active positive cases on campus.
• All campus dining options will be converted to takeout/delivery only.
• All classes will be hybrid or moving towards online delivery.
• Athletics and student organization programming will be suspended.
• Residential facilities will remain open.
• Alert Level 3 will be defined as actively quarantining or isolating 3% of the residential campus, including both undergraduate and graduate programs, or when the administration determines it is unable to safely care for the campus community as outlined in the section above.
• The campus community will be dismissed with suspension of all non-essential operations. This decision will be made with the guidance of local health officials, chief among which will be the Virginia Department of Health. 
• While most students will return home in the event of a campus shutdown, in cases where students’ health and safety are better protected on campus or where travel home is not feasible, the University will accommodate those students.  

• All above alert levels will be communicated to the University community via a campus alert email/system, as well as updates to the University’s outward-facing website with the assignment of alert levels consistent with current conditions.
•  In the event of a campus dismissal and/or shutdown, this decision and all subsequent necessary steps will be communicated to faculty, staff, and students by the president of the University in consultation with the leadership and the COVID-19 task force.
• Reference: CDC guidelines for preparing for COVID-19 outbreak 

Please be assured that the University continues to monitor the health of these students and everyone within our community. The health and well-being of all has been at the center of our planning and will continue to guide our efforts. 

A single positive case of COVID-19 is cause for concern. I call upon students, faculty, and staff to remain vigilant in protecting one another and holding each other accountable. If you see a classmate or colleague without a mask or wearing it improperly, speak up. If folks get too close or you encounter a group that’s not practicing physical distancing, please say something. 

Please, wear your mask or face covering, take your temperature each day and use the LiveSafe app to monitor your health, wash your hands, practice physical distancing of 6 feet or more, and — perhaps most importantly — avoid gatherings and crowds. 

Again, I assure you that the University is closely monitoring the situation on campus and in the City of Lynchburg, and the COVID-19 task force continues to meet regularly. Should you have questions, please direct them to the task force.

Sincerely,

Alison Morrison-Shetlar

President

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