COVID-Related Updates for This Week

Rockhurst Student, Faculty and Staff Companions,

The Pathway Planning Task Force thanks everyone who took time to complete the recent surveys we sent to assess the University’s pandemic response. We appreciate your willingness to share your experiences and impressions with us so that we can adjust as necessary. Please know that we are continuing to evaluate the responses to look for trends and actionable items. 

Survey Notes

• In the COVID-related survey responses, employees and students commented that seeing others wearing masks incorrectly (not covering both nose and mouth) or not wearing them is causing them concern for their safety. Please remember that masks or facial coverings are required when in indoor spaces on campus and when outdoors but unable to observe social distancing. Masks or facial coverings are not required when eating or when exercising outdoors (given adequate social distancing), when alone in one’s residential room or office, or with an approved exemption from the Office of Human Resources (employees) or Disability Resource Center (students).
• Faculty indicated they wanted more certainty regarding which students will not be in class. Instructions regarding a new process to identify the dates students will not attend face-to-face classes will be announced within the next few days. Please note the process will not share any confidential or health-related information.
• As a result of your feedback, we have paused the COVID messaging playing from the loudspeakers.

Important Reminder

• Please do not rearrange the furniture in classrooms. It has been arranged to provide correct physical distance for the COVID-designated capacity of the room.

Positive and Quarantined Cases

We are currently Level 3 (Orange) out of four levels – Active cases on campus. The percentage of undergraduate positive cases increased from 0.2% to 0.7% over the previous week while the number of quarantined cases remained stable. For graduate students on the Troost campus, there has been a decrease in overall percentages from 1.3% to 0.6%. Faculty and staff populations on both campuses remain stable.

As of Sept. 15

*Nine of the undergraduate positive cases are in University residential facilities.

Definitions

• COVID Active: tested positive for COVID; isolated
• Quarantined: had close contact with a COVID-positive person; possibly being tested
• Close Contact: You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more; You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19; You had direct physical contact with the person (hugged or kissed them); You shared eating or drinking utensils; They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you

We have completed almost one month of classes. We have seen so many of you working to help others get through this pandemic – making videos to explain how to use personal protective equipment, making new friends while keeping physical distance, showing care and concern for students who are not in class, providing helpful suggestions for improving our processes – and for all of this and more we truly thank you. We understand that while we are getting used to how to behave safely during a pandemic, in many ways it is not getting easier.  Please continue to be kind to yourselves and others as we enjoy the privilege of being in community together.

Sincerely, 

Matthew D. Quick, Ph.D.  
Dean of Students/Vice President  
Student Development and Athletics  
  
Douglas N. Dunham, Ph.D.  
Provost and Senior Vice President  
Academic Affairs