Dear Redhawks:

I hope your first week of Fall Quarter is off to a great start. I wanted to take a moment to thank you for complying with the disease prevention policies the university has developed in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our community. While many students have embraced these important expectations, there are still some areas in which we need to do better. This message is to remind those of you who are either living on-campus (including the Douglas and Vi Hilbert) or need to be on-campus physically for classes, employment or any other reason about your responsibilities related to COVID-19 prevention.

• Daily Safe Start Health Check: All Seattle University community members who will be physically present on campus are required to complete the Safe Start Health Check prior to arrival each day they plan to be on campus. If you are living on campus, you must complete this assessment each day. It may be helpful to bookmark the page in your browser or on your phone for easy access and to set an alarm to remind you to complete the screening.
   
• Face Covering Policy: Seattle University requires all persons to wear a face covering that covers the mouth and nose anywhere on SU property or leased facilities. This includes classrooms, restrooms, open office and common spaces, hallways, elevators, meeting rooms, libraries and other indoor spaces. Face coverings are also required when outdoors on the SU campus because it is difficult to maintain distance from others even while outdoors on a busy university campus. Wearing face coverings outdoors on campus will help slow the spread of the virus. Read the entire policy here. 
   
• COVID-19 PCR Testing: A COVID-19 test is required for any student who will be physically on campus in Fall Quarter. Read the entire policy here. 
   
• Physical Distancing: Stay at least six feet away from others at all times, and follow all campus directional signage to promote physical distancing.
   
• No Guests/Visitors in Housing: Residents living in university housing, the Douglas, and Vi Hilbert, are not permitted to have guests or visitors in their rooms at any time. In addition to applying to guests who do not live in the residence halls, this includes visitation between residents of the same building who are living in separate rooms. All non-SU visitors to campus must check in at the Safe Start Welcome Center, located in the lobby of the Engineering Building, to check in and complete a health screening and temperature check. A limited supply of face coverings will also be available for visitors and campus community members in need of one.

Additionally, parties and other large gatherings are prohibited, whether they occur on or off-campus. Students who choose to host such gathering will be subject to disciplinary action by the university.

While I encourage everyone to gently remind one another about these expectations as we all adapt to a new way of being in community with one another, students can also refer potential violations of these policies by submitting a referral here.

As I have walked through campus this week I am encouraged to see that most community members have adapted to these expectations and are doing their part to model care for one another during these extremely difficult times. If you have any questions about your responsibilities related to COVID-19 prevention, please contact deanofstudents@seattleu.edu. 

Sincerely,

James Willette, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President & Dean of Students