On Aug. 5, Elizabethtown College opted to have students return to campus for the fall semester in a sequenced approach, instead of how students returned in previous years due to COVID-19. On Aug. 17, students involved in Momentum or working as Kinesis, resident assistants or peer mentors returned, followed by first-year Honors students Aug. 18. All other first-year students returned on Aug. 19. Seniors and graduate students moved in on Sep. 4, and then sophomores and juniors moved in the weekend of Sep. 17 to 19. 

In an email sent by the Office of the President, it was noted that the sequenced move-in approach was chosen “in the interest of our campus community’s health and well-being” after medical and public health professionals were consulted. It was first announced on Aug. 5.

When asked if the College is monitoring other institutions to plan ahead, Director of Campus Security and a member of the COVID-19 Task Force Andrew Powell said, “We’re paying attention to what other institutions are doing.”

As part of the move-in process, students are required to be tested for COVID-19, either by taking a test on campus or, if they have roommates already on campus,  using a test kit delivered to their residency.

The on-campus test is conducted by the College’s partner, Contamination Source Identification, and the off-campus test kit was offered by Vault Health. Students being tested on-campus are required to quarantine until they receive their results, which can take at least 24 to 48 hours, but students tested at their residency do not have to quarantine on campus if they test negative, though they did quarantine prior to their departure for move-in. Students who receive positive results from the Vault Health test will receive instructions on how to proceed further. 

“A day into my quarantine I was alerted that I had to get retested because the sample was misplaced or dropped or something,” sophomore Robin Schultz said in an email interview. “Luckily, within 48 hours I heard my results from that test, thankfully negative.”

Shultz did, however, note that there were issues within meals during quarantine, emphasizing on different arrival times depending on the day. 

For others returning to campus, the move-in process went smoothly and felt like past years, despite the screening tests and quarantine. Senior Jennifer Davenport said, “If I were alone it would have been more difficult but [my roommate and I] were prepared with food and entertainment.”

Many of the students returning are excited to be on campus, even with restrictions. Albeit some criticism has arisen relating to how some students aren’t wearing masks or aren’t wearing them properly. Shultz also referenced how “Campus Security had to break apart multiple gatherings in Founders the first couple weeks of first-year students moving in.”

Overall, Shultz said, “I really love being on campus again. To just be with friends again, even with various restrictions, is nice in all honesty.”

“Campus definitely feels more empty, especially in academic buildings, but it’s just great being back,” said Davenport.