Campus Operational Levels

Updated Feb. 27, 2020

Operational level transitions will be announced by VP Diorio in Lafayette Today. Changes that increase restrictions can occur at any time during the semester and are effective immediately when implemented. Changes that reduce restrictions will be announced on Fridays.

Current Campus Operational Status: Level 1

Phased Return to Campus

Most students will move in Feb. 1-4. Classes will begin on Feb. 8. Students will be required to obtain a negative COVID-19 test through Vault before arriving on campus. Instructions regarding pre-arrival testing were sent to all students in early January. Students who test positive for COVID-19 while at home must not return to campus until cleared by their physician.

Students will be tested upon arrival with expected results returned in 24-48 hours. Students will join the rest of campus in adhering to the expectations outlined in Operational Level 3 through at least Sunday, Feb. 7.

Students are to occupy the space assigned to them by Residence Life. Any returning sophomore, junior or senior will occupy the space originally assigned for the fall semester unless reassigned through the waitlist. Incoming first-year students received room assignments in November. All first-year students should anticipate having a roommate unless previously approved for a single through the Accessibility Services Office.

Students are expected to:

Wear a mask in any building (other than their residence hall room and bathroom) and while outside on campus.
Participate in pre-arrival, arrival, and weekly monitoring/surveillance testing.
Maintain at least 6 feet between yourself and others you do not share living space with (living space defined as bedroom, suite, apartment—not entire residence hall).
Follow the directions of contact tracers and medical staff if asked to isolate or quarantine.
Frequently wash hands and avoid unnecessary physical contact with others.
Not host or attend gatherings larger than the limits established by the College.

Students who feel they cannot abide by the expectations should remain at home and learn remotely.

Transition from arrival
Based on our experiences this fall and the pre-arrival testing strategy, we anticipate a very small number of the students will initially test positive for COVID-19. Sufficient isolation space is available for them.

Depending on living situations, some students may be able to quarantine in place and others may not. Students in apartments and suites where they do not share a bedroom with another student will be expected to quarantine in place. Students in residence halls with common bathrooms or who share a bedroom in any living configuration will be moved to quarantine housing. Quarantine housing may be off-site. Students may request permission to quarantine or isolate at home if their parents/guardians are in agreement. Students who want to go home will need to submit a request to the College. Students are advised to develop a quarantine plan including discussing with housemates and suitemates how to manage quarantine.

If less than 1% of students test positive during move-in we will transition to COVID-19 Campus Status Level 2 operations on Feb. 7. If new COVID-19 cases remain less than or equal to 1% for two consecutive weeks we will transition to COVID-19 Campus Status Level 1 on Feb. 22.

Level 1

Campus Operations

This represents a low alert regarding disease transmission with isolated and rapidly contained numbers of cases among the campus community. Assumes less than 1% new COVID-19 cases among on-campus students and employees each week. If new cases are greater than 1%, we will transition to level 2.

Actions

Classes anticipated to be in-person do so with appropriate physical distancing.
Dining halls are open for sit-down and to-go meals.
Library buildings are open with reduced capacity in study spaces to ensure social distancing. Access to Skillman Library requires a key fob. Reservations are required to study in the libraries. See the on campus & remote services or a chart of services by campus operational level.
Indoor meetings are limited to 45% capacity of any room using the space analysis conducted in the fall; physical distancing and masks must be worn at all times.
Residence hall cross-visitation (key fob access) is inactive.
Students are permitted to host guests who are enrolled to study from campus and reside in other residence halls or local off-campus residences whether the residence is College owned or privately owned. The total number present may not exceed double the room or suite/apartment occupancy (i.e., in a double, four people can be present) or five people, whichever is lower. Masks must be worn and social distancing in place. In rooms where appropriate distancing can’t be maintained no guests are permitted.
In housing common spaces such as residence hall lounges, students must limit groups to no more than five people, wear masks, and socially distance. Visitors from other buildings are permitted in common areas. There are some common spaces where use is limited to one person at a time due to the size of the space and inability to social distance within them (e.g., elevators, small laundry rooms, small kitchens). Signs are posted in areas with specific expectations.
Informal social gatherings for students are limited to five people. Informal social gatherings are defined as any event for which an approved mitigation plan is not on file with the Office of Student Involvement. In-person social gatherings must follow the guidelines in the COVID-19-Related Addendum to the Student Handbook.
Formal in-person gatherings sponsored by student groups, including Greek organizations, may have up to 20 participants. Student organizations must file a mitigation plan with the Office of Student Involvement and receive approval beforehand. Student organization operating guidelines will be reassessed every 4-5 weeks based on changing medical advice, emerging patterns, campus conditions, and transmission rates.
Outside visitors (guests not enrolled at Lafayette) are prohibited inside buildings but may visit outside if physically distanced and wearing masks at all times.
Athletics practices and competition are permitted if the Patriot League allows.
Travel for students is highly discouraged. Students who travel overnight or outside the Lehigh Valley are required to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of return to campus and may be required to quarantine for 10-14 days when back on campus.
Students cross-registered for courses at other LVAIC institutions may attend classes provided they adhere to all physical distancing requirements.
The Arts Campus and Metzgar shuttles operate, adhering to COVID-19 mitigation procedures.

Level 2

Campus Operations

This represents a moderate alert for disease transmission and includes mitigation activities aimed at containing spread. After a move to Level 1, a combination of factors could result in returning to Level 2, including:

New positive COVID-19 case numbers for on-campus students and employees exceeding 2% in a seven day period.
Significant breaches in physical distancing guidelines (events beyond College limits, numerous students not wearing masks, students not maintaining six-foot distances in academic or public areas).

Actions

Classes anticipated to be in-person do so with appropriate physical distancing and at the discretion of the faculty.
Dining halls are open for sit-down and to-go meals, but taking meals to go is encouraged.
Library buildings are open with reduced capacity in study spaces to ensure social distancing. Access to Skillman Library requires a key fob. Reservations are required to study in the libraries. See the on campus & remote services or a chart of services by campus operational level.
In-person meetings for student groups are not permitted regardless of size, with the exception of those operated and supervised by the College (e.g., intercollegiate athletics, new student orientation).
Informal social gatherings for students living in residences other than College-owned and private, off-campus housing are limited to those in the immediate residential environment and may not exceed five people.
Informal social gatherings for students in College-owned and private, off-campus housing may not exceed five people.
Residence hall cross-visitation (key fob access) is inactive.
Students may host guests from within their own residence hall only up to double the room or suite/apartment’s occupancy (i.e., in a double four people can be present) or five, whichever is lower. Masks must be worn and social distancing in place. In rooms where appropriate distancing can’t be maintained no guests are permitted.
In common spaces such as residence hall lounges, students from within the building should limit groups to no more than five people, wear masks, and socially distance. There are some common spaces where use is limited to one person at a time due to the size of the space and inability to social distance within them (e.g., elevators, small laundry rooms, small kitchens). Signs are posted in areas with specific expectations.
Outside visitors (guests not enrolled at Lafayette) are prohibited.
Athletics practices and competition are permitted if the Patriot League allows.
Overnight travel outside Northampton County by students is not permitted with the exception of students who are traveling to receive a COVID-19 vaccine from their home provider.
Students traveling to receive a COVID-19 vaccine should fill out this form for approval and then submit a copy of the completed vaccine record to Bailey Health Center.
Students cross-registered for courses at other LVAIC institutions may attend classes provided they adhere to all physical distancing requirements.
The Arts Campus and Metzgar shuttles operate, adhering to COVID-19 mitigation procedures.

Level 3

Campus Operations

This represents a very high level of alert regarding disease transmission indicated by:

New positive COVID-19 case numbers exceeding 3% in one week.
Significant breaches in physical distancing guidelines (events beyond College limits, numerous students not wearing masks, students not maintaining six-foot distances in academic or public areas).

Actions

In-person classes are scaled back to those approved by the provost and whose pedagogical needs require in-person delivery.
Administrative offices remain open and employees working on campus should continue to report as usual. Additional details for faculty and staff.
Dining transitions to grab-and-go or pre-ordered to-go meals only.
Students are expected to limit contact with others outside their residence hall/apartment/suite and may not host students from other residence halls/housing areas.
Students may exercise or spend time outdoors engaged in solo activities between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily.
Students will pick up meals twice a day, with no contacts involved other than being accompanied by a roommate. One of the meal pickups will occur between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and the second may occur outside that time period. Students with 20 meal plans will pick up two meals during one time period and one meal in the other on the days they wish to use three meals.
Library buildings are closed. See the on campus & remote services or a chart of services by campus operational level.
No in-person meetings or social activities.
No overnight travel for students with the exception of students who are traveling to receive a COVID-19 vaccine from their home provider. Students who depart campus overnight are not permitted to return unless the COVID-19 operational level has reverted to Level 2 or Level 1, and they must provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test before returning to campus.
Students traveling to receive a COVID-19 vaccine should fill out this form for approval and then submit a copy of the completed vaccine record to the Health Center.
Students may not travel to College-sponsored internships or other off-campus opportunities.
Faculty and staff working on campus may not participate in College-sponsored travel except with specific approval from their Division Head or the Provost.
Students may be restricted from attending in-person classes at other LVAIC institutions.
Arts Campus and Metzgar Shuttles do not operate.
Athletics competitions and practices may not be held without specific authorization from the director of athletics, and events are held on a limited case basis.

Level 4

Campus Operations

This represents the highest level of alert regarding disease transmission indicated by:

Deterioration of conditions results in a community spread event.
New positive COVID-19 cases among students or employees greater than 5% during any seven-day period.
Large-scale events being hosted by students and/or large-scale disregard for physical distancing measures.

Actions

No in-person instruction is permitted.
No in-person meetings or events are permitted.
All students quarantine in place with the exception of designated periods of time outside for exercise and fresh air. These times will be scheduled between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily.
Students will be assigned pickup times for meals.
Library buildings are closed. See the on campus & remote services or a chart of services by campus operational level.
No athletic practices or competitions are held.
No bus service is provided to the Arts Campus or Metzgar.