Posted on Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Westminster prides itself on being one of the most collaborative and experiential campuses in the country. Quality hands-on learning in a residential environment is a fundamental part of who we are, helping to drive the success of our students and alumni. During each major disturbance in American history since 1852, from past epidemics to world wars, the Westminster community has also proven itself to be adaptable and resilient. We have the spirit of Titans.
While no cases of COVID-19 have been identified on our campus, we are aware of the growing risks of spread. The health and safety of our community must be our first priority. Thus, we are electing to promote social distancing as a way to maintain the well-being of our campus and the larger community.
The following shall be in effect immediately following Spring Break (which concludes on March 15):
Please know that these changes are offered in the spirit of keeping our community safe, while also allowing students to complete the semester and stay on track for graduation. We will continue to monitor the national spread of COVID-19 closely, as well as the recommendations of local, state, and federal agencies.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson
President
As Westminster College continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to share two important updates with you:
In response to the NCAA and the Presidents’ Athletic Conference decisions to indefinitely suspend spring sports, spring sport athletes should remain in their permanent residences through April 6. If spring-sport athletes have another compelling reason to be allowed to remain on campus, they should email Vice President Vance as soon as possible at vancegm@westminster.edu to request permission to do so. Athletes returning from spring break trips will be allowed access to the residence halls to retrieve books or other material. (All residential students will be allowed to access the residence halls on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday to retrieve materials.)
The College will announce its room and board reimbursement or credit policy by April 6 as we continue to monitor the virus and its impact on campus residency. The College’s policy and actions must comply with federal and state guidelines about financial aid during this unusual period. Determining our action is a priority, but we want to be more clear about time away from campus before we finalize and implement the policy.
Please check your email frequently during the coming days for information from your faculty and from the College.
Kathy Brittain Richardson, Ph.D.
President, Westminster College