Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,
As we continue to monitor the spread of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), our first priority is the health, welfare and safety of our students, faculty, staff and community. Please know that we reached the following decisions after collaboration with our internal Risk and Emergency Response team, colleagues at area colleges and universities and with information from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
At this time, we are implementing the steps outlined below to ensure that we are able to maintain a productive learning environment for our students, which will include a combination of online and distance learning options beginning on March 23rd:
- Spring Break will be extended into the week of March 16 – 20 and no classes will be held.
- During this extended Spring Break schedule, Benedict College will continue to operate in a Spring Break fashion — residence halls, food services and business operations will remain open.
- Faculty will return as scheduled on Monday, March 16 to plan for online/distance learning class formats and execution. If any faculty members are experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19, please see your health provider and inform your immediate supervisor. Regular updates are available at https://benedict.edu/covid-19-updates/ and https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/.
- All scheduled campus events have been cancelled until April 1st.
- Students, please use your best judgement when deciding whether or not to return to campus on March 23. If you present any COVID-19 symptoms, see your health provider immediately. Regularly check updates on https://benedict.edu/covid-19-updates/ and https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/.
We will keep you informed about plans for the week of March 23 – 27 and beyond, which could include some classes moving to online instruction. Based on the best information available, extending Spring Break for a week is the best measured approach. I am aware that any changes of any kind to our normal schedule is inconvenient, but I am confident that our plans for next week and the weeks following will help Benedict College to remain in compliance with recommendations from public health and local officials. Most of all, this will allow us the flexibility we need to plan for the days ahead as SCDHEC, the CDC and local, state and national officials and experts work to manage this unfortunate outbreak in our country and abroad.
Again, Tiger family, thank you for your continued support.
BEST,
Dr. Roslyn C. Artis, President & CEO
Benedict College
