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Student Life FAQ

Is it safe for me to return to campus?

Randolph College wants every student who chooses to live on campus to be able to do so safely. With that in mind, we want to begin with the “cleanest bill of health” possible.

All students who wish to live on campus for the spring semester will be required to provide documentation of a negative PCR (not a rapid antigen test) COVID-19 test that has been administered no more than 5 days prior to their arrival on campus.  Students should email this documentation (a screenshot is acceptable as long as the student’s name and date of test are visible along with results) to Ruby Bryant, Director of Health Services, at rbryant@randolphcollege.edu before their arrival to campus.  Commuter students who are not playing a college sport are not required to submit a PCR COVID-19 test before their first day of classes.

Students who have documentation of a positive COVID-19 test within 90 days of their arrival to campus are exempt from the requirement to be tested within 5 days of their arrival, as long as they do not have symptoms of COVID-19 at that time or have not had close contact with a positive person within the previous 14 days.  This documentation should be emailed to Ruby Bryant, Director of Health Services, at rbryant@randolphcollege.edu before their arrival to campus (a screenshot is acceptable as long as the student’s name and date of test are visible along with results).

Results from PCR tests are typically available in 48-72 hours; however, some localities and/or laboratories have not been able to return results for up to 5 days. If a result is not available before a student’s move-in date, that student should not come to campus until their result has been received. For information about where you can get tested, please visit your state health department website or ask your primary healthcare provider.

Test availability on campus is expected to increase and should allow for testing of all symptomatic students on campus, as well as random testing of asymptomatic students, faculty, and staff throughout the semester. The tests we will likely use, if available, are called antigen tests and will provide results in approximately 15 minutes.

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When will students be able to move into their assigned residence hall room?

  • First-year student move-in: January 28, 2021
  • Upperclass student move-in: January 30-31, 2021
  • Student leaders and athletes should be in contact with their respective supervisor/coach to learn more about their move-in and training dates.

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Will I be able to return to campus early?

No. Students will not be able to return to campus prior to their prescribed move-in date.
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What will be the room and board refund policy for spring 2021?

Should a student choose to live on campus and then voluntarily leave the residence halls for any reason, the College will refund room and board in accordance with the table below. If a student is suspended from the residence halls for violating the College’s COVID-19 protocols, the College will not refund any room and board charges.

 

Week Refund % Refund Amt
1 90% $4,950
2 75% $4,125
3 50% $2,750
4 50% $2,750
5-15 0% –

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Will student fees be adjusted for the spring semester?

The following is a summary of changes, as applicable, to other student fees:

Technology fee: consistent with the fall semester, the technology fee will remain at $200 for the spring semester for all full-time students whether instruction is in-person or virtual, matching the College’s current rate for residential students. This change is necessary due to the increased costs associated with online instruction.

Student activities fee: will remain at $105 for the spring semester whether instruction is in-person or virtual, as the College will continue to provide students with online programming and involvement opportunities.

Accident insurance fee: will remain at $61 for the spring semester as this policy provides mandatory coverage no matter whether the student is on or off campus 24/7/365.

Health and counseling fee: this fee will remain unchanged at $50 for the spring semester and will be applicable to all non-residential, full-time students because the Health and Counseling Center will continue to provide telehealth/telecounseling services to off campus students. The services of the College nurse practitioner, nurses, and counselors, and the use of the Health and Counseling Center are provided to residential students without additional cost.

Orientation fee: reducing to $150 from $200 since orientation will not be held on campus but will be virtual

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If I lived off-campus for the fall 2020 semester and want to return to campus, will I be considered a residential or commuter student?

If you were a residential student at the start of the fall 2020 semester and wish to return to campus, you will continue to be a residential student during the spring 2021 semester (unless you apply are approved for commuter student status). Each residential student will be required to pay room and board if returning to in person instruction. Room and board charges will not be waived to accommodate leases or rental agreements that students may have initiated or agreed upon with a third party during virtual instruction.

If you lived off-campus during the fall 2020 semester and wish to continue virtually, you will have the flexibility to determine where you choose to live.

Any students choosing to continue virtual class instruction and live off-campus will not be charged room and board fees.
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What policies are in place regarding commuter students being on campus?

  • Commuter students are able to attend in-person classes or continue taking classes remotely for the spring semester.
  • Commuter students are not allowed to enter the residence halls or visit residential students. This also means commuter students will not be allowed to spend the night on campus during the spring semester.
  • The college is working to provide additional physically distanced study space for commuter students beyond the Commuter student lounge.
  • Commuter students who are not playing a college sport are not required to submit a negative PCR COVID-19 test before their arrival on campus.

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What will my spring 2021 housing assignment be?

  • Randolph College plans to house one student per residence hall room during the spring 2021 semester in order to help reduce student interactions in communal spaces. This plan is dependent on the number of students returning to campus.
  • If the College is unable to house one student per room, housing assignments and roommate pairs will remain the same—with the exception of the Grosvenor Apartment Complex.
  • The Grosvenor Apartment Complex will be used as quarantine space. Grosvenor residents will receive additional information about their new housing placements via email.
  • All previously approved Housing Accommodations, including medical singles, will be honored during the spring 2021 semester.
  • For more information regarding housing, please review additional FAQ’s at https://www.randolphcollege.edu/covid19/faq/

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Will I need to wear a mask?

Students will be required to wear a mask in all public and communal spaces, including but not limited to classrooms, hallways, bathrooms, laundry rooms, lounges, kitchens, etc.  A mask will also be required outside if physical distancing cannot be maintained.  Students do not need to wear a mask in their room if they are alone. Students must practice physical distancing, wear a mask, and follow all visitor regulations when a visitor is in their residence hall space.
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What will the visitation policy be?

During the first week of classes, a point prevalence COVID test will be given to the entire community. Prior to receiving the full community results, there is no residence hall visitation allowed.

After results have been received and any necessary quarantine/isolation decisions have been made, students will be notified via email and the following policies will be in place: Commuter and residential students will not be able to have visitors in public campus spaces. Students living on campus will be able to have one Randolph College residential student guest per room up to a three-hour visitation period per day. Commuter students are not allowed to enter residence halls or visit residential students. Non-Randolph College residential student guests, such as parents, off-campus significant others, best friends from home, siblings, etc., will not be permitted to visit campus or enter the residential facilities.

Please note, if there are continued violations of the visitation policies specified above, the Dean of Students Office will revoke visitation privileges for the entire community.
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Will I be able to stay in my dorm room if I am sick?

Depending on test results/close contacts versus a different diagnosis, a student could be asked to move from their room temporarily. If a student tests positive for COVID-19, they will be asked to move to an isolation space for up to 10 days (longer if symptoms are still present on day 10). If a student has a close contact with a positive person but tests negative, they may be asked to move to a quarantine space for 14 days. This may also depend on where a student lives and if they have a roommate. We are lucky to have a small campus and should be able to determine residential spaces for ill students on a case-by-case basis, just as we have done in the past during flu season.
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What residence hall space will be used to quarantine students that have had close exposure to someone with COVID-19 symptoms?

The Grosvenor Apartment Complex
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What residence hall space will be used as isolation space for students that have tested positive for COVID-19?

Webb Hall
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Will clubs and organizations be able to host meetings?

All club meetings for the spring 2021 semester must be conducted virtually.
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Will individuals be able to host private parties and social gatherings in their rooms or in campus locations?

Individuals will not be able to host social gatherings of any sort.
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Will SG-recognized clubs and organizations be able to host social events?

Clubs will be required to complete a form and have their events approved by a member of the Office of Student Affairs (DOS) staff to ensure that required safety measures are in place. Each event must have a staff (non-student) or faculty sponsor dedicated to remaining on site for the duration of the event to ensure that guidelines are followed.
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Will there be theatre events, dance concerts, music recitals and athletic contests?

All of these events will not have in-person spectators; these events will be streamed online.
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What will dining services look like this spring?

Dining Services will be implementing physical distancing guidelines, decreasing capacity in locations, reconfiguring serving stations and removing most self-served items. Tables and chairs will be removed or shifted to account for physical distancing recommendations and procedures as put forth by state regulatory departments. Due to limited seating, to-go boxes will be available at each station. Plates will be available for dine -in at a limited capacity.

All students will be set up with the All Access Meal Plan. This plan will allow for unlimited access to Cheatham Dining Hall during open hours and includes $300 Dining Dollars to be used at the Skeller.

Commuter students can still purchase a meal plan option that fits their needs.
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What dining facilities will be open?

To continue to prevent overcrowding and meet physical distancing requirements, the College will utilize Cheatham Dining Hall and Smith Banquet Hall. The eating/seating area of the Student Center has also been altered to allow for the minimum of 6-foot distancing.
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How will the operation of the dining hall change?

In addition to implementing physical distancing guidelines and decreasing capacity in locations, most self-serve items will be removed from serving stations.
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Will I be able to eat in the dining hall?

Plates for dine-in meals will be available at a limited capacity.
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Will to-go boxes be available?

Yes. Because of limited seating, to-go boxes will be available at each station.
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Will faculty and staff be able to utilize dining services?

Faculty and staff meals will be available at the Skeller during normal business hours and at Cheatham Dining Hall after February 14, 2021.
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Will I be able to use a personal refillable cup?

No. The use of personal refillable cups will no longer be allowed. This applies to soda fountains, coffee, and other areas where cross contamination could occur.
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What else will change?

Tabletops will no longer house items such as salt and pepper shakers and napkin dispensers.
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What practices will dining services implement for safety?

  1. All employees will be required to follow new check-in procedures that will ensure that prescribed health standards are met at a minimum before their workday begins.
  2. Employees will wash their hands and have their temperature checked all before entry is allowed.
  3. Appropriate personal protection will be worn by all employees based on their role and responsibilities and in adherence to state and local regulations and guidance.
  4. There will be increased frequency of swapping serving utensils and platters during and after service times, with full sanitizing of food contact surface areas, serving areas, cooler door handles.

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When will dining facilities be open?

Dining Hours of Operation: (Subject to Change)

  • Cheatham will operate normal hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 7:45 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday 11:00 a.m.-7:45 p.m.
  • Skeller – will be open 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
  • Conway Corner – will be closed. Grocery items and other sundries will be available for purchase at the Skeller.

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Will I be able to utilize the Student Center, Conway Corner, and the Skeller dining area?

Conway Corner: Will be closed. Grocery items and other sundries will be available for purchase at the Skeller.

Hampson Commons and Skeller dining area: Tables and chairs will be positioned to follow physical distancing guidelines. Students will not be allowed to sit in these areas for extended periods of time. This means these spaces will not be available for use as study spaces as they are during normal times. Students will be allowed to eat food purchased from the Skeller in these areas for no more than 30 minutes at a time.

Skeller: Open for food and coffee service.

Alice’s E-Cade, Fitness Center, Pool/Foosball/Ping-pong Tables: Closed during the spring 2021 semester. The MAC fitness center will be open during specified hours.

Yoga Room: Closed to the public during the spring 2021 semester.

Conference Rooms: Quillian and Fitzgerald conference rooms will be available as study space with maximum capacity limits posted. Students must physically distance while using the conference rooms.

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Will campus safety provide shuttle and transportation services this spring?

No. Transportation provided by campus safety has been discontinued for the spring semester due to difficulty in cleaning the vehicles, inability to provide appropriate physical distancing protocols, and staffing needs on campus.
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Are students allowed to go to stores to get essential items off-campus or go home on a weekend?

We are asking that students limit personal travel during the semester as much as possible after moving back onto campus. If students travel to non-campus locations, we are asking that they practice physical distancing, wear a face covering, and wash hands frequently for the safety of the campus community.

Esports

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Will the esports lab be open for the spring semester?

Our aim is to open the esports lab for students with COVID-19 and social distancing protocols in place. It will not be open to the public. Protocols include wearing a face covering at all times, use of provided hand sanitizer, signing in and out of the lab, wiping down your station, and maintaining a distance of six feet between yourself and other persons in the lab. There will be a limited number of students permitted in the lab at a time, and team practices will be closed to non-participants (maximum of 5).
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Will there be an esports season in the spring?

Yes, there will be a regular season for collegiate esports in the spring.
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Will esports team participants be required to attend practices in the esports lab?

Students will have the option to participate virtually in most practices and league competitions due to the ongoing concerns regarding COVID-19. NACE will allow students to participate in the spring season from home or their residence hall room if they meet the system requirements.

Counseling

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Will the Counseling Center be open?

The Counseling Center will be open for the spring semester for telehealth and in-person appointments. The assigned clinician and student will work together to decide a preferred meeting style that fits for the safety and preference of both parties. Any in-person sessions will be physically distanced and will require masks throughout the entire session.

Health Center

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How much does a COVID-19 test cost?

If a student has symptoms of COVID-19 or is a close contact of someone with a positive COVID-19 test, they will be able to have a test on campus. The cost of each test will be applied to the student’s account. The student will be given documentation to file with their insurance company afterwards for reimbursement purposes. The cost per test is $5.00 as long as the BinaxNow COVID-19 rapid antigen test is available.  Students, employees, and staff who are tested in a random testing sample will not be charged for the cost of that test.
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Should I get a flu shot before I arrive on campus?

Absolutely! If you do not have any contraindications to getting a flu shot, please get one now. Because COVID-19 is still being studied, and there are so many unknown variables related to this virus, healthcare providers and scientists are concerned about the body’s immune system if someone should get COVID-19 and the flu at the same time. Another reason to get your flu shot is to decrease the impact of respiratory illnesses on healthcare systems in general. For more detailed information regarding the flu shot, please visit the CDC website here.
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How will I get food or other necessities during quarantine or isolation?

Meals will be delivered to students who are asked to quarantine or isolate. Students will be asked to bring to campus enough clothes for 14 days without doing laundry, just in case they are required to quarantine. The isolation spaces will have laundry facilities available only for those students assigned to the facility. A care coordinator will talk to each student who is in isolation or quarantine daily to discuss symptoms and needs that may have arisen, whether physical or emotional. Telehealth services will be available to those students as well. ^
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When will the Campus Store be open?

The Campus Store will open Jan. 25 for the spring semester. Maximum occupancy will be six individuals, and face coverings are required. Hours may change if needed during the semester.

Spring Semester Hours of Operation

Week of January 25 only:

Monday 1:30-4:00
Wednesday 1:30-4:00
Thursday 9:00-4:00
Friday 1:30-4:00

Hours beginning Feb. 1
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1:30-4:00.

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