To the Dartmouth community,

We are writing to provide an update on our plans for campus operation for the new year in the context of the rapidly spreading omicron variant, evolving public health guidance, and operational realities associated with preserving the in-person learning experience while balancing the physical and mental health needs of our community. Resuming campus operations will not be possible without your continued patience, flexibility, and commitment to health and safety. As we move through this increasingly dynamic situation, we promise to explain our decisions and the rationale for them in as timely a manner as possible. 

In brief:

• We are committed to maintaining in-person instruction for as long as it is practicable. Therefore, in-person classes will begin as scheduled during the first week of January; students should plan to arrive on campus as scheduled.

• Campus operations will begin at the start of January as planned, including all academic and research activities.

• All students, regardless of from where they travel, will be required to complete a PCR test within 48 hours of arriving at Dartmouth.

• As mentioned in our Dec. 17 communication, all members of the Dartmouth community are required to receive a COVID-19 booster shot no later than Jan. 31. Individuals who are not eligible for a booster at that time must receive a booster within 30 days of becoming eligible.

• We will host booster clinics on Jan. 10 and 11 in Alumni Hall at the Hopkins Center. Registration will open in early January.

• For at least the first two weeks of January, indoor social gatherings will be limited in size and individuals must wear face coverings. Outdoor gatherings will be allowed. Specific details on the permitted size of gatherings will follow next week.

• All on-campus dining will be available via grab-and-go for at least the first two weeks of January.

• Due to the higher volume of positive cases that we expect in comparison with previous terms, students who test positive for the virus will isolate in place in their residence.

• While more details will follow next week, we expect our isolation and quarantine policies will be informed by updated isolation guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Classes to begin in person, as scheduled

As we continue to learn more about omicron, our current plan remains largely as previously described. We considered other options, but ultimately decided to maintain our plan for in-person instruction at the start of the term for a number of reasons that we found compelling: 

• Our experience during fall term strongly suggests that the likelihood of viral transmission in a classroom is reduced when all occupants are masked and fully vaccinated, which informed our decision announced on Dec. 17 to require boosters for all students, faculty, and staff by Jan. 31.

• Likewise, students and faculty benefit from in-person interaction and instruction, which promotes positive community mental health.

Could Dartmouth pivot to online instruction?

We know that considerable uncertainty surrounds the effects of the omicron variant, and we will closely monitor developing trends. Should we see a reason to reevaluate the plan, we will do so without delay. It is possible that some or all classes may transition online at some point during the term for some period of time and that different schools may approach instruction adjustments differently. 

• As in fall term, individual adjustments to mode of instruction should be managed by a faculty member in consultation with their dean.

• Any faculty or staff member who believes they may require a workplace accommodation based on a medical condition should contact the Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity.

• Additional guidance on mode of instruction adjustments will follow early next week.

• Institution-wide decisions about moving online will be made by the COVID Leadership Group in consultation with Dartmouth’s senior leadership and will happen only after exploring all other reasonable options.

We will base decisions about instructional format, access to campus, and health and safety precautions on a wide range of factors, such as: 

• Campus positivity and transmission rates

• Number of community members who have received booster shots

• Campus operational capacity, including staff and faculty resourcing constraints

• Local hospitalization rates and capacity

• State, federal, and CDC public health mandates and guidance

• Isolation capacity and recent CDC updates to isolation requirements

We will continue to require testing and face coverings

Initial results from pre-arrival testing for students coming to campus in January suggest that the number of community members who will be infected will be greater than in any previous term. While we will focus on the mitigation strategies described below, we understand our ability to contain the omicron variant will be limited.

Arrival testing protocol for students

• All students, regardless of where they spent the winter break, will be required to conduct a PCR test in person at West Gym within 48 hours of arrival at Dartmouth.

  • Arrival tests should be completed no later than Wednesday, Jan. 5.

  • Students who did not leave campus for winter break should also conduct a PCR test in person at West Gym no later than Jan. 5.

  • For West Gym’s hours of operation, please visit Dartmouth’s testing website.

• Students who will be arriving to campus late—and thus cannot complete the required arrival testing by Jan. 5—should complete this form. Regardless of when delayed students come to campus, all will be required to complete a PCR test within 48 hours of arrival.

Additional testing information for students and employees

• All vaccinated students and employees who are coming to campus will be required to submit one PCR test per week, and unvaccinated individuals must complete two PCR tests per week, per Dartmouth’s testing policy.

Indoor masking will continue until further notice.

Given the high transmissibility of the omicron variant, we ask for your partnership in recommitting to masking when indoors.

• We will uphold our face-covering policy, requiring face coverings any time someone is indoors, riding in a vehicle with others, is sick or has symptoms, or has been identified as a close contact.

• We strongly encourage the use of medical-grade masks (e.g., surgical, KN95, or N95) and snug-fitting multi-ply masks, as early data show they reduce transmissibility of the virus more so than cloth masks.

What will be permitted?

Academic, research, and related operational activities will proceed as planned.

• Classes will begin in person during the week of Jan. 3.

• Research lab activity will continue in person, including undergraduate research.

• Club meetings will be allowed, subject to the revised social gathering policies.

• The library will remain open, but first-floor Berry seating will be closed until further notice.

• The gym will remain open to all students.

• Arts and athletics competitive/performance and rehearsal activities will continue as planned following current guidelines and spectator restrictions.

Social gatherings and dining will be limited during the weeks of Jan. 3 and Jan. 10.

• Indoor social gatherings will be limited in size for at least two weeks.

• All on-campus dining offerings will be grab-and-go for at least two weeks.

• Outdoor gatherings will be allowed.

We will communicate any change in these policies in a timely manner as conditions change.

What happens if I test positive for COVID-19?

Given the trajectory of the omicron variant across the country, while we remain focused on the mitigation strategies described here, we anticipate the number of Dartmouth community members who test positive for COVID-19 will be greater than at the start of any previous term.

Students (see Dick’s House FAQs)

• Students who test positive for COVID-19 prior to arriving on campus in January should contact Dick’s House for further guidance and should not travel to Dartmouth until health services staff have advised that they may do so.

• Students who test positive for COVID-19 on-campus through Dartmouth’s surveillance testing program will be contacted by Dick’s House.

• Students who test positive for COVID-19 using any test outside of the Dartmouth testing program should alert Dick’s House of their positive result.

• Students who test positive before or after arrival should contact their professors directly to devise a plan to keep up with their coursework.

Student Isolation on Campus

Due to the expected higher volume of positive cases on campus, students who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate in place at their residence.

• Students who test positive will be allowed to leave their residence to collect grab-and-go meals as needed.

• In most instances, given the potential for a high number of positive cases and the limited number of individual isolation spaces available, isolation in place will mean that a student who tests positive may need to isolate with a roommate who has tested negative.

• Undergraduate students living in on-campus dorms who have underlying medical conditions associated with higher risk should contact Dick’s House to determine if their condition warrants alternative housing in the event their roommate tests positive.

• Dartmouth plans to update its isolation protocol informed by the CDC’s most recent isolation guidance and will communicate additional details regarding isolation in the near future.

Employees (see Employee COVID-19 Resources) 

• Employees who test positive for COVID-19 on-campus through Dartmouth’s surveillance testing program will be contacted by the Occupational Medicine team.

  • Staff should contact their supervisor to make alternate work arrangements during their isolation period.

  • Faculty should make arrangements to conduct classes remotely if they are able. For assistance making necessary adjustments to courses, faculty should contact their dean.

  • Any staff or faculty member who believes they may require a workplace accommodation based on a medical condition should contact the Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity.

• Employees who test positive for COVID-19 using any test outside of the Dartmouth testing program should alert Occupational Medicine of their positive result.

• Employees who test positive for COVID-19 prior to arriving on campus in January should contact Occupational Medicine (occupational.medicine@dartmouth.edu) for further guidance and not return to campus until health services staff have advised that they may do so.

Community and Mental Health

Through our commitment to in-person instruction and a residential experience, we seek to honor the sense of community that Dartmouth students, faculty, and staff cherish, and to recognize the mental health challenges for many community members associated with a virtual environment. We understand that restrictions and ambiguity can be a source of stress. 

• Students, we encourage you to reach out to the Counseling Center or consult Dartmouth’s Wellness Resources for additional support.

• Employees, please visit the Faculty/Employee Assistance Program site to learn more about the mental health resources available to you.

We recognize some students may be considering a leave term this winter given the current circumstances. We are committed to your academic continuity. If you are concerned about your return to campus for the winter, please contact your undergraduate dean or dean of your school to determine appropriate adjustments. 

Like all of you, we are disappointed to be entering a third winter during which we must adapt to an evolving pandemic. Yet, we know the resilience of the Dartmouth community will help us through this period and continue to inspire us all. 

As we approach January, please stay tuned for future communication regarding social gatherings, testing protocols, on-campus booster clinics, isolation protocols, and reporting late arrivals to campus. With questions, comments, and feedback, please reach out to covid-19.info@dartmouth.edu.