Dec. 17, 2021

To all faculty, students, and staff,

We write to convey updated expectations for winter classes and programs at all of our schools and share a change in our COVID-19 vaccination policy, which will now require boosters. As we look ahead to a return to campus after the holiday break, our goal is to maintain in-person classroom learning and laboratory research and to keep campus as open as possible while also supporting the physical and mental health of our community. We appreciate all that you are doing to continue to achieve these goals.

As the pandemic continues to evolve, it is clear that we remain in the throes of this virus. Our counties are experiencing near-peak caseloads and regional hospitals are almost full, with expectations that they may experience more strain on their capacity in the coming weeks as the delta and omicron variants continue their dramatic surge. A number of our peers experienced sudden, exponential growth in positive case rates last week and several moved to online instruction. In addition, universities across the country are instituting booster shot requirements for their communities, and we have decided to do that as well. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that boosters increase immune response and improve protection against the virus. If you are eligible for a booster shot but have not yet received one, we strongly encourage you to get boosted before the start of winter classes.

We want to thank the many staff members who do the daily work that keeps our institution up and running. We are concerned that the increase in cases we’ve seen among staff could hamper our ability to maintain full operation in the weeks and months ahead. So please continue to be considerate in your interactions with each other on campus and beyond.

Here are the changes and our current expectations for winter that will help us keep the campus as open as possible. However, it is important to note that these expectations may change based on evolving public health conditions.

Academics

We continue to prioritize the ability to have in-person academic experiences and plan for in-person classes and lab research throughout the winter. Please protect yourself and others by adhering to Dartmouth’s face-covering policy while in classrooms and other indoor spaces across campus. Visiting speakers and seminars will continue to be allowed.

Booster Shots

Effective immediately, all students, faculty, and staff must receive a COVID-19 booster shot by Jan. 31, 2022. If you are not yet eligible for the booster on Jan. 31, 2022, you are required to receive a booster within 30 days of becoming eligible. Individuals who were previously approved for a medical or religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement will be contacted alerting them if they need to re-apply for an exemption or if their original request will suffice for this additional requirement. Those whose medical circumstances have changed and have questions regarding exemptions should contact the Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity.

• Booster Shot Eligibility

According to the CDC, individuals are eligible for a booster shot six months after their second dose of a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine or two months after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Individuals who received a WHO-EUL vaccine are eligible for a Pfizer-BioNTech booster shot six months after their initial vaccination series. For more information on booster shot eligibility, visit the CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots website.

• Submitting Your Booster Documentation

All students should email documentation to medical.records@dartmouth.edu. Faculty and staff will be required to submit documentation of their booster using an online form in the new year and should stay tuned for additional instruction. If you were immunized in the United States, your CDC vaccination card is the primary source of proof of vaccination. Other acceptable sources may include a signed letter from your health-care provider or documentation from your state or local department of health. All documentation must include your name, date of birth, vaccine manufacturer, number of doses and date received, vaccine lot number, and site of administration. 

• Locating a Booster Shot Clinic

Please consult the CDC’s Vaccine Finder to find a booster clinic near you. If you are unable to locate a booster shot in your area, please note that Dartmouth will host a limited number of booster clinics on campus prior to the Jan. 31 deadline. Access to these clinics is not guaranteed, so we recommend getting a booster before the new year. We will communicate information on clinics as it becomes available.

Social Events

To help reduce transmission rates, we are taking the difficult step of continuing to suspend indoor social gatherings for all schools through Jan. 18. Outdoor gatherings will be permitted, and we encourage you to take advantage of the outdoor recreational opportunities offered. We’ve already begun thinking about ways to create additional outdoor activities. We will evaluate this decision in mid-January and communicate any changes as soon as possible. Limiting the spread of infection at social events can preserve our ability to continue in-person operation. As has been the case throughout the fall, operationally necessary academic and work-related events may continue as planned.

Dining

We plan to offer only grab-and-go dining options at all locations for the first two weeks of January. As with the decision on social gatherings, we will continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19 and evaluate this policy as needed. As much as we are trying to preserve in-person experiences, we are mindful that masks cannot be worn while eating or drinking and that we have a responsibility to protect the students, faculty, and staff who spend time in dining spaces. 

Isolation

The current trajectory of the omicron variant suggests we will likely experience more positive cases on campus than we did this past fall. Students who test positive for the virus may be required to isolate in their residence or dorm room with their roommate(s). Students who test positive and wish to leave campus will be able to depart using a private vehicle.

Thank you for your resilience and dedication as we navigate the future of the pandemic. If you have questions, please contact covid-19.info@dartmouth.edu.

We hope you stay healthy and are able to rest and recharge over break.