Preparing for the Spring Semester

Over the coming weeks, each edition of Lafayette Today will have helpful information to prepare students for the start of the spring semester. It is incredibly important to your success that your expectations about what the spring will hold be as realistic as possible, and that begins with thinking about the arrival and move-in process. We understand how challenging it is for families to coordinate campus moving plans and, for those traveling greater distances, the challenges can be compounded by airline policies, availability, and the unpredictable nature of winter weather in the Northeast. 

We also are facing a logistical challenge to coordinate pre-arrival and arrival testing while managing on-campus density during move-in so we do not unnecessarily expose families, students, faculty, and staff to the potential of a COVID-19 outbreak. As you begin planning, please bear the following in mind:

• Move-in dates must be limited to maintain density levels and manage daily testing volumes. Please do not contact us and ask to arrive earlier than the start of the move-in period. Understand that arriving late may prevent you from beginning in-person instruction. 
• Upper-level students will move in Feb. 1-4. Some students, including resident advisers, orientation leaders, and student-athletes slated to begin competition this spring, will have earlier arrival dates. You must follow the direction of the Residence Life Office (forthcoming email) in planning your arrival and registering for an arrival time slot. 
• First-year students will move in Feb. 3-4. Orientation leaders and resident advisers will have plans for your activities both while in your residence halls and once we can release students to general campus activity.  
• Interim: Students arriving for interim classes or EXCEL research will move in Jan. 14-15. The first day of interim is Monday, Jan. 18. 
• International students: Contact Janine Block, assistant director of intercultural development, international student advising, regarding your arrival times and to confirm you will reach campus when we can accommodate your arrival test and issue keys.  
• When traveling to campus, please limit the number of people who accompany you to no more than two adults. As has been the case throughout the pandemic, we will adjust any guidance about the number of family members who can accompany students as we come closer to the actual dates.  

Be on the lookout in upcoming editions of Lafayette Today for details about our testing plans, including how we will address pre-arrival testing, arrival testing, and weekly testing for all students, faculty, and staff on campus. We also will share information about our community health pledge that must be signed by all students interested in coming to campus, quarantine and isolation procedures and tips for success, and other information to help you know very clearly what to expect while on campus in the spring. 

This has not been the year anyone expected, but we have every reason to believe you will have a meaningful experience next spring whether on campus or studying from home. 

Sincerely,

Annette Diorio
Vice President for Campus Life