Dear Students,

Greetings from Franklin College! We have been working hard to ensure a safe return to campus in August. The focus of this communication is to notify you of some of the safety measures we will be implementing in our teaching and learning spaces; information about other important components of campus life (residence halls, dining, athletics, etc.) will be shared later this summer.

While a full statement of policies and procedures will soon be available on the Franklin College website, here are a few highlights that will most affect your academic experience.

• Facemasks will be required in all indoor spaces. The college will be providing two facemasks for each student but you are also welcome to use your own. Additionally, all classroom spaces have been adjusted to accommodate social distancing. In most cases, this is the standard six feet distance, but in the cases of some courses (such as choir and other courses requiring physical exertion), this distance has been extended. Thus, the classroom spaces will look a little different!
• You will find sanitation stations throughout campus, and cleaning and disinfecting materials will be available in or near every classroom. These materials will complement existing cleaning protocols and are an additional measure we are taking to ensure everyone’s safety.
• We will be asking you to be a responsible campus citizen and monitor your health daily. If you have any symptoms, we are asking you not to attend class or other campus events. If we all do our part, we greatly reduce the risk for all of us.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has indicated that some individuals are at heightened risk for contracting COVID-19. You can find the most updated information on vulnerable populations here. Thus, despite the multiple measures we have taken as a campus community, if you remain uncomfortable and would like to discuss alternative delivery of coursework, we ask that you reach out to us VIA THIS FORM. If you are not seeking accommodations, there is no need to respond at this time. We are committed to ensuring all students have access to their coursework in ways that are safe, reasonable and manageable. To help us meet your needs, it is critical that you complete this form by Friday, July 24, so that we can discuss possible accommodations.

Thank you so much for your attention to this matter. We are so excited to see you this fall! Should you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to either of us at kflora@franklincollege.edu or ajones1@franklincollege.edu. Go Griz!

Sincerely,

Kristin Flora, Ph.D.
Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs

Andrew Jones, Ed.D.
Vice President for Student Development