Spring 2022 Semester COVID-19 Update

Dear CTX Students,

We hope you have enjoyed a restful and rejuvenating holiday season. As we prepare to kick off the Spring 2022 semester, the University leadership team continues monitoring the guidance of local, state, and national public health experts regarding the continued spread of COVID-19 and the Omicron variant.

On Thursday, January 6, Austin-Travis county leaders announced that the area has moved from Stage 4 to Stage 5 of its COVID-19 risk-based guidelines. This guidance has changed several times during the pandemic — first aimed at mitigating spread through suggestions around gathering sizes and now focusing on wearing masks and getting vaccinations. It is essential to understand that risk-based guidelines are not regulations, policies, or codes.

We will begin the semester as planned on Monday, January 10.

Your health and safety remain our top priority. Please carefully review the following sections for information about our health and safety protocols for the upcoming semester.

Mask Requirements

We will continue requiring all persons to wear a mask or face covering while in indoor public spaces, regardless of vaccination status. We will continue monitoring public health guidance regarding face coverings and update our policies according to emerging health and safety research and information.

Quarantine Period

In accordance with updated CDC guidance, we will now require those who test positive for COVID-19 to quarantine for five days as opposed to 10 days. This five-day quarantine period is the minimum duration provided the person is symptom-free. If symptoms persist, the quarantine period may need to be longer.

Vaccinations

We encourage each member of our community to receive a vaccination. However, vaccinations are not required. All vaccinated faculty, staff, and students who report vaccinations to the University will not be required to undergo testing or quarantine in the event of positive exposure. Those who have not reported or are not vaccinated will be subject to testing and quarantine protocols.

We encourage you to complete the confidential vaccination reporting form if you are fully vaccinated. Reporting vaccination status is not required of all students. However, completing the vaccination reporting form will help us understand the potential risk for COVID-19 spread and exposure on our campus.

While we will not require all students to report vaccinations, individuals engaged in certain group activities will be required to report vaccinations to remove other COVID-19 related testing and quarantining protocols. These activities include athletics, performing arts, university-related travel, and student groups that meet in person. Nursing students will also be required to report vaccinations.

Residential Life

Our residence halls will follow the University's health and safety protocols, including continuing our cleaning and sanitation practices, providing hand sanitizing stations, and practicing social distancing.

Support and Resources

We recognize the ongoing health concerns of the pandemic might be difficult for some students. We have several resources to help students navigate these challenges. If you need help, contact Student Central at studentcentral@concordia.edu. You may also schedule an appointment with the Counseling Center by emailing counseling@concordia.edu.

Additionally, our Campus Ministry team will continue to provide pastoral counseling, spiritual care, prayer, and encouragement. For more information, visit Campus Ministry.

In-person Learning Exemptions

Students with documented medical concerns may apply for an in-person learning exemption. We will work with students who receive a health-related exemption individually to ensure they receive a robust and equitable learning experience.  Students interested in completing an in-person learning exemption application should contact Aaron Graf at Aaron.Graf@concordia.edu.

We will continue to provide timely updates to our campus community of any changes to our policies, procedures, and practices. In addition, we are committed to ensuring safe campus operations so that students feel comfortable and confident when they return to campus.

If you have questions or would like to express a concern, please email Student Central at studentcentral@concordia.edu.

We look forward to seeing you back on campus.

Sincerely,

Dr. Kristi Kirk

Provost