Latest announcements

Earlham College announces ‘The Pulse’ to keep campus community connected

March 27, 2020

Earlham College has launched a new website called “The Pulse” (earlham.edu/pulse) to keep the campus community connected during the COVID-19/novel coronavirus pandemic.

Earlham, in following state and federal action to stop the spread of COVID-19, has canceled in-person classes and college-sponsored events and travel for the remainder of the spring semester and summer terms. Effective Tuesday, March 23, employees have been required to work from home with the exception of designated, “essential personnel” responsible for maintaining campus operations, ensuring business continuity, and supporting students who have been unable to return home.

Pulse will collect news, videos, stories and photos that members of the temporarily far-flung Earlham community post to social media using the hashtag #EarlhamPulse. Campus photos and announcements will be posted there as well.

A key component of Pulse is the debut of “Flat Earl the Squirrel,” a paper figure inspired by the campus fascination with squirrels that can be downloaded, printed and incorporated into social media posts. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to take selfies with Earl in their new work or study area, or from other spaces in their social-distancing location, and to share other news and observations using the special hashtag.

Earlham announces 'essential personnel only' workforce policy

March 20, 2020

Effective Monday, March 23, at 5 p.m., Earlham will implement an "essential personnel only" policy for its workforce in light of more stringent measures taken by local and statewide government to contain COVID-19, the novel coronavirus. Only individuals Earlham has identified as critical to ongoing operations and business continuity will be permitted to come to campus. All nonessential personnel will work from home until the policy is lifted.

Essential personnel include Public Safety, Facilities, Mail Room, Housekeeping, Dining and Residential Life employees. A few additional individuals in other offices may be identified due to their special skill sets and the needs of the College.

Offices will still be reachable by their listed phone numbers and email addresses. Office phones will be directed to personal cell phones when possible. For those phones that have not been redirected, leaving a message will trigger an email that includes the voice message. If members of the public are having any difficulty reaching someone, please call the main switchboard at 765-983-1200.

All campus buildings with the exception of residence halls still in use will be closed as of 5 p.m. Monday and remain closed indefinitely.

The offices of Student Life and Residence Life will continue to inform students of services available in some form on campus or via distance technology, such as counseling and summer advising, . For students remaining on campus, pick-up meals will continue for the short term. Preparations are being made for alternative distribution longer-term.

Other cancellations announced by Earlham include EPIC summer programs and collaborative research, both on- and off-campus. EPIC summer programs include EPIC Advantage/LIFT faculty-led programs, internships, community-based service and learning, and Senior EPIC projects. May Term and on-campus summer conferences also have been canceled.

The administration continues to discuss possible alternative formats and dates for Commencement.

Finally, regarding the admission of new students, the May 1 deposit date for incoming students starting this fall has been moved to June 1.

All Earlham students studying abroad notified to return home

March 20, 2020

Earlham College has notified all students studying abroad to book flights back to the U.S. or their home country as quickly as possible in response to a U.S. Department of State Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory covering all international travel that was issued yesterday. The State Department is asking U.S. citizens to not just avoid international trips, but also, if overseas already, to arrange for immediate return to their home.

Athletics & Wellness Center closing for indefinite period

March 19, 2020

Under an order of the Wayne County Health Department, Earlham’s Athletics and Wellness Center will be closing indefinitely as of 8 p.m. tonight.  Wayne County Health Officer David Jetmore, MD, announced a directive today to close gyms, fitness centers, spas, nail salons, tanning and beauty salons, barber shops and tattoo parlors until further notice, effective no later than 9 p.m. today, as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus.

"It is imperative that over at least the next two weeks the public limits their movement to essential services only," Jetmore said in the announcement. 

Today’s directive comes on the heels of a Level II travel advisory issued for Wayne County on Wednesday, restricting travel to essential purposes only, such as to obtain food or medicine. 

Spring Semester goes online

March 18, 2020

Accelerated timeline announced for vacating campus housing 

With Wayne County on a Level II travel alert (only essential travel permitted) and additional travel restrictions highly likely in the coming days, Earlham College has notified students who could not vacate campus last week due to extenuating circumstances, to find alternative housing arrangements by Sunday evening, March 22. 

• All domestic students previously approved to stay now need to make arrangements to go home or find accommodations outside the college. Domestic students should be checked out of college housing by 5 pm Sunday, March 22. 
• International students who can go home or who have a place to stay off campus should also relocate.

The College announced March 12 that students were being sent home and would complete their coursework online for the duration of the Spring Term to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus. Most students immediately began packing and returning home; however, some were unable to do so for various reasons, and the College began making preparations to accommodate them.  In the ensuing days, the local travel restriction and other developments caused the College to reevaluate the situation. 

“If we are mandated to close the campus, we are concerned that we will not be able to provide resources necessary to support you,” Vice President of Student Life Bonita Washington-Lacey said in an email to students. “At this time, if we are mandated to close, all employees will be sent home as has occurred at other campuses this week. If airports are directed to close, you will not have access to travel home if you must fly. Please note that this is a difficult situation, but we are trying to respond as proactively as possible to enable options for you and your safety.

“We could have never imagined being in this position as you are always our first priority in our effort to manage this situation,” she noted. “As such, we seek your patience and continued commitment and partnership toward keeping all of our community safe even as we are inconvenienced.”

The college will be issuing refunds for room and board charges, prorated based on date of departure from campus housing. Students concerned about having access to an appropriate computer for remote learning were instructed to contact Information Technology Services at helpdesk@earlham.edu prior to leaving campus to discuss availability of a laptop to borrow. 

The new Level II Travel Advisory for Wayne County and the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in our region warrant a re-evaluation of on-campus staffing and reduction in personnel on site. Should a closure be mandated by the state or federal government, the College would not have enough personnel on site to provide basic food or support service to the number of students currently on campus. 

International students unable to return home or without alternative housing locally will be provided meals from a central location for as long as advised. If it becomes necessary for those students to remain in their living space without permission to leave, meals will be delivered to each occupied facility for distribution by available Residence Life and Student Life staff. However, students were advised that a government mandate preventing personnel living off campus from reporting to work could prevent meal distribution altogether. In that circumstance, the College will provide a stock of food to be distributed among those remaining on campus, but will not have the employees from off-campus available to help prepare or distribute.  

For the health and safety of students remaining on campus, residents are being assigned to select buildings where resident assistants and their live-in supervisors are available. The following halls will remain open only for students unable to leave campus: Barrett, Mills, Warren, and Wilson Halls. Residents approved to remain for the semester who are already assigned to those facilities will likely stay in their currently assigned space, unless there are two residents of the space. Double occupants will be split up, as only one person is now allowed per room. 

The Campus Village apartments are being prepared to serve as quarantine space should it be needed. 

March 12, 2020

Initial announcement of shift to remote learning

In response to concerns within the Earlham College community relating to COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, President Anne Houtman announced today that students will be sent home and all undergraduate classes will be conducted online for the duration of the spring semester. Earlham also is suspending the Athletics spring schedules and all college-sponsored student travel through the end of the spring term. Face-to-face classes will end this week.

Decisions about Commencement, May Term and summer travel will be made later. For the time being, Earlham's graduate programs in education will continue as scheduled. The Earlham School of Religion is moving to online course delivery.

Although there are no known cases or known exposure on campus or in Richmond, Houtman said she made this decision to keep the Earlham community safe and to aid in efforts to prevent the spread of disease.  Earlham recruits students from all 50 states and around 70 countries, and has extensive study abroad programs.  Though some colleges are moving classes online for just two weeks after their spring break, Houtman felt it was necessary to consider the uncertainties and challenges a temporary closure might pose for students, particularly Earlham's international students who cannot go home for two weeks and return later. And given the current spread of COVID-19, it is unlikely the situation will improve sufficiently to allow Earlham to return to its regular course delivery at the end of March, she explained.

Earlham expects students who are preparing to leave campus for the spring break to pack before leaving, following end-of-year protocol, and return to their homes, if possible. Students who notified the College of their need to remain on campus during the break were instructed to begin making plans to depart by early next week. Students with extenuating circumstances affecting their return home have been advised to consult with the Office of Residence Life. Every effort will be made to work with Earlham's students.

Earlham faculty are being asked to prepare to resume classes online by the Wednesday following spring break — March 25. 

Administrative faculty and staff were instructed to report to work as usual while administration continues to monitor the situation and make any adjustments necessary for health and safety.

Earlham has established a call center to receive questions from parents and members of the public. The call center number is 765-983-1870. The College also has established an email for questions: earlhamcollege@earlham.edu.

Update - March 17, 2020: There has been a case of coronavirus reported in Wayne County, a person from Franklin County who sought treatment at Reid Hospital here in Richmond. For further updates on the impact of coronavirus/COVID-19 in Indiana, including cases by county of residence, please visit the State of Indiana's Coronavirus Response page. Earlham is located in Wayne County.

Prevention

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19 infection. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to this virus. The CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

These are everyday habits that can help prevent the spread of several viruses. Closely following recommended prevention measures is the best method for protecting yourself from sickness.

Symptoms? Need to reach a medical professional?

Be mindful of the following symptoms:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

According to the CDC, "Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases." 

For more information about symptoms, please visit the CDC COVID-19 Symptoms page.

Need to talk with a medical professional?

General questions from the public or healthcare provider inquiries about COVID-19 may be directed to the Indiana State Department of Health COVID-19 Call Center at the toll-free number 877-826-0011 (available 24/7) or email epiresource@isdh.in.gov.

The campus health services information hotline is still available at 756-983-1328.

Reid Health offers virtual screenings through mobile app

Reid Health has made a free virtual COVID-19 screening tool available through its "Reid HealthNOW" urgent care app.

"This is an ideal tool for people who suspect exposure and/or have mild symptoms as a way to get medical attention without risking travel to a healthcare facility," Craig Kinyon, Reid Health president/CEO, said in a statement.

The app allows people to use a smartphone or computer to connect with a nurse. Reid began using the virtual urgent care option several years ago.

"This potentially eliminates the need for people to go to their doctor, an urgent care or an emergency room, or possibly get help determining if they need to seek care," Kinyon said, "thus also helping reduce spread of infection."

Because of high demand, wait times might be longer than normal.

To access and create an account:

Download the free app through Google Play or Apple's App Store or enroll on your computer through the reidhealthnow.org site.

• Create a free login and complete your personal profile
• Connect with the virtual hub, select "Coronavirus Screen" and find the appropriate pathway for care;
• Be sure to allow access to your camera and microphone if you are using the app.
• If you connect through a computer, be sure to test your settings.

If the screening determines you have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, you'll be instructed what to do next.

Further information

COVID-19 is a virus (more specifically, a coronavirus) identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China. Early on, many of the patients in the outbreak in Wuhan, China reportedly had some link to a large seafood and animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread. However, a growing number of patients reportedly have not had exposure to animal markets, indicating person-to-person spread is occurring.

Where is it spreading?

• Locations with Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Global Map
• Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the U.S.
• Indiana Health Department's Novel Coronavirus Map (Earlham is in Wayne County)
• Travel Health Notices

Here are the links to organizations that we continue to monitor:

• World Health Organization (WHO)
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• New York State County Health Department
• New York City Health Department
• Indiana State Department of Health 

The New York Times created a graphic to compare coronavirus with the seasonal flu: