Dear Students, Parents, and Guardians,
Below you will find our updated Thanksgiving and Christmas Break options. We hope you find these adjusted guidelines helpful as we seek to protect the safety of our students, faculty, and staff as well as provide reasonable options for students to enjoy school breaks with loved ones.
Thank you for your continued patience in this endeavor. We will continue to keep you informed of any adjustments to the guidelines.
California, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Washington are no longer considered “Non-Travel Advisory States,” thus students will not be able to travel back to campus after being in these states for Thanksgiving. Students whose original plans were to travel to any of these states for Thanksgiving Break and return to campus will need to submit a new Thanksgiving Intent Form with a change of plans.
If students are not traveling to California, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, or Washington, they do not need to submit another Intent Form.
Thanksgiving Break Dates: Tuesday, November 24 (beginning at 1 pm) – Monday, November 30 (return by in-dorms)
All options given take into consideration the New York State Travel Advisory Guidelines. For details concerning the NYS Travel Advisory, please click here. We are doing our best to both follow the guidelines and provide great solutions.
Option 1: Non-Travel Advisory State – Leave Campus and Return After Break
Option 1 , leaving campus and returning after break, is available for all students traveling to a state bordering NY for Thanksgiving Break. (New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont)
- If you select Option 1, you are expected to return to campus after break for in-person classes by in-dorms on the last night of break, November 30. Remote learning is exclusively for students who are from travel advisory states and travel home for break.
- If you are from a neighboring state, it is expected that you will return to campus for classes between Thanksgiving Break and Christmas break. WOLBI is, as much as possible, an on-campus learning institution. We expect students from non-travel advisory states to return to campus after break, as would be the case during a normal school year.
Option 2: Travel Advisory State – Remain on Campus
Option 2, remaining on campus during Thanksgiving Break, is only available for students who are from states not bordering NY. This is the alternative option for students who do not want to travel home and do remote learning.
- If you are from a state bordering NY and do not want to return home, we still do not want you to remain on campus. During a COVID-free year, the expectation would be that you would leave campus and find a ride with another student who lives near your home or go to a friend’s house over break. Since there are no travel restrictions for neighboring states, we still expect you to leave campus for break.
- If you are from a neighboring state and there are extenuating circumstances that make Option 2 the best option for you, we will do our best to work with you. Please reach out to someone from Student Life if this is the case.
Option 3: Travel Advisory State – Remote Learning
Option 3, returning home to a travel advisory state and doing remote learning between Thanksgiving and Christmas break, is only available for students from states not bordering NY.
Pertinent Information
If you are not from a Travel Advisory State, you may not travel with anyone else to a Travel Advisory State for Thanksgiving.
Students from NY border states may not carpool back to WOLBI with students from a Travel Advisory State.
Christmas Break Departure
Christmas Break will begin on December 18th. Students have a test scheduled for December 17th at 7pm, so please make travel arrangements for the day of December 18, 2020.
Student Check-Out Procedures
- All students will be required to complete a thorough cleaning of their personal rooms and community areas of their dorm. RDs will approve cleaning completion.
- All students must fully pack up their belongings in boxes and suitcases with their name on each individual item and place them on their bunk, in case we must fully move to remote instruction after the New Year. While we do not anticipate that happening, we want to be fully prepared in the event that such a decision is made by New York State. Those choosing the remote learning option for Thanksgiving will need to complete this before departing for Thanksgiving Break.
- All students who are traveling from a state not bordering NY should be prepared to quarantine for a minimum of 4 days (with testing) when returning to campus after break and should pack accordingly.
- Students who choose not to be tested must complete the full 14-day quarantine upon entering NY.
- The Student Life Department will be putting out a more detailed student checkout procedures as we draw closer to the break.
Returning from Christmas Break:
As we seek to have a responsible and reasonable return to campus that provides a safe and healthy environment for all, please take into consideration the following information.
We have decided not to bring back students from Travel Advisory States 14 days early, but rather, all students will return and begin classes at the same time. This will allow all our students to enjoy the full extent of their break. We ask that all students and families be wise concerning their potential exposure to COVID-19. Students will be asked to keep a health screening log daily for the 14 days before their return to campus. The link for this daily health screening is located at wol.to/c19nyss . Our Health Services team will be monitoring this regularly.
Students from NY border states may not carpool back to WOLBI with students from a Travel Advisory State.
January 8-10
Students returning from outside NY, PA, NJ, CT, MA, VT and wishing to test out of the 14-day quarantine will need to take a COVID test within 72 hours prior to their return. The test result must be negative.
January 11: Return Date for Students Returning from Outside of NY, NJ, PA, CT, MA or VT
(Must fill out NY Travelers form https://forms.ny.gov/s3/Welcome-to-New-York-State-Traveler-Health-Form upon arrival in NY)
- Students from Travel Advisory States must return to campus between 1-4pm.
- Health Screening will take place at the point of arrival.
- All Travel Advisory students will begin a minimum 3-day NYS mandated quarantine. On the fourth day of quarantine, each student must obtain a COVID test and may be released from quarantine upon receipt of a second negative result (the first negative being the test taken prior to their return). If a student elects not to be tested, they must complete the full 14-day quarantine.
- Word of Life will provide housing and delivery of meals, mail and other essential services at no additional cost to the parent or student.
- Students must prepare a quarantine bag that includes everything they need to complete their studies, as well as bedding, towels and other toiletries.
January 12: Return Date for Students Returning from NY, NJ, PA, CT, MA, or VT
- Students from Non-Travel Advisory States should return to campus between 1-4pm. Students must email the Security Office and schedule their health screening if they plan to arrive after 4pm.
- Health Screening will take place at the point of arrival.
January 13-15
- Classes start remotely for students in quarantine.
- Classes start in-person for students not in quarantine.
January 15
- Students from Travel Advisory States should obtain a COVID test
- Students will be released from quarantine as soon as they receive a negative result from their COVID test. Once released, they may begin attending in-person classes.
- Any students from travel advisory states that elect not to be tested must complete the full 14-day quarantine and remain symptom-free.
FAQs:
Q: What if my state gets added or removed right before the return dates?
A: If you can adjust your travel schedule, that would be best. If you are unable to do so, WOLBI will work with each student to make sure they have a safe and smooth arrival and set up the necessary plans for quarantine if needed.
Q: Can students finish online?
A: No. Word of Life Bible Institute is not accredited or approved for online education. If the government states that all students must return home, they will grant special permission for remote instruction.
Q: Will quarantined students be in the same dorms as non-quarantined students?
A: All students who are quarantined are in completely different sections of the dorms, with no access to those who are not quarantined. WOLBI delivers all meals and essential services while in quarantine to provide the best experience possible. Please understand this is a NYS mandate and we do not share a list of names of who is in quarantine with students or the public. We will also provide ministry and discipleship support.