Dear Anna Maria College Community,
In Fall 2020, the Anna Maria College Return to Campus on Processes, Protocols and Guidelines were presented to the campus for the necessary information needed to prepare for the opening of the 20-21 academic year. The safety measures and necessary preparations for operations were outlined and implemented with a great deal of success. It challenged us on many fronts, but the campus community met those challenges with determination and hope. I again offer my deep appreciation for all that was done and continues to be navigated in order to advance our mission and assure the well-being of our community.
While we continue to see challenges from COVID-19, the Spring 2021 semester will open with improved operational initiatives from our learned experiences in the fall. Even though we are still dealing with the reality of the pandemic, the approval of a vaccine, and the current evidence of the holiday spike in cases beginning to plateau and, hopefully, decline as the semester progresses allows us to see the end of the semester as finishing stronger than what we experienced in the fall. Over the semester break, modifications have been implemented and the following are some of the highlights that you should be aware of:
- The spring semester will begin with on-campus and remote classes on February 8, 2021.
- Move-in for new and returning students is scheduled to begin on February 3, 2021. All details on move-in are outlined through a communication from Residence Life;
- Testing schedules for students will begin the week of February 1st to assure safety for all on campus;
- The suspension of basketball, both men and women; spring sports schedules are still being determined for scheduling decisions by the athletic conference (GNAC);
- COVID-19 testing will continue twice a week at no cost for all community members and will be administered Monday through Thursday;
- The same protocols and restrictions for safety are in place as was in the fall – masks at all times when outside of living space (residence hall) or office, capacity limits in place for social distancing, increased cleaning processes across campus, dining hall reservations through OpenTable beginning the second week of classes (grab-and-go for the first week);
- Improved technology in classrooms for better visual and audio impact, and;
- Faculty further developed remote and on-ground delivery to lessen the difficulties experienced with some hybrid courses.
Click here for the complete Return to Campus Handbook for Spring 2021.
We will continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 and assessment on all of the policies and procedures outlined in this manual will be conducted throughout the semester. The information that is communicated to Anna Maria College through public health officials and federal and state regulations is efficient and current. I once again ask for your continued cooperation in all required protocols in order to continue and complete the academic year successfully. Please read this document carefully as there are some changes from the previous edition.
I look forward to the start of the spring semester and welcoming our students, faculty and staff back to campus. Enjoy the rest of your semester break and I wish you and your family a healthy 2021. If you have any questions, please call me at (508) 849-3333.
Sincerely,
Mary Lou Retelle
President
