COVID-19 News

Campus Communications

Category: Campus Communications

Shift to Green Light Status (And we’re not joking.) | April 1, 2022

Dear Lawrentians,

We hope that you had a relaxing spring break and that your term is off to a great start. We’re happy to say that the term has gotten off to a great start from a health and safety standpoint.

On Monday, we tested 1,020 returning students using rapid tests. Of the students tested, one individual has a confirmed case of COVID 19, which gives us less than a .1% positivity rate. In our February 28 community message, we stated that positive testing results below 1% upon our return to campus after spring break would lead to a status to Green Light. Following this guidance, the university will shift to Green Light status as of Monday, April 4.

Green Light status means that: 

  • All curricular and co-curricular activities will remain in-person.
  • All academic and administrative buildings will be open to the public (no key card access required) from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. This includes the Mudd Library. More information regarding building hours is available in the Guest Policy on the COVID-19 news blog .
  • Lawrence remains a mask-friendly campus. Masks can be worn by anyone at any time on our campus but are not universally required. Individuals may also determine their own guidelines for their individual space. 
  • Students living on campus must abide by residential expectations. 
  • For those traveling, review the updated Travel Policy. 

Please remember that we do not currently plan to conduct on-going surveillance testing over spring term due to the reduced viral activity in our surrounding community. We will continue to closely monitor the virus through symptomatic testing on campus and regular assessments of local community risk levels. We will also continue to use CDC guidance to help inform our testing protocols and operational status.

Students who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms are encouraged to obtain a test from Wellness Services during business hours or request a test from Campus Safety after business hours.

Our hope prior to break was that our community’s continued dedication to Honor the Pledge would be reflected in our return-to-campus testing results, and that hope was realized. Thank you, once again, for your commitment to protecting the wellbeing of our community.

Please continue to remain vigilant both on- and off-campus. As always, submit any questions or concerns you may have to coronainfo@lawrence.edu.

Be well, and stay well,  
LPPT 

Spring Break housing information and travel guidance | March 10, 2022

Dear Lawrentians, 

As we wind down the winter term, I know that many of you are looking forward to spring break and the opportunities it brings for a change of pace. Whatever your plans, I hope you will find time to rest and recharge even as we prepare for the Spring Term. Thank you for all you have done to keep our campus community safe. Please note that while residence halls will close at noon on Thursday, March 17, 2022, students may stay on campus during the break at no extra cost.  

If you wish to remain on campus, you will need to register to prevent a loss of ID access to your residence hall:

  • Log on to Voyager
  • Go to Student Services
  • Click ‘Request for housing’

Note too that residents cannot use meal plans over break, but the café will be open temporarily for lunch from March 21-25th, and will accept Viking Gold, credit, or debit cards.

I am also writing  to share guidance as we head into a well-deserved Spring Break and to remind you of our plans for Spring Term.

  • Spring Break Travelers: Students who are traveling over spring break are encouraged to follow CDC guidelines during travel. Individuals who would like to participate in testing prior to departure are welcome to self-select and be tested on Monday March 14, from 12-4:45 P.M.
  • Spring Break Residents: All students who will remain on campus over break are welcome to be tested on Monday, March 14. Students living in the surrounding community may also self-select to be tested on March 14.
  • Masking Expectations: As indicated in the March 4 Community Message, campus will be transitioning to a Mask Friendly campus in alignment with current CDC guidance on the first day of spring break, Thursday March 17. Please see the initial email (linked above) for additional details related to masking. Individuals who would like additional high-quality masks including KN95s and N95s may pick them up at Wellness Services.
  • Protocol for Returning to Campus: All students who are on campus in any capacity will be tested on Monday, March 28, from 8-10:45 A.M. and 12:00-4:45 PM in the Wellness Center. We will utilize rapid tests at that time so that community members will receive their results as quickly as possible. This testing process will take longer as individuals wait on site to complete the testing process, so please plan accordingly. Students who receive a negative test result will be provided documentation indicating that they have completed testing and are able to participate in classes. Students who receive a positive test result will complete the contact tracing process at that time in Wellness Services. All students will also be given an additional test to be completed off-site 3 to 5 days later.
  • Lawrence Campus Community Pledge: All members of the Lawrence Community will be expected to continue to follow the Pledge. The Pledge has been updated to reflect current expectations. Members of the community who are returning to campus this term and have not signed the Pledge this academic year are expected to sign the Pledge on Voyager.
  • Vaccine Booster Clinics: We are excited to host two additional vaccine booster clinics during the month of March. If you still need to receive a booster, please be sure to visit the on-campus clinics on March 17th from 1 – 5 PM and March 29th 1-7 PM, all in the Warch Campus Center’s Pusey Room.
  • Surveillance Testing: Currently, surveillance testing is not scheduled during the spring term. Lawrence will maintain a relationship with our testing partners and will continue to monitor COVID-19 activity on campus and in the community. Surveillance testing may be reinstated if necessary.
  • Symptomatic Testing: Lawrentians continue to be tested for COVID-19 when displaying any symptoms associated with the virus. Students will have access to testing via Wellness Services during business hours and through Campus Safety after business hours. Employees continue to seek symptomatic testing off campus.

Best wishes to all as you wrap up this term and complete your final assignments, and safe travels to those who will be leaving campus over break.  Take and enjoy a deep breath!  Please continue to watch your email for additional information before the start of term. And if you have any questions, please contact  coronainfo@lawrence.edu.

Be well and stay well,

VP Card

Prepping for Winter Term | December 13, 2021

Dear Lawrentians,  

Student Life has been working hard to plan for the start of Winter Term and the arrival of students on campus after the winter break. With our continuing focus on the health and safety of our community, particularly as we enter the winter months, it is critically important that all Lawrentians arrive for Winter Term on time and complete surveillance testing. Below is important information to keep in mind prior to your return to campus. 

Vaccine Booster Shots 
CDC’s booster recommendation was updated on November 29, 2021, in response to the emerging Omicron variant. Those 18 and older should receive a booster dose of one of the mRNA vaccines (Pfizer or Moderna) six months after the primary series or at least two months after the initial single dose of the J&J vaccine. All eligible Lawrence students, faculty, and staff should make every effort to receive their vaccine booster shot prior to the start of winter term. Please use this link to schedule your booster shot: https://www.vaccines.gov/.  

Preparing to Join Campus 
We ask all students who will live and learn on the Lawrence campus this winter to be vigilant about your safety and avoid potential COVID-19 exposure for 14 days prior to your arrival on campus. I understand limiting your contacts runs counter to the normal impulse to see friends and family before leaving, but your actions will help ensure the health and safety of our entire community. Avoiding exposure involves not only following standard safety protocols, such as wearing a mask, physical distancing, and washing your hands, but also minimizing contacts to protect yourself and others during travel. Additionally, we encourage anyone who has not already gotten a flu vaccine to do so over winter break.   

We also encourage everyone to get tested 1-3 days prior to your return to campus.  If you have a positive test or if you experience illness of any kind before traveling to campus, please stay home and contact the Dean of Students at deanofstudents@lawrence.edu to arrange for your arrival on campus. 

Joining Campus 
As was shared in the November 1, 2021, communication from the Lawrence Pandemic Planning Team, move-in for students is January 2, 2022. 

All students living on campus or who will be commuting to campus, as well as faculty and staff, will be tested on the following days: 

January 3, 8:00 – 10:45 a.m. & 12:00 – 4:45 p.m. 
January 4, 8:00 – 10:45 a.m. & 12:00 – 4:45 p.m. 

Randomized testing of our on-campus population will occur weekly for the rest of the term. Since there are no pre-assigned testing appointment times, you are free to come at a time that suits your schedule. If you arrive early and there is a significant wait, feel free to come back later.  

All on-campus COVID-19 tests will be conducted by our new testing partner, Primary Health. This change will require that you complete a few important steps listed below before being tested. Please take about 5 minutes to create your account using this link: https://my.primary.health/l/lawrence-university-testing. 

As you know, participation in our campus testing regimen is a crucial aspect of our commitment to Honor the Pledge and is a required precondition for living, learning, or working on campus, in any capacity. 

First Week of Classes 
As was noted in the November 1 communication, the first week of winter term classes will be held remotely. In addition: 

  • All student meals will be grab-and-go;
  • All student activities will be held virtually; and
  • Personal residence hall rooms will be limited to room capacity +1.  

We ask that all employees conduct meetings and other gatherings virtually during the first week of the term as well.  

Our goal is to have the opportunity to test the entire Lawrence community for Covid-19 upon arrival on campus and to isolate positive cases before returning to fully in-person classes. When the testing results from the majority of students are known, we will be able to assess our status and, hopefully, resume increased in-person activities. 

Ensuring the health and safety of the Lawrence community and beyond only works when we all do our part, together. I’m confident that we will prioritize the health and safety of our community again this winter. 

Be well, and stay well, 
Rich 

Richard Jazdzewski Psy.D., LP 
Dean of Wellness Services 

P.S. A quick reminder that the university is closed from December 18, 2021, through January 2, 2022. If you do have any questions, please send them to coronainfo@lawrence.edu. We will check the inbox periodically over the break, so please be patient as you await a response from us. Please also continue to utilize the COVID-19 Website as a reference. Thank you! 

Operational Status Update to Yellow | December 3, 2021

Dear Lawrentians,  

We write with good news to share with the community.  

The results of the 231 COVID-19 tests administered on campus this past Monday, November 29, revealed only one positive test result. This follows a week in which we saw a decrease in positive cases from our fall 2021 high of 29 active cases on campus to 20 last week and 5 active cases this week as of today. (Please note that this week’s test results will be reflected on the COVID-19 dashboard on Monday, December 6).  

In light of this positive trend, as well as the fact that fewer community members are living and working on campus during the month of December, we are changing the university’s operating status to Yellow Light: Moderate Risk. The following safety measures will take place immediately:  

  • Masking is required in all public indoor spaces regardless of vaccination status.   
  • All campus buildings will remain closed to the public and will be accessible only by keycard.   
  • In-person co-curricular activities may resume; all participants must be masked. 
  • In-person dining spaces will remain adjusted to accommodate enhanced physical distancing.  
  • Campus is open to organized guest activity only; access to campus will be granted only via a host or through advanced registration or ticketing. Guests will be allowed to eat on campus in a designated area. 
  • Surveillance testing will continue on Monday, December 6, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. in the Wellness Center. Students living and learning on campus are required to attend testing; employees may self-select to participate. 

While the campus community’s risk has decreased, our surrounding community is still experiencing serious community spread. We encourage everyone to remain diligent in their efforts to protect themselves and others in all of their daily activities. We encourage all students, faculty, and staff to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster at your earliest convenience.   Please use this link to schedule your booster shot: https://www.vaccines.gov/. 

As always, please submit questions to coronainfo@lawrence.edu, stay tuned to your email for updates, and continue to Honor the Pledge.  

Be well and stay well,    
Lawrence Pandemic Planning Team   

Winter Term Return to Campus Plan

Dear Lawrentians,   

Thanks to the continued commitment of our students, staff, and faculty—and a community vaccination rate of well over 90%—we have managed to keep the Lawrence community as healthy and safe as possible during fall term. This fact, as well as the staff’s daily efforts to keep the campus environment healthy for all and the faculty’s commitment to providing a robust and flexible academic program, gives us confidence in our ability to meet the university’s mission as the pandemic continues. Based on our successful return this fall, we announce today the plan for our full community to continue to live, learn, and work on the Lawrence campus this coming winter term. 

The Lawrence Pandemic Planning Team (LPPT) thanks the many health experts and members of our community with whom we consulted before making this decision. As we have throughout the pandemic, we have grounded our decision in three guiding principles: protecting the health and safety of our community; sustaining our academic mission; and supporting all community members. 

Here is what you need to know about winter term: 

  • Campus Move-In and First Week Protocols: Student move-in for winter term will occur on Sunday, January 2, 2022. To help facilitate our initial term testing protocol (see below) and protect the health and safety of our returning students and employees, the first week of winter term (Monday through Friday) will consist of: 

o   Remote instruction only; 
o   All student meals will be grab-and-go;  
o   All student activities will be held virtually; and 
o   Personal residence hall rooms will be limited to room capacity +1. 

  • Winter Athletics: All winter athletics will proceed with practices and competitions as planned. Women’s Basketball, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Ice Hockey, and Men’s Ice Hockey return by December 31 and will be tested under NCAA guidelines upon return. Women’s Fencing, Men’s Fencing, Women’s Swimming and Diving, Men’s Swimming and Diving, Women’s Track and Field, and Men’s Track and Field will return on January 2 and will immediately enter into testing under NCAA guidelines. Athletes can return to practice upon receipt of confirmation of negative test.  
  • Academic Calendar: The academic calendar for winter term will remain as scheduled. Winter classes will begin on January 3, 2022, and the last day of finals will take place on March 16. Spring break will last from March 17-27.  
  • Winter Break: Student Life will notify students by the end of the week (November 5) regarding winter break check-out details. Currently, students can request to remain on campus during any part of break (late stay or early arrival) via a form on Voyager.  All students who are necessary to be on campus for break (e.g. athletes/D-Term students) do not need to complete this form.   
  • Testing and Protocol for Returning to Campus: We will test all students and employees living, learning, and working on campus on January 3 and 4, 2022. Faculty and staff and students will also continue to participate in weekly surveillance testing through random selection; they may also voluntarily participate in testing if they are asymptomatic. As was our protocol during fall term, all unvaccinated community members will be tested weekly.  
  • Living on Campus Safety Protocols: All members of the Lawrence community will be expected to Honor the Pledge and be vaccinated (or have filed an exemption) to live, learn, and work on campus. We ask all students to take preventative steps for 14 days before coming to campus to ensure a safe and healthy arrival at Lawrence (e.g., practice physical distancing, self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms, consider taking a COVID-19 test). All eligible vaccinated students and employees are also encouraged to get a booster shot prior to returning to campus.   

One of the most important lessons we have learned through the pandemic is that the spread of COVID-19 remains unpredictable, and we must remain diligent. We cannot determine our path forward without considering the current situation in the Fox Cities where the widespread community transmission of COVID-19 has continued to be a challenge. We will continue to monitor the health of our campus and surrounding communities and to adjust university operations, following the stoplight guide, if needed.  

To stay up-to-date on all COVID-19 protocols and information, we encourage you to visit the COVID-19 News website and dashboard, which is updated every Monday. In addition, please read the weekly LU Insider e-newsletter, as well as emails from the LPPT.  Any questions or concerns regarding our plans for winter term or other issues can be emailed to coronainfo@lawrence.edu. 

Lawrence’s successful return to a fully in-person campus this fall is an accomplishment of which we should all be proud. Yet sustaining a healthy and successful academic year will continue to be a community effort, and we remain committed to doing everything within our power to keep the Lawrence experience strong, supportive, and safe. 
 

As always, be well and stay well. 

Sincerely,  
Lawrence Pandemic Planning Team 

Update on Fall Plans & Operational Status | August 24, 2021

Dear Lawrentians,   

It has been wonderful to see the Lawrence campus come to life as new and returning students, faculty, and staff arrive for the start of our academic year.  As we continue our preparations for our return to campus, we write to share updates on the university’s plans for fall and its operational status.  

Thanks to our campus-wide commitment to Honor the Pledge, which includes vaccination, mask wearing, surveillance testing, and other mitigation strategies, we look forward to in-person living, learning, and working this fall. This means:  

  • All members of our community must agree to honor the Lawrence Campus Community Pledge at the beginning of each term. Please complete the Pledge now if you have not done so already.The Pledge includes full participation in COVID-19 surveillance testing and adherence to the campus guest guidelines.  
  • Residential Education is prepared to welcome new and returning student arrivals as in a traditional year, while following our current safety protocols. Please note that Little Exec has been reserved for potential quarantine and isolation needs.  
  • New Student Orientation activities for incoming students will begin on September 9, as well as a sophomore orientation so that a portion of our returning sophomores can experience a more robust welcome to campus.   
  • Faculty are planning for in-person classes. Please consult the course catalog for more specific details.   
  • Staff are returning to campus, and all student-facing offices will be fully staffed by the start of classes on September 13.  

 
The pandemic has taught us to be agile, which is why we have developed plans to modify our housing processes, course modality, and workplace rules if necessary. Vaccination and masking continue to be the most effective means to mitigate the spread of the virus. To date, we have heard from more than 80 percent of our students, and 96% of responders are fully vaccinated or plan to receive their vaccination upon their return to campus. 4% percent of responders have submitted waivers. 85.6% of our faculty and staff are fully vaccinated. In addition, surveillance testing resumed with the arrival of fall athletes and Summer Institute participants last week (results available on the COVID-19 dashboard). We remain grateful for your dedication to protecting the health and safety of our community. 

Yet the alarming spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19 across the nation and in our surrounding community is extremely concerning. While our continued mitigation efforts have kept our campus healthy and safe for the last 18 months, we must rethink and reconsider the campus’ current operational status considering current pandemic trends. Following the protocols and metrics noted in the Stoplight Guide, theLawrence Pandemic Planning Team (LPPT)has changed theuniversity’soperational status to Yellow Light: Open, Moderate Risk. 

The following safety measures will take placeimmediately: 

  • Surveillance testing will be increased. All students will be tested upon their arrival. Beginning on Monday, September 20, all unvaccinated individuals and a larger sample of vaccinated individuals will be tested weekly. Any member of the Lawrence community may participate in weekly testing if they are asymptomatic. Wellness Services will provide more information regarding testing location and procedures soon. 
  • Masking is required indoors regardless of vaccination status.  
  • High-traffic and affected areas like classrooms and Andrew Commons, among others, will be deeply cleaned regularly. 
  • Campus is open to organized guest activity only; access to campus will be granted only via a host or through advanced registration or ticketing. 
  • All campus buildings can only be accessed by keycard. 

The university’s operational status will remain Yellow for the foreseeable future or until evidence suggests we move in a different direction. As we have for the last year, the LPPT will continue to monitor CDC and public health guidelines and consult with local and regional experts throughout the term. If adjustments to our plans are needed, we will be in immediate communication with our campus community.     

It is because of our dedication to one another and our collective resilience that we can return to campus this fall. We look forward to coming together again as a community . . . even in a modified way.  As always, please submit questions to coronainfo@lawrence.edu and be sure to read the weekly LU Insider each Thursday for additional updates and other campus news.  

Thank you, again, for your commitment to your fellow Lawrentians.  

Be well and stay well,  
Lawrence Pandemic Planning Team 

Campus Update from the Lawrence Pandemic Planning Team | August 9, 2021

Dear Lawrentians,

The Lawrence Pandemic Planning Team (LPPT) has been closely watching the continuing evolution of the pandemic around the world and here at home. We have spent the summer reviewing our plans for the upcoming academic year, following ongoing guidance from the CDC and our local health department. Our plans for a fully populated and highly vaccinated campus remain in place.  

Last week the CDC updated its guidance based on new information about the transmission of the Delta variant among vaccinated individuals. In communities where there is a “substantial” or “high” level of transmission, the CDC is recommending that all individuals—even those fully vaccinated—wear a mask indoors when in public. Outagamie County has officially moved into the high threshold of transmission, and the City of Appleton has now released its own recommendation that all individuals wear masks indoors in public spaces, regardless of vaccination status. 

Effective Tuesday, August 10, 2021, masks will be required indoors in the presence of others, regardless of vaccination status. This policy applies to members of the Lawrence community, as well as visitors. Exceptions to this policy include: 

  • Students in their residence hall room, adhering to residence life expectations.  
  • Employees working alone in a private office or partitioned workspace. 
  • Individuals who are actively eating.  

No other restrictions (e.g., distancing, gatherings, visitors, travel, etc.) are required for vaccinated individuals at this time, though we encourage all members of the Lawrence community to use their good judgment in assessing risk factors. Campus signage reflecting this new policy will be updated over the coming week, and the COVID-19 Communications Toolkit will be updated on August 13 with signs that can be downloaded and printed by individual offices. 

Our community has continued to Honor the Pledge through the summer months, during which no active cases of COVID-19 on our campus have been reported. Your commitment and dedication to protect the health and safety of our community gives us faith in our ability to return to campus safely this fall. As always, we will continue to monitor closely the local, regional, and national situation, and adjust our policies as needed. Please stay tuned for additional information on what to expect during this fall term coming shortly. 

If you have any questions, please email coronainfo@lawrence.edu, and we will get back to you as soon as we can.  

Thank you for your continued efforts to keep our community safe. 

Be well, and stay well, 
Lawrence Pandemic Planning Team 

Fall 2021 Plan Updates | July 14, 2021

Dear Lawrence Community, 

We look forward to welcoming Lawrentians new and returning in the coming months! Below, please find information on our Fall 2021 plan, including updated mask and visitor/event policies. 

When we decided that mounting a fall 2021 in-person session was of utmost importance for our community, we followed the science as we have throughout the pandemic. Currently, the COVID-19 vaccine is the best mechanism to mitigate risk of coronavirus spread in a community. Because of the inherent nature of proximity on a residential campus, which increases the risk of transmission of any sort, we decided to mandate full vaccination for our student population. Exemptions will be made for medical reasons, religious beliefs, or personal conviction. Faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated. 

Lawrence is over 80% fully vaccinated as a community. This includes over 85% full vaccination for our on-campus student population from this past spring term and over 80% full vaccination among employees as of today. Thanks to this community-wide effort, and because we anticipate an even more fully vaccinated population this fall, we will meet the CDC’s definition of an institution of higher education with a fully vaccinated community.  Following the CDC guidance for Institutions of Higher Education with a Fully Vaccinated Community, we are excited to share information on the Lawrence Fall 2021 plan: 

  • We will not mandate masking for any Lawrence community member when solely amongst our community. 
  • All modes for meetings/gatherings will be available, including: in-person, Zoom/Teams, and “Walk & Talks.” 
  • We will use full room capacity limits.  
  • We should each continue the practice of having a mask with us at all times. 
  • When an individual is in their own space (e.g., personal office, personal room), that individual determines if the space is a masked space. If the space is designated as masked, then anyone entering must wear a mask. If the space is not designated as masked, then mask wearing is the decision of the visitor. At any point, someone may wear a mask. Please note: Classrooms are considered meeting spaces where faculty may require masks at their discretion.  
  • We are excited to welcome back visitors from outside the Lawrence community to campus for certain events and performances. (More information on open events will be available before students join us on campus.) When hosting or attending events that include non-Lawrence community members indoors on campus (e.g., recital, athletics event, performance), we will require all spectators and/or participants (depending on the event) to wear masks.  
     
    As stated earlier, our decision to not mandate masking within our community is predicated on our assurance that we have a highly vaccinated population on campus. We will follow CDC guidance for “mixed” populations (combination of those vaccinated and not vaccinated) of people from both on and off campus which suggests masking in these settings. 
  • In a peer group setting (e.g., student organization, department/division meeting), a request for collective masking can come from anyone and should be honored. 
  • We have designated quarantine and isolation space for those living on campus should the need arise. 
  • Disposable masks will be available in every building.  

We continue to be thankful to those who committed to our efforts this past year, making our mitigation of the spread of COVID-19 a success.  

One of the principles that facilitated our success was the community-wide agreement we all affirmed by Honoring the Pledge. We treated each other with respect and held each other accountable. Because the world is still living through the COVID-19 pandemic, we will continue to have a Pledge this fall outlining the living, learning, and working tenets for all in our campus community.  

Highlights of the upcoming Pledge include:  

  • Vaccination and testing (as needed) adherence. 
  • Commitment to treating everyone with respect regardless of mask use. 
  • Quarantine and isolation protocols. 
  • Encouragement to stay home if feeling ill or wearing a mask if one must be on campus.  

Please stay tuned for a future message with the updated Pledge as the fall approaches. Additionally, we will have information on the Return to Campus policy for our employees by the end of July, articulating how we are operating as a residential campus community.  

We are grateful for all in the Lawrence community who have worked so diligently to bring us to this point – preparing for an in-person session. And again, we look forward to welcoming Lawrentians new and returning. 

Find Lawrence University COVID information at https://blogs.lawrence.edu/covid-19/ and please reach out with any questions to coronainfo@lawrence.edu.  

Regards,

 Lawrence Pandemic Planning Team 

Renewed Lawrence Campus Community Pledge | June 8, 2021

Dear Lawrence Community,

Thank you all for your continued resilience and dedication to Honor the Pledge. To date, more than 75% of our on-campus community is fully vaccinated, and, for the third week in a row, no active cases of Covid-19 are present on campus. 

As we transition into summer, we are introducing a renewed Lawrence Campus Community Pledge. This renewal is informed by recent CDC guidance for communities like ours with a high level of fully vaccinated members, which allows for those communities to expand permissible activities and behaviors that carry a low risk of viral spread.

The renewed Pledge will take effect Monday, June 14, and operate throughout the summer.As we have each term, we ask that all community members living, learning, or working on campus affirm the pledge by completing this form in Voyager.

Please note that proof of full vaccination for COVID-19 or an approved waiver is required for students to live or work on campus this summer. Students should send vaccine records or waiver, as well as questions about your vaccine status, to wellnessservices@lawrence.edu. We strongly encourage the rest of our faculty and staff to be vaccinated so we can continue to reintroduce a richer sense of community and belonging here on campus. Faculty and staff should send vaccine records to HumanResources@lawrence.edu. Please also anticipate a renewed Pledge for Fall 2021 to affirm closer to the start of the new academic year.

We look forward to spending the summer together. Please contact coronainfo@lawrence.edu with any questions.

Be well and stay well,
Lawrence University Pandemic Planning Team

Update to Masking Protocols | May 14, 2021

Dear Lawrentians,

Thank you for your commitment to Honor the Pledge. Your ongoing efforts have helped us sustain a COVID positivity rate of less than 0.5% for the majority of Spring Term. Thanks also to those able to be fully vaccinated. As of this week, nearly 75% of our campus employees and more than 50% of our students learning on campus are fully vaccinated. These are efforts of which we should be so proud. 

Based on scientific evidence and guidelines from the CDC and because of our community’s diligence, the Lawrence Pandemic Planning Team (LPPT) has determined that members of our community are able to be outdoors and unmasked, regardless of one’s vaccination status, in most situations. Specifically: 

  • Regardless of vaccination status, if you are outdoors and at least 6 feet from others, you do not need to wear your mask. 
  •  For all outdoor physically distant activities, masks are no longer required unless specified by the event organizer, e.g. Commencement. Masks are still recommended for crowded outdoor spaces and large events when physical distancing is difficult. 
  •  If you meet the conditions to be unmasked outdoors, you maintain the personal choice to wear masks in these settings. 

Please remember that masks will continue to be required in all indoor public areas. Masks may be removed in these areas if you are eating. 

The opportunity to return to a more familiar and personal experience as we gather outdoors is a positive step as this challenging year comes to a close. As health and safety guidelines are evolving nearly every day, we will continue to explore strategies that both allow for us to build community, while prioritizing the health and safety of our community in our decisions.

Please stay tuned to additional details on this shift and any other COVID-19 related news here and in the LU Insider. Also, please contact coronainfo@lawrence.edu with any questions or comments. Thank you, again, for your commitment to your fellow Lawrentians.  

Be well and stay well, 
The Lawrence Pandemic Planning Team