FAQs: COVID-19

No. From the Fall 2020 Course Standards: “Encourage, but don’t require students to have their cameras on. The camera can introduce equity issues for students lacking cameras or living and working in spaces that reveal things about their lives that they should not be forced to air in a class environment. However, being visibly present in the class can help build class community and can help the individual student engage with the class.”

Champlain is committed to supporting choice for students in regard to virtual or in-person internships during the Fall 2020 semester. Faculty overseeing internship courses will add a clear statement in their syllabi that students have the ability to pursue the course requirements in either setting. It is expected that all students will adhere to both Champlain College and internship site policies regarding Covid-19 guidelines and requirements. There may be limitations on the number of in-person positions at any one internship location. Students living at  194 St. Paul Street or in off-campus housing may continue face-to-face internships after Thanksgiving. Students who travel during Thanksgiving week must follow State of Vermont and Champlain College quarantine rules before they can resume their in-person internships. For specific questions about an individual student and her program, we recommend contacting the faculty advisor or the appropriate Program Director.

All tutoring and coaching services from the SMART Space will be offered virtually this fall.  Students will register for 1:1 appointments using our website and our online scheduling system, Tutortrac. 

After Thanksgiving all course instruction will be 100% virtual, therefore we will follow the regular class schedule during the last week of the semester, traditionally known as “Finals Week.”  Please note that the Registrar will not be creating a “finals schedule.” However, if there is a pedagogical need for an additional synchronous time or alternate format that week, individual faculty members have the discretion to schedule something with consideration of their students’ availability. If faculty have any questions, they should discuss with their Dean.

In preparation for the 2020-2021 academic year in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of Accessibility is temporarily suspending use of the Testing Center and requesting that faculty proctor their own exams for students who have relevant accommodations. Faculty may use electronic-based testing through Canvas or other platforms where proctoring is not needed, or they may proctor exams in their office or in the classroom, depending on the student’s needs and written accommodation. Erin Ferrara is available to work with individual faculty members to discuss strategies for meeting individual student needs.

We plan to stagger course schedules in order to reduce the density of student, faculty and staff movement between classes and throughout campus including the dining hall—a necessity based on current social distance modeling.  There will be a 10-minute minimum break between class blocks and a 10-minute stagger between classes. To view the updated class matrix click here.  Course times will be updated in Colleague soon.  If individual faculty members have concerns about their updated schedule we encourage them to talk to their Deans.

Begin by reading the Faculty & Academic Staff Briefings. Then, refer to the Center for Learning & Teaching website. The CLT website also includes FAQs specific to online instruction. New resources are being added daily.

We realize that students might want campus spaces to attend virtual classes or study between classes.  The following spaces are available to you (please bring your fully charged laptops to outdoor spaces as they will not have available access to outlets):

• Joyce 202 Classroom
• Joyce 205 Classroom
• Joyce 212 Classroom
• Ireland 201 Classroom
• Ireland 206 Classroom
• Joyce 201 PC Lab
• MIC 308 PC Lab
• MIC Study Spaces—To book a room click here.
• Gallery Lounge
• Wick 100
• Aiken Tent
• Perry Tent 

Because of COVID-related supply chain and shipping impacts, students who have opted in to the laptop program will not have their Champlain laptops for the start of the semester. Information Systems, in coordination with Compass, has reached out to students (incoming and returning) who have requested hardware to notify them and identify individuals who have no computer. Champlain will provide hardware from existing inventory to support studnets until their laptops arrive.

There are to versions of the survey; one for incoming students and the other for returning students. You’ll find links to the surveys in these communications.

All tutoring and coaching services from the SMART Space will be offered virtually this fall.  Students will register for 1:1 appointments using our website and our online scheduling system, Tutortrac. 

Yes, students can purchase a computer through our technology partner, Connection using our student portal.

• All new incoming and transfer students will receive a leased laptop and peripherals at no cost to students.
• Each device will be specifically selected to meet the requirements of the student’s major and will include campus-licensed software that is program-specific.
• Students will have these devices for the duration of their Champlain career (they will be returned to the College at the duration of student enrollment).
• Students will have full software and hardware support through the ChampSupport team.
• Individualized assistance will be provided to students with internet needs appropriate to their program and local internet service options.
• Students attending classes on-campus will receive their laptop when they arrive on-campus. The College will ship computers to students studying remotely.

We will assist returning students who have hardware needs, especially those with financial need, with a College-funded hardware solution appropriate to their program. Additionally, we have established several specific offerings to ensure the success of our returning students, including:

• Preferential access to computer labs both on-campus and remotely.
• Remote access to enhanced virtual machine environments, applications and software.
• Additional computer lab spaces and GPU-enhanced virtual labs are being created.
• Computer lab management software will allow students to identify which computers in each lab are in use.

Similar to the spring, Information Systems will survey all students about their personal technology situation, both hardware and connectivity. If students identify that they cannot access equivalent or greater hardware to meet the technical specifications of their courses, Champlain will work with the student to provide appropriate equipment at the College’s expense. On the connectivity side, IS will also work to identify solutions and resources to ensure reliable internet access. These solutions will be individual in nature based on broadband, cellular, etc. connectivity options in the area.

From an academic perspective, our faculty are committed to ensuring that seniors have access to a full complement of opportunities and will be able to complete their graduation requirements on time.  Some internships will continue to run in person this year, while others will happen virtually.  For specific questions about an individual student and her program, we recommend contacting the faculty advisor or the appropriate Program Director.

Flex-Hybrid Fully Virtual: Courses listed as “Flex-Hybrid Fully Virtual” will be taught virtually; however, there may be an optional classroom-based component to the class.  Some examples include: 

• a classroom is reserved for students to use to log into the virtual instruction;
• the instructor is available for students to ask questions in-person about pre-recorded materials;
• a classroom is available for students to work on group projects. 

Your class syllabus will indicate if there is a classroom component to the course design.

Flex-Hybrid Mixed: These courses will have a mix of in-person classroom and virtual instruction. Students who opt to participate from home will be able to access the in-person elements of the class remotely.

The capacity of each classroom has been updated to allow for 6 feet of social distancing, which limits the number of classes where all of the students can meet in-person at the same time. In some cases, the faculty have split their course into two groups, so each student group can have an in-class experience once a week.

A class that provides a classroom location for one day and says, “Virtual Learning Environment” for the other has been split in this way.

Students have multiple resources available for help, starting with their professors who will be accessible for virtual office hours.  If a student is struggling in a class for any reason, contacting the professor directly is the best way to start.  In addition, we have a robust array  of Academic Support Services that will continue to be available to students this fall.  

Yes. The student activity fee will continue to support student engagement and activities this fall, even though they will look different than in previous semesters.
 
Lab fees support access to labs and equipment on campus as well as virtual machines and other technology for students who continue their Champlain experience from home.

While InSight requirements will still be in place for all students, the program offerings and modes of delivery will shift to reflect the Flex-Hybrid model. We know some milestones, like attending a traditional Career Fair, won’t take place in the same way. The InSight curriculum, and the Career Collaborative team, will be offering virtual alternatives for completion of all milestones. An added focus will include working with seniors to support their development of the skills and strategies necessary to be prepared for a workplace shaped by COVID-19.

Yes! Commuter students are welcome to attend classes in-person, just as on-campus students are. Parking will be available at Lakeside.

 A “Flex-Hybrid” course uses blended teaching methods—a mix of real-time instruction and technology-mediated activities and content delivery—to facilitate personalized and choice-driven learning. Students will experience a mix of in-person and real-time remote learning that emphasizes community building, meaningful peer interactions, one-on-one coaching, and individualized instruction. 

In the face of a global pandemic, there are any number of reasons—illness or other health limitations, mandated health and safety guidelines, personal preference—that a student or faculty member may not be able to attend class sessions in-person. The Flex-Hybrid model gives students and faculty flexibility in attending their classes this fall.

The Flex-Hybrid design:

• provides universal accessibility for all students;
• allows choice and autonomy for students and faculty;
• promotes interpersonal student engagement;
• offers multiple pathways for students to access content and participate in activities;
• facilitates creativity in teaching and learning by accommodating multiple teaching and learning styles;
• assures a seamless learning experience for students in the face of potential disruption;
• relies on real-time, weekly interactions between students and faculty and among student peers;
• integrates one-on-one personalized student-faculty interaction;
• fosters community and relationship building;
• promotes hands-on, active learning; and
• incorporates innovative 21st-century digitally-enhanced tools and techniques.

Our faculty are working closely with expert course designers over the summer to develop an array of exciting teaching models in the Flex-Hybrid design. We look forward to sharing early examples from our faculty and highlights of Flex-Hybrid courses across different course subjects with our new and returning students and their families in early July. 

Flex-Hybrid courses offer students a safer option and ensure that they will have an engaging educational experience regardless of individual student and faculty health concerns, changing state health and safety guidelines, and the unknown course of the pandemic itself. Flex-Hybrid classes not only allow for the most flexibility for students and faculty in the face of uncertainty, but they also epitomize sound course design and delivery for 21st-century learners.

The Flex-Hybrid model and Online learning offer two different student experiences. The Flex-Hybrid model simulates (and in some cases mirrors) the traditional classroom experience, while most Online learning does not require students to log-in for each course at specific times or have real-time meetings with classmates and instructors. 

In the Flex-Hybrid model students will experience a combination of independent work, learning together as a class with the professor (either in-person or virtually), peer collaboration, and additional personalized one-on-one faculty instruction. A Flex-Hybrid course combines the benefits of a traditional classroom experience with virtual and remote digital technology to accommodate multiple ways of teaching and learning. All students can expect consistent “real time” interactions with their faculty and their peers on a weekly basis; opportunities for one-on-one engagement with their professor; class community and relationship building; and a combination of virtual and real-time activities, including hands-on projects and collaborative problem solving.

Champlain matches what you study and how it’s taught to who you are and what you need. So a traditional student explores big ideas and complex questions through the Core curriculum, and gains practice working on team projects to be workplace ready, preparing through experiences like internships and capstones. A CCO student learning through a fully online mode more often has a lot of direct work experience already, but needs to fill some gaps in their formal knowledge. Their CCO faculty member is likely to work in the quantitative field full-time, and to teach statistics part-time, with a strong emphasis on how the learning applies directly at work the next day. The way of learning is tailored by faculty to who the student is, both for Champlain College and for Champlain College Online.

Additionally, our traditional undergraduate program and CCO are two separate programs with separate enrollment processes. Many of the majors offered on campus are not available at CCO, which offers a more targeted range of courses within 12 bachelor’s programs. The variety of niche programs offered to campus students, that are carefully designed for the learning and career development needs of first-time college students, is part of what makes the experience customized and distinct. 

Champlain is making a significant investment in classroom and other technology services to support and enhance Flex-Hybrid teaching and learning and ensure that the real-time teaching and face-to-face engagement between faculty and students will reflect the traditional classroom experience. In this context, tuition for the Fall 2020 semester will remain at the originally posted rates for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Yes. The Canvas Learning Management System must be the “base” of all courses. Faculty will:

• Post all due dates for assignments and discussions so that they are visible in the Canvas student to-do list. 
• Maintain the Gradebook in Canvas so that the current grade is an accurate predictor of student success. 
• Organize course materials, tasks, etc by Modules structured around units of study or weeks for consistency and navigability.

Champlain College is making a major investment in people and technology this summer in preparation for the fall semester. 

• Faculty are working with our Center for Learning & Teaching throughout the summer and are committed to providing outstanding Flex-Hybrid courses built on course learning goals. 
• Classrooms are being supplemented with additional audio/visual equipment to support students and faculty who cannot attend in person.
• Students who wish to participate in classes from home will receive the technology support they need to succeed. The College is committed to working with students to ensure they have the software and technology necessary for full participation.
• The College is licensing a new video management platform to improve the faculty’s ability to record lectures, both in the classroom and remotely. 
• The faculty are engaging in professional development opportunities to boost specific skills, including running webinars, recording quality videos, and learning new software.
• The SMART Space is preparing resources and learning opportunities to help students with succeeding in the Flex-Hybrid learning experience.
• Classrooms are being rearranged and outfitted to accommodate physical distancing, safety, and hygiene guidelines.
• Class schedules are undergoing revision to permit safer movement between classes and physical distancing in the classroom. 
• In July, when live schedules are available to current and incoming students, we will offer easy-to-understand tutorials and offer customized support for students who want to adjust their schedule to adjust the balance of remote and classroom-based instruction.

We have modified the Fall 2020 academic calendar to mitigate risks from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

• Classes will begin on August 31
• Monday, October 12th and Tuesday, October 13th, originally scheduled as a fall break, will instead be in-session days, and Thanksgiving break will be expanded to one full week, November 23-27. 
• Students will not return to campus after the Thanksgiving break and all courses will move to remote instruction for the final weeks of the fall semester, concluding December 18. 

The status of the Spring 2020 semester will be evaluated throughout the fall and students will receive guidance before the conclusion of in-person instruction at Thanksgiving break.  The complete, updated academic calendar is available here.

You can find the recording our webinar with medical experts Dr. Mark Levine, Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Health, and Dr. Tim Wilens, a Champlain parent, physician at Mass General Hospital, and Professor at Harvard Medical School, here.

All campus communications related to Fall 2020 are located here.

Town Hall Recordings:

Incoming Student Town Hall (July 22)
Returning Student Town Hall (July 23)
Faculty & Staff Town Hall (July 23)

Library: Miller Information Commons will be open this Fall. Furniture will be reorganized to accommodate appropriate social distancing, and building capacity will be adjusted based upon State guidelines. The Library will not be able to accommodate class sessions that are not scheduled in MIC classrooms. Access to study rooms will be available on a limited basis. Information literacy instruction, special collections instruction, and reference consultations will be conducted virtually. Physical materials will circulate and contactless pickup will be available. All physical materials will go through a quarantine period before being recirculated.

Rental House: The Champlain Rental House is open and following strict CDC health and safety guidelines for equipment check out, use, and return. Please see the Rental House website for current hours and policy information.

Smart Space: Currently the SMART Space is planning to offer its regular services, including Academic Coaching, Peer Tutoring Centers, mindfulness activities, and academic workshops as well as one-on-one appointments which will be available on campus and online in the fall.

The Champlain College Student Health Center provides both telehealth and in person care as needed to all students studying and living on campus or within Vermont. 

Our ability to support students living outside of Vermont will depend on the context. Regulations allowing the practice of medicine over state boundaries varies from state to state, but is generally not permitted. While some states relaxed regulations while under State of Emergency, these temporary loosening of regulations are subject to change at any time. 

If you will be studying remotely outside of Vermont and are in need of non-emergency health support, we invite you to call us to explore how we can support you. Our capacity to offer medical care will depend both on current regulations as well as if high quality medical care can be provided remotely based on your particular health needs.

Any decision to close the College prior to Thanksgiving break would be made in close consultation with the Vermont Department of Health. Both Champlain College and the State of Vermont will be tracking criteria related to the health of our campus and that of the broader community around the College. In addition to the number of confirmed positive cases, both at Champlain and in Burlington, other key factors include Champlain’s quarantine and isolation capacity and continued access to testing.

Faculty: Faculty are able to return to campus August 3. All campus buildings will remain locked and you will need your Champlain ID to access the buildings you need to utilize. 

Staff: All buildings remain locked. If you require access to your office, please contact your manager to arrange access through Campus Public Safety.

Yes! For your convenience, you’re able to use these funds directly on the campus store website, in addition to using them in-store and over the phone. If you wish to make an online purchase on our website using your voucher, just follow these steps:

1. Go to www.champlaincampusstore.com
2. Select items and proceed to checkout
3. Sign in if you have an account you wish to use, create an account, or continue as a guest
4. Select delivery preference and fill-in contact information
5. Under “Alternate Forms of Payment,” select “Financial Aid/Scholarship,” enter your student ID number, and hit “Find Accounts”
6. Verify your voucher appears and hit “Apply” if it does appear and complete your order. If it does not appear, please contact the campus store for assistance

If you need to contact us, you can reach us by email (CampusStore@champlain.edu) or by calling us at 802-863-8961.
Students can choose to pick-up their order in-store or have it shipped to whatever address they want.

The Fitness Center will be open, but operations will change to meet the State of Vermont guidelines for gyms and fitness centers. Capacity will be limited and students can sign up for scheduled use of the Fitness Center either in advance or at the Hub. 

The layout of the space and machines will be updated to meet distancing requirements. This may mean that not all machines can be in use at one time. In addition to routine cleaning of equipment throughout the day by Fitness Center staff and overnight cleaning by our janitorial team, all users will be asked to clean equipment before and after every use.

Computer labs will have extended hours, but won’t be 24/7 because of scheduled times that will be designated for cleaning and disinfecting. We are working with the Academic or Information Technology team who manages each lab to define the schedules for each location. Many lab computers will be available remotely 24/7.

Lab hours will be the same for residential and off-campus students.

No. There is no differentiation between residential and off-campus students in terms of campus access. 

The Counseling Center staff will be able to provide initial consultations virtually to students who are out of state. As a result of state regulations, ongoing psychotherapy cannot occur for students who are not physically in Vermont. However, the Counseling team will remain available to discuss some short-term problem solving and offer some effective tools (interventions) that may be useful. If a student would like to engage in therapy, counselors can assist in making a referral in their home community.

The Mail Center Operations are changing significantly due to COVID-19. In an effort to protect everyone and minimize contact.

Hours: 9:00 AM–1:00 PM, Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. Closed Tuesdays and Thursdays.

There will be no inter-departmental deliveries, effective immediately. Please designate someone in your department to pick up and drop off mail during these hours. Please complete this spreadsheet so that Theresa knows who will be doing the mail pickups for your department and can coordinate with you.

Feel free to call 802-651-5829 before visiting to ask if you actually have mail, to save an unnecessary trip.

If there is a heavy package(s) that you need to be delivered, we will organize with Physical Plant to deliver. 

Small packages should be picked up like letter mail. We can simply hold any packages until later too if it’s not urgent. 

If you have “outgoing” mail that needs to have stamps/postage, please deliver to the Mail Center before noon so the Mail Center has time to process it before closing. 

If you have any outgoing pre-paid small package please drop at a UPS, FedEx or USPS drop off facility if you can, otherwise drop it here. 

Please submit a Physical Plant Workorder for any large or heavy packages you need picked up.

Finally, unless you are a student or employee who resides in Champlain College housing, no personal packages should be received or sent out by the Mail Center.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act is federal legislation which provides a variety of financial support to individuals and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act established and funded the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) to provide emergency financial aid grants. Colleges must award these grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the pandemic.

Under U.S. Department of Education rules for the program, these funds can be awarded to Champlain College undergraduate students pursuing degree programs who meet basic eligibility criteria for federal financial aid and who have the greatest financial need. The grant amount is based on the amount of funds received by Champlain College and on your Expected Family Contribution as determined when you completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Unfortunately, under current guidance, the U.S. Department of Education does not allow these funds to be used for international students, DACA students or students enrolled in Champlain College Online. If the eligibility criteria changes and additional students become eligible, CARES Act grants may be offered to those students as well.

Students who are eligible for a grant at this time will be notified via their MyMail email account and will need to take the steps outlined in the email by August 10, 2020 to receive a grant. 

Champlain is allocating CARES Act funds to eligible students in accordance with the CARES Act and Department of Education guidance. Individual grants are based on the amount of funds received by Champlain College and on your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).   

Champlain students eligible for CARES Act funding will be notified via their MyMail email account and will also receive an email from Adobe Sign that they will need to access to certify that they incurred eligible expenses. The Certification form must be completed by August 10, 2020 and refunds are expected to be posted soon after a student completes the form.

CARES Act/HEERF Act funds are meant to help students pay expenses for technology, health care, child care, course materials, rent, food, moving or other expenses incurred as a result of the disruption of campus operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You may also claim expenses you anticipate incurring such as storing personal items over the summer or replacing medications left behind in your residence hall.

Students will be asked to certify their expenses, however, students will not be asked to provide receipts.

The funds provided through the CARES Act are grants, not loans, and do not need to be paid back.

No. Money from the CARES Act is not considered financial assistance under federal statute, nor Department of Education regulations. As such, these funds will not impact your eligibility for regular financial aid (e.g., grants, scholarships, loans).

No. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that emergency financial aid grants under the CARES Act for unexpected expenses, unmet financial need, or expenses related to the disruption of campus operations on account of the COVID-19 pandemic are qualified disaster relief payments under section 139 of the Internal Revenue Code. This grant is not includible in your gross income.

Champlain College recognizes that transgender, non-binary, and/or gender-nonconforming students may not use the name that they were assigned at birth, as it does not reflect their identity. The College is able to use a student’s chosen name most of the time, however, we are required by law to use a student’s legal name on all medical records, including the tests for COVID-19. To avoid using students’ legal name, we have asked our testing team to ask for students’ ID number and last name.

Weekly testing is required and will continue through the entire fall semester. Please present weekly on your established day to the Perry Hall Testing Tent; hours below: 

Mondays and Tuesday 9:00 AM–4:30 PM 

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9:30 AM–4:30 PM.  

We have put a pause on launching the app we mentioned in a previous email. Instead, we invite you to register for an account at CareEvolve if you have not already done so, so that you are able to receive your results directly through your email account. The email to set up your account would have come from “CareEvolve@lknotification.com”.

You will continue to do your Daily Health Screening each day using this form.

Our test results are hosted on our testing dashboard page.

No. We are not conducting testing for symptomatic employees or students , regardless of participation in the weekly testing program. 

Students: If you have symptoms of COVID-19, please call the Student Health Center at 802.860.2711. Please do not attend class, visit the dining hall or the testing tent until you have spoken with the Health Center.

Employees: Any employee who becomes ill or is exposed to someone with a known COVID-19 infection should contact their primary care physician and their manager. If you are scheduled to be on campus, you should complete the Daily Health Screening and indicate your symptoms or exposure. You will be contacted by the Champlain Medical Team to discuss your case. Do not come to campus if you are experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19.

Testing is required for faculty and staff who will routinely work on campus each week. Faculty and staff should self-identify as being part of the testing pool based on their planned work schedule. It is our expectation that faculty and staff participating in testing will be tested weekly until Thanksgiving break. Your work schedule will define whether you participate in testing and you should not come to campus each week just for testing.

Testing is available weekly Monday–Friday from 9:00 AM–4:30 PM. For those individuals seeking the most minimal contact with others, we have reserved the hour of 8:30–9:30 AM on Wednesdays, Thursday and Fridays for employees only. The testing tent is located behind Perry Hall. All employees approved for on-campus work should be tested within their first week on campus.

The College is not offering testing for employees outside of the routine weekly testing program. If you become ill, are exposed to someone with COVID-19 symptoms or are returning from a quarantine-required county and wish to be tested to end your quarantine, please be in touch with your physician to be referred for community testing. We are not conducting testing for symptomatic employees, regardless of participation in the weekly testing program.

1. Do you have any of these symptoms that are not caused by another condition?

• Fever (100.4 or higher) or chills 
• Cough 
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing 
• Fatigue 
• Muscle or body aches 
• Headache 
• Recent loss of taste or smell 
• Sore throat 
• Congestion 
• Nausea or vomiting 
• Diarrhea 
  
  2. Within the past 14 days, have you had contact with anyone that you know had COVID-19 or COVID-like symptoms? Contact is defined as being 6 feet (2 meters) or closer to a person for more than 15 minutes, or having direct contact with fluids from a person with COVID-19 (for example, being coughed or sneezed on). 
  
  3. Have you had a positive COVID-19 test for active virus in the past 10 days?
  
  4. Have you had a positive COVID-19 PCR test for active virus within the past 90 days? Please note: This will not impact your ability to enter campus, however may impact your required testing plan.  
  
  5. Within the past 14 days, has a public health or medical professional told you to self-monitor, self-isolate, or self-quarantine because of concerns about COVID-19 infection?

Champlain is partnering with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard for our COVID-19 testing. Broad is using a PCR test, which is designed to detect the presence of the genomic material of the SARS-CoV2 novel coronavirus, the pathogen responsible for the disease known as COVID-19. 

The test uses a short swab to collect a sample from the lower nasal cavity. This method is less invasive than the upper nasal cavity (nasopharyngeal) swabs used in other tests.

The Student Health Center and a select group of student support staff will receive test results.

Positive results are also reported to the Vermont Department of Health, as required by state law.

The College will work with the Vermont Department of Health to complete robust contact tracing for any positive results. Contact tracing includes informing contacts of their exposure and educating those exposed on quarantine requirements and health monitoring. It does not reveal the identity of the positive contact.

Under federal law, we will not share health information with a family member. It is the student’s responsibility to share health information, unless the student is under 18 years of age. 

If the student is under 18 years of age, the Student Health Center will share positive test results with the student’s legal guardian. Please note that we will require the legal guardian sign consent for and testing and treatment prior to arrival on campus.

Yes. The State of Vermont requires entrance testing for all students. For most students, this will mean a test within 48 hours of arrival on campus, with a second test seven days later. In addition to the State mandated testing, Champlain will conduct routine testing on a weekly basis throughout the semester. This monitoring testing will be required and help us quickly identify and respond to any positive cases on our campus.

All members of the campus community are required to follow the State of Vermont Cross State Travel Requirements if traveling out of state during the fall semester. Students are encouraged to stay in Vermont for the duration of the semester to avoid the need to quarantine on your return to the state. If you must travel, you are required to notify the College by completing this form that will allow the Student Health Center to advise you on quarantine requirements, including the possibility of arranging quarantine housing.

The first thing you can do to hold others accountable is to politely ask them to change their behavior if it poses a risk to the individual or community. This can be as simple as pointing out directional signage if someone is walking the wrong direction in a one-way hallway, or asking an individual if they are aware of the facial covering requirements if they are not wearing a mask in a space where they should. Simply approach the individual or group and use the same tone you would when speaking with a friend. How you say it matters. Phrases like “Hi! It seems like you forgot to put your mask on,” or “Sorry, I’m afraid of getting sick. Can we please both take a step back?” strike a balance between friendliness and firmness.

It is important to note that shaming isn’t likely to work, but being respectful and kind will de-escalate potentially volatile situations and help ensure the safety of everyone involved. If an individual refuses to comply with guidelines or becomes combative, put your own safety first and remove yourself from the situation. If you identify a pattern from a particular person or group, or a particularly serious incident occurs, you should report your concerns by:

• Safely contacting your RA if the violation occurs within your residence hall; or
• Filling out this Incident Report Form; or
• Calling Campus Public Safety at 802-865-6465 if the situation presents an immediate danger.

Once you make a report, the appropriate people will look into the potential violation to maintain the safety and health of our community.

Students will be provided with two reusable cloth masks on arrival. Please plan to bring at least 8-10 additional masks with you. The CDC recommends washing your mask after a day of use, so please plan accordingly.

Masks must be worn so that they cover both nose and mouth at all times.

The College requires the use of a face mask (cloth or disposable) to prevent the spray of respiratory particles. Neck gaiter-style and exhalation-vented masks are not allowed. The CDC and the Vermont Department of Health do not recommend use of face shields for normal everyday activities or as a substitute for face coverings. 

If a community member has an accommodation request regarding the use  of a face mask, please contact Erin Ferrara, Associate Director of Accessibility Services, to discuss your needs and the accommodation process. Erin can be reached at (802) 865-5764 or by email at eferrara@champlain.edu.

The Student Health Pledge can be found here. All students who wish to return to campus this fall to take part in classes and/or College activities must sign the Champlain Community Health Pledge and participate fully in all health measures in order to return to campus this fall.

• Testing is required for students and for faculty and staff and other employees routinely working on campus.
• Custodial staffing and sanitizing protocols are being updated to include increased cleaning of bathrooms and high-contact surfaces like doors, desks, and shared technology. Signage will be in place to indicate when all bathrooms and classrooms were last disinfected.
• All dorm rooms will be limited to single and double occupancy to minimize transmission of the virus among students. 
• We are reducing density in classrooms, the dining hall, and other public spaces.  
• The layout of the dining hall has been updated to manage capacity and shared tables will be equipped with plexi-glass dividers.
• In addition to the State of Vermont required campus entry testing, we will conduct mandatory weekly testing of students. Testing will also be available for faculty and staff.  Routine testing will provide timely data on how effectively we are containing the virus on our campus and within our community.
• Every student will be required to sign and agree to a Health Safety Pledge. The pledge will define our expectations of Champlain students in areas such as quarantine procedures, mandatory daily health surveys, testing expectations, limitations on visitors during move-in, participate in contact tracing efforts, mandatory mask wearing, physical distancing and proper hand hygiene. The goal of this commitment is to maintain the level of safety and public health that Vermont has earned over the last several months.

Yes. We have defined quarantine and isolation areas for students who test positive for COVID-19, have been exposed to the virus or have symptoms and are awaiting a test result.

If you are living on campus, the Student Health Center would like you to be in touch to discuss any symptoms and assure you have the information and resources to remain healthy. If you are living off campus, please contact your primary care provider. If you are off campus and in the Burlington community and identify the Student Health Center as your local health care, please be in touch to discuss any changes in your health.

If you develop COVID-19 symptoms you should remain home, in your room, isolated from other residence hall or apartment contacts, and call Student Health and/or your primary care provider for guidance.

If you are referred for testing through the Student Health Center, we will discuss transportation options with you individually.

Self-quarantine is required of people who reasonably believe to have been exposed to a communicable disease (like coronavirus) but are not yet symptomatic to prevent the possible spread of the disease.

Self-Isolation is directed by public health agencies and medical providers and refers to those who are ill and suspected to have an infection or known to have an infection.

It’s understandable that you may feel stressed and anxious about the situation. If anxiety or fear is overwhelming you, please get in touch with the Champlain College Counseling Center in Skiff Hall:

Email: counselingcenter@champlain.edu
Phone: 802.865.5731

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis and need to speak to someone immediately, please call the on-call counselor at (802) 865-5745 or Campus Public Safety at (802) 865-6465.

People who contract COVID-19 usually develop symptoms that affect their respiratory system, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Learn more about COVID-19 symptoms from the CDC.

If you become ill or suspect that you are ill, stay home. Please review these guidelines, contact your health care provider and seek medical care in your location. If COVID-19 is suspected, you should self-isolate for 14 days if you live or work on campus, or if suggested by your healthcare provider.

If you are sick with COVID-19 or suspect you are infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, follow the steps at this link to help prevent the disease from spreading to people in your home and community.

COVID-19 is a new disease and we are still learning how it spreads, the severity of illness it causes, and to what extent it may spread in the United States.

The CDC reports that COVID-19 is a respiratory virus that is thought to spread mainly between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet), and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Learn more from the CDC.

CDC recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially when entering a new area, after being in a public place, or after blowing their nose, coughing, sneezing, or touching your face. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. 
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, and do not touch any personal items (keys, cell phone, etc.) or eat 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.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Do not share drinking glasses, bottles, makeup, boxes of food, finger-foods, instruments, or anything else that could possibly transmit the virus from one person to another.

Learn more about how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 from the CDC.

Hours of Operation are listed here. Hours will be subject to change so keep checking back online or at the front door of the IDX Dining Hall. 

Yes. All meals will be provided to students quarantining on Main Campus.

During campus quarantine breakfast, lunch and dinner will be available for take-out only at the IDX Dining Hall. You are welcome to leave your residence hall to visit the dining hall. Please take your meals back to your residence hall or to an outdoor location. Remember to keep at least six feet from other students and wear your mask.

In addition to IDX Dining Hall and The Grill and Zime @ EATS in the Center for Communication & Creative Media (CCM) we have added a new location where you can pick up ‘Simply to Go’ meal-plan meals:

Whiting Lounge: Available for breakfast and lunch take-out

Yes. There will be signage throughout campus reminding each of us about our health and safety commitments.  A team of students, faculty and staff developed a “health promotion” campaign that will include signage, social media, and other campus activities.

Contact tracing will be done in partnership with the Vermont Department of Health. The Contact Tracer will either be from VDH or will be a HIPPA trained medical professional employed by Champlain. If you are contacted by a tracer because you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 through an individual, the name and identity of that person’s name is not disclosed.  

Agreeing to participate in contact tracing is a requirement included in the Health Pledge. This VPR segment outlines how contract tracing works and what a conversation with a contact tracer might include.

We are currently looking at COVID classroom capacities, course enrollments and available classrooms.  The Registrar’s Office will be working with the division schedulers to make classroom adjustments as requested. If you would like to request a larger classroom please speak with your Dean.

Tape and X’s on the floor will indicate appropriate distancing  and will make it  easier for faculty to see the “teaching zone”. These markings will also allow  the room to be reset after cleaning. Faculty should plan based on a classroom capacity no more than 40% of normal.

Faculty interested in specific estimated capacity for a room they plan to teach in, please speak to your Dean or Operations Manager. Classroom set-up will be in rows with students facing forward to maintain the required distancing. Lab spaces may be configured differently to maximize capacity while maintaining social distancing requirements.

A few adjunct faculty have expressed a need for a computer for the Fall semester. While this is not something Champlain has usually offered these are not usual times. Please email Champ Support (champsupport@champlain.edu) with requests for adjunct faculty computers and as soon as we have fulfilled all student requests for hardware we will prioritize assisting adjunct faculty with computer hardware in coordination with their Program Directors and Deans.

Google Meet has not yet added the features that many faculty members have requested such as breakout rooms, Q&A, etc and we’ve had sufficient numbers of folx express interest to validate a campus site license. We will have Zoom available for all faculty and staff before the start of semester and are in the midst of procuring that license and getting things set up behind the scenes. More details to come soon!

 This summer we’ve offered A/V and other hardware to faculty (full-time and adjuncts) to support their content creation for their Flex Hybrid courses. We’ve had some questions around the return of that equipment, timing, etc. Simply stated: this is College equipment and we will request that it be returned at some point in the future. Faculty are welcome to retain this equipment as long as it serves their needs, until we return to “normal” (whatever that may be), or until separated from the College.

The campus will have increased custodial services from Janitech next fall. Each classroom will be cleaned multiple times each day and the schedule for cleaning will be posted on each classroom door. Depending on the class schedule for any given room, it may not be possible to clean every room in between each class In addition, we will be providing cleaning supplies in each classroom for any student or faculty member who would like to clean their own space. Faculty are not required nor responsible for the cleaning of their classrooms. There will also be specific cleaning protocols and supplies for computer labs.

The July 28th People Center Update announced that beginning Monday, August 3, faculty may access their offices to pick up items, drop off items, and be present briefly.  We are not yet prepared to have you working in your office. We will remain in this “access your office” state for the next two weeks, most likely. Before you return to work you will be required to complete the VOSHA training and sign the Champlain Health Pledge (coming next week).  Each day that you visit campus you will be required to complete a Health Tracking Form.  If  you are visiting classrooms please do not move the furniture as we are working on getting floor tape in place to indicate the new room set-ups. Watch for updates from your Dean on your Divison’s plan for return to campus.

A mask or other face covering will be required for everyone in the classroom. Masks will not be required when you are alone in a space, like your office. The usual process for student accommodation remains the same and also applies to students who may need accommodations related to wearing masks. Please note that neck gaiters are not an acceptable alternative to a mask.

All members of the campus community are required to follow the State of Vermont Cross State Travel Requirements if traveling out of state during the Fall semester. If you must travel, you are required to notify your supervisor and employeehealth@champlain. This will allow the campus medical team to advise you on quarantine requirements and review the potential impact of the quarantine on work schedules.

Yes. Vermont state requirements indicate that if you are traveling to a quarantine county, you must quarantine upon return even if it is a day trip. All employees are expected to be familiar with and follow Vermont’s guidelines for interstate travel.

Please see our Working During COVID-19: Resources for Faculty & Staff section of this website for the most recent People Center communications and all our relevant policies.

Students must vacate their Main Campus residence halls no later than Sunday, November 22 at noon. Students living on Main Campus are expected to move out of  your residence hall completely before leaving for Thanksgiving break.  Classes will continue online only after Thanksgiving through the end of the semester. 

In the event of a closure or suspension of operations, we will follow the direction of the State regarding how to manage all campus housing, including for students housed at 194 St Paul Street. If the College closes for the semester early as a result of COVID no refunds or credits will be available for housing or meal plans.

Our policy was clarified on August 24 in this message to the community.

This policy was updated 8/14/20.

Move-In Day

When moving in, only the student may enter the residence hall. A parent/guardian traveling with the student can help bring the student’s belongings to the front door but may not enter the building.  

Champlain-Affiliated Guests

The ability for students to visit with each other in Champlain residence halls will be phased in over the course of the semester. It is important that we establish the overall health of our community in the early weeks of the semester before opening up our residence halls. 

At the start of the year, and until further notice, students may ONLY invite guests who live in the same residence hall to their room. It is our goal that, at some point in the fall semester, all students participating in campus life (both on and off campus students who are being tested and complying with other health measures included in the Health Pledge) will be able to visit friends in residence halls across campus. Updates to the guest policy will come by email from the Dean of Students.

At all times, there is a maximum of two guests per room, in addition to the resident(s), at any given time.

External Visitors

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, outside visitors who are not affiliated with Champlain College will not be permitted on campus after move-in day. This includes family members.

These restrictions may shift to be more lenient or more strict as the pandemic evolves. Any changes in the guest policy will be communicated via email by the Dean of Students.

Our goal will be to decrease the number of students in housing to a number that can be safely managed over the break depending on the course of the pandemic. We will announce a process closer to that time for hardship requests for students seeking to remain in campus housing following Thanksgiving. These requests will be reviewed by the Student Care and Response Team. This process applies to all residential students..

We are asking students to bring only what they need and to be prepared to move all their belongings out at Thanksgiving. 
This is an important decision since we do not know what will happen in the spring. Our hope is that the pandemic subsides and that we can have more or all of our students return to campus which may require reassigning rooms.

Students who reside at 194 St. Paul will be able to stay in their apartment if they wish too, pending the status of the pandemic and state guidance.

No. Neither combination units nor free-standing microwaves are allowed by order of the the Burlington Fire Marshall. Mini-fridges are allowed.

All students who live on campus will still be required to participate in a meal plan.

We are developing a plan to safely manage kitchens in residence halls. We know many students, particularly those with dietary restrictions and food allergies, rely on the kitchens to supplement  their meal plans. We do expect to be able to open the kitchens and will share further information on the guidelines for use, including scheduling and cleaning protocols.

No. We will not be able to house all students in single rooms. Rooms that previously accommodated three, four, or five students will now house two students.

We are asking students to bring only what they need and to be prepared to move all their belongings out at Thanksgiving. 
This is an important decision since we do not know what will happen in the spring. Our hope is that the pandemic subsides and that we can have more or all of our students return to campus which may require re-assigning rooms. Students who reside at 194 St. Paul will be able to stay in their apartment if they wish too, pending the status of the pandemic and state guidance. This information has just been updated on our Q&A page. 

We expect housing plans for Spring 2021 will be determined prior to students leaving campus for Thanksgiving Break.

The Student Emergency “Angel” Fund is designed to support those in the Champlain learning community with acute, unexpected needs. Champlain’s move to remote study has created new time-sensitive needs and we ask you to consider a donation of any size to this critical-need Fund.

While our team is working each day with students one on one to help navigate the transition to remote instruction and ensure student success, the Student Emergency Angel Fund will allow your gifts to be put to immediate use in support of needs like these.

Share Your Ideas & Resources  Do you have an idea for ways we can stay connected and engaged with each other? Do you have access to resources that could help others? Please keep the good ideas coming by sharing them here.

Neighbors who experience issues should contact Campus Public Safety at 802-865-6465, email community@champlain.edu, or fill out a Community Concerns Form here.

All Champlain College students who participate in any aspect of campus life, whether living on-campus or off-campus, will be tested weekly. Faculty and staff who are routinely working on campus will also be tested weekly.

• Testing is mandatory for students and for faculty, staff and other employees working on campus.
• Custodial staffing and sanitizing protocols are being updated to include increased cleaning of bathrooms and high-contact surfaces like doors, desks, and shared technology. Signage will be in place to indicate when all bathrooms and classrooms were last disinfected.
• All dorm rooms will be limited to single and double occupancy to minimize transmission of the virus among students. 
• We are reducing density in classrooms, the dining hall, and other public spaces.  
• The layout of the dining hall has been updated to manage capacity and shared tables will be equipped with plexi-glass dividers.
• In addition to the State of Vermont required campus entry testing, we will conduct mandatory weekly testing of students. Testing will also be available for faculty and staff.  Routine testing will provide timely data on how effectively we are containing the virus on our campus and within our community.
• Every student will be required to sign and agree to a Health Safety Pledge. The pledge will define our expectations of Champlain students in areas such as quarantine procedures, mandatory daily health surveys, testing expectations, limitations on visitors during move-in, participate in contact tracing efforts, mandatory mask wearing, physical distancing and proper hand hygiene. The goal of this commitment is to maintain the level of safety and public health that Vermont has earned over the last several months.

Students who are living on campus or who are living off-campus and participating in any aspect of on-campus life are required to comply with the Student Conduct Policy, the Champlain Community Health Pledge, as well as all state and local health and safety measures related to COVID. Champlain’s Community Standards team will address all reports involving students and, if it is determined that a student has violated the Champlain Community Health Pledge or any other COVID-19 related policy, the team will evaluate the potential impact of the violation on the health and safety of the community and determine appropriate sanctions, including potential removal from the College. The technology tools we are using to support testing and daily health monitoring will allow us to track compliance very closely. The College will use this data to inform a robust follow up plan with all students and ensure quick response to a failure to comply with the Health Pledge.

Students living off-campus are required to commit to the same protocols regarding testing, health screening, and other health and safety measures as those living on campus.

Any decision to close the College would be made in close consultation with the Vermont Department of Health. Champlain College and the State of Vermont will be tracking criteria related to the health of our campus and that of the broader community around the College. On campus, Champlain will work together with the Department of Health to share any positive test results, add support for more extensive testing and contact tracing, and determine any changes to operations. In the broader community, the State is following a set of six metrics continuously to inform decisions, including new case numbers, rate of increase in growth of new cases, percentage of positivity rate of tests across the state, hospital and ICU utilization, and monitoring of disease indicators.  

Champlain’s campus, including our eating areas, Fitness Center, and library, are closed to outside guests. All Champlain College-sponsored events have been cancelled.

The complete policy and procedure manual for campus events is located here.

Given how quickly the situation is changing, we are not accepting new registrations for campus visits over the summer, however we are offering an array of virtual events and experiences. Check out our Visit page for the latest information and registration.

All members of the campus community are required to follow the State of Vermont Cross State Travel Requirements if traveling out of state during the fall semester. Students are encouraged to stay in Vermont for the duration of the semester to avoid the need to quarantine on your return to the state. If you must travel, you are required to notify the College by completing this form that will allow the Student Health Center to advise you on quarantine requirements, including the possibility of arranging quarantine housing.

Students released from quarantine are now free to experience Burlington and our campus following safe practices. Mask up in public and maintain social distance! 

You may utilize common areas in your residential hall (with masks) and invite other guests from your residence hall into your room (two guests max in addition to those who live in the room).

At this point you are not permitted to enter other residence halls, or invite guests from other halls, or Champlain students who live off campus, to visit you. We do hope to be able to loosen these restrictions over the next few weeks as more students arrive on campus and we establish a healthy population. Guests are not permitted on campus. 

The City of Burlington has recently tightened restrictions on public gatherings beyond state level restrictions. These include limiting outdoor gathering at residences to 25, and indoor gatherings to no more than 10. Please keep this in mind as you interact with the Burlington community. 

Please continue to be smart, safe and healthy. We are proud of the work you have all done to make this in-person semester possible and will all continue to work hard to maintain a healthy campus.

From this point forward, if there is a bathroom in your building labeled “Restroom Reserved: For Use with Permission by Health Services Only” please do not use this bathroom until/unless directed to do so.  This bathroom should be considered off-line from the general residents of the building.

We created this web-based tool to help you determine whether you are required to quarantine. The State of Vermont requires that individuals traveling from specific counties quarantine; the most recent list of counties requiring quarantine are available here. Please review the material carefully.

Quarantine means that you limit your exposure to only those people that are simultaneously quarantining with you. You must stay at home or on-campus during the full duration of your quarantine. Students quarantining on campus will be offered structured outdoor activities with their quarantine group, following strict social distancing practices. Travel to stores, restaurants, parks, etc. is not allowed.

Yes, the College has reserved space on campus for students to quarantine as needed throughout the semester.

You may now park in ANY pay-per-use lot for as long as you need. Keep in mind:

• You still need to display your valid Champlain College parking permit at all times (order at champlain.thepermitstore.com if you haven’t yet!)
• Payment is still required between 8am-4pm using Parkmobile

See all the pay-per-use lots (and their Parkmobile Zone Numbers) on the attached parking map. They are the ones with the dark green $ icons and corresponding number. Find all the parking details at champlain.edu/parking or on the Fall Transportation Update from August 7.

• The Lakeside Commuter will operate 6:30–9:30 AM and 3:00–6:00 PM only (peak commutes) and will go direct between CCM and Lakeside, with no stop at 194 Saint Paul Street.
• The 194 Express will operate 7:45 AM-6:00 PM and will go direct between 194 St. Paul Street and CCM, with no stops at Lakeside.
• The Night Shuttle will operate 6:00–9:30 PM, and will service all locations (CCM to 194 to Lakeside and return).
• The Weekend Shuttle will operate 10:00 AM–8:00 PM, and will service all locations (CCM to 194 to Lakeside and return)

Parking permits will be available to order August 11 at champlain.thepermitstore.com.

Please visit our Transportation website.

Policies and procedures concerning student employment at Champlain College are currently being reviewed to ensure the safety of our entire community.  In an effort to reduce density across campus this fall, only essential offices will be open and with staff working on campus.  The number of on-campus and remote positions that will be available to students is currently being determined.  Once there is a clear understanding of how the College will manage this process we will be able to share more information with students and their supervisors. 

The College has created a dedicated team to discuss student work and remote positions; students will not see student work in their financial aid award letters, but that does not mean that student work will not be available. As much as possible, student work will be available and supervisors will work on developing these positions. Students will be notified of the process for obtaining student employment as they become available.