Making a Campus Departure Plan
“Home for the holidays” is an extra-complicated concept in the year 2020. As we near the end of the in-person portion of our Fall term, it’s important to remember that our choices now can potentially affect the lives of our family and community back home. Check out our resources below for making a plan to depart campus.
Know the Protocol & Important Dates
Friday, November 20th marks the end of in-person courses for the term, the beginning of Thanksgiving break and the closure of the Residence Halls for the winter term. All classes will resume virtually on Monday, November 30th and classes and exams will be virtual through the end of term on December 11th.
Chatham has provided Departing Campus Protocol with recommendations and best practices for returning home. Saturday November 7th marked 14 days before campus departure on November 20th, and we hope that students have been following health and safety protocols extra diligently from that point. If the two-week date snuck up on you, start your heightened health and safety behavior ASAP.
Shrink Your Circle
Limiting the number of people you come into close contact with is highly effective in controlling your exposure to and chance of spreading the coronavirus. We fully acknowledge it’s challenging, but public health guidance recommends limiting your close contacts and social circle to three to five people (including roommates) in the weeks leading up to November 20. We encourage students to scale back social engagements, switch to virtual activities when possible, and encourage others to do the same.
Avoid gatherings
It’s ever-so-tempting to throw a “see you in 2021” final bash with your friends on campus, but don’t do it. Parties can quickly become super-spreader events, and oftentimes the people who are most adversely affected by those events didn’t even attend the party in the first place. Host a virtual party, have a good old fashioned phone call, or if you must get together in person, make sure it’s a small, well-spaced group of people in an open, outdoor environment.
Mask. Up.
Warmer temps and more outdoor activities have led people to get a little lax on their mask wearing, but as the temperatures drop and Fall COVID cases are on the rise in Allegheny County, it’s imperative that you mask up according to CDC guidelines and Chatham’s protocols.
Talk to your people. A lot.
As you prepare to head home, make sure you’re keeping the lines of communication open between you and your family, hometown friends, and anyone else you’re close to. It’s important you address and reinforce your own comfort level, and ask your people what their comfort level is too. Share and discuss resources about creating or widening quarantine “pods” and the risks inherent there. Be honest about your activities so people can plan the safest course of action, and expect honesty in return. It may be uncomfortable in the short term, but a few awkward conversations now could prevent serious damage later.
Make a plan for arrival
Once you’ve talked things over with your people back home, you may realize you’d like to quarantine, get tested, or limit the people you see in person. Try to arrange your homecoming to be as smooth as possible so that everyone near to you knows the how and the why of your plans, and how to support you in your decision, from staying distant until two weeks have passed, to only hanging out outside, or simply stocking the house with extra supplies like hand sanitizer.
Hack your travel options
Most sources agree that traveling alone in a car (or with a member of your close contacts) is the safest way to get home for the holidays. If you can’t drive solo, make sure you’re wearing a mask, and roll down the windows for air flow (we suggest dressing for the cold if that’s the case). If air travel is your only option, take extra precautions—wash your hands even more than usual, wear your mask and try not to eat or drink while on the plane, and consider quarantining when you get to your destination.
Follow campus protocols, even at home
It’s important to keep up the healthy habits you’ve built over the fall term. So beyond masking up, make sure you’re limiting your close contacts as much as possible, and are continuing to take the daily health screening on the MyChatham app. And as always, if you’re feeling sick, stay in, and consider testing if needed.
We wish everyone a happy and successful return home. For all information related to Chatham’s COVID-19 response and protocol, visit our website.