Bradley To Lift All-Student Quarantine - Significant Restrictions Will Remain

Dear Students,

Over the past two weeks, through the combined efforts of our students, faculty and staff, we were able to successfully slow the spread of COVID-19 in our Bradley community. You took this time to reset your behaviors and in turn you are protecting yourselves, your peers, our faculty/staff and the Peoria community. This was no small effort, and I would like to thank each of you for the efforts you have made and will continue to make.

After doing a great deal of research, consulting with the Peoria City/County Health Department and talking to a number of other universities facing similar challenges, I am ready to share our plans for moving forward beginning at 7 a.m. Sept. 23. 

We will return to pre-all-student quarantine teaching styles, but many of the restrictions from the all-student quarantine will remain in place. This new model reflects what we learned and is heavily influenced by how we operated during the all-student quarantine. It is my sincere hope this model will carry us from now through the end of in-person learning on campus on November 20.

While we were able to reverse the dangerous trajectory we were on, we haven’t eliminated COVID-19 from our campus community. We must remain vigilant. The number of new cases being diagnosed and the number of students who would be in quarantine have decreased significantly. We expect the number of positive cases and those in quarantine to continue to decline over the next few days. If we see another spike or negative trend, we would be forced to move back into an all-student quarantine and remote learning. At the end of those two weeks, all students would be asked to leave campus and return to their permanent residences to complete the semester virtually. Some exceptions would be made on a case-by-case basis (e.g. international students, students with time-critical student teaching, clinical or lab requirements, etc.).

Mandatory Campus Guidelines as of 7 a.m. Sept. 23

The following guidelines are mandatory for all students. Take time to read them carefully. Follow up questions may be directed to covid19concerns@bradley.edu. 

As a member of the Bradley community:

• You must wear a facial covering that covers both your nose and mouth except when you are in your own sleeping room (whether it is in a residence hall, house, or apartment). This is true when you are either inside or outside.
• You must maintain at least six feet of physical distance from others except when you are in your own sleeping room (whether it is in a residence hall, house or apartment).
• You must diligently practice proper hand hygiene and proper cough/sneeze etiquette.
• You may not have guests in your residence hall room or off-campus residence.
• You may not dine in at off-campus eating establishments, visit drinking establishments or visit off-campus residences that are not your own.

COVID-19 Testing, Isolation and Quarantine

It is important to note we have adjusted the quarantine guidelines based on what we have learned, and we have no evidence transmission is happening via brief, casual interactions or in the classroom setting. Additionally, our testing and tracing protocol has been enhanced to include symptomatic, asymptomatic, surveillance and targeted testing. Priority is given to students who are symptomatic. The Peoria City/County Health Department supports these modifications.

As a member of the student population, your COVID-19 status will either be isolation, quarantine or general population (i.e., presumed to be COVID-free). 

Beginning 7 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, we will identify specific individuals in a residence hall setting, as opposed to the entire floor, as close contacts (e.g., roommates of COVID-positive students and others who came into close contact with those students). Only those individuals identified as close contacts will be placed in quarantine. With that said, if there is a marked increase in the number of cases on a residence hall floor, the entire floor may be put into quarantine. An entire off-campus residence or fraternity/sorority house will continue to be considered close contacts and follow the original quarantine process.

Students who previously tested positive for COVID-19: If you have been COVID-positive and have fully recovered, you are considered part of the general population and all of Bradley’s guidelines, expectations and enforcement still apply to you. You are expected to follow all mandatory COVID-19 guidelines. The only exception is per CDC guidelines you would not be required to quarantine if you are identified as a close contact of a positive case.

Academics

Because of the unusual circumstances, there is no deadline for students to request a move to full remote learning. You must submit a request to vpsa@bradley.edu for approval. Remember, there may be exceptions to virtual classes like a practicum or lab. If accepted for remote learning, you will agree to the following: all tuition and fees will remain the same (minus housing fees); you will not be able to reside in the residence halls or SAC; all grades received will be letter grades (unless the course is already delivered as a pass/fail course); this decision is for the entire fall 2020 semester only and virtual learning may change your financial aid. 

Similar to the beginning of the fall term, we will have a blend of virtual and in-person classes. Depending on your COVID-19 status, you may be able to participate in virtual-only or both virtual and in-person classes.

• If you are a student in isolation, you must continue to attend virtual classes but you may not attend in-person classes.
• If you are a student in quarantine, you must continue to attend virtual classes but you may not attend in-person classes.
• If you are a student in the general population, you will return to your previously scheduled classes and continue to follow all required COVID-19 precaution practices.

Some students will still be in isolation or quarantine upon the resumption of face-to-face learning.

Non-Classroom Activities

While we are resuming in-person classes for the general population, we are still restricting social interaction to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and to assure we can complete the fall term on campus together. This table summarizes what you may do, what you may not do and what you are encouraged to do outside of your residence.

University Dining

All dining facilities will be grab-and-go only. Your personal dining options are based on your COVID-19 status.

• If you are a student in isolation, your meals will be delivered by dining services.
• If you are a student in quarantine, your meals will either be delivered to you or a specific location will be designated for take-out / grab-and-go meals.
• If you are a student in the general population, you will have access to grab-and-go meals at university dining locations. Stacks will remain closed for the remainder of the semester.

Student Life

All face-to-face activities hosted by student organizations will be done in a virtual environment only. This includes organization meetings and official (or unofficial) events.

The Markin Center will resume operation and Cullom-Davis Library will continue to be available, as will approved study locations.

Health Services will continue to schedule appointments and Counseling Services will continue to be available virtually.

Residence Halls

If you wish to move-out of your residence hall, you must first submit a request to vpsa@bradley.edu to switch to complete virtual learning. If accepted for remote learning, you will not be able to reside in the residence halls or SAC. Upon approval, you will automatically be released from your housing contract

If you are moving out of a residence hall, you must vacate your room. We ask no more than three (3) people, including the student, enter a building and room to help with the move. Roommates should NOT move-out of a room at the same time. You will be able to leave items in your room if you move out. Bradley University will not be responsible for any items left in a room and does not guarantee placement into the same room for the spring semester. More information regarding spring 2021 housing will come out in late October. Students who depart by Sept. 27 will have their housing and meal plans prorated to Sept. 9. Those who leave after Sept. 27 will have their housing and meal plans prorated based on their departure date. Please be patient since it will take some time to update your university bill.

All other housing operations, including Main Street Commons, individual rental properties, fraternities and sororities are operated by outside agencies. All questions regarding the operations of these properties should be directed to the appropriate landlord.

Enforcement of Mandatory Guidelines

We will continue to support you and do our best to keep you safe through enforcement of these mandatory guidelines. We are taking disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from campus, of anyone who violates these policies. You can help by continuing to hold yourself and those around you accountable to these mandatory guidelines. If you see concerning activity, report it to COVID19concerns@bradley.edu or complete the noncompliance form online. For an immediate response, contact 309-677-2000.

All students must cooperate fully with contact tracers working on behalf of the university or local health departments. This includes responding to inquiries (texts, emails or calls) and fully disclosing information relevant to case and contact investigation. For a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, this information includes the disclosure of the contact information for their close contacts. Information shared as a part of contact tracing is not disclosed as a part of any student conduct investigation/enforcement.

Finally, I want to thank you again. Because of your efforts, we are able to resume in-person instruction and can look forward to finishing the fall semester together as a community. We will continue to evaluate all of our actions. Remember, we are not out of the woods, we must continue to follow the guidelines and do everything we can to stem the spread of the virus in our community. If we see another spike or a negative trend emerges, we will have to go fully remote for the remainder of the semester. However, I am confident we can successfully complete the semester on campus if we all work together and remain vigilant in our compliance to appropriate behaviors. Bradley Unite.

Sincerely,

Stephen Standifird
President
Bradley University

NOTE: The mandatory guidelines outlined in this communication supersede information on the Bradley University COVID-19 website. The website and all online resources will be updated as quickly as possible.

–Sent to the Bradley community on 09/21/2020