How will classes be offered at the start of the spring 2022 semester?

Given the current rise in COVID cases nationally and in DC, we will start the semester as planned on Monday, January 10, 2022 with the first week of all classes, undergraduate and graduate, being offered online.

During the second week of classes, we will give faculty the option to teach in person. For faculty who select this option, students will be given the choice to attend in person or virtually. As such, any faculty who teach in person the second week of classes should plan to utilize hybrid modalities to allow students to participate both in person and virtually.

We anticipate a return to full in person instruction for all classes that are designated as in person or in person synchronous remote on Monday, January 24, 2022.  

This plan allows sufficient time for surveillance testing of all residential students during their first week back on campus. (Please see Student Affairs FAQ.)

Instructors should share the Zoom or Google Meet links for their classes prior to the start of the spring semester on Monday, January 10, 2022 to avoid confusion on the first day of classes. Zoom links can be easily configured in Blackboard, which makes them easy for everyone to locate for class to start, or Google Meet links could be posted as Announcements.

If all classes start online, when will they be in person?

We anticipate a full return to in person instruction for all classes that are designated as in person or in person synchronous remote on Monday, January 24, 2022. Classes that were already designated as having online modalities designated in Cardinal Students will stay online for the semester as previously planned.

Is it possible that classes will move online again later in the spring semester?

We are planning for a full return to in person instruction on Monday, January 24, 2022. We will continue to monitor COVID rates and DC regulations and guidance throughout the semester.

As with other semesters, the Dean of Students and the Provost Office will monitor COVID positive case rates in classes and will suggest to instructors to move those courses online for two weeks if deemed prudent.

Will some students need to miss class during the semester due to isolation or quarantine?

Yes, we anticipate that students will need to miss class due to isolation or quarantine.  DC has updated their guidance to be the same as current CDC guidance, which includes differentiated decisions for how to respond to exposure.

We plan to continue to note quarantine on the Cardinal Station class roster using the hold functionality we used this past fall. This allowed us to automate the process of determining rates in classes so we plan to continue it.

To view this hold, instructors should go to the Faculty Center on Cardinal Students. From there, click on the class roster icon next to the relevant class. In the upper righthand corner above the roster, click on "Download Class Roster." The roster will appear with columns for remote group, vaccine reporting status, and quarantine status. 

Should instructors plan to look at the downloaded class roster every class to see who has a quarantine or other hold?

The hold will be on the downloaded version of class rosters to let you know that the student has been through the university testing procedures. To view this hold, instructors should go to the Faculty Center on Cardinal Students. From there, click on the class roster icon next to the relevant class. In the upper righthand corner above the roster, click on "Download Class Roster." The roster will appear with columns for remote group, vaccine reporting status, and quarantine status.

If students indicate they need to quarantine and you do not see the hold on the roster, please inform the Dean of Students so that they can follow up with the students. This information is dynamic and changes frequently, so the roster needs to be downloaded regularly. Some instructors might prefer to look at it regularly while others might prefer to wait until prompted by a student.

Can an instructor decide to teach remotely for all, or part, of the semester?

Faculty who have documented medical reasons may submit their ADA accommodation requests to HR-EmployeeRelations@cua.edu.

Faculty who need to quarantine or isolate due to COVID-19 exposure or positive test result should notify HR and their Dean. In these circumstances, they should enact their contingency plans and notify students accordingly.

Are any changes planned for the spring 2022 academic calendar?

At this time, no changes are planned for the spring 2022 academic calendar.

If students aren’t attending classes in person, will they be quarantined for the first 2 weeks?

While students will not be subject to a quarantine period upon return, there will be limited opportunities to congregate. Campus activities, other than some varsity athletics events, will not begin until Monday, January 24, 2022. Food will be grab and go. Visitation in the residence halls will be suspended. For more details, please see Student Affairs FAQ.

Will some students need to miss class during the semester due to isolation or quarantine?

Yes, we anticipate that students will need to miss class due to isolation or quarantine.  DC has updated their guidance to be the same as current CDC guidance, which includes differentiated decisions for how to respond to exposure.

We plan to continue to note quarantine on the Cardinal Station class roster using the hold functionality we used this past fall. This allowed us to automate the process of determining rates in classes so we plan to continue it.

To view this hold, instructors should go to the Faculty Center on Cardinal Students. From there, click on the class roster icon next to the relevant class. In the upper righthand corner above the roster, click on "Download Class Roster." The roster will appear with columns for remote group, vaccine reporting status, and quarantine status. 

Should instructors plan to look at the downloaded class roster every class to see who has a quarantine or other hold?

The hold will be on the downloaded version of class rosters to let you know that the student has been through the university testing procedures. To view this hold, instructors should go to the Faculty Center on Cardinal Students. From there, click on the class roster icon next to the relevant class. In the upper righthand corner above the roster, click on "Download Class Roster." The roster will appear with columns for remote group, vaccine reporting status, and quarantine status.

If students indicate they need to quarantine and you do not see the hold on the roster, please inform the Dean of Students so that they can follow up with the students. This information is dynamic and changes frequently, so the roster needs to be downloaded regularly. Some instructors might prefer to look at it regularly while others might prefer to wait until prompted by a student.

What testing is planned?  Will surveillance testing continue past the first weeks of classes?

In addition to continuing to test symptomatic students, we plan to engage in ongoing surveillance testing this spring. Undergraduate, graduate, and law students will be selected for surveillance testing throughout the semester. Students who are selected will be expected to participate in the testing in order to attend in person classes. Additionally, surveillance testing of student athletes will continue.

Are masks currently required on campus?

In accordance with revised guidance from the CDC and DC, the mask mandate for most of campus has been lifted.  The mandate continues to be in effect in all public spaces of residential dorms and in health facilities. On our campus, those health facilities include the Student Health Center, the training room in DuFour where athletes receive medical attention, the COVID-19 testing center, and the counseling center. 

Can faculty still wear a mask to teach?

Faculty are able to continue to wear a mask to teach.

Can faculty ask students to wear a mask?

Faculty can request that students continue to wear masks in classes.  Since the mask mandate has been lifted, faculty are not able to require students to wear masks.

Can I get a mask from Catholic University?

If faculty are teaching and would like to request a mask, please email cua-ehs@cua.edu to request a KN95.  Departments can continue to email cua-ehs@cua.edu as well to request a supply of surgical masks.

Can I enforce social distancing in my classroom?

We follow the guidance of the District of Columbia government, which has lifted distancing requirements. We will not require distancing but will continue to require face coverings. We are continuing to monitor DC guidance on this topic and will implement distancing requirements if needed.

Will Facilities continue cleaning and sanitizing measures?  

Yes, please refer to the Facilities Campus Health and Safety Measures webpage for current protocols.

Academic and administration buildings will be cleaned overnight, Sunday through Thursday. Shared spaces, such as classrooms, conference rooms, kitchenettes and bathrooms, will be cleaned daily. Touchpoints throughout buildings (doorknobs, stair railings, elevator buttons, etc.) will be disinfected overnight along with classrooms.

Should we expect all university services to be consistently at normal levels this spring?

It is realistic to assume that there might be short-term interruption of basic services from a reduced workforce (e.g. food, emergency sectors, etc.) at times. We will continue to give this additional consideration as we monitor the current spike.

How will instructors and students be able to access the libraries?

Mullen Library will open on a regular schedule on Monday, January 10, 2022 and overnight service will start on Monday, January 31, 2022. Any changes in the schedule will be communicated on the University Libraries website.

Will students still be able to study abroad this spring?

At this time, no changes are planned for study abroad during spring 2022. We are carefully monitoring the situation with our international partners and at the Rome Center.