 Good evening. Thank you for joining us for tonight's virtual Town Hall meeting about returning to campus. I'm the Elizabeth City State University Chancellor, Kerry Dixon, and I want to thank you for your time this evening, as well as thank you for your resilience and courage in pursuing your education during these challenging times. Let's go ahead and jump right in. Tonight I am joined by Provost Fair Ward and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Gary Brown. We'll be covering a number of topics, including the COVID testing requirement for return to campus, as well as the precautions we are taking to help keep our campus safe. In case you have to step away during tonight's Town Hall discussion, we are recording this presentation and will post it on our YouTube channel and social media accounts. So you'll be able to refer back if you need additional information and if you happen to miss anything. During tonight's discussion, if you have any questions, please feel free to email us at vikingcompass at ecsu.edu. Again, Viking Compass at ecsu.edu. We will take your questions live during this Town Hall. We are monitoring the mailbox throughout this entire presentation. So don't hesitate to ask any questions that you have that we may not cover. ECSU is continuing to follow CDC guidelines and guidance. And if you are aware, we have new CDC guidance that has been provided that we are following. As well as experts from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the University of North Carolina system. We're working together with all of these agencies to make sure that we're doing what's necessary to keep our campus safe. Our state experts predict the surge in Omicron cases will decline rapidly now that the holidays are over, which is why we delayed our reopening for spring 22. We also wanted to give our families enough advance notice to revise travel plans for their students. If this change created an unforeseen financial burden for your family, please go to our website to review information about our student assistance fund. I'll repeat that. If you have had any hardships, please make sure that you visit our website to review information about our student assistance fund. We'll continue to follow public health guidance and adjust our plans on campus accordingly. Now, I'll turn things over to our Provost, Dr. Farrell Ward, who will cover changes to our academic calendar, as well as taking classes virtually and more. Provost Ward, I turn it over to you. Thank you so much, Chancellor. As the Chancellor indicated, we will begin the spring semester one week delayed. The first day of classes will be on January the 18th. Midterms will remain the same, and students will still practice spring break. To accommodate the four day delay in the start of the semester, we will have two days that were previously days off will be in class days. Those two days are Monday, April 18, which was previously celebrated as Easter Monday, as well as Friday, May 6, which was the designated reading day. We will now have classes on those two days. To accommodate for the additional two courses, each instructor will provide additional assignments to acquire the missed instructional days. As has been our case since the pandemic, safety remains our number one priority. As in the fall semester, masks will still be required and classrooms will be cleaned periodically throughout the day. In addition, masks will be required at all times throughout the campus. All students, faculty and staff will be required to wear masks in all public spaces. This includes residence halls, bathrooms, laundry rooms, common areas. The only location where students will and staff will not be required to wear masks are when students are in their personal bedroom and within their residence halls. We really would like students to pack and faculty and staff to practice personal responsibility and accountability. And therefore, we know that our faculty, staff and students will wear masks so that they do not put each other at risk. In addition, an announcement just recently came out that for athletic events, while masks have been required, all attendees will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within 72 hours. We did receive questions about masks and what masks will be required on campus. While we know that the CDC recommends N95 and K95 masks, they have also indicated that cloth masks, at least two ply are also acceptable. And therefore, we will not actually standardize a mask for any students, faculty or staff, but the most important thing is that all individuals on campus who are inside any public space wear a mask. Courses will be offered in a variety of formats. For the first two weeks of classes, faculty will have the ability to move their courses online. Courses will be offered synchronous, meaning the time that a face-to-face course is offered, faculty member may actually distribute the material online or 100% online. This will happen for the first two weeks. Not all classes will be delivered in this format. Some classes will be delivered using a hybrid format where they meet one day of the week, say Tuesday, and then on the second day of the week, Thursday, the material will be delivered all online. Or high flats where they split half the class up on one day and the other class meets on the remainder of the day. Students will know the modality of their class because it will be posted on an announcement in Blackboard, as well as an email to all students enrolled in the class, letting them know what the modality for their class is for the first two weeks and the remainder of the semester. We received a lot of questions about whether or not students are able to enroll in 100% online courses. There are really three situations. The first is students may actually make modifications to their schedule now. They can make any modifications that they want until Tuesday, January 18th. If a class is offered online at ECSU and is open, students have the ability to switch their schedule. It is strongly encouraged that students contact their advisor before they make any modifications to their schedule in order to ensure that those courses will indeed count towards their degree requirements. The second option is that students may enroll in a class online through UNC online. To do this, any ECSU enrolled student may take a class at another institution within the UNC system without paying that tuition, so they will remain paying ECSU tuition if they are an ECSU student. However, they can enroll in courses that are offered online at another UNC institution. In order to do this, though, students must complete a permit for transient study form, which can be found online. This form will be approved by the faculty members, the student's advisor, and the student's department chair, and ultimately will be forward to the registrar for processing. The reason that it's so important that students actually submit this permit for transient study is to ensure that the course they take at another UNC institution will indeed be equivalent to the required course they need for graduation at ECSU. There is normally a cap on the number of courses that a student can take through UNC online that will be suspended for the spring semester. Lastly, students who have compromised immune systems can ask for accommodations. The process will be that they have to have a documented illness or accommodation. They will have to contact the director of student accessibility services, Felicia Brown, her number is 252-335-3642, and they will be required to submit a request form and provide appropriate documentation. One thing that is extremely important to note is that students who do receive accommodation because they have a documented illness, it does not mean that the course will necessarily be delivered 100% online. What it means is that we as an institution are obligated to make sure that an appropriate accommodation is made so that students receive the material without having to come on campus. But again, it does not mean that it will be the course converted from face to face to online. Thank you Provost Ward. We appreciate that insight and information. I'll now transition to our Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Dr. Gary Brown, who will provide additional information in regards to our reopening and students moving back on campus very soon. Dr. Brown, would you go ahead and start please. Thank you Chancellor. I want to thank you and also thank every student and parent that's joining us tonight for this conversation because of you, all of you. Last fall our Student Health Services Department actually conducted close to 7500 COVID-19 tests and over 60% all of our students and over 80% of all of our faculty and staff received the vaccine. We recognize that this could only occur because of committed students families in a university community who supported and followed our guidelines for last semester. We want to encourage you to upload continue to upload your vaccine and booster cards at medicatconnect.com because we recognize that health benefits attached to taking the vaccine. If you submit your vaccination records to us, you may be able to opt out of our ongoing surveillance weekly testing program. And our Student Health Services staff will be utilizing that information as they progress through this semester and navigate all things related to COVID-19. So please if you have not already uploaded a COVID vaccine and booster card into the system. There's a little bit about move in and housing that we need to talk about tonight. We've determined that reentry testing will be conducted on all residential students. As such the move in process will be facilitated January 15th and the 16th and a negative COVID test requirement has been set into place. Every student who is living within a residence halls required to submit a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours of returning to campus, regardless of your vaccination status. We recognize that the virus can spread, even if you're not showing symptoms, and we want to ensure that we keep our campus community safe. Please note that the test cannot be an at home test we need to be able to verify your documentation and as such you need to take a test at a health facility or at a clinic that may be provided in your local area. If you're not able to garner that test at one of those facilities, we will be providing COVID testing on campus upon your arrival. You'll provide your documentation. And if you have that documentation, we will, we will check you off as having received it. Otherwise, we will go ahead and facilitate testing for you at that particular time. I need to be really honest with you and to reiterate something for you, you have to complete this negative COVID-19 test before you're allowed to proceed to your residence hall. All students who have indicated that you reside on campus this semester have already been notified of your specific move in date and time via your university email account. And if you have not already received your email appointment time, you please need to reach out to the Department of Housing and Residence Life at the contact information contact number this listed on the slide in front of you. If you arrive on to campus and your COVID-19 test returns positive. Students should understand we will not, you will not be allowed to move into the residence hall assignment, but you will be required to return home to quarantine for the recommended timeframe based on CDC guidelines. Therefore, if for some reason on the date of your move in or before you are experiencing symptoms as it relates to COVID-19, please do not come to campus, but feel free to contact the Dean of Students Office at the number listed on the slide to inform us of your status so that we might be able to then communicate to the housing and residence life to hold your residence hall room and work with our partners in the Division of Academic Affairs related to holding your schedule, as well as to offer some support to you from Student Health Services. Again, if on the date of your move in or before you are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, please do not come to campus. Instead, proceed to your medical provider so that you might be able to garner a test. And in the meantime, contact the Dean's office. We will support you. We will hold your room. We will hold your schedule. But the important thing is we want you to be safe and well and we want to ensure that our campus community is safe and well also. The move in process is designed to consider the limits to the amount of individuals who will be in the residence halls at any given time. It's meant to ensure that the process is also very efficient. So we've created some guidelines that we need to ensure or follow. There is mandatory reentry testing, which we've already talked about related to residential students. Masks must be worn by students and guests at all time during this process. The move in appointments have been provided to every resident to ensure that there's minimal congestion and social distancing. And additionally, we are really asking that you be very strategic about what it is that you decide to bring back to campus during your move in timeframe. Also, each student is provided an opportunity to bring with them to guests to assist in the move in process. But any guests will also have to submit to reentry testing as as a means in which to ensure our campus community is safe. All guests will be able to provide the same documentation of a negative COVID-19 test result garnered not more than 72 hours prior to that move in timeframe. If they cannot provide that sort of information, they'll have to submit to testing on site and garner a negative test result before they'll be cleared and given access to assist you in the residence halls. So please adhere to this request to either get the test ahead of time. That certainly will make for an easier transition for you as you return to campus. But if you're unable to do that, we certainly will support you towards that goal in testing you upon your arrival. Please note that when you move back into your residence hall, there will be a strict no visitation expectation set as we begin the semester. This includes friends and family members that do not have a room assignment on our campus. We also will not be. We've be encouraging room to room visitation within the residence halls either. We respect restrictions just as in the fall semester are being put in place to ensure that our residence halls are safe for all of our students who reside on campus. Want to share just a bit of information with you also related to quarantine tonight. Please note that one very important aspect that determines your need to quarantine or not is your vaccination status and your booster status. So that vaccination and that booster is very important. And you'll hear more about that from the chancellor in just a few moments. We strongly encourage you if you've not received that to go ahead and to take care of that business and to upload that record for us. In accordance with the CDC guidelines, anyone who must quarantine because of exposure or isolate because of a positive test, or because you're exhibiting symptoms will be required to do so for a minimum of five full days. So please understand at the end of the five days in order to be released from quarantine and in line with with with our guidance that we've received you must not be exhibiting any symptoms. Additionally, upon release, if that happens at five days, the CDC guidelines require continued mask wearing in any setting in which you will be in the presence of others. So we'll want to share this with you just so that you have a framework to understand how it is that we're moving forward as it relates to quarantine and isolation on our campus. Our obligation is to keep our community safe. And as such, we wanted to share this information with you on tonight. And so at this time, I'm going to turn this back over to the chancellor. Thank you, Dr. Brown. Thank you so much and thank you, Provost Ward. I just want to mention to our campus community, our families, our faculty, our staff, our current students, our new students, everyone who's joining us tonight, the Elizabeth City State University is very fortunate to have a team of dedicated faculty administrators who have been working to make sure that we are prepared to bring our students back. And this is not the first time we've had to do this. And so for those of you who are returning students, you remember, we did this last semester, we did this last year, we've been adjusting to this new norm of COVID-19 and the environment in which we live now since the fall of 2020. And so, you know, I just want to stress to everyone that Vice Chancellor Brown and his team, our provost, working with our faculty, everyone is very focused on making sure that we're safe and making sure that our campus community is safe. And just to say, you know, we have had some of the lowest numbers of COVID cases comparatively in the UNC system. And it's because we have put in place these protocols. And we want to see that happen again this semester. So I ask that you definitely take notes, review this presentation again if you need to pick up on some information that was shared tonight. But we cannot stress enough the importance of COVID vaccines and the booster. And, you know, all of us know this is the reality in which we live now and it looks like COVID will be around for quite a while. And so we want you all to take this seriously. This is a very critical time. We're still in a global pandemic. And please, please, please, I'm asking you, please get vaccinated and boosted to protect yourself, your friends and your family. While you may see these reports on the news, you can still catch COVID, even if you're vaccinated and boosted. But the important piece of this is that you will not have as serious of a reaction to it to the point of hospitalization is what the news is telling us. So the COVID vaccine will be helpful. It will help you to be able to continue to keep yourself and your family safe. So millions of people in the US and across the globe have gotten vaccinated. And the vaccines were developed using scientific methods and our monitor closely for safety. So take the necessary steps to protect yourself, your family, your classmates, our faculty and our staff. It's our own personal responsibility for all of us to do the right thing. And I have to say just on a personal note, I'm vaccinated. I was vaccinated here on our at our clinic on campus. My husband, my daughters are vaccinated and boosted. And so this is something that we take seriously as well. And to the parents who are listening, I have a college student also, I have a sophomore in college. And so the decisions that we're making, you know, I take in consideration working with my team, the impact on your child just as though it was is my child, because my child is on campus as well. And so, you know, this is very serious for us and we're is a top priority to keep everybody safe. So you can get your vaccine and booster shots right here on the campus of ECSU. And we have a walk in clinic and it's open every Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 7pm every Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 7pm at the K. E. White Graduate Center, just very close to campus. And you can also here's another option and I can speak personally on this. My college age daughter decided to give vaccines.gov a call to see where she could be tested for move in. So, you know, there's an 800 number that you can use to set up an appointment and you will talk to someone and they will help you find an available appointment for your test that you need your PCR test you need for move in. So make sure if you're having trouble finding a spot to take your tests in order to move in as Vice Chancellor Brown mentioned call back or first go to their website vaccines.gov there's an 800 number call them talk to them. I experienced it. They're very nice very personable and they will find an appointment for you to get your tests so that you can come back to campus. So if you do not get your vaccine and booster, you will be tested every week. This is not new we've done this before. So make sure that you get your vaccine and booster or we will be monitoring to make sure that our faculty staff and students who are unvaccinated will be tested weekly. Again, it's up to you to help us keep our campus and each other safe, get your vaccine and booster. It's free and you'll be helping yourself and everyone around you. We want to have a successful semester once again this spring of 2022. You can find information about ECSU's COVID protocols and much more on our Viking Compass website and I know our returning students faculty staff are familiar for our new students. This is the website that has all the information that you will want to know about COVID and what we're doing with it our numbers everything that faculty staff students community can go to this website and get information. And it helps our university to chart the course to safety. And that's what's most important. So please check our website regularly for any updates. This is where we will put updates. You can search for the Viking compass from our homepage. And I encourage you to go and follow us on social media. This is how we're getting information out there. Viking compass social media ECSU news. We're getting it out there so that you all are well aware and we are being transparent about this process. And like I said, this is not our first rodeo we've done this before, and we want you to stay in tune and we want to make sure that you have all the information. So we will post our announcements on social media channels as well as on our website Viking compass and every media outlet we can put it out there to get to you we want to make sure that you stay informed. We have links to our social media channels right at the bottom of our homepage. And, you know, I just encourage you please follow us, make sure that you're in tune to what's happening. If we see that our numbers are increasingly increasing significantly, then yes, we may have to pivot. We have, we have had to do that before, but now is our opportunity once again this fall semester to hold each other accountable for doing the right thing and abiding by the protocols that keeps our campus community safe. So for those of you who have questions in advance of today's presentation we have those questions we thank you. We have embedded that in our remarks tonight some of those answers, but for others who are just joining us or who was who are unable to submit their questions prior to the panel. I asked that you go to the Viking compass at ecsu.edu website and submit your email address brother and submit your questions and we are more than happy to answer those questions at this time. So let's see if we have any questions. Okay, we have one question I'll start with this one. If students can't make move the movement date because of flights will there will that be a problem. And I'll ask BC Brown to start with that and then I'll ask Provost Ward to provide some insight on the academic side, so that you'll know both kind of how these things or this situation could impact you. So BC Brown I'll turn it over to you. And in terms of that question communication is really the key. We have to know what it is is going on with you so if you are running into challenges, you're having some difficulty related to the new flight to get to campus, or some sort of reach out to the Dean of students office. We routinely respond to students in that way, and then we can communicate with housing and residence life related to your move in and your assignment, and we'll be sure to hold your room until you can get here. And if there are some other needs that you have, you know, whatever they might be, we might be able to address those for you as well. We really only need to make that one call to the Dean of Students, because the Division of Student Affairs and the Division of Academic Affairs work very closely. And so once Dr Brown's team gets the call that you're having delays with the flights, they will automatically notify academic affairs and we will automatically notify your professors. I apologize that you can follow up with your professors just to make sure that you can get any assignments that you may miss while you're delayed but they will be excused absences, if you are having challenges with the flight. Thank you BC Brown and Provost. Our next question is, what is the deadline for professors to contact students of changes to online for their classes, Provost Ward. I do want to reiterate that what will be changing is that professors will be allowed for the first two weeks of classes to convert their face to face classes to online again this will be the situation for the first two weeks of classes and students will be notified by Friday again and using two methods, one an announcement will be posted in their blackboard shell. And then the second method is that students who are enrolled in the course will also receive an email about the change in modality. Thank you, Provost. Our next question and by the way, everyone listening tonight to this virtual town hall, keep those questions coming. We want to answer all the questions that you have so go to Viking compass at ecsu.edu submit your question and we want to make sure that we answer your questions so that you walk away from this virtual town hall with the information that's necessary for you to be successful this semester. So our next question is, what are the protocols for when unvaccinated students do not show up for weekly testing BC Brown. So one of the responsibilities of being a student here at ecsu is following the process protocols and regulations that have been set forward. As a student at ecsu what we have already communicated is the expectation is that if you are unvaccinated, you must submit to weekly testing. And if you do not, there is a process in place by which you are contacted at least initially by health services to say, Hey, where are you, you need to come in for your testing. And that escalates to the dean of students office, who then has the authority to actually initiate a violation of the student code of conduct charges which was certainly could have some implications on your continued status here at the university as a student. And so, I can tell you that during the fall semester, we didn't have any issues related to any students who were not who were supposed to be tested, not going to be tested. Because we are pretty stringent very stringent about following our process and protocol in terms of how we respond to those instances. Thank you BC Brown. Our next question is what will happen if a vaccinated student is uncomfortable and very concerned about her health if she has an unvaccinated student as her roommate. I'll just start by saying the situation that we're dealing right dealing with right now with COVID-19 is vaccinated and unvaccinated people can be carriers. And that's why we are abiding by the new CDC guidelines. That's why we have these protocols in place of wearing masks. Still remember washing your hands, doing everything that you can to protect yourself and the people around you. So I'll turn it over to BC Brown to talk more specific about the residence halls and the protocols there beyond what he's already shared, but that's that's one thing that we're dealing with now that makes it a little different than when we started with the pandemic is now both can be carriers and that's why we have to do all we can to protect our community, but BC Brown will you add to that please. So, you know, there are a couple of things related to this. Every day, we interact in our local communities and around people we don't know what their vaccination status actually is. And so certainly, you know, there aren't any real indicators to be quite honest about who's vaccinated, who's not vaccinated unless those things are being communicated with. So what I would encourage is a level of personal responsibility related to distancing yourself as you seen me as as is necessary, utilizing the mask. If you feel like you are in a position where you're just not safe and be responsible for kind of your actions and where it is and who it is that you're interacting with and the like. Certainly, you know within our residence halls we are always pushing the fact that we are a part of a broader community, and we have this responsibility to each other. And so I think clear communication is very important. And my hope is is that any issues that might arise are those things that can be resolved. You know, personally between students but certainly there are additional staff in every residence hall community directors. There's a housing staff who you can come and speak with. There's certainly other members within the Division of Student Affairs who can assist you at navigating issues that arise, but ultimately personal responsibility is what reigns supreme on our campus and ensures that we'll all be be safe and well. Thank you VC Brown. Our next question it's a fairly long question but I'll ask provost to start with this one and by chance of Brown if you have something to add please feel free. So it states some of us are full time students while others are full time parents daycare hours are changing daily as the number of cases increases, will there be any form of accommodation for circumstances in which we are unable to attend face to face persons due to a lack of daycare for our child in terms of recorded class sessions or zooms, especially because our major is digital media, and many of our subjects this semester are provided online. Well, certainly we as an institution understand that we are all dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. And so while there is not a specific form faculty have, you know, lives as well and so they will to be going through some of the challenges. What will be important is that you communicate to your faculty member when the actual instance occur. Some of the challenges that we've had is a student has run into situations and they notify the faculty member three or four weeks after the event. They notify faculty of the specific situation that you're going through will be paramount and faculty certainly understand that students will have special situations. You know, keep your documentation and share that with your faculty and then again we will make sure that there are situations and accommodations that can be made. We do understand that there are certain subject matters that are proven difficult to all be offered online and so while we do have certain courses that will move online for the first two weeks. There are certain courses where the instructor does believe that they can deliver content in a safe manner. And so those hands on subjects will be delivered face to face. And so I think that, you know, we understand that it's essential that students are able to get a quality education while they're here, even through the pandemic. And so I'm sure that faculty will make the appropriate accommodations to make sure that this student gets the proper education that they deserve. Thank you, Provost. BC Brown, did you have anything to add? No, ma'am. Okay, I'll just add that, you know, what we're trying to build here is exactly what we've been doing the last three semesters is building a culture of personal responsibility. And I think you've heard Provost as well as BC Brown emphasize over and over the word communication, communication, communication. So don't wait till the last minute, don't sit in your room concerned and worried and, you know, upset about your situation, tell someone. And so let someone help you, whether that's your faculty, your professor or someone on staff. Communication is key. And communication is what I think has helped us to be successful these past semesters during this global pandemic. So please communicate with us, please do because we can't read your mind. We want to help, but we can only help if you tell us. So do let us know if you have circumstances or situations that arise and let someone help you. Our next question, Provost, this one is for you. And it's about classes in banner. When are all classes going to be uploaded in banner or listed in banner for registration. And this student is seeking a capstone seminar course. And it's planning to graduate May 2022 and doesn't see this course in banner. So the insight from you. Absolutely. So of course pre registration occurs the semester prior and so the schedule was developed in the fall semester and students registered during the fall semester for spring courses. In this specific case, if a student does not see a course that they need to graduate, they should contact their department chair immediately for the specific course that this student has inquired about pH SC 498. If they need to go to a pharmaceutical science course, they need to reach out to Dr. Anthony, a megalom Dr. Anthony a megalom is the department chair for the Department of Health and Human Studies contact him immediately. I'm sure the student knows exactly who that is and they probably have taken numerous classes from that individual contact him immediately and acquire about that course and that the student needs that course to graduate and I'm sure an accommodation will be made to get that course on the schedule. Thank you, Provost. Our next question is very timely because we were just talking about this before the virtual town hall started, but it's about the weather. And we I watched the news prior to starting this virtual town hall tonight and I saw about the expected winter precipitation that's coming our way possibly this weekend. So this question is around that it says with winter mixed predictions for Western and Piedmont, North Carolina over the weekend, I'm concerned about sending my teen driver on his own back to Elizabeth City. What are the consequences of checking in earlier on Saturday before the storm, or later, even into Monday. And I'll say to this parent, thank you for this question. One thing about Elizabeth City State University is we are always dealing with some type of weather, whether it's a hurricane, or something that we have to think ahead on and so we are definitely keeping an eye on the weather and that's why it's so important that you stay tuned to social media, ECSU news, our website, because at any moment we may have to pivot and we may have to adjust something. So, so be mindful of that to all of our listeners. Yes, we are seeing these predictions for this weekend, and we want to make sure that we keep our students safe, as you do parents. Anything changes, we will let you know as soon as possible, but I'll ask VC Brown to talk about what his thoughts are because of COVID, you know, move in has to be very structured, but any preliminary thoughts on VC Brown that you want to share with the group about moving, moving, you know, the student possibly wanting to come earlier or later, and what that may look like and then Provost, anything that you want to add in regards to our plan to start classes on Tuesday. But if we have a winter storm, you know, we may have to delay that a couple of days. So I'll let Provost talk a little bit about her thoughts on it as well so BC Brown. Sure, safety is a number one priority. And so what we would encourage if not wanting to send your student back because of the anticipated weather, please reach out to us, call the housing residential life department. Let us know that you're going to delay coming. And I'll say delay coming because asking, basically giving you clearance to come earlier, then creates a little bit of an issue in terms of the scheduling that we've already put into place for students who are trying to move in. And so we want to continue to be as safe as possible, but also accommodate you. So certainly if you have to show up a day late or couple days late is fine. We can work with that. We just need to know what it is that's going on. And we want you to be able to get on the road on the date in which is the most safe safe for you to be here. We won't give your room away. We have your room, your room assignment is already set and we're excited to welcome you back. So just communicate with us and we'll work with you related to what date is actually best for you to return. Thank you BC Brown Provost, any additional comments. Yeah, I think absolutely you know one of the things that we as an institution have done is safety is the number one priority and so we have built in. You know we accommodated for the four day delay and so if we do have to delay, which again we are not against if it's the safest thing to do we will make sure that there is a method to accommodate students and make up those days. Thank you both to the parent that asked that question I hope that that information helps you decide with your student, depending on the weather, what makes the most sense but the key once again is communicate. Let us know so that we're prepared to welcome your student back to campus at a safe time and then also as BC Brown said we will not give up his room. But we just need to know what's happening we need to know the situation that you're dealing with so that we can accommodate it properly. Our next question is, do we still have a week after the first day of class to drop at. Provost. Yes, you do. And so the first day of class again is Tuesday, January 18. The drop ad period will end on Tuesday, January the 25th. So you will still have one week to do any changes or modifications to your schedule. Okay, thank you Provost. This next question is for BC Brown who oversees our student health department on campus. It says, is student health able to monitor students on and off campus who test positive for cove it ie status checks and guidance on further actions needed. Yes. Yes, and they will because as a part of our cove it 19 protocol and process for students that are off campus is a notify that they are positive. That process includes communication with the dean of students office and there are all these kind of circle backs that actually occur. And now because of the CDC guidelines related to the five day quarantine and isolation time frames, there are additional requirements that we have kind of put in place related to ensuring that there are no symptoms for that student before they're released from quarantine or isolation. And so they can expect that there certainly will be some support from student health services, as well as other members of the division student affairs, who will assist them during that timeframe that they may be away because of a positive test. Thank you BC Brown. So, again, if you have questions. Please submit your question now to Viking compass at ecsu.edu. We are happy to answer your questions we have about 13 minutes left to this virtual town hall and we want to make sure that we get your questions answered. So parents, students, faculty, staff, whoever has a question as part of our campus community, please feel free to ask. So there is another question here. A notification protocol in place to contact parents, if students need extra care, and possibly moved and BC Brown I think that falls under your wheelhouse that the student needs some extra care in regards to his or her health. If they have coded so I'll, I'll let you answer that question for this, this person. What relates to to COVID-19, because we recognize the health risks that are involved related to COVID-19. There are times in which we do reach out directly to parents as a as a notification. In terms of the question is not really totally clear. So I'll say this, there are some regulations in place, both FERPA and HIPAA that limit our ability to kind of share everything with your everything with the parent about your particular student. But if there is some concern that is life threat or detrimental to your student in some way that is that is considered to be grave. The university does not hesitate to reach out to the emergency contact number to notify that particular parent of what's going on with their student and you know as it relates to to moves. I'm assuming that means a residence hall move or something of that nature and so if we got to that sort of place there likely would be some conversation related to that as well. But in general, we do have what we call a care team here at the university. It is a group of people from across the institution from a variety of departments who work together to talk through particular issues for students who might need some additional support and we create a net of care to provide the support necessary for that student to be successful. Sometimes the issues that come before that team requires some parent engagement. And at other times, those are things that we work primarily with the student on. But certainly, you know, if you have additional questions related to that, I'd invite you to reach out directly to me. I'd love to talk through whatever it is. It might be motivating that question and see if I can clarify that for you a little bit more. Okay, thank you VC Brown. Our next question and thank you parents for putting questions up here because as a parent myself and all three of us are parents so we know how important it is for you to have peace of mind as when it comes to your students so thank you parents for submitting your questions as well so this is our daughter is traveling from Ohio and her move in time is Saturday morning. Will she be able to get a test on Saturday morning so she can move into her dorm on the slide we did not see testing time on Saturday morning VC Brown. Yes, the entire movement process is includes testing. So if you show up student shows up. They did not have the negative test documentation to provide to our staff, there are tests available at that time for us to test. You know, and hopefully all goes well with that test I would strongly encourage before you take a trip of that length that you might want to kind of get the test ahead of time, because that would ensure that that that you know exactly what's going on with your daughter prior to her, getting here, but certainly if getting a test is not possible in your area between now, and then we certainly will have staff here who are prepared to test her upon her arrival. Yes, so so to that parent that's why there wasn't a time specific on the slide, because it just depends on her slot of when she arrives is that correct VC Brown that she will be able to have that test depending upon whatever time slot she was assigned to for Saturday morning. So that's why we didn't list that specifically on that slide. Yes, man. We have testers the entire duration of the move in the day. Yes. Thank you, BC Brown. Our next question. BC Brown I know it was on one of your slides where you present it but can you just reiterate just in case this person joined us a little late. It says what test is required to move back on campus. Is it rapid. Is it PCR or either one. One is acceptable. The only ones that are not accepted are at home tests, because we need the documentation that comes with your rapid or your PCR test results. Thank you, BC Brown. Our next question is a good one. Also, all of these questions are good don't give me wrong all of them are good because we want to answer your question so keep them coming. Our next question is the vaccine clinic. Is it open for students only, or is it open to the community, and it is open to the community. When I went to take my booster provost and I went over on the same day. There were community members there there were children there, and BC Brown can tell you we even had a visit for from North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to look at them and they were impressed. And so I don't know if you all saw the video that we had running a couple of days ago on social media, but it shows we have professionals in the come in that clinic. Given these vaccinations given these boosters and it is a very safe very clean professional environment right here on our campus and it's open to anyone who wants to get vaccinated and or boosted. Yes, it is open to the community. BC Brown, do you want to add anything to that. Ma'am you covered it. Okay. Our next question what precautions are being put in place for aviation students. They cannot mask when flying and are in close contact with professors. So, Provost I know that's one that that you've definitely been working on you want to talk about that. Okay, so previously, along with all faculty staff and students on campus who were not vaccinated. Aviation students and instructors were tested weekly. We are implementing additional protocols this semester so unvaccinated individuals were previously the ones that were test weekly and previously during a fall semester. We cannot test vaccinated students or staff for aviation science because of the concerns that this individual raised, and that they cannot be masked in the planes. We are increasing our testing of aviation students and flight instructors, both vaccinated and unvaccinated students and instructors will be tested at least once a week, probably twice a week. We are increasing and adding that protocol, because we do recognize that they are in close contact and we know that our aviation science students were like the fly so we are increasing that protocol and they will be tested additional, regardless of vaccination status in the spring both vaccinated and unvaccinated students and staff. And Provost I have to thank you for answering that question the way you did because I did miss the second part of that question where the person asked specifically about staff testing so thank you for answering that question and including both the students and the staff in your response greatly appreciated. Our next question is what do students or their families need to do. If the student is unable to return to school next week, either because of quarantining, or because they are ill, call the registrar or professors, etc. And I will let I will ask Provost if you will start with this question and then BC Brown, if you will provide insight as well. So the students actually need to contact student health services. And so that is the one call that they will make. And then the student health services will contact academic affairs to notify us that the student has tested positive or is ill and unable to return. At that time, we will send an announcement out to all of their professors, letting them know that they have an excused absence and they are quarantining. We will then ask those students once they receive the notification, then they will be able to reach out to their professors directly and so work out any accommodations they need during that time they're quarantine. But it's really, you know, what starts it is one initial call or email and I'll turn it over to BC Brown, just to emphasize exactly who they need to contact in the division of student affairs that will then trigger them contacting the academic affairs and we will notify the professors. Thank you. So the contact actually should be the Dean of Students Office, and that number is 252-335-2477, or you can email Dean of Students at ecsu.edu, notify them that your student is quarantining or ill. The Dean of Students Office will then coordinate everything else that needs to happen from that point on. So if your student is ill, not well, something is going on related to, you know, your student's ability to return for the semester start, contact the Dean of Students Office and we will support your student towards informing everyone else at the university who needs to be notified. Thank you. Our next question states, does ECSU have close contact with the hospital where they are given daily updates on capacity and you provide that info to parents and students so they can make better informed decisions about their child's health. And as we mentioned early in the start of this town hall, yes, we are in close contact with even our local DHHS here, Department of Health and Human Services, right here in Elizabeth City. We are constantly being fed information about case numbers in Pasquitaine County, about case numbers in Elizabeth City. We are also reporting our case numbers, as we have always been on our website by Can Compass and to the UNC System Office because we are a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina system. And so all of these entities we continue to keep in touch with as it pertains to COVID-19 and this pandemic that we're in. But I'll ask VC Brown to talk in any additional detail he wants to give about the weekly calls and the other things that his staff and student health participate in as we keep a monitored outlook on what's happening with COVID-19. VC Brown. So weekly there are there are phone calls that are facilitated by the Department of Health and Human Services. We have a standing MOU as well with our local with the Department of Health and Human Services and we also have strong working relationships with Centera Hospital, which is here in the city. We inform as to the cases that are occurring on our campus. There's a shared, we are part of a broader community. And so because of that we have a responsibility to share information as is necessary. And the Department of Health actually facilitates the sharing of information on a weekly basis related to the number of cases that are occurring in our local community and the implications on kind of bed space and that sort of thing at the local hospital. We would we we hope that if you know if parents if you want some additional information or you feel like you need some kind of update about what's going on. We are constantly updating our website. The Viking compass website to provide additional information and are available at any point in time to receive your calls. If you have additional questions that might help to inform your decision making as it relates to your students help. Student Health Services is a paid service on the campus. Every student who's a full time student here pays a health services fee. And so we are the the the provider of health resources here on the campus for your student and our staff very well we have a very capable executive director for student health. Some nurse practitioners as well as registered nurses as well who work within that space and who also work with physicians in this area. And so we are very much committed to your students health and feel free to reach out at any time. So BC Brown one additional question for you. This this question just came in. Do we get our keys once we check in. Yes. Yes you will receive your keys once you check in. But you must go through the reentry testing first. And then once you get to your residence hall. That's where it is that you will receive your key or after you pass the testing station. That's where you'll receive your key to get back into your residence hall in your room. Okay. Thank you BC Brown. Our next question. This person was unable to be with us at the start of the town hall meeting. So they you know did say we may have already answered this and it's fine for you to ask this question again. So Provost the question is will spring break be shortened as a result of the delay in school starting. And so we'll be happy to address that again for the student. Go ahead Provost. No spring break will not be shortened so students will still be able to have their entire spring break. There are two days that were previously off that student will now have classes and those days are Easter Monday Monday April 18. And then reading day which is Friday May 6 those two days previously students had off and they will now have classes but again students will still be able to celebrate their entire spring break. And they still will be able to celebrate Good Friday the only two days that they now have class are Easter Monday which is April 18 and then reading day which is May 6. Okay. Thank you Provost and to our listening audience. Dr. Gary Brown is having some technical difficulties with his computer. Hopefully he'll rejoin us but if not this next question says in my area and others there is no there are no available testing appointments will the school be able to handle the influx of testing and I'll answer that question I shared in the presentation that vaccines.gov. It's an 800 number you go to their website there's an 800 number you can call where you personally speak to someone and they will find an appointment slot for you in your area. I know this because I went through this with my own daughter and she was unable to find an appointment. We were told go to vaccines.com we talked to a woman and she was able to give my daughter find my daughter an appointment. Now we had to drive about 20 minutes to get to it but she was able to find a time slot for her to get tested. I would also say that yes we are capable of handling testing. If you are not able to get your test prior to coming to campus you will be tested upon arrival and we have done this for the last three four semesters. And we've had a very structured approach to it and VC Brown shared with the group and so VC Brown and his team are very capable well capable they've proven they've been able to handle the testing during move in and keep things flowing. So I would say yes we are able to do that but the other option is going to vaccines.gov and VC Brown glad you joined us. I did tell our listening audience you were having some computer difficulty but I did answer that last question. I don't know if you heard what I've responded with but if you have any additional insight you want to share for that question please do so. I think you got a chance thank you. Okay so that's vaccines with an s.gov vaccines.gov you can go there 800 number they will help you find an appointment slot but if you're not able to do so. Yes you will be tested on campus and yes we will be able to handle that. Is it necessary this is our last question is it necessary to distinguish vaccinated and unvaccinated when both are susceptible to the vaccine shouldn't they all be tested regularly and VC Brown do you want to start with that one. So you know absolutely vaccinated unvaccinated individuals are both susceptible but we do recognize that one of the things that has been proven is that those who are vaccinated have a better opportunity of of not being impacted in the same way. And so the encouragement really is for as many of our members of our campus community to be vaccinated as is possible. And because of the fact that we that there are still individuals who are unvaccinated we know that there's a there's a chance that the outcomes for the unvaccinated could be a whole lot more detrimental. So we need to think about the focus on unvaccinated and surveillance testing and the like it more as a as a precaution and opportunity for us to ensure that we can mitigate any issues or risk that are involved so that we might be able to protect every member of our community. Not to say that the unvaccinated was spread to the vaccinated but to say that if an unvaccinated person were to contract the virus. There could be some very detrimental impacts and we want to be at the forefront of trying to ensure that we get the resources to the unvaccinated unvaccinated individuals as best we possibly can. So I hope that helps to answer that question in some way. Thank you BC Brown. So we are again very grateful that you all have tuned in to this virtual town hall and we hope that you feel the same in regards to the information that has been provided tonight. So for those of you who have submitted questions to Viking compass at ecsu.edu you will receive a written response if those questions come in after this virtual town hall concludes. So we will respond to you. So let's know your question will not be responded to we will do so. But I just want to thank all of you again for your participation in this virtual town hall meeting tonight and thank you to my colleagues, provost Dr. Gary Brown and vice chancellor for student affairs Dr. Gary Brown for providing these critical updates and information to our campus community guidelines and protocols continue to evolve. So watch our website you heard us say a number of times tonight communication communication communication in all aspects, both you telling us your situation so that we can help you. And then also you watching our website and watching social media channels so that we can all stay on the same page. And also, you know, depending on you to pay attention to the bike is comp biking compass website. And you can get to it from our homepage, so that you can easily access this information that we have provided during this town hall, and as we continue on throughout the semester. So tomorrow, we will share a link to this recording on our social media channels, and you are encouraged to share this information with anyone you know who may not have been able to join us tonight. It's going to be up to us to make sure that we spread the information so that all of our students our faculty our staff are well prepared to come back to campus and to remain on campus. Being successful as we minimize the spread of COVID and we've done this before Vikings Vikings are resilient. We have held ourselves accountable and build the culture of personal responsibility. So I expect that we will do that again this semester as you all come back to campus. So please stay safe. And let's all continue to work together to help you and all of us achieve the dreams that you all have and everything that you want to accomplish here at Elizabeth City State University to everyone who joined us tonight. Thank you again, and good night.