Dear Mariners,

I hope your first week back on campus has been successful. I appreciate the efforts many of you made to limit your Covid-19 exposure prior to the start of classes. Your commitment to our collective health and safety made a profound effect on our ability to resume in-person instruction this week.

As of Thursday, February 4, we have tested 1,134 individuals and only six were positive. We now have five total active cases, and 16 individuals are in quarantine. One person has recovered. Our positivity rate of .005 is well below the state positivity rate for PCR tests.

With this early success, and with less than 10 weeks left to complete this semester, I implore you to continue to follow all safety protocols and policies. The successful completion of the semester depends on ALL of you. For our seniors, this could not be more important.

Unfortunately, two of your peers are no longer on campus due to safety violations that occurred over the last several days. An additional seven are on one-year deferred suspensions and will be doing 24 hours of community service. This happened in the fall as well. Please remember that a disciplinary dismissal results in the loss of your tuition, room, and board and jeopardizes your academic goals.

If you find that you must travel, please comply with all state travel, testing, and quarantine requirements, and notify Dean Davis of your travel so that we can arrange for on-campus testing when you return.

Thank you for doing your part to create a safe campus. Your decisions have an impact on the ability of all students to complete their semester in-person and I trust you will take this responsibility seriously.

Sincerely,

Dr. William J. Brennan
President