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March 28, 2022 Update

Starting March 28, the following updates to our on-campus safety measures will go into effect.

Random surveillance testing will no longer be a requirement.
Wingate University quarantine/isolation policies will no longer require someone to test out of isolation (which was more restrictive), and now align fully with CDC guidance.

Unchanged safety measures:

On-campus COVID-19 testing will continue to be available for anyone at the Health Center, regardless of vaccination status.
If you feel sick or have COVID-19 symptoms you should still contact the Health Center for a test.
Contact tracing, along with quarantine/isolation policies will remain in place.

The move towards more of an endemic approach to managing COVID-19 falls in line with state and local health officials’ guidance as COVID-19 numbers continue to remain low in our surrounding communities. However, if campus numbers start going back up, we will revisit this decision. We continue to encourage our campus community to remain up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations and make good personal choices to reduce the spread of Covid-19 on campus.

The Health Center will be holding a vaccine clinic every Friday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (with the exception of April 15). Moderna and Pfizer vaccines will be available. If you have not received your initial vaccine series or are due for a booster (it has been more than 5 months since you were vaccinated with Moderna or Pfizer or more than 2 months since you were vaccinated with J&J), come to the Health Center. No appointment is necessary. For questions, contact Cassie Rosbash at (704) 233-8761 or email c.rosbash@wingate.edu.

March 1, 2022 Update

Starting March 1, face coverings will be optional in university buildings, except the Health Center. If you feel sick or need to visit the Health Center, you still need to wear a face covering.

The move away from a face covering mandate falls in line with state and local health officials’ guidance as Covid-19 numbers continue to trend in the right direction. However, if campus numbers start going back up, we will revisit this decision.

For now, contact tracing and surveillance testing, along with quarantine/isolation policies will remain in place.

The Health Center will be holding a vaccine clinic every Friday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (with the exception of March 11 and April 15). Moderna and Pfizer vaccines will be available. If you have not received your initial vaccine series or are due for a booster (it has been more than 5 months since you were vaccinated with Moderna or Pfizer or more than 2 months since you were vaccinated with J&J), come to the Health Center. No appointment is necessary. For questions, contact Cassie Rosbash at 704-233-8761 or email c.rosbash@wingate.edu.

For those of you traveling internationally for spring break, please familiarize yourself with this CDC guidance. If you are not vaccinated and up-to-date with your Covid-19 vaccine, you will have to quarantine for five days after returning from abroad.

If you’re concerned about a Covid-19 exposure after spring break, you can be tested at the Health Center upon your return. No appointment is needed.

Spring Semester 2022 Update

Spring 2022 Update

The University has been closely monitoring the rise in cases of Covid-19, including the spread of the Omicron variant. Health officials believe the worst of this strain will be behind us in late January or early February. For the health and safety of our campus community, the University has decided to bring students back in smaller numbers and stagger their return over a longer period of time. Here’s what that means:

Undergraduate students

Undergraduate classes will still begin Tuesday, January 18 but in an online format, with the expectation that in-person classes can begin Monday, January 31.
Move-in times will be staggered, with the majority of undergraduate students being allowed to return Friday, January 21, Tuesday, January 25, Thursday, January 27 and Saturday, January 29 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day. All residential students should fill out this form to designate their move in date.
Nursing students, certain education students, and certain health science students may return to campus before January 18 for in-person clinical and practical curriculum. You will receive instructions from your program director shortly.
New students can expect additional information regarding orientation early next week.

Graduate students

Graduate courses will start as scheduled with Health Sciences meeting in-person in concert with accreditation and other appropriate guidelines.
The Health Center will work with health science programs to find a time to test graduate students. Be on the lookout for an email from your specific department.

International students

International students (in F1 visa status) may return to campus as planned. All students, regardless of vaccination status, are required to provide a negative test no more than one day prior to air travel, and will be required to retest 3-5 days after arrival. You must be fully vaccinated to enter the United States, unless you qualify for an exception. Those who qualify for an exception and are allowed entry without vaccination will be required to quarantine for 7 days upon arrival and must get vaccinated within 60 days of arrival. Please review the entire CDC guidance on non-citizen travel to the United States carefully and frequently.

Student-athletes

Winter/spring athletes may return to campus as planned. All winter/spring student-athletes will be tested on the day of their return. Fall and winter student-athletes should follow the protocols set forth by the NCAA/SAC and will continue to follow the procedures that Athletic Training used during the fall semester.

Hendersonville

Courses will start as scheduled and have the flexibility to deliver in-person content.
You will receive a separate email about testing details.

Additional information

Everyone will be tested upon their return to campus.
- Employees returning the week of January 3 can drop-in at the Health Center between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. to be tested.
- Details about a testing location for students returning between January 18-30 will be communicated at a later date.
- Employees and students should upload vaccination status including a record of your booster, if applicable, here.
If you feel sick or have been exposed recently to someone with covid, please do not return to campus.
- Students should let their professors know if they are unable to return.
- Employees should notify their supervisors.
- If you’ve tested positive off-campus, email covid@wingate.edu with a photo of your test result information (name, date of birth, test date, test type, and result are required)
- If you are on-campus and have any symptoms, email covid@wingate.edu.
- If you are on-campus and have been exposed, please quarantine yourself and contact the Health Center as soon as possible.
Employees who are not up-to-date on Covid vaccines (vaccinated and boosted if eligible) will be included in surveillance testing. If you receive notification for a random test and you are up-to-date or have tested positive within the past 90 days, update your status with the Health Center. As a reminder, if you have tested positive for Covid, have symptoms or have been exposed, contact the Health Center.
All members of the campus community are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated if they haven’t already done so. Please contact Cassie Rosbash (c.rosbash@wingate.edu or 704-233-8761) if you’d like to receive a vaccine or booster.

We appreciate your flexibility as the covid landscape continues to evolve. Please monitor your email for any changes.

Face Coverings

Students, faculty, staff and visitors will need to wear a well-fitting face covering in all Wingate buildings. A surgical mask with a nose wire, KN95 or N95 are recommended. The KN95 or N95 masks are preferred. Effective Feb. 7, face coverings are optional for instructors in class. Effective March 1, face coverings will be optional in all university buildings except the Health Center.

Where face coverings are required until March 1:

Classrooms
EKS Library
Common spaces in the residence halls/apartments
McGee Center
Indoor meeting spaces
Dining facilities unless seated and eating

Where face coverings are not required:

Dining facilities while seated and eating
Residence hall rooms with roommates only
Outdoors

Additional Safeguards in Place

Students will be required to check-in for entrance testing BEFORE engaging in any University activity. This includes any in-person classes, meetings, work, or returning to university housing.
Non-Student visitors are NOT permitted in university housing. An exception is made for family/friends helping to move a student back into their residence halls.
Wingate will follow the below isolation and quarantine guidelines for spring 2022.
Covid testing will be available to you at the Health Center if you feel sick or are concerned about exposure.
Wear a face covering into dining facilities until you are seated. "To go" options are available.
The McGee Center will be open with adjusted hours throughout January. The hours of operation will be posted each Friday on the Campus Recreation Instagram account prior to the start of the semester. Emails will be sent after that with the hours of operation.
Student organizations are not permitted to meet in person throughout January. Virtual meetings are encouraged.
Athletics will continue to follow NCAA and CDC guidance.
Keep in mind as we follow guidance from our local and state health officials, these safeguards are subject to change.

Covid-Response Team

Jennifer Armentrout
Director of International Programs

Glenda Bebber
Associate VP, Campus Operations

Jessica Head
Director of Residence Life

Kristen Yost
Executive Director, Digital Communications & University Spokesperson

Sherri McMaskill
Director, Health Center

Sherrie Satterfield
VP for Human Resources

Ben Sidbury
General Counsel and SVP

Suzi Wolf
Director Public Health Program, Assistant Professor PA Studies

Andy Woods
Associate Professor, Pharmacy, Faculty Senate, Vice-Chair

Mick Reynolds
Assistant VP and Dean of Campus Life

Travis Teague
Vice Provost of Academic Affairs

Kelley Kish
Athletic Director

Robby Wise
Associate Athletic Trainer

Vaccinations

Covid vaccinations, including boosters, are strongly encouraged.

If you are vaccinated, submit proof of vaccination and booster documentation to the Health Center. (This information will be used to help the Health Center with contact tracing).
If you are unvaccinated but want to receive a vaccine, please contact Cassie Rosbash at c.rosbash@wingate.edu.

F1 Visa International Students

International students (in F1 visa status) may return to campus as planned. All students, regardless of vaccination status, are required to provide a negative test no more than one day prior to air travel, and will be required to retest 3-5 days after arrival. After air travel, you should go to the Health Center upon arrival to get a special wristband to wear until you retest 3-5 days later. Please call the Health Center to schedule your retest.
You must be fully vaccinated to enter the United States, unless you qualify for an exception. Those who qualify for an exception and are allowed entry without vaccination will be required to quarantine for 7 days upon arrival and must get vaccinated within 60 days of arrival. Please review the entire CDC guidance on non-citizen travel to the United States carefully and frequently.

Important Dates

As always, the safety of our students and employees remains a top priority, and we’ll continue to follow CDC and NCHHS recommendations. As you plan to return to Wingate or your first-time arrival, please mark your calendars with these important dates:

Undergraduate classes begin online: Jan. 18
Projected undergraduate classes move to in-person: Jan. 31
Move in dates for undergraduates: Jan. 21, Jan. 25, Jan. 27 and Jan. 29 from 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. each day. Complete this form to select a move-in day.

FAQs

What are the face-covering requirements?

Students, faculty, staff and visitors will need to wear a face covering in all Wingate buildings until further notice. Face coverings will be required during instructional activities (during classes, labs, etc.); in the library, McGee Center, common spaces in the residence halls/apartments and dining facilities unless seated and eating.

Effective Feb. 7, face coverings are optional for instructors in class.

Effective March 1, face coverings are optional in all university buildings except the Heath Center.

Do students, faculty and staff need to report whether or not they are vaccinated and/or have a booster?

Students, faculty and staff are asked to report their vaccination status, including booster, to the University. Fill out this form and upload your vaccination card to Medicat. Students should be prepared to show proof of vaccination upon their return to campus. This information will be used to help the Health Center with contact tracing and inform Wingate’s ongoing preparations and planning.

Will you be sharing vaccination status information for students, faculty and staff?

Will there be opportunities for students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated during the semester?

What type of surveillance testing will be done?

What are the isolation/quarantine protocols for vaccinated and unvaccinated students?

Wingate University Isolation & Quarantine Guidelines for Spring 2022

Isolation Guidelines for Employees and Students:

Isolate for 5 days from symptom onset or from test date if asymptomatic. Must isolate through day 5. On day 6, the patient will receive a rapid antigen covid test. If the test result is positive, the patient will continue to isolate until day 10. If the test result is negative, the patient can end isolation, but continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public until day 10. If asymptomatic when tests positive, but develops symptoms after, their isolation starts over with their symptom onset (this would be day 0).

Quarantine Guidelines for Employees and Students:

1. If you came into close contact with someone with COVID-19 and you are in one of the following groups, you do not need to quarantine:

You are ages 18 or older and have received all recommended vaccine doses, including boosters and additional primary shots for some immunocompromised people.
You are ages 5-17 years and completed the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines.
You had a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the last 90 days & are asymptomatic.
You are considered up to date with your Covid vaccine if still within 5 months of your primary series of Pfizer or Moderna, 2 months of the J&J vaccine, or if you have received a booster dose.

2. If you fall into one of the groups listed above, you should wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days from the date of your last close contact with someone with COVID-19 (the date of last close contact is considered day 0). Get tested on day 6 after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.

3. If you tested positive for COVID-19 within the previous 90 days and subsequently recovered and remain without COVID-19 symptoms, you do not need to quarantine or get tested after close contact. You should wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days from the date of your last close contact with someone with COVID-19 (the date of last close contact is considered day 0).

4. Employees & Students who are not up to date with their vaccination status, are unvaccinated, or have not contracted COVID-19 within the last 90 days, should:

Stay home and away from other people for at least 5 days (day 0 through day 5) after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19. The date of your exposure is considered day 0. Wear a well-fitting mask when around others at home, if possible.
If you develop symptoms, get tested immediately and isolate until you receive your test results. If you test positive, follow isolation recommendations.
If you do not develop symptoms, get tested on day 6 after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.If you test negative, you can leave your home, but continue to wear a well-fitting mask when around others at home and in public until 10 days after your last close contact with someone with COVID-19.

5. Guidelines for Students On Clinical Rotations With No On-Campus Classes

Health science students who reside in on-campus housing will be required to follow University policies for isolation and quarantine.
Health science students who reside in off-campus housing, will follow their clinical site’s Covid policies on isolation and quarantine. If their clinical site does not have a policy on isolation and quarantine, the student will follow the University’s policies.