Dear Davis & Elkins College community,
The D&E community has shown its strength in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and continued diligence is critical to the health of the campus as a whole. It is important to remind our community that our health and safety is a shared responsibility, and that the Davis & Elkins College Code of Conduct will be strictly enforced. Bad behavior endangers all of us, so we have included sections in today’s update on violations of COVID-19 safety protocols and non-essential travel to ensure a clear understanding for students and parents/guardians. Students will be held accountable for their actions, and punitive measures will be taken for violators. If you see a violation of the College Code of Conduct, you can report it by using this form.
We want to emphasize how proud we are of our students for being so diligent thus far. By following campus safety protocols, you safeguard yourself and all students, faculty, and staff on campus. Keep up the good work!
Reminder: Non-essential travel protocol
D&E continues to strongly discourage travel outside the 90-mile commuter zone. If you engage in non-essential travel, a strict process has been put in place to protect the D&E community. For pre-approved “essential travel” designation, students must consult with Student Health Service, Student Life, or Academic Affairs before travel occurs. Essential travel will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
If you choose to travel and your travel is deemed non-essential, your return to campus will be processed in the following manner, including assessed fees for specific services during your quarantine period.
- You must check in with the D&E Office of Public Safety. From there, you will be escorted to a private quarantine room in the Byrd Center.
- Quarantine begins the day you arrive back to campus – Day 0. You will be tested for COVID-19 on Day 4 by the Campus Nurse. You may not leave quarantine until your test results are received and they are negative. COVID testing is self-pay (you provide your health insurance information to the nurse).
- Quarantine means you may not leave the room and you may not have visitors.
- Your classes will be delivered in an online format. It is your responsibility to communicate with your faculty.
- Food will be delivered to you. You must fill out the meals form before meals will be delivered.
- You will be assessed a meal delivery charge, a cleaning fee, and a COVID testing fee.
- If you test positive for COVID, quarantine continues for 10 more days, provided symptoms do not manifest.
- Failure to report to the Office of Public Safety after a travel excursion is in violation of the college’s code of conduct, which will result in sanctions (ranging from/including fines, residence hall suspension, and expulsion).
Help keep our campus safe. Stay out of large crowds and practice safety protocols that include wearing a face mask, social distancing, and washing your hands. By following safety guidelines, the campus stays open.
Spirit Week events and other free student activities
For details about Spirit Week, please click on this schedule.
Friday, September 18
6:00 p.m.; Spirit Week: Virtual Announcement of Homecoming Court
Crowning of Miss D&E and Mr. Senator, and presentation of the Davis & Elkins College Royal Court.
6:30 p.m.; Spirit Week: Virtual Spirit Week Giveaway
A special Spirit Week Giveaway will be announced for one lucky student. Will that student be you?
4:00-7:00 p.m.; SPECIAL INVITE! Degy World (https://www.degy.com/degy-world/) is OPEN for an entertainment packed event with music and fun, take a boat ride, play the invisible path team building game with your friends, tour the event space, etc.! Degy World Open House: RSVP HERE
7:00 p.m. Start; Madden Student Center, Timms Lounge; “Bob Ross Paint Night”
Canvas painting event! Get your art on, in the spirit of the late TV personality and instructional and accomplished artist Bob Ross. Sponsored by I.F.C.
Saturday, September 19
4:00-8:00 p.m.; Front Campus Lawn; Axe Throwing Event
There’s some real skill to this, folks. Come out to participate or just watch. Safe demonstration and COVID-19 precautions. Presented by Appalachian Axe Company. Sponsored by Senator Entertainment.
Students will be held to D&E College Code of Conduct
As college campuses across the nation fall prey to careless and reckless behavior related to COVID-19, D&E students are reminded of continued enforcement of COVID-19 safety protocols. Simply put, these are special protocols put in place on our campus regarding behaviors related to the COVID-19 global pandemic and steps we can take on the D&E campus to help prevent the spread of the virus.
You can help our College continue to have on-campus instruction by making good choices and adhering to safety protocols. House/suite parties, going to bars, and gathering in large groups will likely increase the community spread of COVID-19 and decrease the likelihood that we are back to normal anytime soon. Negative behaviors that could harm our community cannot be tolerated. Violations of the Davis & Elkins College Code of Conduct will be processed in accordance with the discipline policy (sanctions range from/include fines, residence hall suspension, and expulsion). If you see a violation of the College Code of Conduct, you can report it by using this form.
Parking without a permit? Expect a ticket!
Students are reminded that parking permits are required on campus. Failure to abide by campus parking policies will result in the issuance of tickets. D&E campus parking guidelines are as follows:
- All vehicles on campus must display a parking permit, which can be obtained after completing the proper application with the Office of Public Safety. Please click here to access and complete the parking permit process.
- A student auto registration fee of $100 for the academic year, which is charged during the fall semester, is listed in Tuition and Fees and can be removed from the student’s account if he/she does not park a vehicle on campus. Please click here to access and complete the Request to Remove Auto Registration Fee from Student Account form. Please return the form via email to Ms. Lisa Senic, Administrative Assistant for the Office of Student Life/Coordinator of Parent Relations, at senicl@dewv.edu.
- Do not park in designated handicapped spaces (unless you have a state-issued permit), fire lanes, green space areas, or in the visitor parking in front of Halliehurst or the guest parking at Graceland. Tickets resulting in fines will be issued for violations.
- Parking on campus is specified by zone, with signs designating if the parking is for residential students (first-year and upperclassmen), commuter students, faculty, staff, or visitors. Also, please note that the possession of the required parking permit and/or state-issued handicapped permit does not guarantee a parking space.
Provost’s Office issues reminder of important upcoming academic dates
The Office of the Provost has issued a reminder of dates related to academics for the remainder of the semester.
- September 28 – Mid-term grades are due by 1:00 p.m.
- October 2 – Spring 2020 schedule is posted. Please review and make an appointment with your faculty advisor.
- November 3 – Register for Spring 2020 courses
- November 4 – Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W”
- November 20 – Last day of classes
- November 21 – Final exams begin
- November 25 – Last Day of Final Exams
- December 1 – All grades are due by 1:00 p.m.
Required D&E online, student training includes Coronavirus Awareness
D&E students will receive an email from Safe Colleges containing links to required training courses. Topics in required online training include “Coronavirus Awareness,” as well as “Title IX Rights and Protections” and “Sexual Violence Awareness.” Included with the Title IX course is the Policy Prohibiting Title IX Sexual Harassment. These training sessions are required and federal law mandates that the Title IX course be offered to students. It should take about an hour to complete. You may stop and start the training sessions as your schedule allows. Any student who does not complete the required training prior to the deadline on October 2 at 5:00 p.m. will receive a hold on their D&E account.
Double-check your student health checklist
Even though students are back on campus, you should continue to monitor your student health checklist of items to make sure you are healthy and safe. As we enforce special measures on campus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, part of our responsibility is to instill responsibilities in you. All students are asked to make sure they have adequate supplies of their own Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and over the counter (OTC) medication supplies. Those items include, but are not limited to, the following:
- thermometer (digital)
- masks (medical grade if of high risk to infection due to comorbidity)
- disinfectant wipes
- hand sanitizer – large bottle for residence hall room and pocket size for carrying around campus
- cold and allergy medications of choice
- pain/fever reliever (ibuprofen, acetaminophen, etc.)
By maintaining this checklist, you can decrease or even eliminate routine visits to Student Health. For a comprehensive list of these supplies, please visit this link.
Check this weekly student update, the D&E Mobile App, and your email regularly for updates. The Emergency Notification System (nixle) will also be used as appropriate.
Please wear a face mask, practice social distancing, and stay well.
Dr. Rosemary Thomas
Vice President for Enrollment Management
Institutional Advancement
