By Bella Fricks
Athens, Tenn.- Tennessee Wesleyan University went through many changes due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The student body had to adjust following February 2020 and every month brought a new element of change with it.
Upon Covid-19’s arrival to the United States, universities across the country began shutting down with no certainty of when they would reopen. Tennessee Wesleyan University was one of those colleges that closed its doors without a sure answer on when they would reopen. The months following February 2020 were filled with the same uncertainty as there seemed to be no confidence in what would come next.
Below is a timeline of just a few of the significant decisions and events during the Covid-19 pandemic. The TWU campus now looks forward in hopes of a sustained return to the community and academics experienced before the pandemic.
February 2020
Spring break 2020 is scheduled, and Tennessee Wesleyan University has two international trips planned. Neither country are on the CDC’s confirmed cases lists, so the school plans to go through with it by collecting names of who plans to go abroad for the break. It is planned that facilities staff will utilize spring break to clean and disinfect everything from classrooms to residence halls to common areas. The cleaning supply used was approved by the CDC and claimed to be able to kill off COVID-19. The campus nurse is also following preventions and encouraging students to stay home if they are sick, wash their hands, and cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing.
March 2020
- March 10, 2020, Vice President of Student Life, Dr. Scott Mashburn, announced to students some accommodation that would be made on campus due to new intel. Food services on campus would now more frequently clean surfaces in the dining hall, and employees must wash their hands every 15 minutes. Personal drink containers are also not permitted. A corporation, Aramark, has put steps in place to address cleaning on campus and how it impacts students. Cleaning around campus is still at an all time high.
- March 16, 2020, The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics announced the cancellation of all spring sports. This includes baseball, softball, golf, tennis, lacrosse, and track and field.
- March 17, 2020, President, Dr. Harley Knowles informs students that classes will be moving online for the remainder of the semester. Student’s planning to complete the semester from home must check out by March 29. Residence halls are open for this who wish to stay on campus. Convocation and chapel credits have been canceled and waived.
- March 24, 2020, Staff members are sent home to work remotely.
April 2020
- Class of Spring 2020 Commencement updated to August 7, 2020.
Summer 2020
- Orientation- COVID-19 brought a struggle to campus that might not have been ideal for incoming students: in-person orientation was replaced with an online version. Incoming fall 2020 students would not get the chance to meet their new classmates face to face or view campus as a student like they had in years past.
“The orientation team did amazing in very challenging circumstances. We pivoted to bring a virtual experience instead of an overnight experience. The OLs had to practice social distancing and wear masks, which also was challenging. I know the crew worked as hard as they could to make the experience as good as possible for the incoming class.”
Sara Denny, Director of Student Success
Fall 2020
In August 2020, students return to campus for in-person courses. Tennessee Wesleyan see their record enrollment of 1,168. 75% of courses remain in person with social distancing guidelines and mask mandates, and a 300% increase of online courses are added. Many courses become “hybrid,” where they will meet half in class and half online. Students and faculty who are high risk are able to meet virtually. In residence halls, masks are required in common areas and no overnight guests are allowed. Dining services will provide individually packaged utensils and will now provide to-go containers for those not comfortable eating in the dining hall. Additionally, tables are social distanced and regularly cleaned in accordance to guidelines. International students have a mandatory 10-day quarantine period upon arriving to the United States, and all study abroad programs are suspended until further notice. Student athletes must complete a COVID-19 health screening and have a temperature under 100.4 before practices to be cleared to participate. Indoor sports, such volleyball, are not allowed to have spectators, however, outside sports may with social distancing present.
Wesleyan Weekly student and staff newsletters also include a COVID-19 campus update from Dr. Knowles. Campus events are minimal with health restrictions in place. Breaks in the semester are omitted for safety of students. Students living 3 hours or less from campus will quarantine from home, in the case of an exposure or positive COVID-19 test, and students more than three hours away will quarantine in the designated dorm hall.
January 2021
Upon arriving back to campus, students are required to be tested for COVID-19. If they receive a negative test, they may return to campus; if they receive a positive test, they must quarantine. January orientation is held ritually.
April 2021
COVID-19 vaccines, such as Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson and Johnson, are becoming more available. On April 12, 2021, it is announced that receiving your vaccine will give you one hour of community service. Campus life is beginning to start up again in full swing after a year of being absent.
Summer 2021
Summer programs on campus, like Upward Bound and Orientation, are running smoothly. Starting in June, orientation did not require masks from students or parents during orientation dates. As of July 22, Dean Mashburn communicates that vaccinated students will not be required to wear masks in the classroom. Also, if you are in close contact with someone who contracts COVID-19 and you are vaccinated, you will not need to quarantine. Masks are not required outside. Vaccine clinics are hosted by the school.
August 2021
August 9, 2021, it is announced that face coverings will be making a return.
“Beginning on August 9, our new mask requirement will go into effect. Masks will be required in all classrooms, labs, studios, and other academic or required indoor settings. Masks will also be required during orientation events. If you are unvaccinated, you must wear your masks in all settings except when eating. Dining hall staff are urged by the CDC to wear masks whether vaccinated or unvaccinated. The only place(s) where masks are not required are in offices where the staff are fully vaccinated.”
– Dr. Scott Mashburn, Vice President of Student Life
All students are required to wear face coverings again, but vaccinated individuals will not need to quarantine if they come in close contact with a COVID-19 positive person.
October 2021
In an attempt to decrease COVID-19 numbers, mandatory testing on unvaccinated individuals is proposed. However, McMinn County saw a drastic decrease in COVID-19 cases, and the university did not see it as necessary.
January 2022
Testing for COVID-19 is recommended when students arrive, but not mandatory. By late January, the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has come and gone. Facial coverings are still required, and the vaccine is being urged.
February 2022
On February 24, 2022, facial coverings are no longer required on campus, with the exception of labs and the nursing facilities.
Students discuss their campus experience during COVID-19
Graphics and Photos by Dasha Varner
Video Filming by Emilia Mercado
Video Editing by Braxton Turner
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