Student Gathering Notice
In response to the first cluster of COVID-19 cases arising out of an off-campus social gathering, and in light of recent news from around the country of cases stemming from both on- and off-campus gatherings, I am sending this notice to mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19 infection at our campus.
Students and/or student organizations who host and/or organize a gathering, such as a party, whether it is on or off campus, will be held accountable for ensuring that the gathering is hosted and organized in a way that does not endanger the health, safety, or welfare of our students, faculty, and staff (for example, by hosting a gathering at a place, in a manner, or of a size where social distancing cannot be maintained and/or failing to make good-faith efforts to require attendees to wear face coverings). Hosting gatherings without adequate social distancing has already been shown to endanger the health and safety of students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Students and student organizations that do not comply with this notice are subject to discipline under the Student Code of Conduct, which prohibits students from engaging in conduct that endangers the health, safety, or welfare of any person.
This is not a new expectation, as our Student Code of Conduct specifically covers on- and off-campus conduct that poses a health and safety risk. But please be aware that in a pandemic the university intends to focus its enforcement efforts on those who host or organize social gatherings, formally or informally, that endanger the health, safety, or welfare of others.
I know this is hard, and it’s not forever. We are Volunteers. We light the way for others. We can do this, but it will take all of us working together. I implore you to do your part to protect our campus community and help us maintain our ability to provide an on-campus experience this semester.
Donde Plowman
Chancellor