Dear Georgetown University Main and Medical Center Campus Faculty, Staff and Students,
We write today to provide an update regarding our operating status. On January 28, we paused in-person hybrid mode classes and certain on-campus activities and enacted a number of measures to limit exposure and transmission of COVID-19 due to a significant increase in the number of cases. When we announced the pause, we had hoped to resume on-campus activities starting on Monday, February 15.
Graduate hybrid courses can resume in-person operations, at a schedule determined by the instructor for each course, beginning, but no earlier than Monday, February 15, at 7 a.m.
The number of positive cases among undergraduates continues to be concerning, so we are extending the current operating status for undergraduates with restrictions. There will be no in-person undergraduate hybrid courses and activities through Monday, March 1, at 7 a.m. If circumstances change, we will alert you as soon as we can make the decision to return undergraduates to campus.
Use of the Library and Designated Study Spaces
Use of the Lauinger Library building and facilities, as well as use of all designated study spaces, will continue to be restricted to students currently living on campus in University residential housing and to graduate students who have green GU360 badges, with reservations permitting them to use the study space. Access to Dahlgren Memorial Library will continue to be restricted to BGE, SOM and NHS graduate students.
Meetings and Faculty Office Hours
No academic meetings or gatherings should take place on campus, including faculty office hours.
Research Activities
Research activities will continue to be restricted in accordance with the guidance shared on January 27. Office access (granted through the GMS Office Access Portal), even with prior approval, is suspended, as is any pending request through the Campus Eligibility Access form. Researchers with currently approved Research Resumption Plans, as submitted through the GMS portal, can continue to conduct research activities accordingly, but only if the research cannot be conducted from home, or if a temporary interruption would have significant negative consequences. Such continuation is subject to the following restriction on undergraduate participation. The only undergraduate students who can engage in laboratory-based research are those who (a) live on campus and (b) are receiving credit for their work. No GUROP students, undergraduate volunteers, or paid or unpaid interns, and no undergraduates living off campus, are permitted to enter labs or engage in research activities on campus until March 1 at 7 a.m. Please direct research resumption questions jointly to Billy Jack at billy.jack@georgetown.edu and Moshe Levi at ml1742@georgetown.edu.
Redeploy Georgetown Assignments
In light of the continued pause and reduced traffic on campus, some on-campus redeploy assignments will be adjusted. Impacted redeployed employees will receive a communication from the Department of Human Resources with further guidance. This status change does not impact remote redeploy assignments.
Religious Services
Limited in-person religious services will resume beginning on Wednesday, February 17, but will be limited to those with green GU360 Building Access Badges. Please check the Office of Campus Ministry website for the latest scheduling information.
Yates Field House and Kehoe Field
We hope to reopen Yates Field House and Kehoe Field for undergraduate student use on March 1, should public health conditions permit.
Daily Check-in and Testing Procedures
All faculty, staff and students accessing campus beginning Monday, February 15, should resume testing. Those returning to campus next week are advised to book a testing appointment for Thursday, February 11; Friday, February 12; or Saturday, February 13. Those who will be on campus must complete the COVID-19 Daily Check-in at least two hours prior to departing for campus in order to receive a green GU360 Building Access Badge for entry to University buildings.
Faculty, staff and students taking in-person hybrid classes who will not access campus are not required to come to campus for testing, in accordance with the University’s COVID-19 testing protocol. Students living in the neighborhoods around campus should continue to come to campus to get tested weekly, and we strongly encourage students living in the neighborhoods to get tested twice per week at no charge. On-campus testing is a safe and efficient way to get tested. We recognize pandemic conditions have contributed to social isolation and loneliness for many members of our community. We encourage you to take advantage of the many University resources we have in place to promote your physical and emotional well-being. Our thoughts are with those struggling with the effects of the pandemic and those in our own community who are suffering at this time.
As public health conditions allow, we look forward to relaxing these operating restrictions and will be in communication regarding resumption of undergraduate in-person experiences on Monday, March 1. To resume on-campus activities we must all continue to do our part and remain vigilant in following health and safety guidelines, including wearing a mask, practicing physical distancing, avoiding indoor social gatherings, respecting the requirement to quarantine and meeting testing commitments.
We thank you for your efforts at this time.
Sincerely,
Robert M. Groves, Provost
Edward B. Healton, Executive Vice President of Health Sciences
Geoffrey S. Chatas, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer