New Restrictions Announced for Campus Events and College-Sponsored Travel

By IC News staff, March 10, 2020
Events are being canceled and postponed, and new approvals are required for all college-sponsored travel due to Coronavirus concerns.

Dear Campus Community:

As the situation surrounding the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact continues to evolve, Ithaca College is instituting new restrictions on campus events and on employee travel. These policies are being implemented in the interests of the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

It is important to note that there have been no reports of any members of the campus or local communities contracting the coronavirus, and the college remains open at this time. If any decision is made to change the operating status of the college, that will be communicated as soon as possible. We will provide another update to the campus community by Thursday morning.

However, it is out of an abundance of caution that effective Tuesday, March 10, the college is postponing or canceling large (more than 100 persons) non-essential events or work-related gatherings scheduled to take place on campus through March 31. We will continue to evaluate the status of events scheduled for after that date, and provide an update by March 27.

This includes events sponsored by the college and by individual schools, departments or units; student-sponsored events; and events sponsored by external organizations. Regularly scheduled academic courses are excluded from this policy.

We regret that the dynamic, unpredictable nature of this outbreak, and its potential impacts on attendees, makes it necessary and prudent to postpone or cancel the following campus events scheduled through the end of March:

In addition, all campus visits for admission are being postponed through the end of March. The Office of Admission will communicate with prospective and admitted students over the coming week to share alternate means of engaging with Ithaca College.

At this time, athletics events scheduled to take place on campus have not been canceled, but the college is evaluating these events in consultation with conference and national athletics governing organizations.

While additional event cancellations are likely and will be announced as needed, we recommend that you keep in touch with the sponsors/organizers of events you plan to attend for the latest updates.

While we recognize that postponements and/or cancellations are disruptive and disappointing, it is essential that we prioritize the health and safety of all members our campus community.

IC Travel Protocols

Effective immediately, all Ithaca College-sponsored travel by staff, faculty, and students requires new approval. If you have already completed a travel authorization form and been approved, you must still seek re-approval from your respective vice president or dean by submitting a new travel authorization form.

College travel is prohibited to countries with a CDC Warning Level 3 Travel Health Notice — Avoid All Non-Essential Travel . As of this date, the countries with this warning level as a result of COVID-19 are Italy, Iran, South Korea, and China (this does not include Hong Kong, Macau, or the island of Taiwan).

All Ithaca College students, faculty, and staff who return to the United States after having traveled through or from countries with a CDC Warning Level 3 will be required to self-quarantine for a minimum of 14 days after last being in the Level 3 country before they will be allowed to return to the Ithaca campus. “Self-quarantine” means remaining at home, not going to classes or work, limiting time outside of the home, and monitoring your health for at least 14 days after you were last in any Level 3 country.

Faculty and staff may wish to reconsider travel to non-Ithaca College professional meetings and/or conferences. In all instances, individuals should consider use of technology, such as Zoom videoconferencing, rather than in-person meetings.

Please also note that IC employees should not travel on college business to locations where they do not feel comfortable going.

In addition, we ask that you reconsider personal travel plans to locations that may have recently been affected by COVID-19. The status of individual locations, as reported by the CDC, is changing rapidly and may be reclassified during your travel, creating potential travel issues for you and the possibility of required self-quarantine upon return.

Ithaca College will continue to monitor this fluid situation and communicate as needed with our students and their families, faculty, staff, alumni, and visitors. The college is providing important information and updates about coronavirus on a dedicated website designed to be helpful in making informed decisions about travel and health, especially as this situation changes.

We want you to know that the college is partnering with local, state, and national health and higher education organizations as we endeavor to make the best decisions for our community.

Sincerely,

Rosanna Ferro, Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Life

La Jerne Terry Cornish, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs