The Kalamazoo College faculty have voted to make modifications to the Credit/No Credit policy for fall term 2020. The changes to the currently published catalog policy are highlighted in bold below. The unbolded information remains unchanged from the published policy.

Credit/No Credit Policy

All students may elect to take at most TWO letter-graded courses on campus as CR/NC (Credit/No Credit) in Winter and Spring 2020, with only the SECOND one of the two counting against the maximum of four courses over their college career (not including Spring 2020).

• Students may elect this option for at most one course in any one department. The CR/NC grade option is not available for Shared Passage Seminars or for the final course taken to satisfy the language requirement (i.e. 103 or 201).
• Letter-graded courses taken as CR/NC may not count towards any major, minor, or concentration (including required cognates), nor may they satisfy prerequisites for those course sequences that require a “C- or better,” without special permission from the department.
• Students who take a course for a CR/NC grade may retake the course for a letter grade
• Students may choose to apply the CR/NC option at any time during the course, up to midnight EST Friday of 10th week. The professor will assign a letter grade as per normal procedure, but the Registrar’s Office will convert passing grades to CR and will convert an F to NC. (Professors will not be formally notified if students have taken this option.)

These changes reflect the desire to provide additional flexibility for students and reflect consideration of student feedback about the CR/NC policy last spring.

If you have questions related to potential COVID quarantine and isolation such as what to bring in your “go bag,” what the campus will provide and good social practices, read this FAQ to learn more.

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.

Responsible, other-centered individual decisions aligned with public health guidance are the single-best way to “Protect the Hive” and the larger community from the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In order to ensure the safest possible environment, the following list of Community Safety Commitments applies equally to every member of the campus community (students, faculty and staff), every visitor and every vendor or contractor.

Note that some departments and offices (Athletics, Residential Life, as examples) have requirements in addition to the ones listed here. All requirements pertain where appropriate.

• Every person is expected to complete the daily symptom tracker (students using MyChart and employees using Campus Clear) prior to every campus visit, no matter how brief or infrequent.
• Every person is expected to wear a mask covering the mouth and nose, indoors and outdoors, unless alone in a confined space (residence hall room, office) with the door closed. Exceptions for residential students include while bathing and brushing teeth.
• Every person is expected to keep six (6) feet of distance from others in every campus setting.
• Every person is expected to engage in frequent hand washing and sanitizing.
• Every person is expected to abide by scheduled or phased activities, such as dining, as assigned to avoid unnecessary queuing and lines.
• Every person is expected to participate in arrival and surveillance COVID testing, as scheduled. Note that testing time is limited so individuals may need to adjust personal schedules to accommodate the required testing.
• Every student directed to quarantine or isolation (QI) campus housing is expected to respond promptly and to comply with all relevant directives and guidance. This includes remaining in QI housing for the duration of the QI period and cleaning up after themselves in shared spaces like kitchens and bathrooms.
• Every student is expected to comply with the direction and advice of the Student Health Center, and to respect the finite human and medical resources available to them.  
• Every person is expected to comply with contact tracing efforts. Consider downloading the state of Michigan COVID Alert app for mobile devices to provide additional contact tracing support.
• Every residential student is expected to communicate with family, friends, and loved ones that they are not permitted in the residence halls after the initial move-in period.
• Every person is expected to comply with College, local, state, and federal pandemic-related orders.
• Every person is expected to comply with all Community Safety Commitments without relying on the reminders of others.
• Every person is expected to abide by the best currently available public health guidance when they are not on campus. Every single decision made by each of us affects the health of every other person with whom we interact. 

These Commitments, and additional requirements for specific departments and offices, are expected to be kept, without reminders, by everyone equally. Students who fail to keep the Commitments risk immediate removal from campus, if they are in residence, or loss of privileges to use campus facilities if they are off-campus. To be clear, students enrolled in in-person or hybrid classes who are removed from campus or from campus privileges will jeopardize their ongoing in-person enrollment. Employees may face disciplinary action.

While we hope to rely on the good judgment of community members in abiding by the Community Safety Commitments, we will enforce them with speed and rigor if the situation warrants.

December 16, 2020

What kind of test is it?
A PCR (quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction) test looks for the presence of SARS-CoV-2.  PCR tests provide fast and highly accurate results.

What can I expect when I am tested?
You will be asked to confirm personal information. To run a PCR test, a specimen will be collected from the nose via nasal mid-turbinate collection, which is a little bit less invasive than nasopharyngeal (back of nose).

Who administers the test?
The test will be administered by OptiMed Health Partners.

What information about me will be shared with OptiMed by the College?
In order to streamline the testing process, the following information will be shared with OptiMed: name, mailing address, phone, K email address, date of birth, sex, race/ethnicity. OptiMed will store the information in compliance with privacy regulations and practices.

Should I need to bring anything with me to the test?
You should bring a picture ID.

How long will the test take?
The test will take approximately 5 minutes.

Will all students be included in the selection pool?
All students are automatically included in the testing pool. Students will need to opt out if they will NOT be coming to campus at any time for any amount of time during winter 2021. Note that completion of the opt-out form only applies to winter term. If students need to opt back in they should contact the Student Development Office (studev@kzoo.edu).

How will students be selected?
Together in partnership with Information Services, a process has been established to randomly select from the pool of active students. A student will be returned to the surveillance testing pool after all students have been selected. A minimum of 40 people (students, faculty and staff) will be tested each week. Increased positivity rates may increase the number of faculty staff, and students tested.

How will students be notified that they have been selected?
The primary means of notification will be through the kzoo.edu email address. 

When will students be notified that they have been selected?
Selections will be made on Friday for the upcoming week. The notification will include a link to schedule your test.

How long will students have to complete their test?
You will have until Wednesday of your selected week to complete your test.

What happens if I am not available on the day that I am selected?
Please be in contact with the Student Health Center about your situation. They will work with you to ensure that you are tested on the next available day.

Who pays for the test?
Kalamazoo College will pay for initial and surveillance testing.

Where will the testing take place?
The testing will occur in the banquet room located on the lower level of the Hicks 

Who will have access to the results?
Results of the test will be accessible by OptiMed Health Partners and the Student Health Center. Testing numbers with no identifying information will be included on the testing dashboard.

How will I learn of the results?
The results will be communicated by the Student Health Center.

What happens if I do not or cannot participate in the testing?
You are asked to refrain from coming to campus until an initial COVID test is complete. There are no known medical reasons why someone would not be able to tolerate a COVID test.

Kalamazoo College has robust testing protocols in place as part of our plan for re-engagement. All faculty, staff, and students will be asked to partake in an initial COVID test during the beginning of the winter term and random surveillance testing throughout the remainder of the academic year. The following applies to the initial testing phase.

Why are we requiring initial testing?
Protecting the health and safety of our community continues to be our primary goal. Testing is one of many ways that we are protecting each other. Identifying asymptomatic people is a way of preventing the spread of COVID-19.

When will I be tested?

The initial testing schedule for students (excluding residential students) is:

• Saturday, January 2, 3–5 p.m.
• Sunday, January 3, 3–5 p.m.
• Wednesday, January 6, 2–5 p.m.

First-year students moving into the residence halls will have their own schedule.

Will all students be included in the selection pool?
All students are automatically included in the testing pool. Students will need to opt out if they will NOT be coming to campus at any time for any amount of time during winter 2021. Note that completion of the opt-out form only applies to winter term. If students need to opt back in they should contact the Student Development Office (studev@kzoo.edu).

What kind of test is it?
A PCR (quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction) test looks for the presence of SARS-CoV-2.  PCR tests provide fast and highly accurate results.

Who administers the test?
The test will be administered by OptiMed Health Partners.

What information about me will be shared by the College with the testing professionals?
There are hundreds of people to be tested in a relatively short period of time. In order to streamline the testing process, the following information will be shared with OptiMed: name, mailing address, phone, K email address, date of birth, sex, race/ethnicity. OptiMed will store the information in compliance with privacy regulations and practices.

What can I expect when I am tested?
To run a PCR test, a specimen will be collect from the nose via nasal mid-turbinate collection, which is a little bit less invasive than nasopharyngeal (back of nose). 

Should I need to bring anything with me to the test?
You should bring a picture ID.

How long will the test take?
The test takes less than 5 minutes to administer. However, you should expect to wait due to the number of people to be tested. 

Who pays for the test?
Kalamazoo College will pay for initial and surveillance testing.

Where will the testing take place?
The testing will occur in the banquet room located on the lower level of the Hicks Student Center.

I am experiencing some symptoms of COVID-19. Am I able to be tested on campus?
For the safety of our community, please avoid coming to campus and contact the Student Health Center for more information. 

Who will have access to the results?
Results of the test will be accessible by OptiMed Health Partners and the Student Health Center. Testing numbers with no identifying information will be included on the testing dashboard.

How will I learn of the results?
The results will be communicated by the Student Health Center.

What happens if I do not or cannot participate in the testing?
You are asked to refrain from coming to campus until an initial COVID test is complete. There are no known medical reasons why someone would not be able to tolerate a COVID test.

My COVID-19 test is positive. Now what?
A positive test result means that you should follow the following steps. Additional information may be found by visiting the Student Health Center COVID-19 Resources page. 

• On-campus residents:
  • Limit interaction with those around you. Stay in your room until given directions on moving to an isolation room. See the Isolation Plan webpage for more information on what to expect. 
  • Wear a mask or cloth face covering.
  • Clean and disinfect things you touch, like light switches, doorknobs, tables and remotes.
  • Wash your hands often.
  • Cover cough and sneezes.
  • Don’t leave the isolation location.
  • Don’t share personal items.
  • Answer calls from your COVID Care Coordinator and the local Health Department.
  • Watch for severe symptoms or other health emergencies. If you need to call 911, tell them you have COVID-19.
  • After 10 days you may end isolation if you meet these criteria:
    • Have not had a fever for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever reducing medication.
    • Other symptoms, like cough or shortness of breath, have improved.
• Off-campus residents:
  • Limit interaction with those around you. 
  • Wear a mask or cloth face covering.
  • Use meal or grocery delivery services when possible or ask family and friends for help.
  • Clean and disinfect things you touch, like light switches, doorknobs, tables and remotes.
  • Wash your hands often.
  • Cover cough and sneezes.
  • Consider people living with you. If you live with someone with health conditions, think about how to isolate from them.
  • Don’t leave home.
  • Don’t share personal items.
  • Don’t use public transportation, if you have another choice. 
  • Answer your health department’s call. They will reach out to begin contact tracing. They can also answer your questions.
  • Watch for severe symptoms or other health emergencies. If you need to call 911, tell them you have COVID-19.
  • After 10 days you may end isolation if you meet these criteria:
    • Have not had a fever for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever reducing medication.
    • Other symptoms, like cough or shortness of breath, have improved.

My COVID-19 test is negative. What do I need to know?

• If you had a known exposure to a confirmed case, contact the Student Health Center for more information.  You will need to quarantine until 14 days after your last exposure. On campus students will be moved into a quarantine space and out of their residence hall for the duration of their quarantine. 
• If you had no known exposure to a confirmed case, and you are symptomatic, you may have another respiratory pathogen that is circulation in the community. Call the Student Health Center. Ask if you should be tested again or for another illness if you continue to have symptoms of COVID-19. Avoid group settings until 3 days after the last day of your respiratory symptoms and fever.
• If you had no known exposure to a confirmed case and you are not symptomatic, you may return to your regular routine. Continue practicing physical distancing, wearing your clean mask and washing or sanitizing your hands frequently.

Who can I contact with questions?
You can contact the Student Health Center at 269-337-7200.

For our winter teams (basketball and swimming and diving), the return-to-campus process will be as follows:

• Student-athletes and coaches will return to campus on January 9 and report to the Hicks Center in masks.
  • Women’s basketball will report at 2 p.m.
  • Men’s basketball at 2:30 p.m.
  • Swimming and diving at 3:15 p.m. 
• Upon report time, the student will enter into the student center where they will have their temperature checked, fill out a health screening form, and then wait to be PCR tested for COVID-19.
• If the student is living in the residence halls, they will be given their key to move in from their coach. The student will then go and unpack their belongings and quarantine for the night.
• Dinner that night will be a grab and go from the dining center for all student-athletes, and that should be the only reason students leave their rooms or houses once tested and moved in. Your coaches will provide more details on meal times for the team.
• Test results should come back to us the following day and then Phase II will begin (please refer to the previous email for that phasing process). For those living in off-campus housing, the same process will be followed. We are urging our students not to be within 6 feet of one another for more than 10 minutes if they can avoid that. It is important to stay as distant as possible, especially while awaiting test results.

We expect our student-athletes to be masked up at all times while on campus and in every in-person team setting. We understand that sometimes the mask will need to come down or be readjusted (e.g., water breaks); however, we expect all of our teams, players, coaches and support staff to mask up and protect the hive. We will provide all of our student-athletes with a game-day mask, but would urge them to come to campus with multiple masks that they will need for practices and daily life.

We also expect our student-athletes and staff to fill out a daily health screening from their phone or device BEFORE they come to campus. Students will be using the Bronson MyChart app and will report their results to their coaches. The winter student-athletes have been well informed about this, and our fall and spring teams will have meetings about this as well in the coming weeks. If you (the student) are not feeling well on any given day, then please call your athletic trainer and you and they will talk through what you should do that day.

We will follow all NCAA testing protocols while in season to keep our teams as safe as we are able in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The MIAA will have minimum expectations of care that all nine conference schools will follow so that we are all doing our part across Michigan and Indiana to be safe and responsible once we start competitions. As of now, we will only be playing MIAA competitions for our winter and fall schedules. We are still weighing out our options for spring as we continue to monitor local and state numbers to fight this pandemic. 

We also will not be permitting fans in our stands for any home contest this winter. We will livestream all of our home games for fans to watch in the comfort and safety of their own surroundings. We know this is not ideal for the parents, friends, families or student-athletes, especially for our senior student-athletes; however, this is one way we believe we can limit our risk while keeping fans connected to Hornet athletics. We have not made any decisions for fall/spring yet, but we will err on the side of caution in order to keep our students, faculty and staff in the safest and most low risk environments.