LETTER FROM HILBERT PRESIDENT, DR. MICHAEL S. BROPHY
June 21, 2021
Dear Hilbert Community members,
Our college has decided to prioritize the health of our campus and the wider community by requiring all on-campus Hilbert College students, faculty, and staff to complete their COVID-19 vaccination and provide documentation to the Wellness Center by July 26, 2021 in anticipation of the Fall 2021-Spring 2022 academic year.
Unvaccinated individuals who, due to medical, religious, or personal reasons, wish to remain unvaccinated should submit a request for exemption form to the Wellness Center. (This process to be communicated separately - Coming Soon) Requests will be reviewed within 2 working days.
All individuals (whether vaccinated or not) will not be required to wear masks or be socially distanced while on campus. This will also apply to contractors and visitors. The Wellness Center and Inspired Health Group will continue to perform COVID-19 testing as needed this Fall. Students may apply for remote academic accommodations for extenuating circumstances surrounding COVID-19.
Inspired by our Catholic, Franciscan identity, these measures are meant to serve the common good and uphold the safety and well-being of our campus community, particularly for the most vulnerable among us.
Current protocols for this summer are available on this web page. We will continue to update our website with the latest guidelines, information, and forms.
As we move forward, I am grateful to our community for working together to keep one another safe and healthy. I look forward to a vibrant school year with all of you!
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael S. Brophy
President
Hilbert College
Update: June 18, 2021
Hilbert College COVID Restrictions are Lifted:
Governor Cuomo announced (on June 15, 2021) that because the state has hit the goal of having 70 percent of adults vaccinated against COVID-19, most pandemic restrictions will be lifted, effective immediately. The state’s
guidance for higher education has been moved to the “archived guidance” section of their website and is now described as “no longer mandatory.” (Note that campus health centers and other medical facilities are exceptions to this rollback, restrictions are still in place for healthcare settings).
This rollback will have the following effects on Hilbert College (this is not an exhaustive list):
- Social distancing is not required on campuses or in classrooms;
- Masks are not required on campus;
- Offices and research labs can operate at full density;
- Health screenings are no longer required for anyone on campus including employees and students;
- No limits on the size of gatherings;
- Additional cleaning and disinfection protocols are no longer required;
- Dining facilities can resume normal density and hours of operation;
- Summer camps can operate without restrictions;
- Gyms can operate without restrictions; and
- All state restrictions oncollege athleticsare rolled back.
- Daily reports of positive cases, test conducted, quarantines, etc. is rescinded effective immediately.
- The threshold for switching a campus to remote learning outlined in this supplemental guidance is no longer required.
For Employees, Students, Contractors, Visitors: In Accordance with Center for Disease Control (CDC) Guidelines all employees, students, contractors and visitors are not required to wear a mask while on campus.
Vaccinated Employees and students should provide proof of vaccination to the Campus Wellness Center. Unvaccinated individuals, who due to medical, religious or personal reasons wish to remain unvaccinated should submit a request for exemption form to the Wellness Center. (This process to be communicated separately). Requests will be reviewed and approved within 2 working days. Hilbert College campus community members may continue to wear a face covering, whether vaccinated or not vaccinated, which is a personal choice and not mandated.
Visitor Registration: All visitors entering campus must continue to be documented on the modified visitor register and are not required to wear face coverings or social distance.
For Events in Swan Auditorium: Swan Auditorium can be at full capacity since it seats less than 5,000 people without distancing or masking.
For All Campus Community Members
If isolation and COVID-19 testing is needed due to someone who is symptomatic, the Hilbert Wellness Center will coordinate this with outside resources off campus.
As always, thank you for your continued support. We will update this guidance as needed on August 1st, 2021 for the Fall 2021 Semester.
Sincerely,
Christopher Siuta, Ph.D., LMHC
Director, Counseling, Health & Wellness
Hilbert College | Office of Student Life
5200 South Park Ave. | Hamburg, NY 14075
Office: 716-926-8930
Vito Czyz, CPP, CFE
Director of Campus Safety
Hilbert College | Office of Student Life
5200 South Park Ave. | Hamburg, NY 14075
Office: 716-926-8925