Update from the Vice President of Student Life, Becky Starkenburg, Jan 4, 2022

Students,

Happy New Year! We are very much looking forward to welcoming you back to campus for in-person classes and community at Trinity. It will be good to be together. As our country experiences a surge in Covid cases, we continue to pray for all members of the Trinity community as we plan and pray for a safe return to campus. As promised, please read below for a few important Covid updates as we start the semester together. We’ll continue to provide updates throughout the coming days and weeks regarding the general return to campus – this email is focused on Covid.

Get your booster

We strongly encourage you to get the booster vaccine for COVID-19 as soon as you are eligible. Our strong desire is for you to be healthy and fully able to engage your Trinity experience next semester. Please, once you get the booster, upload your updated vaccine information to the student portal.

Upload your vaccine info

Also upload your vaccine information to the student portal if you get vaccinated for the first time. We know many students who’ve gotten vaccinated throughout the fall for various reasons, so if that’s you – please let us know by uploading your information to the portal.

Get a COVID test before you return to campus

We continue in the spring semester with our current policy of weekly testing for unvaccinated individuals, as mandated by the state of Illinois. During the surge in cases, we will hold to a strong expectation of compliance with this policy. At this time, one way to care for the well-being of our campus community is for all students, faculty, and staff – regardless of vaccination status – to get a COVID test within 72 hours before returning to campus. We strongly encourage each member of our community to plan for this as a way of looking out for the health of us all. However, residential students and winter student-athletes are REQUIRED to test before arrival and have received additional information from Area Directors and Head Coaches about the spring 2022 expectations and move back dates.

New quarantine and isolation timelines

We will follow the updated CDC guidelines regarding quarantine and isolation. For the most part – if you are fully vaccinated (including a booster when applicable), then you may be able to have a shorter quarantine or isolation. The bottom line, for now, is that you must be fully vaccinated (including boosted when applicable) to benefit from this new CDC & Illinois Department of Public Health shortened time guideline.   See PDF for details.

Mask up

Please refresh your mask stock and bring some high-quality masks with you. And for the next few weeks as we navigate this season, please take extra care to wear your masks properly over your mouth and nose. And, we ask that when you are around staff and other service providers who are on the front lines, you take extra care to love your neighbor and wear your masks. For example, please wear a mask in and out of the dining hall and only take them off when eating or drinking at your seat.

Remote learning/activities

There may be occasions where a specific class, activity, or sport needs to “go remote” or “pause” for a session or a few days to support a staff member, faculty member, or a significant number of students being out with Covid. The plan is to navigate those situations on a case-by-case basis. If this happens and you are impacted, you’ll receive notice from the faculty or staff member in charge of that event, class, etc. regarding what to do. We also remind you to check in with supervisors in off-campus internships, work, etc. on this topic as those settings may also experience similar realities. We truly hope and pray for minimal disruptions to your academic success.

Know that we pray for you regularly and are so grateful that you are part of the Trinity community. It will be good to be together again. I encourage you to return to campus with hope for the good that God is working in the Trinity community and with joy for the gift of life together.

If you have any remaining questions after receiving this email, please don’t hesitate to reach out via reply. If I can’t answer the question – I’ll be sure to point you to someone who can!

With gratitude for each of you,

VP Starkenburg