Frequently Asked Questions Related to COVID-19
The College will follow its standard academic calendar (two 16-week semesters) and daily class schedule for the 2021-2022 academic year. Classes will begin as scheduled—for both undergraduate and graduate students—on Wednesday, August 25. Welcome Week for new students will take place in-person, August 20-24.
The academic calendar will include standard breaks and final exam schedules, including fall break (October 18-19), Thanksgiving break (November 24-26), final exams (December 13-16), and winter break beginning December 17. The full 2021-2022 academic calendar is available here.
The daily class meeting schedule is posted on this site at the Academics page.
The College’s primary teaching and learning modalities will be in-person. Classroom and lab capacities and configurations will return to normal. Faculty will be expected to teach course sections as they are listed in the published class schedule, and students will be expected to attend in-person classes in person.
After close consultation with the IRT, Cabinet and President’s Council, and with feedback from the campus community, the College has decided not to require members of the campus community to be fully vaccinated as a condition for returning to campus this fall. However, the College strongly encourages all students, faculty and staff to get vaccinated prior to returning to campus. There will be safety requirements for those who are not vaccinated.
Masks are no longer required outdoors regardless of vaccination status. Effective June 21, 2021, fully vaccinated individuals are not required to wear masks indoors. It is strongly recommended that non-vaccinated individuals continue to wear masks indoors.
North Central College will continue to be a “mask-friendly” environment. The wearing of a mask should not be considered an indication of vaccination status. It is expected that all members of the campus community respect an individual’s decision to wear a mask on campus.
Fully vaccinated individuals who submit valid documentation of their vaccination status will not be required to participate in the College’s COVID-19 testing, and will not be required to quarantine if they come in to close contact with someone who tests positive for, or is exhibiting symptoms of, COVID-19. Information about the process for submitting proof of vaccination with be forthcoming.
Non-vaccinated individuals and those who have not submitted valid proof of vaccination will be required to: Submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to returning to campus this fall; participate in the College’s COVID-19 testing throughout the semester; and quarantine if determined to be a close contact.
Fully vaccinated individuals who submit valid documentation of their vaccination status will not be required to participate in the College’s COVID-19 testing, and will not be required to quarantine if they come in to close contact with someone who tests positive for, or is exhibiting symptoms of, COVID-19. Information about the process for submitting proof of vaccination with be forthcoming.
Non-vaccinated individuals and those who have not submitted valid proof of vaccination will be required to: Submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to returning to campus this fall; participate in the College’s COVID-19 testing throughout the semester; and quarantine if determined to be a close contact.
In addition to the health and safety measures mentioned on our Health and Safety Practices page and the answer above, residence hall protocols will return largely to pre-COVID-19 practices. There will be no restrictions on use of residence hall space, and on-campus guests will be allowed in residential areas with proper approval.
New and returning resident students will receive communication from the Residence Life staff with additional residence hall information and protocols, including move-in procedures, housing and roommate assignments, and further details for international students.
The College will return to pre-COVID-19 dining operations this fall. Dining hours will be communicated at a later date.
All Cardinal athletics programs will return to pre-COVID-19 fall, winter and spring competition and practice schedules. In addition, all athletic facilities will return to standard hours and operations. The athletics department is awaiting further guidance from the NCAA regarding vaccination and/or testing requirements and spectator policies for NCAA-sanctioned competitions and will share additional information and protocols with coaches and student-athletes in the coming weeks.
Campus facilities will return to standard hours of operation, access and capacities.
Employees will begin transitioning to campus-based work on Monday, July 12. More information about the process and expectations for returning to campus-based work will be communicated to all staff members.
International students arriving from outside of the U.S. and who are not vaccinated will be required to quarantine for a period of seven full days prior to returning to campus. International students already in the U.S. (whether vaccinated/non-vaccinated) will follow the same return-t0-campus protocols as domestic students.
