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Elmira College Announces Plans for Fall 2020

Elmira, NY (06/17/2020) — Elmira College announced today that, barring any future government restrictions, the College will open for in-person classes for the Fall 2020 Term.

"While we are located in a geographic area that has avoided significant infection, the health and safety of our entire campus community is a top priority," said Dr. Charles Lindsay, President of Elmira College. "Planning over the past few weeks has resulted in what I believe is an informed, well thought-out plan that adopts the latest guidelines from health care officials while offering maximum flexibility should our understanding of the COVID-19 virus shift. However, as New York State and local health guidelines change, these plans will adapt to meet those guidelines."

With the anticipated move to Phase 4 of the New York Forward plan, College employees will return to work and offices will fully reopen on Monday, June 29.

Students will return to campus, as originally scheduled: August 27 for incoming students and August 30 for returning students. For Term I, the College will follow a condensed schedule, without decreasing intellectual contact between faculty and students, that will have students home by Thanksgiving in case there is a late-fall resurgence of COVID-19. Fall 2020 classes will begin in person, as scheduled, on Monday August 31 and run through Friday November 20, after which Thanksgiving break will begin. Final exams will be administered online from November 30-December 4, with students staying home through the Winter Break and until Term II begins. An overview of the Term I calendar is below.

Aug. 27-30: Fall Orientation
Aug. 30: Move-In for Returning Students
Aug. 31: Fall 2020 Classes Begin
Oct. 29 & 30: Fall Break
Nov. 20: Final Day of Fall 2020 Classes
Nov. 30-Dec. 4: Online Final Exams

Faculty and administration are working to ensure a safe environment for students. Given the College's small class sizes, classrooms are easily converted for an arrangement that promotes social distancing. Specialty areas such as labs, clinics, research spaces, and simulations that have specific limitations will have proper protocols posted outside those areas. The College is working with its dining services provider, Parkhurst, to ensure a systematic and safe environment for meals. The flow in and out of campus buildings has been adjusted to allow for one-way traffic with hand sanitizing stations at the entrances to most buildings.

While the NCAA and Empire 8 Conference are currently working to recommend competition and practice guidelines, it is the College's full intention that all athletics teams will compete during their regular seasons.

"The safety and health of all students and employees is a primary concern," said Lindsay. "The College is in regular contact with staff at the Arnot Ogden Medical Center and the Chemung Co. Health Department, along with the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, to ensure local health guidelines are met. As student groups return to campus, initial testing for COVID-19 will take place through the Clarke Health Center in partnership with Arnot Health."

Full details on academic and residential life to screening, testing, isolating and tracing protocols are available on elmira.edu/soaring-forward. Content will be updated on a regular basis to meet evolving NYS and local health guidelines.

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Elmira College announced today that, barring any future government restrictions, the College will open for in-person classes for the Fall 2020 Term.

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