Coronavirus update

 (The College was closed for the holidays from Dec. 11 - Jan.3)

 (The College was closed for spring break from March 28 - April 1)

 (The College was closed for spring break from March 28 - April 1)

(*The college was closed from Dec. 23 - Jan. 2)

 (The College was closed for spring break from March 28 - April 1)

COVID dashboard beginning Aug. 18, 2020, and ending July 31, 2021

An active case is an individual in isolation after a positive test result. As an individual’s isolation period ends, he/she will be removed from active cases in future dashboards and will be placed in the prior active cases category.

This dashboard reflects the number of cases beginning on August 18, 2020 (the first day of student move-in for fall semester) and ending on July 31, 2021.

Happy New Year! Please find attached a slightly revised OSHA ETS COVID Policy. The only change is to include rapid tests as an acceptable testing method. This change was made due to the increasing difficulty in securing PCR tests for asymptomatic individuals at this time. 

As of late afternoon, only 46 employees have submitted proof of vaccination cards to HR. Please take a moment now to send yours along so that Monday is less chaotic. If you have any questions about this policy, please contact Lucinda Muncy, Director of Human Resources at lmuncy@lagrange.edu.

I hope your New Year is off to a great start!

Susanna Baxter
President

Greetings,

Based on new guidance from the Georgia Department of Public Health regarding return to school guidance, the Cabinet has agreed to the following plan, effective January 3, 2022.

Isolation Guidance: What to do if you are sick with COVID-19

• Individuals may discontinue home isolation if they had symptoms when:
  • At least 5 days have passed since symptoms first appeared and
  • At least 24 hours have passed since last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and
  • Symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) have improved 

• Individuals may discontinue home isolation if they did NOT have symptoms when:
  • At least 5 days have passed since the positive laboratory test, and they remain asymptomatic
  • NOTE: if the individual later develops symptoms, they should follow the guidance for symptomatic persons.

To determine when 5 days have passed, individuals can consider that day 0 of isolation, defined as either the date symptoms started, or the date of first COVID test. 

If the individual plans to leave isolation earlier than 10 days, they should continue to wear a mask around others (indoors and outdoors) for the remainder of the 10 days.

Quarantine Guidance: What to do if you were exposed to someone with COVID-19

• Asymptomatic, fully vaccinated individuals (exposed to COVID)
  • No quarantine – seek testing 5 days after exposure, if possible and
  • Wear a mask around others for 10 days after exposure 

• Asymptomatic, unvaccinated individuals (exposed to COVID)
  • Quarantine up to 10 days (may leave quarantine any day after 5 full days have passed since most recent exposure occurred if individual shows no symptoms of COVID)
  • Individual must monitor health for symptoms of COVID during the 10 days following the last time individual was in *close contact with sick person
  • Wear a well-fitting mask around others for 5 additional days (indoors and outdoors).
  • Seek testing on day 5 after your most recent exposure

*Close contact includes:

• Living in the same household as a sick person with COVID-19 and you are unable to maintain 6 feet separation at all times;
• Caring for a sick person with COVID-19;
• Being within 6 feet of a sick person with COVID-19 for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period; OR,
• Being in direct contact with secretions from a sick person with COVID-19 (e.g., being coughed on, kissing, sharing utensils, etc.) for any amount of time.

Please contact your supervisor and human resources if you have any symptoms of COVID. Human Resources must report anyone that test positive with COVID to the Department of Public Health.  If you have any questions, please contact Lucinda Muncy, Director of Human Resources.

Kind regards,
Human Resources

All Employees,

Good morning! As you are probably well aware, Friday evening the 6^th Circuit cleared the way for the implementation of the OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) related to COVID-19 testing/vaccination. LaGrange College employs more than 100 employees, therefore, LaGrange College is required to comply with this OSHA ETS  to ensure safe and healthy working conditions of our faculty, staff, and student workers. Starting January 10, all full-time and part-time employees must get tested weekly for COVID-19 or show proof of vaccination. This applies to all employee types (ex. Full-time faculty and staff, student workers, work-study, adjunct faculty, etc.) Attached is the LaGrange College OSHA ETS COVID Vaccination policy which will provide important information regarding submission of test results and proof of vaccination. Many of your questions will be addressed within the policy, so please take time to read it. Also note that Human Resources will begin accepting proof of vaccination the week of January 3, 2022. If you have any questions about this policy, please contact Lucinda Muncy, Director of Human Resources at lmuncy@lagrange.edu.

I know that the court’s decision will come as a disappointment to a number of you. LaGrange College must be compliant with OSHA, so this policy will be in force until OSHA removes the ETS.  Failure to comply with this OSHA order can mean fines from OSHA of approximately $14,000 per violation. I appreciate your understanding and cooperation with this new policy.

I hope you have a meaningful holiday and a wonderful time off next week. See you in 2022!

Susanna Baxter
President

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

If you have any of these symptoms, please contact your supervisor and HR for further instructions. Stay home if you are sick. It is important that you take the time to get well and protect your co-workers from getting sick.

Quarantine Protocol

If you test positive for COVID, stay home, and contact your supervisor. You will need to contact HR for quarantine instructions. Below are the DPH and CDC quarantine guidelines for the workplace:

1. All persons directly exposed to COVID positive individuals MUST be quarantined and excluded from the college setting and all extracurricular activities, regardless of students, professors, or staff wearing masks or the use of physical barriers (e.g., plexiglass).
   
   
2. Quarantine Guidelines for persons exposed to someone who tests positive for COVID or someone who is suspected of having COVID:

Symptomatic individuals with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 can return to campus after:

• 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared AND
• At least 24 hours have passed since last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications AND
• A physician has cleared the individual to return to work AND
• Symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) have improved
• Note: the day of exposure counts as day 0.

Asymptomatic persons with known exposure, may return if after 10 full days:

• The individual does not experience any COVID symptoms during the quarantine period and must maintain a self-monitoring record
• Persons who return to work after 10 days should continue to self-monitor an additional 4 days for COVID symptoms. If any symptoms are experienced once returning to campus, the individual is to quarantine immediately and follow the symptomatic guidelines.
• Note: the day of exposure counts as day 0.

Workplace Protocols

1. Masks are required of all persons inside campus buildings regardless of vaccination status.
2. Vaccinated individuals can be mask-free outdoors on campus.
3. Vaccinations are strongly encouraged for employees
4. Guests may come to campus but must follow COVID-19 protocols. Guests must be screened, just like last year. In addition to Banks Hall, library guests may go straight to the library and be screened, and athletics guests can check in at the main entrance of the CEB. All guests must wear a sticker indicating proper screening.
5. Employees are encouraged to avoid inside, in-person team meetings. Please consider meeting outside or via Microsoft Teams.
6. COVID-19 tracking continues and will be updated on our website twice a week (Tuesday and Friday mornings). 
   
   If you have any questions, contact a member of Human Resources.
   
   Please stay safe and keep each other safe!
   
   Lucinda Muncy
   Human Resources

Dear Students,

Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released interim guidance on mask wearing (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html). In order to comply with those recommendations, effective immediately, all students and employees will be required to wear a mask while indoors, with the exception of the dining hall while eating. This new policy applies to vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. Additionally, unvaccinated students and employees must also wear a mask while outdoors.

Community spread of COVID has increased drastically in Troup County. To track the changes in COVID positive cases in Troup County, please visit https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view. Within a few days, Troup County is predicted to fall into the highest level of transmission category.

If you are considering becoming vaccinated, please use this vaccine search engine to find a vaccine site near you.

Best,
Brian

BRIAN A. CARLISLE, J.D.
Vice President & Dean of Students

Campus Community,

In light of the recent changes in CDC guidance, we again need to wear a mask indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status, if in an area of substantial or high transmission. According to CDC, Troup County is High Transmission as seen on this interactive map.

Wearing a mask protects ourselves and others. Please wear a mask when indoors on campus. If CDC guidance changes, we will notify campus.

Karen Aubrey
Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Students,

I am pleased to share a number of updates with you.  With the changes in guidance from the CDC and the Governor’s Executive Orders, LaGrange College is shifting our campus COVID protocols.  The college is setting policies knowing that vaccinations are now readily available for our students, faculty, staff.  All students, faculty, and staff are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated.  We are also a campus with a meaningful honor code and trust that our students are persons of integrity and will comply with campus policies.  I want to highlight a few of the changes LaGrange College is making to give you a good sense of what to expect when you return for the fall. 

1. Fully-vaccinated students, faculty, and staff may choose to remove their masks indoors and outdoors.  Unvaccinated persons must continue to wear masks (just like during the 20-21 academic year).  Fully-vaccinated persons are encouraged to wear masks when in large groups.
2. More tables will be added to the plaza, dining hall, the 24, and The Grill to accommodate more patrons at one time.  Hours of operation will also be back to pre-COVID hours.
3. Some of our students’ favorite things will be back in the dining hall—self-serve salad bar, cereal, and ice cream stations.  To-go containers will no longer be provided.
4. Classes will be in-person Monday-Friday.  Classroom seating will be returned to normal, pre-COVID spacing.
5. Fully-vaccinated students will not have to quarantine if exposed to COVID, unless exhibiting COVID symptoms.  Unvaccinated students will be required to quarantine if exposed to COVID.  COVID positive students and/or those required to quarantine, will be required to leave campus.  These students will be allowed one night in Pitts Hall to quarantine as the student prepares to leave campus for the duration of the quarantine period.
6. Student-athletes—The NCAA has changed their guidance to institutions and I anticipate the USA South Conference will also make changes.  NCAA changes speak to how vaccinated student-athletes should be handled in the testing and quarantine protocols.  It looks like the Conference may adopt a policy where vaccinated student-athletes would not have to be tested for COVID.  Additionally, student-athletes who are vaccinated may not have to quarantine if exposed to COVID (and do not develop symptoms).  I hope we have the definitive policy by July to share with our student-athletes.
7. Commuter students will be permitted in residence halls.  Campus mask policies apply.

This is not meant as a comprehensive list of changes, rather to give you a flavor of what to expect in the fall.  LaGrange College will continue to monitor the CDC guidance and make adjustments as appropriate.  The bottom line, vaccinations matter.  If you want to be “back to normal”, get vaccinated.  More than 89% of faculty and staff will be vaccinated by August.  Please do your part and get vaccinated before you return—and remember it can take 5-6 weeks from the first injection to be considered “fully vaccinated.”  Go to https://www.vaccinespotter.org/ to schedule a vaccination appointment today.

I hope you have a wonderful, safe summer.  Don’t forget to cheer on our baseball team Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m. as they take on Lynchburg in the NCAA DIII Regionals in High Point, NC.  Go Panthers!

Susanna Baxter
President

Dear Graduates,

Great news! With the change in CDC guidance yesterday, we are making two important alterations to graduation tomorrow:

1. No tickets will be required for entry. You may have as many guests as you want to cheer you on.
2. Masks are only required to be worn by unvaccinated individuals. Vaccinated individuals may go mask-free. 

Susanna Baxter
President

Dear Students, Faculty & Staff,

Good afternoon!  Last week the CDC released new guidance related to mask wearing by vaccinated and unvaccinated persons. Effective tomorrow, May 5, persons who are fully vaccinated (at least 2 weeks post 2^nd Pfizer/Moderna shot or 2 weeks after Johnson & Johnson vaccine), may be outside on campus without masking while alone or in small groups. If you have not yet completed your vaccination process, you must continue to wear your mask outside. Please note that student-athletes must continue to follow the USA South Conference Covid protocols while in competition. At this time, masks must continue to be worn inside, regardless of vaccination status.    

Please note that the CDC has relaxed the mask wearing protocols for vaccinated persons for small-scale gatherings only. Therefore, masks will still be required at graduation, even if vaccinated. Attached is a handy guide the CDC released regarding mask wearing recommendations for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.

LaGrange College will continue to change our campus Covid protocols as the CDC releases new guidance in the coming weeks and months. In the meantime, vaccination is critical. If you have not been vaccinated yet, please go to vaccinespotter.org to find a location.

Susanna Baxter
President

Campus Community,

Good news!  The Fall 2021 Academic Calendar and daily schedule are returning to our traditional time periods.

The Academic Calendar will be posted on the website soon and will represent a move back to a 5-day a week course meeting schedule, with a contact hour, holidays and Fall Break included.  In fact, you will notice that Fall Break is even extended this Fall.

I know that we have all had quite the difficult year dealing with the pandemic and the changes to our academic timelines.  But we should celebrate that what we did as a campus was the right thing to do.  We created a safe campus environment and were successful in continuing our campus functions.  I thank you all for everything that you did and are still doing to keep our campus safe.

The daily course schedule will be converted so that students will automatically be placed into their already chosen courses.  You will notice these changes happening over the next couple of weeks.  There should be minimal disruption to students since course times will remain virtually the same, just on different weekdays.

Students, if you have questions, please contact your advisor.

The course schedule will convert from the old, posted Fall 4-day schedule to the new Fall 2021 5-day Schedule:

*Some courses previously offered during this time period may be offered in the 3:30 PM meeting time on MWF.

The major Fall 2021 dates will be:

August 23                       First Day of Class
Sept 6                            Labor Day Holiday
October 5, 6                   Midterm
October 7, 8, 11, 12        Fall Break (no classes)
Nov 22-26                      Thanksgiving Break (no classes)
Dec 1                             Last Day of Class
Dec 2                             Reading Day
Dec 3, 4, 6, 7                  Finals

We look forward to Fall!
Dr. Karen Aubrey
Vice President for Academic Affairs

As a reminder, all students (residential, commuter and graduate students) must submit a COVID negative PCR test before returning to campus. Rapid test results will not be accepted. Residential students will not be allowed to move into their residence hall room, and commuter students will not be allowed to attend in-person classes without a COVID negative PCR test.

The test must be drawn no more than five days before your anticipated return to campus. If you are a commuter student and plan to attend class on February 4, you should schedule your test now for January 30 or later. Keep in mind that it takes 1 – 3 days for test results to return, so plan accordingly.

If you are a residential student and plan to move into your residence hall room before February 4, please calculate your test date carefully.

All test results should be submitted to housing@lagrange.edu.

If you have questions about your test, please email housing@lagrange.edu for support.

Based on new guidance from the Georgia Department of Public Health regarding return-to-school guidance, the Cabinet has agreed to the following plan, effective January 4, 2021.

1. All persons directly exposed to COVID-positive individuals MUST be quarantined and excluded from the college setting and all extracurricular activities, regardless of students, professors, or staff wearing masks or the use of physical barriers (e.g., plexiglass).

2. These quarantine Guidelines for persons exposed to someone who tests positive for COVID or someone who is suspected of having COVID must be followed.

Symptomatic individuals with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 can return to campus after:

• 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared AND
• At least 24 hours have passed since last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications AND
• A physician has cleared the individual to return to work AND
• Symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) have improved
  Note: the day of exposure counts as day 0.

Asymptomatic persons with known exposure, may return if after 10 full days:

• The individual does not experience any COVID symptoms during the quarantine period and must maintain a self-monitoring record
• Persons who return to work after 10 days should continue to self-monitor an additional 4 days for COVID symptoms. If any symptoms are experienced once returning to campus, the individual is to quarantine immediately and follow the symptomatic guidelines
  Note: the day of exposure counts as day 0.

3. Testing upon Jan Term return

All students, faculty and staff must obtain a negative PCR test to return to campus.

Tests must be administered within 5 days of returning to campus. For example,

• For persons returning to campus on January 4th, a PCR test must be performed on December 30 or later.
• For students moving back on campus Sunday, January 31, a PCR test must be performed on January 26.
• Test results from faculty and staff must be sent to Lucinda Muncy (lmuncy@lagrange.edu) prior to returning to work.
• Failure to return test results, may require the employee to take vacation until the results are received.

4. During the first two weeks in the office (January 4-15), employees are required to:

• Maintain strict adherence to campus COVID policies in classrooms. Classes will be held as usual because social distancing and mask wearing occur uniformly.
• No in-person meetings—utilize Teams to meet with students and colleagues.
• Keep office door shut.
• Limit 1 person in shared spaces (copy room, breakroom)
• Monitor symptoms daily, including a temperature check before arriving to campus.

*Plan developed from the Department of Public Health guidance from December 10, 2020 for schools and colleges.

In line with recent actions regarding fall sports, combined with a continued focus on the health and safety of student-athletes, coaches, athletic trainers and staffs, the presidents of the USA South Athletic Conference have voted unanimously to postpone all men's and women's basketball conference competition until the spring 2021 semester. This decision was made in light of the lack of consistent improvement regarding positive COVID-19 cases throughout the USA South's geographical location. Recent additional NCAA testing mandates, when institutions compete against outside competition, was also a major contributing factor to the decision.

"Men's and women's basketball are the only sports in which the USA South conducts regular season and tournament play during the winter season," stated Dr. Tom Hart, USA South Commissioner. "By pushing these sports to the second semester, we allow the time necessary for the COVID-19 landscape to improve."

Any further announcements from the USA South regarding the 2020-21 academic season will be shared on USASouth.net.

RELATED: USA South Postpones Fall Competition (July 28, 2020)  

See below for Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Which USA South sports are affected by this announcement?

A: Men's and women's basketball.

Q: Is there still an opportunity to practice or play contests in the fall semester?

A: Yes. The NCAA passed a waiver prior to the fall season that allows for student-athletes in all sports to practice and/or participate in outside competition. Per that NCAA ruling, these decisions shall be made on an institution-by-institution basis. Any games played against outside competition during the fall semester will not be scheduled by the USA South and will not be considered "conference" contests.

Q: How is eligibility affected by this announcement?

A: Student-athletes are permitted to practice without losing a year of eligibility. Additionally, the NCAA passed a blanket waiver detailing that student-athletes will not be charged with participation for the 2020-21 season if their team can complete only 50 percent or less of the sport's maximum contests/dates of competition due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. More details can be found HERE.

Q: Will these postponed games be played in the spring and will there be conference championships?

A: It is the intention of the USA South to formulate men's and women's basketball schedules, which will begin in mid-January and conclude with championship competition.

Q: Will NCAA Championships for Division III basketball be conducted?

A: The current answer is "yes." The NCAA Championships Committee is considering several factors related to tournament structure and timing, which shall be announced in the coming weeks. 

Q: Are there more resources to learn about NCAA updates or how specific institutional decisions will be made?

A: Institutional athletic departments (athletic director, head coach, website) can be used as resources when inquiring about how these decisions affect their specific athletic and/or academic situations. Additionally, the NCAA has a COVID-19 update page which can be accessed HERE.

Student Engagement has been tirelessly preparing for your arrival on campus. At the Student Return-to-School Procedures link on this page, you will find information about new college policies, commuter student return to campus, residential student return to campus, COVID-19 test requirements and much more.

All of these changes are designed to protect you in the classroom, dining hall, residence halls and other student spaces.

We will continue to provide more information as other details are finalized.

Brian A. Carlisle, J.D.
Vice President and Dean of Students

Students,

As we get closer to seeing you on campus this Fall, I want to update you on what we are doing now on the Hill to welcome you.  While Fall will be different, we will have plenty of opportunities for vibrant social interactions and building  relationships across campus.   As well as your academic experiences, we have a variety of interesting and fun events planned for you.  So while Fall may be different in some ways, we will remain an active campus community.  We are looking forward to seeing you again.

With over 1200 hours of work from four faculty and staff committees working closely with our District Public Health Office, we have created a plan to safely return to a robust LaGrange College experience.  I want to give you some details on how we are going to be Panther Safe in Fall.

General Safety on Campus -  All students, faculty and staff will be required to wear masks on campus.  The College will provide two cloth masks for every faculty, staff, and student.  You will also find hand sanitizing stations in multiple locations throughout campus and in buildings for those times when you can’t wash your hands.  All buildings will have designated one-way entry/exit locations and stairways will be designated one-way up/down.  We are reserving elevator use to only those who are unable to climb stairways.  You will also see plexiglass used throughout campus in areas, like the library checkout desk or the post office, where students interact with faculty or staff in close range.  All common areas in buildings will be deep cleaned daily, and furniture in buildings will be rearranged so that 6 foot physical distancing can be maintained.  Public restrooms will have a capacity limit of one or two people at a time.  And in case you forget, signs and 6 foot floor markers will be visible throughout campus reminding us all to physically distance and wash our hands.  We are also asking all students, faculty and staff to provide evidence of a negative COVID test result received within 10 days of being on campus in Fall.  In Georgia, Public Health Offices offer testing for free.  More details about testing and how to arrange your test will come later.

Classes – Your classes will all practice physical distancing of 6 feet or more between those in the room, and you will wear a mask in class. We will ensure distance by dividing classes into smaller groups so that you will participate in a combination of ways:  in-seat, livestreaming, and online.  We are measuring and rearranging furniture in classrooms now to allow physical distancing.  Interactions with your professors, for things such as advising or simply having discussions outside of class, may take place in person while physically distanced and wearing a mask, or they make take place virtually.  We will deep clean classrooms daily.  And we have increased the time between class meetings so that you may have time to wash hands and move through buildings more slowly while maintaining 6 foot intervals.  Wireless access is also being enhanced across campus so you can more easily access courses or stay in touch with friends and family from multiple locations, inside and outside, on campus. 

Dining Hall – Designating one-way entry/exit doors, our dining hall will limit occupancy and rearrange tables to accommodate physical distancing.  We will seat no more than 8 per long table.  Masks will be required unless you are eating.  All food will be served by dining hall employees whose temperatures are monitored prior to their shift and mid-shift, with no guests touching serving utensils, silverware or plates.  We will prohibit outside containers.  While we will not offer self-serve items like ice cream, we will have plenty of “to-go” meal options to be picked up in both the Dining Hall and The Grill should you decide to eat outside or elsewhere.  Dining Hall hours will also be adjusted to allow everyone time to eat and to allow for cleaning throughout the day.

Residence Halls – Move-in for students will be staggered so that physical distancing is maintained.  And all students and their allowed 2 guests to help them move will wear masks and will go through a screening process on move-in day.  For those of you staying in a residence hall, you will receive more details about your move-in process soon.  Private rooms are available to those who prefer this arrangement. 

Other Activities on Campus – We will use a combination of in-person and virtual formats for programming such as Cultural Events, student clubs, and student life activities.  Athletics is developing extensive measures designed specifically to ensure safety in gyms, weight rooms, and on the practice and playing fields – including limiting occupancy, disinfecting equipment, meeting virtually, and monitoring the health of athletes.

And should someone feel ill…

Quarantine Space – We will use the top floor of one of our residence halls for quarantine space if an on-campus student feels ill or has a temperature.  This space has its own ventilation system and is separated from the rest of the building.  These residence rooms will be stocked with a quarantine kit (thermometer, tissues, soap, hand sanitizer, and toiletries).  We will offer food delivery from the dining hall and remote spiritual and counseling services.  We will liaison with We Care, our campus health care provider, to monitor students and deliver special need items, such as medications or hygiene supplies. 

Know that we have been working and continue to work this summer to ensure all of our safe returns to campus this Fall. Just as important, we have been working to see that you have plenty of opportunities for robust social interaction and campus events that will make your campus experience a full one. As we adapt to this different time, we are very excited in anticipation of having everyone back – and having you back SAFELY.

Karen Aubrey, Ph.D.
Vice President for Academic Affairs
LaGrange College

Ensuring a safe return to living and learning on the Hill this fall will require dedicated effort on all our parts. To direct that work, the Cabinet has convened several committees to tackle areas of challenge. We want to maximize the campus experience, while also addressing the threat of COVID-19. To do so, we are working in partnership with District Four Public Health officials, and they have even provided a campus liaison to help us. 

The committees below will begin work next week and will move their recommendations forward by early to mid-June.

Our Health and Safety Committee will focus on strategies to ensure a safe and healthy campus, including social distancing, masks and testing.  They will also examine ways of continuing our mission while limiting the interaction of large groups of people."

Sandy Blair - Chair
Rob Dicks
Juliet Moncrief (from WeCare)
Lucinda Muncy
Maranah Sauter
Melody Wygienka (from the District Four Public Health Office)

Our Student Life Committee will study how we keep students safe and healthy while maintaining a vibrant campus. Major concerns will be student COVID testing, move in, behavior in common spaces and student movement throughout campus.

Brian Carlisle - Chair
Jennifer Claybrook
Ryan Cook
Beth McClanahan
Anthony Wilson
Seth Woodrow (from the District Four Public Health Office)

Our Faculty Development Committee will work to enhance our teaching through technology, building on the successes we experienced this spring.  We may be forced into a scenario where faculty need to teach some students in the classroom (and recording those meetings) while others will be watching remotely on a computer, then switching those cohorts at the next class meeting. This team’s major responsibilities include recommendations on for whom, when, where and how training in effective alternative teaching methods should take place prior to the beginning of classes in August. 

Amber Spratlin - Chair
James Blackwood (IT support)
Nickie Cauthen
Jon Ernstberger
Sarah Holden
Stephanie Thomas

Our Scheduling and Space Committee will examine potential course and classroom scheduling that will promote social distancing and limiting numbers of people who will come into regular contact in academic settings.  They will also create a list of technical resources needed to facilitate alternate delivery methods in identified spaces. 

Jon Ernstberger - Chair
Karen Eley
Chastity Hargrett
Greg McClanahan
Todd Prater
Maranah Sauter

These four committees will report to a Steering Committee composed of Karen Aubrey (Chair), Jon Ernstberger, Amber Spratlin, Brian Carlisle, Sandy Blair, Carol Yin and Susie Hammock (from the District Four Public Health Office). It will coordinate the efforts of the four reporting committees, maintain COVID-19 activity data for SACSCOC purposes, coordinate with the District Public Health office, and report out to Cabinet and the campus.

Please thank your colleagues for the generous and important work they will be doing to return us safely home to the Hill.

Dan McAlexander
President

Back home on the Hill this fall

As the finish line for spring semester fast approaches, I cannot help but be humbled by your response to the circumstances that have challenged us. The LC community has answered with optimism, creativity and resilience. You make all of us proud.

Soon, our eyes will turn toward fall semester, and that may leave you with questions. Please know that even now we are making plans for the campus to resume on-site classes and activities in the fall.

We will be back home on the Hill for fall semester.

Safety will, of course, be our driving force, and that will mean some adjustments. We are meeting with local health authorities this week to define all guidelines and to ensure that we will exceed them. As procedures are finalized, we will share them with all of you.

While these plans will likely call for some adjustments on all our parts, they will not keep us from returning to the vibrant LaGrange campus that we all long to see. Flexibility will certainly be required, but our resolve to return is unbending.

As we move into finals, please take time to enjoy the virtual Honors Day and undergraduate research presentations that will launch on Wednesday at lagrange.edu/honors. Also, be sure to tune into the Facebook stream of a re-imagined Baccalaureate service on Friday, May 15. And don’t forget that the Class of 2020 will be celebrated with a commencement ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 17.

Thank you for your amazing work through these last few months. I am grateful for the “lives of integrity and moral courage” that have been on display like never before.

Dan McAlexander
President

Classes to continue online; operations to change

Let me begin by expressing my deep appreciation for the calm cooperation with which the campus community has responded to the current pandemic. The last weeks have presented many challenges, and all of you—students, staff and faculty—have risen admirably to the task.

Today I must announce new adjustments to our operations. With cases of COVID-19 rising in our area—and following new guidance from our District 4 Public Health authorities—it is clear that all classes will remain online through the remainder of the semester. Unfortunately, we now have no choice but to postpone commencement until conditions improve. We will share rescheduling information as soon as decisions can be reached.

Also, the college will suspend normal on-campus operations today at 5 p.m. and employees should consult with their supervisors to prepare to work from home. Offices will close except for essential business, and the dining hall and library will cease normal operations after Sunday.

Students should plan to return home by Sunday. Those who cannot or who have special needs should contact the Housing Office to discuss their situations.

At this time, students only need to take necessary items from their rooms. To avoid transmission of the virus, the Housing staff will be in touch during the coming days to schedule times for students to retrieve all items, which are secure in the meantime.

Though most employees will now be working remotely, staff members still will be available during normal business hours to assist students and their families with both usual requests and special concerns. Visit the online directory if you need assistance locating contact information.

As we move into this time of heightened alert, please shelter in place as much as possible and follow social distancing practices. Let your actions be guided by concern for others.

The leadership team will continue to provide updates to you as new information becomes available.

I remain proud of your response to these quickly changing and challenging days. We have continued our mission, albeit in slightly different ways, and we will continue that work in the weeks and months ahead.

Dan McAlexander
President

Yesterday the City of LaGrange amended its Emergency Ordinance, and a few of the new provisions impact our daily operations:

• We will close all college fitness/weightlifting centers by 5 p.m. today.
• We will post signage at all entrances reminding everyone of the importance of maintaining at least 6 feet of space between individuals.

Please know that—as a private facility—the college dining hall is not impacted by the new restrictions. It will continue its operations and will continue to offer take-out as an option to students.

This morning, public health officials reported that Troup County has six confirmed cases of COVID-19, and the college maintains daily communication with health care and governmental authorities. It is a time to remain vigilant and to be especially cautious about any behavior that would endanger others.

Regarding the presidential search process, the on-campus interviews have also been postponed until we can find the appropriate time and manner to allow campus stakeholders to meet the four finalists.

The leadership team will continue to provide updates to you as we move through this challenging time.

With the COVID-19 virus continuing to spread, LaGrange College classes will remain online at least through Friday, April 3 (the last day of instruction before spring break). The leadership team will make a decision about subsequent classes by Wednesday, April 8, at 5 p.m. Campus facilities and offices currently open will remain open.

The situation continues to evolve, and our aim is to protect the well-being of our campus community while continuing our educational mission.

Please, continue to follow the government’s restrictions on gatherings and exercise good judgment in not endangering others. Residential students who have chosen to return home are encouraged to remain in place until further notice. Faculty and staff commuting to campus from virus “hot spot” areas should use exceptional caution and discuss the situation with their supervisors.

We also ask that students using the dining hall follow the Governor’s mandate of maintaining at least 6 feet between each other. If they prefer, students may also pick up their food to-go.

Health officials remind us that the most important step in containing COVID-19 is for people who are sick with mild respiratory symptoms – fever and cough – to stay home and isolate themselves from others for at least seven days after their symptoms began or 72 hours after their fever has resolved and symptoms have improved.

Be wise; be safe.

“Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind … ‘I will interrogate you, and you will respond to me.  Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundations?’” Job 38

I have so many questions right now.  Although I’d much prefer to hide it, I feel a lot of anxiety.  

As a “spiritual practitioner,” and a teacher of sorts who works in higher education, I love questions and encourage them.  

But right now, the questions are just too many.  “What will happen tomorrow?  In two weeks, or three months?  Am I doing the right things?  How is all of this happening?”

The hard answer is, “I don’t know.” 

But the good news is, “I don’t know” is where I have most often found God patiently waiting.  

This virus has disabused us of the illusion of control.  We have many questions, rightly so.  Questions don’t mean that we have lost our faith.  Just as Jesus invited us to do, we ask, seek and knock.  

And, we will continue to show up for the people we love, for LaGrange College, and for the whole wide world in the very best ways that we can.   

In all the ways that matter most, today is not different than any other day.  We don’t know what any moment might hold.  But we do know that we are called to listen, connect, and take the next faithful steps.  Others have done the same for us. 

LaGrange College has walked hard paths before.  This isn’t even our first pandemic!

The 1918-1919 annual report of LaGrange College President Daisy Davies reveals the struggle of the College during the Spanish Flu pandemic:

“The year began with bright prospects and a fine student body...In spite of strict quarantine, several cases of influenza developed and for weeks our work was difficult.  Frightened parents sent for their daughters and some of them...did not return to the College, thus decreasing our numbers.  Sickness and death in homes of some of our faculty requiring changes in the teaching force increased our problems.  All of these things...have made the year a most difficult one.  I am grateful indeed that we have been able to accomplish so much despite these hindrances.”  

LaGrange College is an absolute miracle.  Through these 189 years, with the constant help and abiding presence of a loving God, the College has not only survived hardship, it has continually changed the world for the better.  

We are the recipients of an incredible and tenacious legacy, and I know that we are strong enough to step into this new and challenging time.   With God’s help, we will somehow emerge even stronger.

“So then let’s also run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us.”  Hebrews 12:1 

President Davies ran her race in 1918.  She and all the others gone before us are among that “great cloud” of faithful LaGrange College witnesses, urging us to run our race in 2020 and beyond!

Grace and Peace, 
Adam 

As you complete this first day of total online instruction, I want to express my thanks for your patience. The speed of this transition has been challenging, and your cooperation while faculty and staff work to continue your education in new ways is appreciated.

Clearly, the arrival of COVID-19 has forced all of us to change and adapt. We continue to monitor the situation closely and remain in constant contact with our WeCare clinic and our region’s public health officials for any needed response. 

The LaGrange College leadership team meets on a daily basis to consider any changes of plans or actions required. At this time we intend to continue our current status of offices open and, for students who have remained on campus, access to only limited buildings: residence halls, the library and the dining hall. If a change to that plan is required, please know that we will inform you as quickly as we can.

Whether you are on campus or off, please keep yourselves safe by frequent handwashing, disinfecting surfaces and proper social distancing. If you feel unwell, contact a health care provider quickly.

And if you are having trouble logging in or using Connect for your online work, please visit the support portal or call 844-502-9914.

Again, thank you for your patience as we all deal with this very fluid situation. I am confident in the resilience of LaGrange College, which has served students for 189 years through many worldwide crises. Together, we can rise above this storm and emerge more prepared to succeed and to serve.

Dan McAlexander
President

As you may have heard, Gov. Kemp will officially close Georgia’s public colleges beginning Wednesday. The Georgia Independent College Association has confirmed, however, that this order does not involve the state’s private institutions of higher learning.

LaGrange College will continue the schedule announced Sunday that has instruction suspended until Thursday (when online instruction begins), and has only residence halls, the library, the dining hall and offices remaining open.

We aim to continue to serve our students, even in this challenging environment.

If you have chosen to remain on campus, please continue to follow proper preventive practices, which include regular, and careful, handwashing and practicing prudent social distancing. Also, you must let the Campus Life Office know of your plans by completing this form.

If you should exhibit any symptoms of the virus (fever, dry cough, sore throat, difficulty breathing), contact WeCare at 706-298-4914, option 1, or another heath care provider immediately.

Thank you for your continued patience as we move through this difficult time.

The college will suspend all classes beginning Monday, March 16. Classes will resume online on Thursday, March 19.

Students can choose whether to remain on campus or to return home. Residence halls, the dining hall, the library and all offices will remain open. Students should watch their email for instructions on how to notify the Housing Office of their intentions.

All events, including the visit of presidential search candidates and Dr. Obasanjo’s visit are canceled.

Whether on campus or at home, please continue to follow wise health practices that prevent virus transmission. 

The situation with COVID-19 is very fluid, and this schedule will be reevaluated on March 30.

Thank you for your patience as we move through these challenging times.

To help answer the questions of the campus community regarding the COVID-19 virus, the head of District 4 Public Health will visit campus Monday and Tuesday.

Dr. Olugbenga Obasanjo will be in Dickson Assembly Room Monday at 4 p.m. and Tuesday at 11:15 a.m. to provide an informational session on the virus and to answer questions. Dr. Obasanjo is District Health Director for the 12 county area that includes LaGrange and Troup County and has advised the college on its response plan.

Today he confirmed that no cases of the virus have been confirmed in the area.

The college continues to monitor the situation daily and will continue the schedule announced yesterday with the bans on external visitors and college travel as previously announced.

Monday's informational session will be streamed live. A link to the broadcast will be made available on this page Monday afternoon. 

In coordination with state and local authorities and close consultation with the head of District 4 Public Health, the campus response team has decided that instruction will continue as normal on campus for the time being. With no confirmed COVID-19 cases in the area, health officials believe that, for now, students are at minimal risk remaining on campus.

To lessen the chance of the coronavirus being brought onto campus—or of exposing faculty and students to it while off campus—restrictions will be instituted for college events and travel. Any activity that requires external guests on campus will be canceled. Likewise, all college-sponsored travel is prohibited. For clarification, contact your appropriate Vice President.

This ban is currently in place until at least March 30, but will be reviewed on a weekly basis.

Following the NCAA’s decision to cancel all championship events, USA South Athletic Conference school presidents voted unanimously this afternoon to suspend all athletic competition for the remainder of the season. Coaches of spring sports teams will discuss individual plans with team members.

As we begin the weekend, you are reminded to be cautious about where you go and who you come into contact with. Follow preventive measures, and if you begin to exhibit symptoms, contact health care providers and immediately quarantine yourself—especially if you are over 60 or have an underlying health condition.

While no confirmed cases now exist on campus or in the area, the situation is very fluid; campus leaders are in constant contact with authorities and will review plans daily.

Thank you for your patience and support as we work to both protect the health and safety of our campus community and fulfill our educational mission.

- - Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAMS

We can report that as of this time there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on campus or in the Troup County community, and there is no cause for great alarm. That does not mean, however, that our level of vigilance nor our preparedness plans should be relaxed.

The college leadership team continues to meet regularly to review procedures and explore options that will allow us to continue our mission should a confirmed case appear on campus or in close proximity to us. It is premature to speculate about when those plans may be enacted.

Know that many measures have already been instituted because of the threat of the virus:

• The Dining Hall has moved to strict protocols designed to prevent disease transmission.
• Cleaning staff have implemented extra measures in sanitizing common areas, including the application of EPA-approved disinfectants.
• A careful review of campus events that involve outside guests has begun (as you were informed in yesterday’s communication). If those activities involve an unnecessary risk or participants from “hot spot” areas, they have been canceled or postponed.

You can do your part by observing proper hygiene and hand-washing methods (illustrated in the posters around campus), and by immediately notifying the WeCare Clinic at 706-298-4914, option 1 (or if after hours, an urgent care center) if you experience coronavirus symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath).

 Thank you for your patience as we all work through this situation together. We will continue to send updates via email and post them on our website (www.lagrange.edu) as the situation unfolds. As we pursue our mission of challenging minds and inspiring souls, the health and well-being of students, faculty and staff are our highest priority.

LaGrange College is actively monitoring the outbreak of the respiratory illness COVID-19 caused by a new coronavirus identified in China.

“Campus officials are meeting regularly to review, and to update as needed, the college’s emergency preparedness, pandemic response and business continuity plans,” said Dawn Coker, Vice President of Human Resources. “We are also constantly monitoring travel advisories.”

Michele Raphoon, Coordinator of Global Engagement, said no students nor faculty members are currently studying abroad. 

“All of our Interim Term travelers returned healthy in January,” she said.

There have been no cases of the corona virus reported in the area at this time; however, community members are encouraged to monitor the CDC website and the State Department.

“We continue to stress the importance of observing every-day preventive actions to help contain the spread of respiratory viruses,” Coker said. Those measures include:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. If a tissue is not handy, cough into your elbow.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

These everyday habits can help prevent the spread of several viruses.

Coronavirus symptoms can include fever, cough and shortness of breath. If members of the campus community experience flu-like symptoms, they should contact WeCare at 706-298-4914, option 1.  Employees and dependents covered on the LaGrange College health plan may also call Telemedicine at 844-484-7362 or visit an urgent care center.