Back to COVID-19 Information

Updates to Policies on Campus Gatherings

November 11, 2021

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

We are more than halfway through the fall semester, and we want to thank everyone in our community for doing their part to protect the nest. Thanks to your diligence with wearing masks indoors, fully participating in our testing protocol, and managing proof of vaccination for visitors, our campus remains at a green alert level with very few coronavirus cases. Given these favorable conditions, we hope to find opportunities to begin moving our in-person experiences toward pre-pandemic operations.

We are writing today to update you on one area of where there is an opportunity to begin moving toward pre-pandemic campus operations: our capacity limits for campus gatherings. We have heard from many in our community that given the safe conditions on campus and impact of winter temperatures on outdoor gatherings, there is a desire to increase the capacity limits for indoor events. As you know, our current policy limits the capacity for indoor non-classroom events to 50 percent.

The college’s COVID-19 Steering Committee, in consultation with event and space managers from across campus, is implementing the following adjustments to capacity limits for indoor, non-classroom events:

  • Student organization meetings and department meetings: 100 percent capacity
  • Performing arts (Cinestudio, theater and dance performances, and other non-interactive performances): 100 percent capacity
  • The Chapel:
    • Trinity College Chapel: 200 people
    • Crypt Chapel: 25 people
    • Friendship Chapel: 25 people
  • Campus meeting spaces, such as Washington Room, Hamlin Hall, Dangremond Commons, and Reese Room:
    • Lectures/presentations/meetings: 100 percent capacity
    • Supervised social gatherings: 75 percent capacity
  • Student social houses (Greek life, theme, cultural, and social houses):
    • Group/organization meetings: 100 percent capacity
    • Social gatherings: up to 50 percent capacity
  • Athletic facilities: 100 percent capacity unless otherwise noted in order to meet NCAA or NESCAC COVID policies.

The Events and Campus Operations Office has updated the gathering guidelines document with these new capacity limits for gathering sizes. Our visitor policies, mask wearing, and other health and safety protocols remain in place.

Looking Ahead: Mask Wearing

We continue to monitor conditions on campus and within the region at large in order make additional adjustments to our health and safety protocols. Earlier this week the City of Hartford rescinded its executive order regarding indoor mask wearing. While the city’s executive order has expired our COVID Steering Committee is recommending that we maintain indoor mask wearing consistent with guidance from the CDC that recommends indoor mask wearing at institutions of higher education. As we look ahead to plans for the spring semester, the COVID-19 Steering Committee will review the mask wearing policy.

We continue to be grateful for the care and concern commitment that our campus community has shown for each other.

Sincerely,

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