COVID-19 Frequent Asked Questions (FAQs) – FALL 2021

Follow the isolation and quarantine protocols for exposure or positive cases as listed in the Isolation and Quarantine Protocols PDF.

If you test positive, report your case online and contact the appropriate person: Students should call the Health Services Office (765-983-1328) and complete the Contact Tracing Form. Faculty and staff should notify their supervisor and use the Contact Tracing Form.

Until further notice, off-campus travel for athletics competitions, volunteer service, internships or work-related assignments can resume for those who are fully vaccinated. Anyone venturing off campus for College-related business will be required to wear a mask. This is subject to change based on guidance from the CDC, Wayne County Health Department and Indiana State Department of Health.

In keeping with conference expectations, which are subject to change, student-athletes with approved exemptions may travel with their teams, but are required to wear a mask, practice social distancing, and eat their meals separately.

Those otherwise taking part in other College-sponsored or College-organized travel must be vaccinated. This is the case even if an exemption from vaccination has been granted for a student or employee for on-campus studies and work by the College. This includes activities such as College-sponsored trips, off-campus internships, Earlham Seminar on off-campus excursions, off-campus Bonner projects and Epic Advantage experiences that take place off campus.

These policies are subject to change based on guidance from the CDC, Wayne County Health Department and Indiana State Department of Health.

Both the Athletics and Wellness Center and Lilly Library will only be accessible to those who have key card access. This includes all current students and employees and fully vaccinated members of the public who have been granted key card access (AWC members, for example). Employees who have an approved exemption are able to access their offices in AWC and the library and will be required to wear masks and practice social distancing. Only those who are fully vaccinated will be allowed to work out in AWC. This is subject to change based on guidance from the CDC, Wayne County Health Department and Indiana State Department of Health.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, Wayne County’s COVID transmission rate has risen to the “substantial” category. As a result, Earlham College and Earlham School of Religion will require mask-wearing in shared public spaces indoors–both for members of the community and visitors to campus. This is effective beginning Friday, Aug. 6. Please ensure that your mask covers your mouth and nose. We will reassess this guidance on Wednesday, Aug. 11, when we have an accurate estimate of the percentage of students and employees who are fully vaccinated.

We ask for your patience as we consider the rapidly changing public health guidance at the national and state level with the emergence of new variants. Even with incomplete records, we know Earlham’s vaccination uptake is much higher than that of the surrounding community and we are taking every effort to ensure the health and safety of our students and employees.

To assist in our assessment, please do the following if you have not already:

Submit your proof of vaccination:

• Employees should submit theirs on the Employee vaccination and test result submission page.
• Students should submit theirs to [email protected].

OR Submit your request for exemption:

• Employees should submit theirs on the [email protected].
• Students submit [email protected].

OR Clarify with Human Resources or Health Services where you are in the vaccination process if you have not started or completed the vaccine sequence.

Please note that those who are unvaccinated will be required to test weekly at their own expense.

Earlham introduced its vaccination mandate and COVID Policy in an effort to return to the full, in-person living and learning experience that we have promised our students. That is what Earlham is known for, and it is what our students and their families expect. We ask all members of the community to continue to act with the common good in mind.

Use of masks

According to the Centers for Disease Control, Wayne County’s COVID transmission rate has risen to the “substantial” category. As a result, Earlham College and Earlham School of Religion will require mask-wearing in shared public spaces indoors–both for members of the community and visitors to campus. This is effective beginning Friday, Aug. 6. Masks are not required outdoors.

The campus is preparing for Phase 3, scheduled to begin Aug. 1, 2021. So far, details for Phase 3 include:

• Proof of full vaccination will be required from all faculty, staff, and students with the exception of those with documented medical or religious exemptions. Documentation should be submitted through the Employee vaccination and test result submission page.
• For students unable to receive the vaccine before arriving on campus, we will provide testing upon arrival and arrange for vaccination.
• Our 2021 homecoming celebration, scheduled for Sept. 30-Oct. 3, will be held virtually.

Earlham College will offer in-person learning and living for students this fall.

The College will continue to observe guidance from the CDC along with local and state officials to ensure the safest environment for students and employees as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves.

Classes will begin on Aug. 9, earlier than Earlham traditionally begins, allowing for an extended winter break and a virtual January term (view Earlham’s 2021-22 academic calendar).

Fall opening calendar:

• Friday, Aug. 6: New student move-in day.
• Saturday, Aug. 7 and Sunday, Aug. 8: Returning student move-in days.
• Monday, Aug. 9: Classes begin (first seven-week term).

Visit Earlham’s COVID-19 dashboard for related information about the College.

Visit Wayne County, Indiana Health Department for information regarding Richmond and the surrounding area.

All employees and students are required to get a flu shot this fall unless there is a medical or religious exemption that has been accepted by the College. If a previous religious exemption has been accepted by Earlham, a new exemption is not required. All flu vaccinations must be completed before Nov. 1, 2021.

For students and employees, Earlham is sponsoring on-campus flu vaccinations on Oct. 19-20 in the AWC field house. Health services is also offering an employee flu shot clinic from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 14, in the Comstock Room located in Runyan Center. Students and employees who take part in these Earlham-sponsored vaccinations do not need to submit proof of vaccination.

Employees who get a flu vaccination independently, should submit their proof using the Human Resource’s employee vaccination and test result submission page. Students who get their flu vaccine independently should submit proof to [email protected].

Proof of flu vaccination should include 1) your full name, 2) flu vaccine type, and 3) the date on which the vaccination was administered.

Unless they have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19, employees who travel domestically beyond the scope of their normal day-to-day routines are required to quarantine based on current CDC guidelines after returning home and submit a negative test result to the College before returning to work.

Employees placed in quarantine will work remotely, as possible. Employees who cannot work remotely are placed on paid leave as a provision of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

Employees are asked to submit a copy of their vaccination record for COVID. Negative results for a COVID test may also be submitted securely online at Earlham.edu/coronavirus/employee-test-result-submission.

If you had planned to come to campus, please carefully follow the procedures developed by Earlham’s Contact Tracing Team. Do not come to campus. If you test positive or feel symptomatic while traveling on an Earlham-sponsored/organized trip or activity, immediately contact the Earlham leader of the activity to determine next steps.