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This message was sent to ������̳ undergraduate students from Jennifer L. Walters, Dean of the Undergraduate College, on March 23, 2021.

Dear Bryn Mawr Students,

I hope that you are enjoying the arrival of Spring wherever you are. As we approach WTF week and the Spring “pause,” I am writing to reiterate your responsibilities under the Student Health and Safety Agreement. I understand how powerful the desire to expand your universe of options may feel, however, our ability to have in-person activities of any kind including traditions depends on every student taking personal responsibility for maintaining public health.

While we have had a very good semester thus far with low incidence of Covid-19 on campus, there has been an increased number of students not showing up for their tests along with their cohort and some reports of students going off-campus for social reasons. The ������̳-Haverford risk mitigation states plainly that we will move to an increased level of restrictions if mitigating behaviors in our community are inconsistent or declining. This includes reports of gatherings, no mask use, lack of compliance with testing, or unapproved travel off campus. Our plan states that we will not wait for an outbreak to pivot to a higher level of restrictions.

Students MUST make testing a priority. The testing protocol provides the College with information to protect the health of the community. Last week, too many students did not show up for their testing appointment. As a result of this increase in no-shows, the Covid-19 Operations Planning Group approved a NEW POLICY:

• Every student who misses their Wednesday testing appointment will receive a notification from the Dean’s Office with instructions about consequences, which will include the following:
  • Every student who does not keep their appointment is prohibited from attending in-person classes, labs, work, athletics, or social activities until they are tested and receive a negative result.
  • A residential student who does not keep their regular testing appointment will be required to move immediately to Radnor and quarantine until the Health Center can arrange for a test. This may take several days. You may not substitute a Covid-19 test from an outside provider. The Res Life Office will send you information about how to pick up your room key to move into Radnor. When in quarantine you are not permitted to leave Radnor for any reason except to get your meals which you must eat alone in your room.
  • Any commuting student who does not keep their Wednesday testing appointment will be prohibited from campus except to be tested at the Health Center.
• Failure to comply will result in a student being required to study remotely.

WTF activities have been carefully planned to balance fun and safety. All communal activities that are part of this tradition must take place outdoors. Tents, lighting, music, etc. will be provided. Please follow precautions at all times and help to make WTF week fun and safe for all.

After a Fall semester without a break until Thanksgiving, students advocated strongly for some kind of Spring break or “pause” to catch up on sleep, rest, and gather strength for the remainder of the semester. For residential students the “pause” is an ON-CAMPUS break. All of the same Health and Safety expectations apply. Off-campus recreational or social travel is still prohibited.

Student travel is limited to travel which is deemed essential due to extenuating circumstances and must be approved by a Dean in consultation with the Health and Wellness Center. When travel is approved, students receive detailed instructions about return testing and quarantine or other restrictions that may apply. These procedures must be followed before access to campus is restored. If it comes to my attention that a commuting or residential student has travelled off-campus during the pause without Dean approval, they will come before the Health and Safety Hearing Board and may lose access to campus and be required to study remotely for the remainder of the semester.

Our health and safety protocols and our collective responsibility to each other and the wider community have served ������̳ well during this year. We will continue to rely on them — and each other — for the remaining two (just two!) months of the semester.

Thank you for cooperation.

Sincerely,

Jennifer