Reminders of Gannon’s COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts

Posted: September 10, 2021

Dear Students,

As we come to the end of the second full week of the semester, I have some important reminders on behalf of the university for you. I think we can all agree that returning in person with a few limitations has been a welcomed change since the start of this pandemic. We need to remain vigilant to continue on this path.

The key reminders in this message include:

• Wear your masks indoors, including in the residence halls, academic buildings and when not actively eating.
• In the residence halls, overnight guests (Gannon or otherwise) will continue to be prohibited. Visitors to the residence halls who are from Gannon are allowed. “First-Year Hours” are still in place for two weeks.
• Unvaccinated students MUST report for surveillance testing. Continuing to miss or not comply will result in being disenrolled. Please consider receiving the COVID-19 vaccination if you are able.
• Download the LiveSafe App and use it to report symptoms.

More explanation on these reminders is offered below

As we settle into the Fall term, I want to remind you of the COVID mitigation policies in place for this term.

• Masks: On Aug. 10, the university re-instated the indoor mask mandate. Click here to view that update.. All members of the Gannon family are required to wear masks in academic buildings, in the dining hall when not actively eating, and in all on-campus student living spaces. This means when you are walking down the hall, doing laundry, riding in the elevator, or outside your assigned living space you need to be masked. Students may be unmasked in their room / apartment / suite with their roommate(s), but at all other times indoors, students should be masked.
• Overnight guests: During the 2020-2021 academic year, our residence halls had a very strict guest and visitation policy in place. We are happy to announce that this year, all Gannon students, which means commuters and off-campus students as well as other residents, are welcome to visit the residence halls. However, overnight guests (Gannon or otherwise) will continue to be prohibited during this time, as they were last academic year. For the next two weeks, “First-Year Hours” are still in place. This means that North and Finegan Halls will continue to follow those protocols until we are out of the first-year hours.
• Surveillance testing for unvaccinated students: Since we’ve started regular surveillance testing, the Health Center has seen a percentage of students skip their testing appointments. As a reminder, if you are not fully vaccinated, you MUST report for regular testing. Missing testing appointments will result in conduct action and continued non-compliance will result being disenrolled. In addition, if you miss your test, you are not allowed to attend class until you are tested.  Please consider receiving one of the COVID-19 vaccinations if you are able.
• LiveSafe App: Please download and sign into this app as it offers a number of safety features for your use. This is the required method to report illness and COVID-like symptoms to the Heath Center. If you are not feeling well, stay home and report your symptoms through LiveSafe.

Please note students found in violation of the policies listed above will be documented by Residence Life and/or Student Accountability staff and will be subject to the student accountability process on campus. We all have a part to play in keeping our community safe and healthy. Thank you for your attention to these matters and for holding one another accountable.

If you have a question or a comment, you can submit it at https://www.gannon.edu/Questions-or-Comments/

In Service,

Paul

Paul C. Perrine

Dean

Student Development and Engagement