Tag: Return to Campus

Spalding President Tori Murden McClure sent the following message to Spalding students, faculty and staff on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021.

Dear Spalding Community,

We can’t wait to kick off the fall semester on Monday.

It has been exciting to have our new first-year students on campus this week for Engage, and by this weekend, all of our new and returning residential students will be moved in. Then on Monday, for the first time in 18 months, the majority of our classes will once again be held in person.

Our faculty and staff who were working remotely throughout the pandemic are back in the office as well, and in-person services and office hours are available for academic and student services departments across campus.

It is a momentous time as the depth of conversations and the joy of events and activities that can only be achieved in face-to-face settings – and that are key to the university experience – are restored on a broad scale.

As we prepare to reunite fully next week, I ask everyone to commit to doing their part to maintain a safe and healthy campus. The cooperation and responsible behavior of all students, faculty and staff is critical to get through the surge caused by the COVID-19 Delta variant.

Please review our Healthy Together at Spalding webpages, including the information on procedures for if you have been exposed to COVID-19. Students, please make sure to review this message from Dean of Students Janelle Rae from Monday, Aug. 16.

HEALTH AND SAFETY  

When you arrive on campus on Monday, please remember that a face covering is required for all individuals in all indoor settings, except for your own residence hall room or private office or whenever you are eating. I do not intend to mandate masks any longer than is necessary this year, but it is absolutely necessary right now with Delta cases on the rise.

In addition, I urge you, if you have not already, get vaccinated for COVID-19! The vaccines are safe, free and easily accessible, and the data couldn’t be clearer that they work.

From March 1 to Aug. 16, 2021, 86.8 percent of COVID-19 cases and 90.5 percent of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Kentucky were among partially vaccinated or unvaccinated individuals, according to the Governor’s Office.

We are planning an on-campus vaccine clinic the week of Aug. 29, with more information to follow.

We also plan to implement mandatory on-campus testing for COVID-19 for unvaccinated employees and those students in high contact and congregate settings such as athletes and residents who have not been vaccinated.

UPCOMING EVENTS/ACTIVITIES 

I am excited that once again, a full slate of events and activities will be taking place on campus, with many planned around the start of the fall semester. These are fun, meaningful and safe, and please plan to attend as many as you can. Thank you to the dozens of folks who have worked hard to organize these special events.

* Mon.-Sat., Aug. 23-28: Welcome Week – A wide variety of mixers, meet-and-greets, games, informational sessions, and athletic events all across campus. Check out the full Welcome Week schedule here, and here is a Facebook event for the entire schedule.

* Mon., Aug. 23: WDJX Campus Crash, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Mother Catherine Square – Stop by as 99.7 WDJX broadcasts live from campus on the first day of classes. There will be tents set up with free Spalding T-shirts and masks, snacks and other prizes.

* Thurs., Aug. 26: Convocation, 10-11 a.m., Columbia Gym Auditorium and online – This traditional event welcomes our community to all of the excitement a new academic year brings and inspires us to live into our mission. Louisville Urban League President Sadiqa Reynolds will deliver our keynote, and I will distribute a mission coin to each new Spalding student. All new students are encouraged to attend in person. All others are encouraged to join virtually, with the link to do so in your Wednesday, Aug. 18 email from Dean Tomarra Adams.

* Sat., Aug. 28: Eagle Fest, 6-10 p.m., Trager Park – Our inaugural fall free concert is our biggest welcome-back event of the week. Joslyn and the Sweet Compression and DJ Alli will perform, and there will be food trucks, giveaways and vendors. The Student Involvement Fair, with information on campus clubs and activities, will be held on site. Arrive early for a free T-shirt. Families are welcome.

This is an exciting time for our campus, and we are set for another tremendous year at Spalding. Please mask up, get a vaccine and pledge to do what it takes to keep yourself and our campus community safe. I can’t wait for us to work and learn together and to have a lot fun along the way.

See you Monday!

Tori

Tori Murden McClure 
Spalding University President 

Spalding Dean of Students Janelle Rae sent the following message to Spalding students on Monday, Aug. 16, 2021.

Dear Spalding Students,

We are so looking forward to welcoming you back to campus, engaging in rigorous learning, and rebuilding our interpersonal connections. As the Delta variant of COVID-19 continues to spread at alarming rates, it is important that we all do our part to protect each other’s health, wellbeing, and ability to learn. Please take note of Spalding University’s COVID guidelines that are currently in place and what we are considering enacting as information becomes available.

MASK MANDATE 

Face coverings will once again be REQUIRED on campus in indoor settings for ALL individuals, regardless of vaccination status. This includes faculty, staff, students and visitors. The only exceptions will be in residence-hall rooms or when individuals are alone in their private offices or while eating in the College Street Café or a campus lounge/breakroom. Faculty are allowed to remove their masks while teaching if maintaining 6 feet distance from students, which is consistent with the Governor’s Executive Order. The amazing cooperation and masking compliance we achieved last academic year were undoubtedly key contributors to our low number of positive cases on campus.

If you see someone not wearing their mask or not wearing their mask properly, be a good neighbor and gently remind them to mask up.

VACCINES AND RANDOM TESTING 

Vaccines are the best defense against the COVID-19 virus and the Delta variant. Vaccination significantly reduces the likelihood of serious illness and even death. The fastest-growing age group contracting the virus in our state is between the ages of 20 and 44.

At this time, while the vaccines are under only emergency-use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Spalding is not requiring COVID-19 vaccines for employees or students. But be aware that Spalding plans to require employees to be vaccinated once one of the current vaccines has received full FDA approval.

In addition, to protect our campus and to keep a gauge of asymptomatic positive cases within the Spalding community, we plan to implement on-campus testing for COVID-19 for employees and those students in high contact and congregate settings such as athletes and residents who have not been vaccinated. More information will be shared once the testing process is finalized, but at this time we expect that employees and students who attest to being vaccinated will be exempt from this testing. A form is being developed for students to upload their proof-of-vaccination card or record.

Spalding will offer a free vaccine clinic on campus the week of Aug. 29 open to all students, employees, and the public. More details to come.

CONTACTING EAGLE CARE CLINIC ABOUT COVID-19 

If you do not feel well, have been exposed to COVID-19 or have tested positive for COVID-19, stay home and work with your professor to make up the classwork you miss. Some courses may be able to provide live streaming but not all will, so you are responsible for notifying your professor and asking how you can best participate in class and engage with the course material.

You should also contact the Eagle Care student health clinic to report your symptoms, COVID-19 exposure, and COVID-19 test results and receive guidance on your next steps by calling 502.873.4255. For information on Spalding’s isolation and quarantine protocol, visit Spalding’s Healthy Together webpage.

We have discontinued using the #CampusClear health-screening app, and a daily health screen is no longer required before coming to campus. If you are still receiving reminders, you can uninstall the app or choose the “Purge My Info & Delete My Account” feature on the app.

CAMPUS ACTIVITIES 

With vaccines, mask requirements, and regular COVID testing, we hope to return to a robust campus life and invite you to participate in and lead opportunities for community building across campus.

The health and safety of our community will remain our top priority, and we will continue to adjust our guidelines as needed to keep everyone safe.

Thank you for making Spalding the amazing place that it is.

Janelle Rae

Dean of Students 
Spalding University

Spalding President Tori Murden McClure said the following message to students on Friday, July 30, 2021:

Dear Spalding Students,

I hope you are having a great summer. We miss seeing you on campus and can’t wait to have you back in just a few weeks.

As we prepare campus for everyone’s safe return, it is clear that the Delta variant of the coronavirus has led to a significant rise in positive cases of COVID-19 locally and nationally, and it is proof that this pandemic continues to present significant challenges.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Spalding has prioritized the health and safety of our campus community and adjusted our practices as needed to protect our faculty, staff and students. The current risk of the Delta variant requires action on our part.

Effective Monday, Aug. 2, face coverings will once again be REQUIRED on campus in indoor settings for ALL individuals, regardless of vaccination status. This includes students, faculty, staff and visitors. The only exceptions will be when individuals are alone in their private offices or residence-hall rooms or while eating in the College Street Café or a campus lounge/breakroom.

I hope and foresee this mask requirement to be a temporary measure. But at this time, a mask requirement for everyone is an easy step that will provide consistency, clarity and, most importantly, protection for the campus community during a critical moment in the pandemic. The amazing cooperation and masking compliance we achieved last academic year were undoubtedly key contributors to our low number of positive cases on campus.

Thankfully, we all have safe, free, easy access to a powerful safeguard against infection and severe illness: the COVID-19 vaccines. About 97 percent of people in the country who are hospitalized for COVID-19 are unvaccinated. If you have not been vaccinated, Spalding strongly encourages you to get your shots now in order to be fully vaccinated by the time fall classes start on Aug. 23.

The health and safety of our community will remain our top priority, and we will continue to adjust as needed to keep everyone safe.

From now until your return to campus, have fun, stay safe, wear a mask, and, if you have not already, please get vaccinated. We miss you, we are proud of you, and we will see you soon.

Thank you,

Tori

Tori Murden McClure, 
Spalding University President

Spalding University President Tori Murden McClure sent the following message to the campus community on June 25, 2021:

Dear Spalding Community,

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us achieve a safe and successful 2020-21 academic year amid the challenges of COVID-19.

The teamwork of the campus in implementing and complying with our health and safety protocols can’t be commended enough, and our faculty and students exhibited tremendous adaptability in delivering and completing an abundance of classes in a remote format. Additionally, much of our campus community has taken the safe, responsible step of getting vaccinated for COVID-19.

In these ways, Spalding has played its part in helping our community stay safe. The pandemic certainly isn’t over, but the promising decrease in COVID-19 cases locally and nationally and the increase in vaccinations have positioned us to transition safely to campus operations in 2021-22 that will much more closely resemble pre-pandemic life.

We believe that a vibrant campus with rich in-person learning is essential to the college experience at Spalding, and we look forward to a return to that engaging environment.

Starting this fall, we expect that nearly all classes that were moved from in-person to a remote format due to the pandemic will return to a face-to-face setting.

Here are other changes and updates in policies and protocols, effective July 1. All are subject to change.

Masking

● After June 30, Spalding’s indoor mask mandate will be lifted for individuals who have been vaccinated for COVID-19.

● If you are not fully vaccinated, continue to wear a mask and practice physical distancing in all public, indoor settings on campus. Unvaccinated individuals should follow prevailing CDC guidelines for preventing illness and the spread of the virus.

● Any vaccinated individual who prefers to wear a mask in any setting will be welcome to do so. Even though masks won’t be required for all, it would be appropriate to continue carrying and wearing a mask as a courtesy to others who may feel more comfortable with having people wear them in close quarters.

● Hand sanitizer dispensers installed across campus during the past 15 months will remain in place. Regardless of your vaccination status, please continue to use them regularly as well as practicing frequent, thorough hand-washing throughout the day.

Vaccines

● At this time, COVID-19 vaccines are not mandated for any member of the Spalding community, but they are strongly encouraged. Please get vaccinated! The university is reviewing whether or not to require vaccines and will notify the campus community if a change in policy takes place.

● If a student has any questions about the safety or efficacy of vaccines or is unsure where to get a shot, please contact the Eagle Care Health Clinic at [email protected]. Information on vaccine sites near your area can be found at vaccines.gov.

Room configurations/capacity

● Offices and classrooms will return to normal configurations, in accordance with CDC and state and local guidelines.

● Capacity for on-campus events will return to their pre-pandemic levels.

● Full fan capacity at athletics events will also return, unless otherwise mandated by our conference.

● The College Street Café dining hall will operate at normal capacity.

On-campus housing

● Residence hall rooms may return to double-occupancy.

● Isolation facilities will continue to be utilized as needed.

Daily health assessment

● At this time, we will continue to require all students, staff, faculty and visitors to complete and pass the #CampusClear daily health assessment before coming to campus each day. In the instances in which we have had positive cases within our campus community, we have found #CampusClear to be an effective method for individuals to notify the university. You can learn more about #CampusClear and access links to download the app here.

● Regardless of vaccination status, any individual who is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should not come to campus.

Spalding will continue to abide by federal, state and local guidelines, and any of the above policies are subject to change based on the state of the pandemic.

This is a time of tremendous hope for our campus and our country, and, again, the best way to ensure the safety of yourself, your loved ones and our university community is to get vaccinated.

Enjoy a great, safe summer. We can’t wait to see everyone on campus in August.

All the best,

Tori

Tori Murden McClure
President, Spalding University

Dear Spalding Community,

As we head toward the end of the academic session, I would like to continue to thank all of our students, faculty and staff for your resilience and dedication so far this year. I can’t commend our students enough for your cooperation, graciousness and flexibility in helping to keep our campus safe and healthy while staying on top of your academics.

The hard work of everyone is appreciated, and the upcoming session break and Thanksgiving holiday will be a welcomed chance to relax. I hope everyone has a truly restful holiday.

Sadly, however, as we begin the holidays, this pandemic persists, and our country has seen an alarming spike in COVID-19 cases.

Over Thanksgiving, I urge you to please take every precaution to keep yourselves and your loved ones safe and well. Carefully weigh the risks of travel, of going out to a mall or restaurant, of socializing with multiple households. Gov. Beshear on Wednesday issued new public health measures to slow the spread of the virus. Please take heed of those guidelines, and continue to follow the news to see what other actions government officials may take.

Remember also to abide by the tenets of the Spalding Promise that we all signed at the start of the year and which still applies during the break. We have all committed to:

• Avoid large gatherings and parties.
• Wear a mask at all times when indoors, or when in groups outdoors.
• Practice social distancing at all times.

When classes resume on Nov. 30, we must be more diligent than ever to work together in keeping campus safe and healthy.

Students, keep in mind that every in-person class will be streamed, in case you want or need to participate online. This may be a wise option for many.

Additionally, students, employees and visitors must continue to complete the #CampusClear self-assessment before coming to campus.

The recent news about the development of vaccines is very promising. We have come this far, so let’s continue to work together to get through this, especially at this critical time.

I am thankful for all of you and for the privilege of serving this institution.

Have a great, safe and restful break, and Happy Thanksgiving. You deserve it.

All the best,

Tori Murden McClure

Spalding University President

With tape to mark their desks and plenty of space between them, masked-up students returned to face-to-face classes at Spalding University on Monday and Tuesday for the first time since March.

Students said it was great to see their friends’ faces again – even if it was only the top half of those faces – and resume the in-person courses that they’d missed.

“I love being in in-person classes,” sophomore nursing student Samantha Roberson said. “I hope it continues, and I think it will continue if people keep wearing their masks like they should be and have been.”

When Roberson and fellow nursing students Erica McMann and Claire Houck arrived at their anatomy and physiology lecture class at the Egan Leadership Center’s Troutman Lectorium on Monday, at least every other chair was removed from the rows of long tables, with tape marking the spaces where they could sit.

“It was a little bit weird to get used to it at first,” Houck said, “but we’re supposed to be in class, not gathered and talking anyway, so it was nice.”

Fully in-person classes make up about 20 percent of the course sections at Spalding this session. The University is providing both in-person options and an array of fully or partially remote classes. The result is to accommodate students who want or need a traditional on-campus learning experience – especially in lab and hands-on courses – while keeping the overall density of people on campus low during the pandemic. Spalding has also expanded and enhanced its remote learning programs and technology in recent months and years.

The three nursing students said some of their classmates joined the class home, watching on an web stream that is available for every in-person course at Spalding this session.

“I thought that was cool,” Houck said.

HEALTHY TOGETHER AT SPALDING

• What you need to know about the fall semester
• Healthy Together home page
• Return to Campus Plan
• Health and Wellness information
• Campus Updates

Houck, McCann and Roberson said the lab portion of their anatomy and physiology course has been divided into two groups. Half of the students meet in person one day,  while the other half meets online. The next day, the groups swap.

Houck, McMann and Roberson all also live in the Spalding Suites. They said they preferred the expanded move-in period from last weekend. Returning students moved into the Suites by appointment over two days instead of one day in years past.

MOVE-IN 2020 | Residential students bring ‘renewed energy’ to campus

They said they had not encountered anyone on campus who was not wearing a mask or keeping a safe six-foot distance from other people.

“If everyone continues to do what they need to do to keep themselves and their community safe and healthy, we’ll all be just fine,” Houck said.

Another group of nursing students – those in Spalding’s accelerated BSN (second degree) program – had their first-ever day of on-campus classes on Monday at the Republic Bank Academic Center.

“I do feel safe, and I love the fact that Spalding (has) the flexibility but also the standards that they are enforcing like this is a real thing,” student Melissa Davis said. “‘Everybody follow the precautions. Everybody does their own part.’ And then I also feel like I won’t be penalized if I get sick.”

“It’s chilled out having your own table in a big space. Anxiety is definitely down.”

All the students interviewed on Monday said they had completed the #CampusClear health assessment before arriving on campus. That, along with wearing masks and staying socially distant and agreeing to the Spalding Promise pledge, is a key tenet of Spalding’s Return to Campus plan.

The app “is really easy to navigate,” second-degree BSN student Brittanie Glasser said.

Second-degree BSN student Craig Blasi, who previously attended a large public university, said he is already enjoying the small class sizes at Spalding.

“It’s a good family atmosphere,” he said. “I just met all my classmates today, and we’re all really close already. (At the larger university), it wasn’t bad; it was just big. I didn’t feel as included as I do here.”

New to Spalding or returning to campus? Either way, this probably isn’t how you envisioned the start of your fall semester.

The Coronavirus pandemic has brought a lot of uncertainty, but you can count on us at Spalding to help you be successful this academic year. Whether you will be taking classes on Spalding’s campus or online, we’re here to help you stay healthy, safe, connected and informed.

What you need to know

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Daily Checklist

Temperature, self-assessment, mask, wash hands, social distance, repeat… If you plan to be on campus this fall, this will be your mantra. We ask that all our residents, students, faculty, staff and visitors join us in taking these health precautions as a campus-wide effort to be healthy together.

See these and other steps we are taking for the health and wellness of our campus this year.

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Spalding Promise

Just as our mission gives us a common languéage and a shared commitment to do better, so shall the Spalding Promise—our community pledge to each do our part for the care of our community, ourselves and others during this global pandemic. We ask that every member of the Spalding community read, understand and pledge to abide by the Spalding Promise.

Login to your Spalding portal to read and sign the pledge before you come to campus this fall.

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New Dining Options

Part of staying healthy is staying well fed. We’ve updated our dining options for the 2020-2021 academic year. You can now choose from the College Street Café or the Campus Store, which will have quick, ready-to-eat sandwiches, salads, drinks and snacks, as well as reheatable items. We’ve closed the Pod, but not to worry. We’ve transformed the Café to incorporate similar food and convenience of the former Pod.

The Café will have grab-and-go meals, salads, smoothies and sandwiches, live cooking stations, and a rotating weekly menu.  Students, faculty and staff can access the menu from their Spalding portal.

Café Hours of Operation

Monday – Thursday: 10:30 – 2:00 (lunch); 3:00 – 7:00 (dinner)

Friday: 10:30 – 2:00 (lunch only)

Saturday: Café is closed. Grab-and-go food is available at the Campus Store.

Sunday: 10:30 – 2:00 (brunch or omelet station)

New Campus Store

The new Campus Store is your one-stop-shop for Spalding apparel, school supplies, grab-and-go meals, snacks and drinks, and other items.  It replaces our traditional bookstore—now an online bookstore—and is also where you’ll find the Campus Post Office. You can also get your EagleCard ID and parking permit from the Campus Store.

Learn more about the Campus Store.

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Academic Advising

Academic advisors will continue to support, engage and connect with students this fall, helping to build community during a time where community interactions will be limited. First-year students can expect to see advisors in their SU-100 classes, allowing students and advisors to connect remotely outside of typical advising appointments.

Monday and Tuesday of week 1, Academic Advising and Student Success will have virtual drop-in hours from 8:30 am-5 pm. Virtual drop-in hours will allow you to change your schedule (add, drop or change), change your major, check your progress towards graduation. Students can access drop-in hours via Navigate SU.  Beginning on Wednesday, August 26th, you will be able to schedule an appointment for all other services offered in the advising office.

If you need assistance while on campus,  Advising and Student Success will have in-person availability for general inquiries from 12 pm – 4 pm Monday-Friday in Egan Leadership Center, Suite 200. Additional in-person assistance is available from 9am-12pm on Monday-Wednesday-Friday in Egan Leadership Center, Suite 301 (Undergraduate Dean’s Office).  Should this availability change, students will be notified promptly.

You can always schedule an appointment with your advisor through Navigate or email them at [email protected]. Academic advising is committed to student safety just as much as they are to student success.

Health Services

Your mental and physical health are important to your wellbeing, especially during a pandemic. To curb the spread of COVID-19, we’ve modified our psychological and health services to be no or limited contact this year.

Eagle Care health clinic will be evaluating or treating students by phone triage, telehealth, or appointment (as necessary) and will not be accepting walk-in patients. Call (502) 873-4255  to speak with a nurse or leave a message or email [email protected].

The Counseling and Psychological Services (Caps) has implemented teletherapy so you can receive services from the comfort of your dorm room or home. Call (502) 873-4486 or email [email protected] to make an appointment.

Visit Health and Counseling Services to learn more.

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Library

The Spalding University Library staff welcomes back all students, faculty, and staff! You will find answers to all your library and information needs available on the library’s special COVID-19 webpage.  Quick access to the webpage is available using your cell phone via the QR code on the library’s front door hours of operation signage.

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Printing Services

Learn from anywhere. Print from anywhere, no contact. Our student printing system, Wepa, has added features to its mobile app, Wepa Print (available from the  App Store or Google Play). You can now manage print jobs directly from your phone: check your print balance, locate print stations, and (with an iPhone or Android phone with NFC) release print jobs without having to use a print station’s touchscreen.

The Wepa phone app can access files from Cloud Storage accounts like Google Drive, OneDrive, Box and more. When you are ready to print, you can tap your phone or swipe your EagleCard to release your documents at an accessible Wepa print station.

Using Wepa Express, a new feature in the mobile app, you can also set up your document release ahead of time at any print station through your phone. You can also give a secure Wepa Code to another person to have them release the documents on your behalf. If you do not have the Wepa app, there are several other ways you can release documents to print including email, from your personal laptop or from the Wepa website.

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Technology Services

Our IT team aims to help you stay connected whether you are taking classes online or in person. For tech support or to request access to technology, contact IT at [email protected] or (502) 873-4547 with your technology questions.

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Stay Updated

No matter how much we plan for this academic year, we will inevitably have to adapt. You can always check back here as we add new information, visit our Healthy Together (Return to Campus) webpage, read the latest COVID-related Campus Updates and check your Spalding email for news and information.

For urgent information and alerts, sign up for Spalding’s Omnilert E2Campus alert system. It is the fastest way to be informed of a class delay or campus closing related to weather or other circumstances, and it is the system used to communicate any emergency situation that could potentially impact you.

Read our blog post about E2Campus alerts, including how to sign up and check or change your notification preferences.

Dear Spalding Community,

As we begin our safe return to campus, we want you to stay informed about important updates regarding the University. This is our annual reminder to all students, faculty and staff to sign up for Spalding’s Omnilert E2Campus alert system. It is the fastest way to be informed of a class delay or campus closing related to weather or other circumstances, and it is the system used to communicate any emergency situation that could potentially impact you as a student, faculty or staff member.

We encourage everyone to sign up if you have not already done so.  If you have signed up previously please be sure that you are still in the system and that your contact information and preferred mode of notification is up to date.

https://spalding.omnilert.net/subscriber.php

Please note that the system typically inactivates users after four years. We will be testing the system once next week, so expect to receive a text, call or email. If you signed up some time ago and do not receive a text or call during this test then you may need to reactivate your information in the system.  Similarly, if you have changed your email address,  phone number or cell provider and do not receive a text/call then you may need to update your information via the link above.

If you currently receive texts only and wish to receive calls as well or add e-mails or make any changes to how you receive messages them please update those preferences in the system as well.

Thanks for your help in promoting a safe and secure campus.

Sincerely,

Chris Hart, Dean of Operations and Chief of Staff
Janelle Rae, Dean of Students

There were fewer people and a lot more masks than usual, but the result was the same as every year: Students are back in the halls at Spalding University.

Spalding welcomed dozens of first-time first-year students to Morrison Hall on Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 17-18, for a well-planned, masked-up and socially distant freshman move-in.  Everything looked a little different, but, by all accounts, the process went smoothly.

“It’s a wonderful week to welcome students to Spalding,” Dean of Students Janelle Rae said. “Even though we’re having to make a couple accommodations and sacrifices this year due to COVID-19, people are stepping up to the plate and leaning into the community spirit and making it a special day for students.”

Students and their families arrived at scheduled times Monday and Tuesday, having taken the #CampusClear daily health-assessment to gain access to campus. All were compliant with health protocols, wearing masks and keeping their distance.

“They’ve been great team players,” Residence Life Director Aaron Roberts said. “People want to do the right thing.”

Returning students will move into the Spalding Suites Friday through Sunday, with this year’s move-in process extending to five total days in order to reduce crowding. In previous years, all students in both halls would move in over two days. All residential students in 2020-21, with all of them having a room to themselves (while paying the standard, less expensive double-occupancy rate).

MORE | Healthy Together at Spalding home page
MORE | Read the Return to Campus Plan

First-year student Juli Nelson, women’s soccer player and nursing major from Munster, Indiana, said moving into Morrison Hall was an easy process and that felt safe “100 percent” well-organized, due to the appointment system.

Nelson, who is the oldest of four siblings, said she has a room to herself for the first time in her life.

“I was like, ‘I’m so excited. I have my own space,'” she said. “That was a pleasant surprise.”

STORY CONTINUES AFTER THE VIDEO

Trevon Washington, an athletic training major and basketball player from Warrensville Heights, Ohio, said that while COVID-19 has changed the landscape, it has not shaken his excitement to begin college and make the most of this milestone in his life.

“I’m excited to move in, start a new journey, meet new people, live and be on my own and start new things and new challenges in my life,” he said.

“It’s definitely different walking around with masks and staying six feet apart from people, but I’m still getting the college experience. It’s just a matter of being mindful of where you’re at, who you’re around. I feel like wearing a mask doesn’t change how your college experience is. You’re still here. You’re just wearing a mask. It’ll still be good.”

Nelson is also taking a positive approach to the limitations and changes that the pandemic forced. She injured her knee during his senior year, so she said it will be beneficial to her recovery that the soccer season at Spalding has been moved from fall to the spring. Moving the season also will give her more time to acclimate to a new city and new classes.

“It would normally be a lot going on,” she said. “Now, everything is coming in (phases and) groups, and I like that.”

Nelson’s mother, Erin, said move-in day brought all the mixed emotions one would normally expect for a parent sending her oldest child off to college. On top of that, she said, the pandemic makes it all “kind of a scary, uncertain time.”

“But mostly, I am just proud and incredibly excited for her to get started,” Erin Nelson said. “She’s responsible, and she’ll handle all the social uncertainty just fine.”

Spalding President Tori Murden McClure, the first woman to row a boat unassisted across the Atlantic Ocean and a former Board Chair of the National Outdoor Leadership School, has many times explained the value of learning to be comfortable with uncertainty.

“We learn to lean into it,” Roberts said, “and for us, that’s showing compassion and having high standards. You empathize with those who are at the same time both nervous and excited, and you set high standards and put your best foot forward.”

Morrison Hall residential advisor Neema Ileine, a fourth-year student who majors in social work and psychology, said she is eager to help the younger residents on her floor.

“I want to be someone who students can look up to,” she said. “Some of them are coming far from home, and I want to be that support for them. Especially now with all that is going on, I want them to know, ‘I’m here for you. We’re all going through this, and you’re not alone.'”

Five months after face-to-face classes were suspended and students left the halls, Roberts said it was exciting to see students returning again.

“It’s new life back on campus,” he said. “It’s why we’re here, and it’s renewed energy. You get the energy from the students.”

As part of our comprehensive strategy for controlling the spread of COVID-19 on Spalding University’s campus, we are deploying #CampusClear, a daily self-screening app and campus “FastPass.” Everyone in our learning community is required to use #CampusClear to gain access to buildings on campus.

Additionally, the University is asking all members of the campus-students, faculty and staff-to acknowledge the Spalding Promise – a social compact in which we vow to approach this academic year responsibly and cooperatively for the safety and care of ourselves, our fellow Spalding community members and our greater community.

You can view and acknowledge the Spalding Promise on the Spalding Portal or at https://selfservice.spalding.edu/Student/Agreements. This link requires you to log in with your Spalding username and password.

To get started using the #CampusClear app, download the app. Here are the links:

Apple App Store
Google Play

Please make sure you enable notifications from the app. There will only be one notification each day to prompt you to take the self-screening survey. Once you’ve downloaded #CampusClear, log in by entering your institutional email address. You’ll receive an email confirmation, and after clicking the confirmation link, you’ll have access to the app. Visitors will need to enter a phone number to receive the confirmation link.

It only takes a few seconds to self-screen, and your participation helps to keep our campus safe for everyone. Likewise, please be sure to self-screen daily, even if you have no symptoms. Thank you for your cooperation and participation in doing all that we can to make sure we have a safe return to campus.

MORE HEALTHY TOGETHER AT SPALDING RESOURCES
Healthy Together home page
Return to Campus plan
Health and Wellness