Safer Campus Task Force Updates

Tabling and Events in Tier 2 
With the move to Tier 2, we are excited to see student organizations being creative for their in-person events.  Here are a couple of Tier 2 reminders on what you can now do for events: 

• Tabling is a great way to get information out to our community. Tabling is now permitted in the front of the CUB, which is a prime location as students enter and exit the Commons and the Coffee Shop. However, there are safety restrictions for all tabling to help prevent the spread of germs. Be sure to review the Tiers document for specific requirements. 
• In-person events can have up to 30 people! We love the creative ideas our student groups are coming up with to still be able to engage in-person safely. As you come up with ideas, be sure to think through potential health and safety measures as well.  
  • A few ideas that have worked for groups are: 
    • “Minute-to-Win-It” games   
    • Tie Dye 
    • Trivia 
    • Making cards to send oversees or donate to hospitals 
    • Painting/arts and crafts 

If you have an idea for an event but don’t know if it can happen in person due to COVID-19 restrictions, schedule a meeting with Student Development & Campus Vibrancy (SDCV) to talk through it. You can email SDCV at [email protected]. Be sure to brush up on what is allowed by checking out Stetson’s  Tiers document.  

More Help for Students Impacted by COVID-19 
Stetson is interested in helping any student who is struggling due to the impact of COVID-19. In addition to the $1.7 million in federal funds that we told you about last week, the Office of Development and Alumni Engagement has raised nearly $700,000 from alumni and other donors to help students at the DeLand campus and the College of Law. Those who don’t qualify for federal funds may be able to take advantage of this funding. Students who want to request assistance from that donor fund should file the 2020-2021 COVID-19 Related Request for Review. For questions, email [email protected] or call 386-822-7120. 

Fall Residential Living Plans – DeLand 
Fall 2021 residence hall and apartment occupancy plans will have shared bedrooms across campus with almost a full capacity. This decision is based on the lack of community spread based on building type, the addition of air purifiers in all of the shared bedrooms in residence halls and houses, roll-out of a vaccine, and our experience this year with managing isolation.   

The online Housing Self-Selection process is planned for late April. Detailed information will be shared widely within the next week directly with students. The university’s 3-year residency requirement will resume for the 2021-2022 academic year with standard exemption options available for students who want or need to live off-campus. Students seeking a special or ADA accommodation should submit the appropriate application in a timely manner.   

Stetson’s Safer Campus Task Force and RL&L leadership will review the status and occupancy level plans in light of COVID-19 trends and events at the beginning of April, June and July. If it is determined that occupancy needs to change in the future due to community health needs, we will have a prioritization process established and available in advance.   

COVID-19 Vaccinations 
Stetson is currently working on acquisition, planning and implementation of COVID-19 vaccination for our community. In the meantime, we strongly recommend that individuals who qualify to get vaccinated do so at their earliest opportunity. Volusia County, in partnership with the Florida Department of Health (DOH), is continuously holding multiple COVID-19 vaccination events. Residents 65 and older, health care professionals, residents and staff of long-term care facilities, and individuals who are deemed extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 can preregister for vaccine appointments and request to be notified when appointments are available in their area by visiting the DOH’s new statewide vaccine website, myvaccine.fl.gov. For additional information, visit Safer Stetson’s COVID-19 Vaccination page. 

COVID-19 Testing
Weekly SalivaDirect PCR-based COVID-19 testing is offered on campus and is free for students, faculty and staff with a Stetson ID. No insurance is required. Testing will be provided every Wednesday, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., in the Rinker Field House, Hollis Center. Registration closes at 5 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to testing dates. Walk-ins will not be permitted.  

Below are the upcoming COVID-19 testing dates and registration links: 

• Wednesday, Feb. 17 – Register (registration deadline Feb. 16 at 5 p.m.)  
• Wednesday, Feb. 24 – Register (registration deadline Feb. 23 at 5 p.m.)  

With the exception of water, do not eat or drink for 30 minutes prior to your appointment. For more testing information and appointment dates through May 5, please visit the COVID-19 Testing page.  

Domestic and International Travel Expectations 
Whether traveling internationally or domestically, Stetson asks all students, faculty and staff to be extremely mindful of their personal travel plans. Per the CDC, travel increases your chance of contracting and spreading COVID-19. Every time members of our community leave campus and return, they bring with them new germs and exposures. Stetson will follow current isolation/quarantine requirements per the CDC, DOH and Florida executive orders. This request for travel mindfulness is in addition to those mandates. 

Stetson University adheres to all CDC guidelines regarding international travel. All plans for international travel should be disclosed to the dean or department head, prior to the travel, if possible. Employees should get tested 3-5 days after travel and stay home to self-quarantine for 7 days after travel regardless of a negative test. If the employee opts not to test 3-5 days after travel, they should quarantine for 10 days after travel. Any positive test results must be reported to Stetson Health Service through www2.stetson.edu/reportit. Employees may be required to provide proof of the post-travel test results. Those who disregard these guidelines may be subject to personnel action. 

Please recognize that some types of travel and activities can put you at higher risk for exposure to COVID-19. If you participated in higher risk activities or think that you may have been exposed before or during your trip, take extra precautions to protect others for 14 days after you arrive at your destination and return to Stetson. We highly encourage you to get tested upon your return to campus. 

Latest COVID-19 Test Results 
Asymptomatic On-Campus Testing  

• Feb. 5 – 61 PCR and rapid antigen tests of student-athletes and Athletics staff, 0 positive, 0% rate 
• Feb. 4 – 122 PCR and rapid antigen tests of student-athletes and Athletics staff, 1 positive, 0.82% rate 
• Feb. 3 – 162 PCR tests of student-athletes and Athletics staff, 0 positive, 0% rate 
• Feb. 3 – 438 PCR tests administered, 4 positive, 0.91% positivity rate 

A full list of Stetson University’s test result statistics is available on our COVID-19 Tracking page.

Upcoming Webinars 
President’s Webinar: Values Day – Hindsight 2020  
Thursday, Feb. 11, 5-6 p.m.  

President Christopher F. Roellke, PhD, will host a webinar to acknowledge and reflect on the racial injustices that have occurred throughout history and explore what we, as the Stetson community, have learned from one another and how we are moving forward to create a more just and hopeful future for all.    

This panel will offer perspectives from:   

• Research on “Slavery and the Struggle for Freedom in East Florida” by the Community Education Project, with Andy Eisen, PhD, Visiting Assistant Professor of History  
• Collaboration between Volusia Remembers Coalition and the Equal Justice Initiative, with Rina Tovar Arroyo and Daisy Grimes in acknowledging Volusia County’s history of racial terror lynching  
• Insights from Sharmaine Jackson, PhD, Assistant Professor of Sociology, gained during community discussions and her webinar series, “Race in the 21^st Century”   
• Stetson students and their involvement with organizations on, and off, campus  

Please register for the webinar. You’ll receive confirmation and a link. 

Questions for the panel? Submit them through this form.   

The First 100 Days of a New Administration – Constitutional and Public Policy Issues 
Monday, Feb. 15, 12-1 p.m. 

Moderated by Kirsten Davis, PhD 

Panelists: 

• Dean Michèle Alexandre 
• Professor Louis Virelli 
• Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy 
• American Constitution Society Student Org President – Matthew Kelly 
• Federalist Society Student Org President – James Doyle 

Please register for the webinar. 

Send your questions to [email protected]. 

This webinar will be recorded and placed on the Safer Stetson website soon after the event.   

Rolks Report Live Webinar: Safer Campus Task Force and Budget Discussion  
Thursday, Feb. 25, 4:30-5:30 p.m. (new time)  

Join President Christopher F. Roellke, PhD, for Rolks Report Live, the president’s webinar for the Stetson community. This webinar will include updates from the Safer Campus Task Force and a discussion on budget plans and changes following the Board of Trustee budget meeting on Feb. 18 and 19.   

The panel will include:  

• Updates from the Safer Campus Task Force on changes since January and planning for spring.   
• Updates from CFO and EVP Bob Huth on discussions at the recent Board of Trustee meeting and plans for university budgeting this spring and next academic year.   
• Introduction of Stetson’s new Associate Vice President of Budget and Financial Planning Jeremy DiGorio, who is joining Stetson from Rollins College.  

Please register for the webinar. You’ll receive confirmation and a link.    

Questions for the panel? Submit them through this form.