Community Update September 4, 2020

As Gardner-Webb University concludes the third week of the Fall 2020 semester and heads into the Labor Day weekend, the health and safety of the GWU community remain our top priorities. It’s absolutely essential that students wear their face coverings on campus, indoors in all buildings and outdoors as well if a physical distance cannot be maintained.

Labor Day Weekend

As we try to protect the “bubble” through the holiday weekend, we are strongly advising students to “Stay in The Springs” and continue to do their part and practice safety on campus: wearing face coverings, staying six feet apart, washing their hands frequently and avoiding large gatherings, especially parties.  We are noticing an increase in noncompliance of face covering rules, especially in Tucker Student Center.  Enforcement will increase immediately, with denial of access and/or code of conduct sanctions applied. Fines ranging from $25 to $300 may be imposed for violations.

There will be special Labor Day weekend events on campus including movie night on the quad featuring “Remember the Titans” and a special Sunday worship service in front of Dover Chapel at 11:00 am. The Friday egg hunt and Sunday cornhole events have been cancelled. All events will require face coverings and social distancing. For the latest on the weekend schedule follow Gardner-Webb on Instagram.

Current Status

As of Friday, September 4, Gardner-Webb has no (zero) confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 on campus. We do have 23 students in quarantine on campus who may be tested or who have been tested and are waiting on their test results. These students were found to be in direct contact with a symptomatic person through contact trace investigation.

We have five students in isolation on campus who are symptomatic and waiting to be tested or who have been tested and are waiting on their test results.  We no longer have any international students in mandatory quarantine on campus. 

We have three residential undergraduate students who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are currently in isolation at home. We have six residential undergraduate students in quarantine at home who are waiting to be tested or who have been tested and are waiting on their test results.

We have two commuter/graduate students who are in quarantine at home waiting to be tested or who have been tested and are waiting on their results.

We have no (zero) staff/faculty who are currently in isolation at home. We have three faculty/staff in quarantine at home waiting to be tested or waiting on their test results.  

Quarantine and Isolation

Please remember that quarantining is a safety measure the University has put in place in accordance with CDC guidelines and in consultation with our local health department. Students or employees placed in quarantine should not be assumed to be positive for COVID-19.  They are placed in quarantine due to contact tracing. A decision to quarantine is based on whether the individual has been in close proximity to someone who is showing symptoms. 

In the same regard, symptomatic persons should not be automatically assumed positive for COVID-19.  As a safety precaution, most symptomatic individuals are placed in isolation until results from COVID testing are received.  In short, the quarantine and isolation protocols that the University have implemented are helping to prevent community spread from occurring on our campus.  

As a reminder to faculty and staff, individuals with actual or potential exposure to COVID-19 should notify their supervisor immediately, and their supervisor will then notify David Wacaster (704.406.3235), Barry Lane (704.406.2266) and Human Resources—Scott White (704.406.4259) or Frances Sizemore (704.406.3502).

As a reminder to students, if you are a residential student who has tested positive or who has had exposure to a positive case of COVID-19, contact the Dean of Students, Dr. Sarah Currie. Commuter or graduate students who have tested positive, or who have been exposed to a positive case, should report the issue to the Director of Safety, Barry Lane.

NC Executive Order Update

NC Governor Roy Cooper has ordered the state to move to Phase 2.5 of the “Safer at Home”

plan today, September 4. The main impact of this change on the University is Phase 2.5 now allows groups of 25 indoors and 50 outdoors. The other rules and requirements, such as face coverings, remain in place.

So, wear your mask, wash your hands, avoid large gatherings, and stay safe Bulldogs!