President Maxey’s Weekly Update October 2

Dear Maroons -

I’m writing with good news. We are midway through the semester and, thanks to the hard work of so many, things are going well. I hope you all feel good about your midterms and overall progress this fall. Now is a good time to reach out to your professors for any additional support you may need outside of your regular day-to-day class activity. Although not always in-person, every faculty and staff member is here to support you and ensure you can have the best semester possible.

Regarding COVID-19

Today, October 2, there are four active COVID-19 cases at Roanoke College. We continue to test students, faculty and staff, and will do so throughout the semester as needed.  

While it is too early to claim any victories, we are encouraged by the low level of COVID-19 on campus today compared to the start of the semester. Of course, we must continue this positive trend to remain on campus until Thanksgiving.

We are considering ways we can make life on campus as normal as possible during this time. Starting today, we are allowing students to have one visitor from the same residential hall into their dorm room. One visitor is allowed per person in each dorm room as long as masks are worn. Please also continue to keep the recommended 6 ft. of distance between one another whenever possible. The other rules for residential halls announced at the start of the semester remain. 

I hope this comes as a bit of good news. In other good news, which was already communicated to you from SGA — there will be in-person, physically distanced, bingo on the Back Quad starting at 4 p.m. tonight. 

Please note, we must continue to prohibit students from visiting residential halls other than their own, in order to contain any possible future outbreaks. While I wish this were not necessary, it is the best way to avoid widespread infections across the campus.

Remember, if you have COVID-19 symptoms or if you are worried about your health for any reason, please reach out to Student Health and Counseling Services at (540) 375-2286. We want to treat you and to help avoid any spread to others of COVID-19 on campus. No one should feel embarrassed about helping to fight and treat COVID-19. 

As always, you may visit roanoke.edu/returntoroanoke for answers to questions you may have. You will find a dashboard on our website, roanoke.edu/covid19, where we report Roanoke College COVID-19 cases on a weekly basis. Questions may also be sent to questions@roanoke.edu or you may leave a voicemail with your question by calling 540-375-2244.

Keep up the good work!

Be well Maroons,

President Mike Maxey