News Archive

Friday, January 22, 2021

Westminster College’s fraternity and sorority councils have received the 2020 Hero of Hope Award from the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) for their charitable giving to the organization.  

Thursday, January 21, 2021

Eight Westminster College secondary education preservice teachers spent the fall semester exploring ways to elevate the voices of underrepresented writers, scientists, mathematicians and historical figures, while also weaving those ‘hidden stories’ into their teaching strategies.

Thursday, January 21, 2021

At this time, we have completed the College’s Reentry Testing process. Over 1300 tests were administered with a positivity rate of 1%.  An additional 10 positive cases were identified through our pre-arrival testing requirement for students.  Pre-arrival tests were conducted at home prior to students’ return, so these numbers will not be included in our dashboard statistics.
 
Beginning Friday, January 22, the Reentry Quiet Phase will conclude and normal activity that complies with the College’s pandemic plan and our mitigation strategies may resume.
 
Now we will move into our surveillance testing protocols. A detailed email is forthcoming.
 
Please be reminded to conduct daily health checks, wash your hands regularly, wear your mask, and remain physically distanced from others.  May we, as a College community, remain healthy, well, and committed to working together toward a successful semester.

Monday, January 18, 2021

A teaching lab activity developed by Westminster College Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Diana Ortiz and Tia Kowalo, a 2019 alumna, was recently published in Teaching Issues and Experiments in Ecology (TIEE), a peer reviewed publication of ecological educational materials by the Ecological Society of America.

Thursday, January 14, 2021

Westminster College has appointed Kaileik Asbury assistant director for diversity and inclusion.

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Westminster College has appointed Erik Austin as director of the New Wilmington, Pa., institution’s new TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program to benefit underrepresented students.

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Thank you, all, for your cooperation, questions, and feedback regarding our reentry testing procedures.   Pre-arrival testing is an important part of our safe reopening, providing us with a solid assessment of the health and well-being of our campus community. Students - If you have been tested off campus and are awaiting your results, thank you. Please post those results to the Student Health Portal as you receive them. To date, only a small percentage of students have submitted their pre-arrival COVID test results and a number of those are positive. Many more students are reporting difficulty getting testing and we understand this. This is why we are requiring on campus testing as well.

Monday, January 11, 2021

A new book by Dr. Russell E. Martin, professor of history at Westminster College, explores how royal weddings in early modern Russia were choreographed to broadcast powerful images of monarchy and dynasty.

Monday, January 11, 2021

Last semester we reported positive cases as we received the results from the laboratory. We learned this created much anxiety across campus. With the addition of surveillance testing this semester, we anticipate more positive results and want to share this information with the campus in such a way that supports a healthy community without creating undue stress. As such, we will send weekly updates with case counts and quarantine numbers at the same time as the COVID dashboard is updated. These messages will be sent on Monday afternoons. We hope this will be a welcome change.

Friday, January 8, 2021

You are receiving this email because you are a non-residential student who has not scheduled your testing time. Hopefully this email helps clear up our expectations.
 
Do I need to be tested before I return to campus? YES! We are asking you to have a PCR test prior to your return to campus and to upload those results to the Student Health Portal.  You will need to schedule this with a testing center near you.
 
How long before returning to campus should I be tested ? We are discovering that turnaround times for test results are much longer than anticipated. We recommend that you contact your local testing center and ask how long it will take to get your results. Then schedule far enough in advance that you can a) receive your results AND b) upload them to the Student Health Portal before you return to campus.  Ideally, your test would be no more than 5-6 days before your return.
 
Do I also need to be tested upon arrival to campus? YES! Please see the link below to schedule your testing appointment and report directly to Old 77. Your testing date is January 12 and you must use the non-residential student link to schedule.
 
What if I previously tested positive for COVID within the last 90 days? – You do not need to be tested on campus, but you do need to notify the Wellness Center and ensure your results are on file. If you were tested off campus, you’ll need to upload your positive results to the Student Health Portal.
 
TESTING REQUIRED – You are not permitted to attend class without being tested, unless you have had a positive COVID test within the last 90 days.  Tomorrow and Monday are the last days to sign up for a testing. Please do so immediately.