Reinhardt University welcomes students to campus with “New Normal” protocols

By Jordan Beach 

Reinhardt University is committed to promoting the health and safety of its students, faculty and staff. To that end, Reinhardt has established “new normal” protocols providing each member of the Reinhardt community guidance as we prepare to live, learn and work on Reinhardt's beautiful campus this fall.

To guide these protocols, Reinhardt accepts the guidelines set forth by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Georgia Department of Health, the University System of Georgia (USG) and Executive Orders and directives from the Governor's Office.

As Reinhardt University welcomes students for the fall semester, the “New Normal” protocols will enable the campus to continue its education while maintaining health and safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Reinhardt University holds the health of students as our highest priority. Our goal is to keep students safe while finding new, innovative ways for Eagles to engage with each other and still be able to get involved on campus, even if that looks different this semester,” said Dr. Walter May, dean of students.

Consistent with CDC guidance, Reinhardt is instructing all of the Reinhardt community preparing for fall to self-quarantine at home and restrict social access for two weeks prior to traveling to campus (roughly July 26-Aug. 10) as that will increase the likelihood of a healthy community in the first weeks of school.

Reinhardt’s goal is to mitigate the spread of the virus on campus. This requires all faculty, staff, students and others who visit campus to follow the University COVID-19 policies including mask usage and social distancing. This, combined with other preventive measures, will be critical as we move into the fall semester with a focus on health and safety.

If a student develops a fever, cough or other symptoms associated with COVID-19, has tested positive or has had direct contact (physical contact without social distancing or masking) with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, they are asked to immediately notify the Student Health Center to receive healthcare monitoring and support. The Student Health Center can be reached at nurse@reinhardt.edu.

Reinhardt will continue to monitor how COVID-19 is impacting the community and will determine the appropriate actions by using a color-coded alert system determined by local, state and national executive orders and declarations, regional environmental conditions and campus environmental conditions to direct appropriate action on campus. The current campus condition will be communicated across campus along with the circumstance(s) triggering the designation.

For more information regarding the “New Normal” protocol and University COVID-19 Policies, visit Reinhardt.edu/Back-to-Campus.