September 30, 2020

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

Effective October 1, we will begin to allow visitors to campus in very limited circumstances and for pre-approved reasons only. At this time, the amended policy would apply to Cinestudio, TrinFo Café, and Admissions. One goal of this change is to support the resumption of a limited number of college-sponsored programs that are of high value to the Hartford community and that we believe can be provided in a safe manner.

To that end, we also will allow for limited use of outdoor athletic facilities, including by some external groups. This use will include, in the near term, accommodating a request from Toronto FC of Major League Soccer (MLS) to use our soccer field for practice activities. The team is playing the remainder of its regular season home games in East Hartford while operating in a self-contained “bubble” here in Hartford. The practices would take place three to four days a week for the next six weeks. The team has submitted an MLS COVID-19 protocol guide, which includes daily COVID-19 testing of each member of the organization. No Trinity community members (students or employees) will be allowed inside the fence line of the soccer field during practice times. No personnel from Toronto FC will be allowed inside any college facilities.

The health and safety of our campus community remains our top priority. The affected departments/programs have submitted COVID-19 mitigation plans that are consistent with our overall efforts. Additionally, visitors to the programs would be given a temperature check prior to allowing entry to a space. Admissions continues to plan for a resumption of limited activities, which could include information sessions and campus tours, for later in the semester. We will provide an update to the community when plans are finalized.

While visitors are on campus, the host department/program must maintain oversight of the guests and ensure that all COVID-19 safety practices are observed. This policy would only apply when the college is operating under Green or Yellow status in accordance with the college’s COVID-19 Campus Alert Level. This policy will not apply to residence halls. Restrictions on visitors to residence halls remain in effect unless the need for to allow for a visitor is of an urgent nature.

Our campus community has shown its Bantam spirit in rising to the challenge of re-opening the college in the midst of a pandemic. Your efforts allow us to incrementally adjust our policies to allow for some sense of normalcy, but we must remain vigilant in following health and safety protocols and in caring for one another.

Sincerely,

Joe DiChristina, Vice President for Student Success and Enrollment Management
Jason Rojas, Chief of Staff and Associate Vice President for External Relations