As has been the case throughout this pandemic, the first guiding principle of campus decision-making is providing a healthy and safe environment for those who work and learn on our campus. The second is ensuring that our students can continue to make progress toward graduation in a way that is as consistent with K’s overall educational philosophy and mission as possible.
K will continue to adjust its balance of online and on-campus activities throughout the 2020-21 academic year (or as long as it takes for the COVID-19 pandemic to become controlled), based on current regional and local conditions. The activity level chart indicates various levels of on-campus activity, using the following color-coded categories:
Color shifts, from Orange to Yellow or back to Red or Purple, will depend on regional, local, and campus conditions. For example, changes in the number of regional COVID cases, hospital capacity, testing response time, or staffing levels in critical areas could trigger a change in level. The College will conduct daily monitoring of relevant factors and communicate changes via Hornet Hive updates, K Alert, and signs on campus.
Protecting the Hive: All students, faculty, and staff are expected to observe public health and social distancing guidelines, both on-campus and off-campus interactions. These include maintaining at least a six-foot distance from other people, wearing masks, washing hands frequently, and participating in baseline and ongoing, random testing for the virus. The College has undertaken other mitigation measures, such as reducing the capacity of classroom and other spaces, limiting access to some facilities, and improving ventilation in buildings (sometimes reducing the ability to control heating and cooling).
Current Activity Level
(Updated May 26, 2021)
Protecting the Hive: K will be operating at Yellow Level. All students, faculty, and staff are expected to observe public health and campus guidelines. Maintain social distance from other people, wear masks where required, wash hands frequently, and participate in ongoing, random testing for the virus if unvaccinated. Shifts to other levels will depend on regional, local, and campus conditions.
Hybrid Learning, Cautiously Open at Reduced Density
- Classes meet online, outdoors, or indoors, with social distancing
- Designated indoor and outdoor study spaces and other facilities open, with social distancing restrictions
- Meetings, advising, student and staff services: social distancing required; virtual mode and outdoors interactions encouraged
- Residence halls open with single room occupancy and social distancing restrictions
- Remote work encouraged; onsite staff may work on rotational schedule
Public Health and Social Distancing Restrictions:
- Initial baseline and ongoing, random covid testing
- Complete health screening each day before coming to campus
- Six feet physical distance when possible
- Masking in common interior spaces and when distance not possible indoors or outdoors
- Frequent hand washing
Other: Business travel requires approval by relevant VP or President
Activity Level Descriptions
Note: The intention of this grid is to provide a range of operating stages that allows us to respond to changing events but at any time, a mandate from federal, state or local government or public health officials may override these criteria to move to greater restrictions on activity. Loosening restrictions by any of these external sources will not, however, automatically result in loosening restrictions for on campus activity; loosening of restrictions on campus will be based on assessment by President’s Staff of local conditions on campus and in the Kalamazoo community.
YELLOW: Open, Social Distancing
Hybrid Learning, Campus Open with Social Distancing
- Classes meet online, outdoors, or indoors, with social distancing
- Designated indoor and outdoor study spaces and other facilities open, with social distancing restrictions
- Meetings, advising, student and staff services: social distancing required; virtual mode and outdoors interactions encouraged
- Residence halls open with single room occupancy and social distancing restrictions
- Remote work encouraged; onsite staff may work on rotational schedule
Public Health and Social Distancing Restrictions:
- Initial baseline and ongoing, random covid testing
- Complete health screening each day before coming to campus
- Six feet physical distance when possible
- Masking in common interior spaces and when distance not possible indoors or outdoors
- Frequent hand washing
Other: Business travel requires approval by relevant VP or President
ORANGE: Reduced Density
Hybrid Learning, Cautiously Open at Reduced Density
- Provost and Registrar will work with faculty to reduce density in classroom buildings for in person or hybrid courses
- Limitations on indoor study spaces and other facilities (e.g., with reduced density and/or by appointment only)
- Indoor non-class meetings/sustained interactions of five or more people require approval by relevant VP
- Increased social distancing restrictions in residence halls
- Increased remote work per departmental/unit plan
- Outdoor work or activities continue with required safety protocols
Public Health and Social Distancing Restrictions:
- Initial baseline and ongoing, random covid testing
- Complete health screening each day before coming to campus
- Six feet physical distance when possible
- Masking in common interior spaces and when distance not possible indoors or outdoors
- Frequent hand washing
Other: Business travel requires approval by relevant VP or President
RED: Restricted
Remote Online Learning with Limited Access to Campus Facilities
- No on-campus classes; very limited student access to campus facilities with Provost approval
- Virtual mode or outdoors required for all meetings/sustained interactions
- In-person services provided only with approval of relevant VP
- Residence halls have additional safety measures or reduced density
- Outdoor work may be restricted
Public Health and Social Distancing Restrictions:
- Campus access requires approval by relevant VP or President
- Must conduct daily health screening and follow all public health, social distancing restrictions
Other: Business travel requires approval by relevant VP or President
PURPLE: Highly Restricted
Remote Online Learning. Campus access is restricted to essential activities
- Campus closed to students and staff, except offices and employee support required to maintain safety, security, and basic operations of campus
Public Health and Social Distancing Restrictions:
- Campus access allowed only as specified by relevant VP or President
- Must conduct daily health screening and follow all public health, social distancing restrictionsInitial baseline and ongoing, random covid testing
Other: Business travel prohibited unless approved by relevant VP or President