News Archive

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

As you know from the email sent last week, we are implementing new testing policies per PA guidelines. These testing policies begin at move-in and extend into surveillance testing throughout the semester.
Testing Appointments and Move-In will take place Thursday, January 14-Monday, January 18, 2021. The move-in process will be scheduled and staggered in order to prioritize the health and safety of our community. Please read the following information closely as the policy changes impact how we will conduct check-in appointments and move-in.
1. Pre-arrival quarantine and testing – Students are strongly encouraged to quarantine for 10-14 days prior to arrival and to get tested within 72-hours of your return. Quarantine will strengthen our ability to open strong and testing pre-arrival helps you manage your plans. Test results should be uploaded to the Student Health Portal. Students who do not provide a negative test result prior to arrival will be required to quarantine in their room on campus until a negative test result is received. Students who have had COVID within the last 90 days do not need to be tested, but must provide documentation by submitting the test result to the Student Health Portal if the testing was conducted off campus.
2. Pre-arrival symptom check – Before you leave home, check your temperature and signs of any symptoms. If you have symptoms or a temp above 100.4, stay home and contact Patrick Bussiere  (bussiepj@westminster.edu) as soon as possible to talk about your options.
3. Student Code of Conduct Addendum – Read, respond, and submit the addendum to the student code of conduct.
 
Scheduling your Testing Appointments and Move-In
* Schedule your testing appointment here https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=21015876&
* Appointments must be scheduled at least one week prior to your anticipated move in date.
 
What you can expect at testing check-in and move in
* Arrive at Old 77 for your testing appointment. If your test results are negative, you will be able to move into your residence hall. If you test positive, you will be required to isolate. Students who live within 6 hours from campus will be asked to return home to isolate. Students outside that range will isolate in Thompson House.
* Students who are not tested prior to arrival on campus will be tested using a PCR test and will be required to quarantine in their room until a negative test result is received (24-48 hours). They may leave only to pick up meals in the dining halls.
* Students who are tested within 72-hours of arrival to campus will be tested using a rapid antigen test. If the rapid test result is negative, the student will not be required to quarantine.
 
Additional Notes
* Each student will have a 30-minute window for move-in. Those who are newly moving to campus will have a 90-minute window.
* You are permitted to have 1 individual assist you. All will be required to wear a mask, follow physical distancing requirements, and sanitize their hands frequently. If anyone who is assisting you is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, they should not come to campus with you.
* In order to ensure appropriate physical distancing, you and your roommate should not plan to move-in at the same time. Please talk with your roommate about your plans prior to signing up for a check-in and testing time.
* Westminster College will not be providing any shared moving bins or dollies. Please plan accordingly.
* Your meal plan will be active and dining facilities will be open beginning January 14, 2021.
* First year & transfer students – In addition to testing, you must have all your health forms completed in order to move into the residence halls.  Please view your New Student Checklist to make sure you’ve completed all your preparation items. You will be contacted by Residence Life to schedule your move in time on Saturday, January 16.

Friday, December 11, 2020

Funds from a Drinko Center Research Grant were able to provide Westminster College chemistry major Kelsey Kraft with additional lab necessities to study the chemical composition of industrial hemp.

Thursday, December 10, 2020

Earlier this year, we shared the updated COVID-19 Reopening Plans for Westminster and announced new testing protocols for Spring semester. Since then, the Pennsylvania Department of Health and CDC have updated their guidelines for higher education. As such, we’ve needed to adapt our policies and will continue to do so if necessary as guidelines change. This email includes policy updates and details about our revised testing protocols.

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Westminster College senior Tomas Maeilli explored how undergraduate students who have suffered the death of a loved one while in college cope with loss and grief in his School of Communication audio documentary capstone project released in November.

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Lauryn Todd ’22
Accounting and Finance
Lisbon, Ohio

Monday, December 7, 2020

Winners of the 2020 Student Symposium on the Environment, an annual event hosted by Westminster College and co-organized with the Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition, were announced during a virtual presentation and award ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 3.

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Westminster College student Constantine Kallaur has been named the winner of a Broadcast Education Association (BEA) Founders Scholarship.

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Lindsey Oliver
Sophomore Criminal Justice and Psychology Double Major
Rochester, New York
 
Lindsey joined the Westminster Honors Program as a first-year student. She comes from Rochester, New York, and is the epitome of what it means to be a campus leader. She is involved in many clubs and holds several leadership positions, including being the Westminster College Chapter President of Habitat for Humanity. She is also a member of the international fraternity Zeta Tau Alpha. She works diligently for her work study position in Honors by helping to coordinate alumni connections for current Westminster Honors students. She also is involved in Dance Theatre and serves as a campus tour guide. Lindsey appreciates the friendships she has gained through her experience in Honors. The program provides mentoring and fellowship opportunities for scholars, including game nights, pizza lunches, bonfires and Halloween gatherings. This camaraderie among different classes of Honors scholars generates mutually beneficial friendships among some of the most high-achieving students at Westminster.

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Titan Radio, the Westminster College radio station, continues its 40-year tradition of playing all Christmas music, commercial-free, now through Christmas Day.

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Sara Small
Junior Environmental Science and Project Management Interdisciplinary Major
Beaver, Pennsylvania
 
Sara is extremely involved in Westminster's Honors Program as well as a variety of activities on and off campus. A born leader, Sara is the captain of the women’s tennis team at Westminster and is also a tennis coach at the Allegheny County Country Club near her hometown of Beaver, Pennsylvania. She participates in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Habitat for Humanity, while also serving as vice president of Omicron Kappa Sigma (OKS), the Honors Program’s student honors society. Off campus, Sara works for a nonprofit as a GIS contractor; has attended PittCon, an analytical chemistry conference; and volunteers at A.L.L.A.R.M. doing undergraduate water research. Sara’s favorite part about Honors is being able to do important, behind-the-scenes work in her roles as vice president of OKS and as a student worker responsible for social media and events planning. These positions allow her to plan fun, engaging activities and to get to know all students in Honors, how they feel about the program and where their passions lie.