COVID-Related Updates for This Week
Rockhurst Student, Faculty and Staff Companions,
We hope your October is off to a wonderful start. Please take a moment to read the following message in its entirety. You will find reminders about important dates, University resources, pandemic protocols, the latest COVID numbers and more.
Important reminders
- We have noticed some not wearing facial coverings on campus, particularly on the weekends. 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).
- Even when wearing a facial covering, you must keep six feet of distance between yourself and others.
- Students, faculty and staff are required to complete a daily self-screening for COVID symptoms and exposure before coming to campus. If you have not already done so, please download Campus Clear, available for free on both Android and iPhone phones and as a desktop application, and check your health daily. Those who are considered cleared will receive a green “fast pass” through the app, allowing them access to campus buildings. Those who receive a yellow screen should stay home and monitor symptoms with no need to complete an illness report yet. Those who receive a red screen should stay home and report their symptoms through the illness report form.
- Even though you may be in the same residential “family” (i.e., students living together in the same residential space), you must wear your masks when you are in other indoor spaces (classrooms, library, study spaces, etc.).
Campus Resources
- Aylward-Dunn Learning Center – Tutoring and additional resources; virtual appointments available
- Greenlease Library – Online chat with a librarian available
- Faculty office hours – Be sure to talk with your faculty when you have any questions or concerns about your classwork. Office hours, where you can schedule time to talk, are posted on your syllabus.
- Counseling Center – All sessions are virtual right now. Be sure to contact the center if you are feeling overwhelmed or need to talk with someone about what’s going on in your life. Note: The Counseling Center is a student resource. Employees can speak to a counselor through the employee assistance program and can contact the Office of Human Resources for more information.
Important Dates
Please add the following important dates to your calendar:
- Friday, Nov. 20 — Last day of class before Thanksgiving break and before most residential students move out
- Monday – Friday, Nov. 23-27 — Thanksgiving break
- Monday, Nov. 30 – Fall classes resume
- Monday – Friday, Dec. 7-11 – Final Exams
- Tuesday, Jan. 26 – Spring semester courses begin with designated modalities, including face-to-face.
- March spring break has been canceled (originally scheduled for March 15-19).
- Easter break, scheduled for April 2-5, will take place. As always, classes beginning after 4:30 p.m. Monday will be held (April 5).
- Visit rockhurst.edu/calendar for additional important dates.
Positive and Quarantined Cases
We are currently Level 3 (Orange) out of four levels – Active cases on campus.
For undergraduate students on the Troost campus, the percent of active COVID cases has decreased from 1.6% to 0.9% and the percent of quarantined cases has decreased from 4.3% to 3.4% over the past week. Graduate student numbers on the Troost campus, as well as faculty and staff cases across all categories on both campuses, remain stable and low.
As of Sept. 29
Troost Campus |
Undergraduate Students |
Graduate Students |
Employees |
Total Population |
1520 |
774 |
414 |
Active Positive Cases/percentage |
14/0.9%* |
0/0% |
1/0.2% |
Quarantined/percentage |
52/3.4% |
3/4% |
0/% |
Westport Campus |
Undergraduate Students |
Graduate Students |
Employees |
Total Population |
551 |
110 |
87 |
Active Positive Cases/percentage |
1/0.2% |
0/0% |
0/0% |
Quarantined/percentage |
2/0.4% |
0/0% |
0/0% |
*Seven of the undergraduate positive cases are in University residential facilities. The number of beds available on campus for isolation is 46 and the number of occupied beds is 10.
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 realize the pandemic continues to bring added levels of stress, whether you are a student or a faculty or staff member. Please know that we care about you and are thankful for your presence as a member of the Rockhurst University community. The list of resources provided above is included because we want everyone to have the most rewarding experience possible this semester. Please take advantage of all the resources that are available to you and do not hesitate to reach out to your faculty members, your supervisor or your department chair if you have any questions about where to get assistance.
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