Dear Davis & Elkins College community,
The faculty, staff, and administration of Davis & Elkins College wish to commend our students for helping to make for a safe and healthy campus! As of today, the last of our COVID-19 students are out of quarantine and we have no new cases. This is the reflection of a student body that has made good choices and is committed to safety and health. We have heard much about bad behavior on college campuses during the past week, from right here in West Virginia to across the nation. We are so proud of our students and urge them to continue to follow campus safety protocols.
Today is also a solemn day, one filled with respectful memory on the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks against the U.S. in 2001. While most of the students on campus may not have even been born at the time of the attacks, that history is, nonetheless, part of our country’s fiber. In lieu of a public gathering and to continue support of health and safety on campus, D&E chose instead to distribute a video about the importance of 9/11 featuring Rosemary M. Thomas, Ed.D., Vice President of Enrollment Management and Institutional Advancement. We encourage you to watch the video.
Provost’s Office issues reminder of important upcoming academic dates
The Office of the Provost has issued a reminder of dates related to academics for the remainder of the semester.
- September 28 – Mid-term grades are due by 1:00 p.m.
- October 2 – Spring 2020 schedule is posted. Please review and make an appointment with your faculty advisor.
- November 3 – Register for Spring 2020 courses
- November 4 – Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W”
- November 20 – Last day of classes
- November 21 – Final exams begin
- November 25 – Last Day of Final Exams
- December 1 – All grades are due by 1:00 p.m.
Schedule of student events released by Office of Student Life
The D&E Office of Student Life has a lineup of FREE AND FUN upcoming events!
Friday, September 11
All Day; Liberal Arts Hall, Flagpole Area; Patriot Day
In the United States, Patriot Day occurs on September 11 of each year in memory of the people killed in the September 11 attacks of 2001. Look for the special acknowledgement of September 11 around the flagpole in front of Liberal Arts Hall and on social media.
8:00-10:00 p.m.; Madden Student Center; Friday Night-Fun Night Bingo
Senator Entertainment will host a bingo night to offer students a space to connect and celebrate the close of the fourth week of classes. The event offers prizes with each round, as well as opportunities to meet old friends and make new ones.
Saturday, September 12
8:00-10:00 p.m.; Madden Student Center, Davis Trust Company Patio; Super Saturday Night-Fire Festival
Take advantage of a crisp late summer evening in a beautiful setting! Campfires will set the atmosphere for the evening. The first 50 students to attend the event will receive a Campfire Kit, complete with a hotdog (to roast over the fire), hotdog bun, condiments, potato chips, s’mores supplies, and a bottle of water. Compliments of Senator Entertainment.
Thursday, September 17
6:30 p.m. Start (over dinner); Benedum Dining Room; Team Trivia
- Bring some friends.
- Register your team when you arrive.
- Have a great time!
Important note: Team Trivia will continue every Thursday through the end of the semester. Sponsored by Senator Entertainment.
Friday, September 18
11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.; Madden Student Center, Rotunda; Free Friday: D&E face mask
Pick up your own D&E-branded face mask. Sponsored by the President’s Office.
7:00 p.m. Start; Madden Student Center, Timms Lounge; “Bob Ross Paint Night”
Canvas painting event! Get your art on, in the spirit of the late TV personality and instructional and accomplished artist Bob Ross. Sponsored by I.F.C.
Saturday, September 19
4:00-8:00 p.m.; Front Campus Lawn; Axe Throwing Event
There’s some real skill to this, folks. Come out to participate or just watch. Safe demonstration and COVID-19 precautions. Presented by Appalachian Axe Company. Sponsored by Senator Entertainment.
D&E issues travel reminders
Students are reminded that the College strongly discourages off-campus travel outside the immediate Elkins area this weekend or for the foreseeable future. Traveling outside the Elkins area during the semester effectively negates the value of our condensed semester plan and puts the entire campus in jeopardy.
If you choose to travel and your travel is deemed non-essential, your return to campus will be processed in the following manner, including assessed fees for specific services during your quarantine period.
- You must check in with the D&E Office of Public Safety. From there, you will be escorted to a private quarantine room in the Byrd Center.
- Quarantine begins the day you arrive back to campus – Day 0. You will be tested for COVID-19 on Day 4 by the Campus Nurse. You may not leave quarantine until your test results are received and they are negative. COVID testing is self-pay (you provide your health insurance information to the nurse).
- Quarantine means you may not leave the room and you may not have visitors.
- Your classes will be delivered in an online format. It is your responsibility to communicate with your faculty.
- Food will be delivered to you. You must fill out the meals form before meals will be delivered.
- You will be assessed a meal delivery charge, a cleaning fee, and a COVID testing fee.
- If you test positive for COVID, quarantine continues for 10 more days, provided symptoms do not manifest.
- Failure to report to the Office of Public Safety after a travel excursion is in violation of the college’s code of conduct, which will result in sanctions (ranging from/including fines, residence hall suspension, and expulsion).
Help keep our campus safe. Stay out of large crowds and practice safety protocols that include wearing a face mask, social distancing, and washing your hands. The D&E Office of Student Life has a schedule of events for the weekend (see above). Social distancing standards and masks will be required. By following safety guidelines, the campus stays open.
Required D&E online, student training includes Coronavirus Awareness
D&E students will receive an email from Safe Colleges containing links to required training courses. Topics in required online training include “Coronavirus Awareness,” as well as “Title IX Rights and Protections” and “Sexual Violence Awareness.” Included with the Title IX course is the Policy Prohibiting Title IX Sexual Harassment. These training sessions are required and federal law mandates that the Title IX course be offered to students. It should take about an hour to complete. You may stop and start the training sessions as your schedule allows. Any student who does not complete the required training prior to the deadline on October 2 at 5:00 p.m. will receive a hold on their D&E account.
Continued enforcement of COVID-19 safety protocols
As college campuses across the nation fall prey to careless and reckless behavior related to COVID-19, D&E students are reminded of continued enforcement of COVID-19 safety protocols. Simply put, these are special protocols put in place on our campus regarding behaviors related to the COVID-19 global pandemic and steps we can take on the D&E campus to help prevent the spread of the virus.
You can help our College continue to have on-campus instruction by making good choices and adhering to safety protocols. House/suite parties, going to bars, and gathering in large groups will likely increase the community spread of COVID-19 and decrease the likelihood that we are back to normal anytime soon. Negative behaviors that could harm our community cannot be tolerated. Violations of the Davis & Elkins College Code of Conduct will be processed in accordance with the discipline policy (sanctions range from/include fines, residence hall suspension, and expulsion).
Double-check your student health checklist
Even though students are back on campus, you should continue to monitor your student health checklist of items to make sure you are healthy and safe. As we enforce special measures on campus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, part of our responsibility is to instill responsibilities in you. All students are asked to make sure they have adequate supplies of their own Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and over the counter (OTC) medication supplies. Those items include, but are not limited to, the following:
- thermometer (digital)
- masks (medical grade if of high risk to infection due to comorbidity)
- disinfectant wipes
- hand sanitizer – large bottle for residence hall room and pocket size for carrying around campus
- cold and allergy medications of choice
- pain/fever reliever (ibuprofen, acetaminophen, etc.)
By maintaining this checklist, you can decrease or even eliminate routine visits to Student Health. For a comprehensive list of these supplies, please visit this link.
Check this weekly student update, the D&E Mobile App, and your email regularly for updates. The Emergency Notification System (nixle) will also be used as appropriate.
Please wear a face mask, practice social distancing, and stay well.
Dr. Rosemary Thomas
Vice President for Enrollment Management
Institutional Advancement
