The following information was from the Spring 2020 Semester and has not been updated since April 22, 2020. For current FAQs, please visit the Fall Reopening 2020 FAQ page.

Jump to Sections:

• Campus Health and Safety
• Remote Instruction and Academic Matters
• Travel Restrictions
• Study Away
• About the Virus
• More Information

CAMPUS HEALTH AND SAFETY

Have there been any cases of COVID-19 at Trinity?

As of March 30, there was one confirmed case of COVID-19 on campus. We are tracking the current number of known COVID-19 cases in the Trinity community, as we receive confirmation from public health officials or the individuals who test positive, on the following page: Confirmed COVID-19 Cases within the Trinity Community.

Is Trinity moving classes to remote learning?

For the remainder of the semester, the college has moved to remote learning.

What Students Need to Know 

• Only students who have obtained permission from the college to stay on campus may be on campus at this time. 
• From Monday, March 23, through the end of the semester, all classroom instruction will occur remotely.
• We will provide ways for students to get their belongings from campus. Please see the detailed plan created by the Bantam Network.
• Students/families will receive partial refunds or credits toward room and board. We are working out the details of this and will communicate them as soon as possible.

Is the college closed? 

Administrative operations at the college will remain uninterrupted. To attend to the students who need to remain on campus, to support the academic endeavor occurring remotely, and to continue the essential business of the college, the college’s administrative offices will remain open, and its core services will continue uninterrupted during this period. We will continue to assess this decision as well and adapt as circumstances and conditions evolve. 

We appreciate that staff and faculty will have a variety of circumstances that will require various accommodations. We will be as flexible as we can in meeting those individual needs as we continue operations. Staff should be in touch with Human Resources to discuss their needs (now or as they arise), and faculty should contact the Office of the Dean of Faculty to discuss theirs. 

Can staff and faculty work remotely? 

Per an executive order by Governor Ned Lamont, non-essential businesses are required to move to 100% remote work by Monday, March 23, at 8:00 p.m. Because of this order, Trinity will limit employees on campus to those whose functions are critical to supporting the health, safety, and wellbeing of our students and our campus buildings and grounds. All other work, including essential functions that can be performed remotely, such as staffing the Help Desk or Library, recruiting and retaining students, and fundraising, should be completed remotely.

Trinity’s division heads have been communicating with their staff and faculty members about who is needed on campus to support our critical needs and who should work remotely. To avoid confusion, unless you receive specific instruction or approval from your division head, you are required to perform your duties remotely. If you have any questions about this policy, please contact Human Resources.

We continue to follow the rules for essential employers as articulated by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD). Those rules were updated most recently on April 17, 2020, and specify requirements for masks or cloth face coverings in the workplace, among other things. Please consult the DECD website for an updated and comprehensive list of rules for employers and guidance for employees. Essential employees or department heads may contact Campus Safety (860-297-3333) if they need additional masks/face coverings.

Is Trinity restricting visitors to campus or curtailing events?  

Our aim is to reduce the number of people on campus, including visitors, so that we may contribute to the work of slowing the spread of the virus and protecting vulnerable populations from exposure. We appreciate your understanding and help in this effort.

To that end, and following directives from the state of Connecticut, all indoor athletic facilities are closed, as is Cinestudio and on-campus dining facilities (with the exception of grab-and-go service for students who remain on campus). The Raether Library and Information Technology Center’s 24-hour zone remains available to Trinity ID cardholders only, and the Watkinson Library is closed. You can read more here about library services during this period.

In-person campus events have been canceled, as have all on-campus admissions tours, information sessions, admitted student events, and walk-in appointments. More information for admitted and prospective students is available here.

Access to campus buildings is limited to Trinity ID cardholders. 

Will Commencement take place as scheduled?

A message announcing the postponement of Trinity’s 194th Commencement ceremony scheduled for May 17, 2020, was shared with the Trinity community on April 2, 2020. Commencement for the Class of 2020 is postponed until after the 2020–21 academic year. Read the message here.

Will Reunion be held in June?

A letter was sent to alumni on April 3, 2020 announcing the postponement of Reunion 2020 until a date to be determined in 2021. Read the letter from the director of alumni relations.

Will summer courses and programs take place on campus?

We have decided to suspend all in-person summer classes and programming, including in-person research and student employment. We are working to ensure that in-person classes, research, and student employment will be replaced with remote options wherever feasible. The faculty will vote on a motion from the Curriculum Committee to allow summer 2020 courses to be offered remotely. We also are reaching out to our area partners for key summer programs, including Hartford Youth Scholars and Dream Camp. Please read more in the April 14, 2020 Updates on Summer Programs message.

How can I retrieve my belongings that are still on campus?

A detailed Move-Out Plan has been created by the Bantam Network. Please see all of the information on their site.

Are there restrictions on athletic events?

On March 10, the NESCAC presidents met and concluded unanimously that conference competition, including conference championships, will be canceled for the 2020 spring season. We know this is extremely disappointing for our students, families, coaches, and fans. We will find ways to recognize your commitment to your sport and the college as we move forward. 

How is Trinity working to keep the campus healthy?

In addition to the measures and guidance listed above, the college’s facilities management company, ABM, is employing enhanced cleaning practices across campus. The college is in daily contact with local and state health officials and have activated our campus COVID-19 response group, which is meeting regularly to assess and anticipate short- and long-term impacts to the Trinity community and to share information with you. The college’s response to the pandemic is being led by a multi-divisional Emergency Operations Center, whose membership will change as necessary to meet the evolving nature of the crisis. One critical piece of keeping the campus healthy is sharing up-to-date information and resources, which we will continue to do.    

Where can I get more information?

Please continue to use the COVID-19 email address, [email protected], to share feedback and ask questions for more specific guidance. Please also continue to consult the college’s advisories website, where all community messages about the COVID-19 response are posted, as well as a number of internal and external resources. 

Students and families with questions about these decisions are encouraged to call 860-297-2822. Please leave your message and a staff member will reply. 

REMOTE INSTRUCTION AND ACADEMIC MATTERS

What will remote instruction look like?

Remote instruction will mean different things for different classes. It does not mean that every class will be online at the same time as your regular class meeting; it means that teaching and learning will not take place in-person, though there will be regular interaction. Please contact your professor directly with any questions about a specific class.

How can I access academic services like the Q Center, Writing Center and the Library?

Virtual tutoring and resources are being offered by the Writing Center, the Quantitative Center, the Library and other offices; please avail yourself of their outstanding support. There is also a guide for remote learning for students, prepared by the Research, Instruction, and Technology staff in Information Services, and the Advising Fellows in the Center for Academic Advising are also available to support you.

What about Advising Week?

We are extending Advising Week from one week to three weeks, running from April 6 through April 24.

I am a sophomore, how can I declare a major online? When is the deadline?

The major declaration deadline for sophomores has been extended to April 10; the online form is available here.

When is registration for the fall 2020 semester?

Registration is being moved to mid-June. We are also working to adjust registration times to better serve a wide range of time zones.

TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

What are the current Trinity travel restrictions? (updated March 26, 2020)

Following guidance from the state of Connecticut and the CDC, all college-sponsored/work-related travel, both domestic and international, is prohibited through April 30. We will continue to assess conditions and provide further guidance as appropriate. (Note: This guidance replaces previous college-travel restrictions that were geographically based and limited to April 5) 

Based on recommendations by the CDC to avoid discretionary travel, shopping trips, and social visits, we strongly urge all community members to curtail their personal travel as well. Furthermore, on March 19, 2020, the Department of State issued a Global Level 4 Health Advisory — Do Not Travel. All U.S. citizens should avoid international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19.

What about Trinity community members who are returning from travel? Are they being quarantined?   

At this time, though administrative offices are open, the college is employing social distancing practices and requiring non-essential staff and faculty to work remotely in order safeguard our students and each other. With the exception of those students who were given permission to remain on campus, students should not be returning to campus. The Bantam Network is coordinating how and when students may return to remove their belongings. Visit their Move-out FAQ for details.  

STUDY AWAY

Has Trinity canceled any of its study-away programs?

As of March 12, 2020, we have suspended all of our study-away programs (Barcelona, Cape Town, Paris, Rome, Shanghai, Trinidad, and Vienna) and we are bringing home those students (both Trinity and visiting students), and we are bringing home students who are being hosted in programs and institutions around that globe and in two U.S. cities. We are working with each of them to ensure they can complete their academic work for the semester remotely. Our Office of Study Away has been in touch with all of our study-away students with the news and we are supporting them in numerous ways as they re-book flights and make arrangements to return to their home countries as quickly as they can.

What about summer study-away programs and other Trinity-related summer travel?

Summer study-away programs for 2020 have been cancelled. For more information and answers to questions specific to individual situations, please contact the Office of Study Away at [email protected] or 860-297-2005.  

ABOUT THE VIRUS

The World Health Organization [WHO] has declared COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, a worldwide pandemic. That means the virus has gained worldwide community spread. Cases have been identified in the Hartford area, which moves us into a public health “response” phase. Below we provide important information about precautions to take and what to do if you experience symptoms or think you’ve been exposed to the virus.

What should I do to prevent spreading the virus?

• Take precautions to not come in contact with the virus
• Practice social distancing, avoid crowds
• Maintain a distance of 6 feet from others in public if possible, especially if time spent with others is greater than 10 minutes
• DO NOT touch your face with your hands until after cleaning them
• Clean hands by washing with soap and water for 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizing gel with an alcohol content of more than 60 percent
• Monitor symptoms; if you develop a fever greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) with shortness of breath and a dry cough, call your healthcare provider (staff and faculty) or the health center (students)

What should I do if I think I’ve been exposed?

For a known exposure (water droplet exposure) to a person with a confirmed positive test:

• If you have no symptoms, self-quarantine for 14 days and monitor symptoms to see if illness develops
• If you have symptoms, contact your primary care provider to discuss personal medical history and obtain advice on best steps for care

For a potential exposure to a person with a confirmed positive test (you may have been in the same space with the person but there was no fluid transmission):

• Monitor yourself at home for 14 days to see if illness develops

For a potential exposure to a potential exposure:

• You’re at no greater risk than the general public; follow preventive measures above

How/When/Where can I get tested?

Testing in the state of Connecticut is very limited and is being done only on patients currently in intensive care and those in respiratory distress. People with no other illnesses (asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease) are NOT likely to be tested. As the availability of tests increases in the coming days, we anticipate this protocol to change.

How should I take care of myself if ill with a suspected/confirmed case?

1. Stay home from work, school, and away from other public places. If you must go out, avoid using any kind of public transportation, ridesharing or taxis.
2. Stay out of public until you are fever-free for 48 hours without using any medicine.
3. Monitor your symptoms carefully. If your symptoms get worse, call your healthcare provider immediately.
4. Get rest and stay hydrated.
5. Use over the counter medication per package instructions to manage your symptoms.
6. If you have a medical appointment, call the healthcare provider ahead of time and tell them that you have or may have COVID-19.
7. Cover your coughs and sneezes. Use tissues only once.
8. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or clean your hands with an alcohol based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
9. As much as possible, stay in a specific room away from people in your home. Use a separate bathroom if available.
10. Avoid sharing personal items with other people in your household, like dishes, towels and bedding.
11. Clean all surfaces that are touched often, like countertops, tabletops, and doorknobs. Use household sprays or cleaning wipes according to the instructions.

It’s important to note that this is an emerging disease about which there is much more to learn. Consult the CDC for more detail about the virus.

MORE INFORMATION

Where can I get more information?

Please continue to use the COVID-19 email address, [email protected], to share feedback and ask questions for more specific guidance. Please also continue to consult the college’s advisories website, where all community messages about the COVID-19 response are posted, as well as a number of internal and external resources. 

Students and families with questions about these decisions are encouraged to call 860-297-2822. Please leave your message and a staff member will reply.