Stay Safe at Wingate

• No visitors or gatherings will be allowed in residence-hall rooms or apartments. This means that students cannot visit other residential spaces or rooms.
• Campus Safety and Residence Life staff will monitor gatherings and break up groups in which people are not social distancing or wearing face coverings.
• Dining operations are open, but seating is limited in the W.T. Harris Food Hall, and the Klondike is “to go” only.

The campus community is also highly encouraged to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. If you have not done so already, you can call the Health Center at 704-233-8102 for an appointment. Both the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine and Moderna are available. The Health Center will also offer Covid testing to students who would like one before returning home for the summer. Tests will be administered between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Your Covid Response Team

May 3, 2021

During a press conference on Tuesday, Gov. Roy Cooper continued to ease restrictions for the state. As a result, some of our campus-safety measures will be modified. You can see those measures below, in addition to those that have not changed. Most notably, we will no longer require students to remain in residential spaces between certain hours. 

Beginning today, revised campus-safety measures will be as follows: 

• Hours to remain in residential spaces have been lifted.  

• Outdoor gatherings can increase to 100 people (face coverings and social distancing still required).

• Indoor gatherings can increase to 50 people (face coverings and social distancing still required).

• The McGee center will operate at 75% capacity.

• Athletic venues increase to 50% capacity.

• Other venue capacities will be increased to allow for additional programming options.

The following measures will remain in place:

• No visitors or gatherings will be allowed in residence-hall rooms or apartments. This means that students cannot visit other residential spaces or rooms.

• Campus Safety and Residence Life staff will monitor gatherings and break up groups in which people are not social distancing or wearing face coverings.

• Dining operations are open, but seating is limited in the W.T. Harris Food Hall, and the Klondike is “to go” only.

The Health Center plans to hold more vaccination clinics in the coming weeks. If you haven’t received a vaccine and want to, please fill out this form. To learn more about the precautions health officials recommend continuing even after you’ve been fully vaccinated, click here.

Remember, if you are eligible to receive a vaccine, you do not need to wait to receive a dose through the Health Center. To find other vaccine sites, click here. 

Although our positive case numbers remain low, numbers can spike quickly, as seen at other universities. The Covid team will closely monitor how the easing of restrictions affects our campus and will make adjustments as needed. Continue to do your part to Stay Safe at Wingate by practicing the 3Ws.

Your Covid Response Team

March 26, 2021

• Wingate University has received 400 doses of the single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Clinics are planned for Wednesday, April 7 and Friday, April 9 in LaVerne Hall. Our Wednesday clinic has already reached capacity.

If you have not already received your first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine or the Johnson and Johnson single-dose vaccine, please use the link below to sign up for an appointment at our next clinic on Friday, April 9 in Laverne. 

Schedule My Vaccine

**Please note: If all appointment times are filled, please contact Mario Paylor to be added to a waitlist.

Benefits of taking the COVID Vaccine:

• Risk of COVID infection is significantly reduced
• Protection of friends and family from COVID exposure
• Once vaccinated, you do not need to quarantine or isolate if you are considered a “close contact” of someone who tests positive. 

Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines

To learn more about the precautions health officials recommend continuing even after you’ve been fully vaccinated, click here.

The University is offering a growth Lyceum event, COVID-19 Vaccines - Facts and Myths on Monday, April 5 at 5 p.m. Use this link to attend.

Your COVID Response Team

March 31, 2021

Dear students,

The Health Center has received another round of a limited number of the Covid-19 vaccine. Please fill out this interest form if you’d like to receive a vaccine. We plan to offer two clinics next week.  

You do not need to call for an appointment. The Health Center will reach out to schedule a time for your vaccination based on your responses to the interest form.

However, there is no need to wait to get a vaccine at the Health Center if you can receive the vaccine sooner at another location. Find locations near you here.

Please note: If you have received a first dose of the vaccine somewhere else, you will need to receive your second dose at the same location. If you receive your first dose at the Health Center, you must be available to return for a second dose four weeks later. 

If you have questions, please email Health Center Administrative Assistant Mario Paylor.

Your Covid Response Team

March 12, 2021

The following email was sent to students on March 4:

Students,

The Health Center has recently received a limited number of doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. These vaccines will be distributed based on Union County Health Department and North Carolina guidelines, which means we will start with Groups 1 through 3.

The majority of Wingate students do not qualify for a vaccine until Group 4, phase 2. That’s when students living in residence halls or other group settings will be eligible. With the vast majority of students ineligible to receive the vaccine, and with supplies limited, distribution at the Health Center will be limited to employees for now. 

Students who do currently qualify for a vaccine would be those considered support staff or those working jobs at day-care centers, grocery stores or in any of these categories. There is no need to wait to get a vaccine at the Health Center if you can receive one sooner at another location.

Find out your eligibility status and nearby vaccine locations here.

More information will be forthcoming about how students can sign up for a vaccine once the University receives more doses.

If you’d like to learn more about the Covid-19 vaccine, efficacy, etc., University staff are working on putting together a vaccine-information Lyceum. Be on the lookout for more details in your email.

In the meantime, continue to practice the 3 W’s: Wear your face covering, Wait six feet, and Wash your hands.

Your Covid Response Team

The following email was sent to employees on March 4:

Employees,

Per Gov. Roy Cooper, college and university instructors and support staff who are working on campus are among the essential workers now eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. Find out your eligibility status here.

The Health Center has recently received a limited number of doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. To gauge employee interest, we need to hear from you. Please fill out this interest form.

The University is prioritizing vaccine distribution based on Union County Health Department and North Carolina guidelines, which means we will start with Groups 1 through 3. 

An on-campus vaccine clinic is slated for Wednesday, March 10.

If you are in one of the prioritized categories, you will be contacted directly based on your survey response. You do not need to call for an appointment. The Health Center will reach out to you to schedule a time for your vaccination.

If you do not receive a vaccine during our first clinic but qualify in one of the priority groups, you will be notified once the University receives more doses. However, there is no need to wait to get a vaccine at the Health Center if you can receive the vaccine sooner at another location. Find locations near you here.

If you have questions, please email Health Center Administrative Assistant Mario Paylor.

Your Covid Response Team

During a press conference on Wednesday, Gov. Roy Cooper announced the easing of some Covid-related restrictions for the state. This means that some of our campus-safety measures will also be modified. You can see those measures below, in addition to those that have not changed. Most notably, we will now go back to the hours we had in place for residential students before the holidays. As the governor noted, “We’re making progress … but we are still far from the end [of the pandemic] with the vaccine in short supply.”

Beginning today, revised campus-safety measures will be as follows: 

• Students should plan to remain in their residential spaces from midnight to 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 1 a.m to 5 a.m Friday and Saturday.

• Outdoor sports venues can operate at 30% capacity.

• Indoor venues can open at 30% capacity or 250 people, whichever is less.

The following measures will remain in place:

• No visitors or gatherings will be allowed in residence-hall rooms or apartments. This means that students cannot visit other residential spaces or rooms.

• Campus Safety and Residence Life staff will monitor gatherings and break up groups in which people are not social distancing or wearing face coverings.

• Dining operations are open, but seating is limited in the W.T. Harris Food Hall, and the Klondike is “to go” only.

The governor noted that although Wednesday’s action shows a level of confidence and trust in the public, the dimmer-switch approach still applies when dealing with containing the spread of a contagious virus. As more people get vaccinated and the number of cases decreases, we will reevaluate our safety measures.

Thank you to all who have complied with our surveillance testing this far. Testing remains an essential part of catching cases early and eliminating spread. By testing our campus community often, we are in line with the guidance provided by federal, state and local health officials. 

Our positive case numbers are relatively low. Let’s keep it that way and continue to do our best to Stay Safe at Wingate.

Your Covid Response Team

Feb. 26, 2021

During a press conference last Wednesday, Gov. Roy Cooper extended the current restrictions for the state until Feb. 28. While North Carolina’s Covid numbers have leveled off the past several days, they are still high. “Too many people are still falling seriously ill and dying,” Cooper said. “The virus is still raging through our communities.” 

With that in mind, the measures we’ve put in place as a campus community will remain in effect for now.

That includes the following:

• No visitors or gatherings will be allowed in residence hall rooms or apartments. This means that students cannot visit other residential spaces or rooms. 

• Campus Safety and Residence Life staff will monitor gatherings and break up groups, both indoors and outside, in which people are not social distancing or wearing face coverings.

• Per the governor’s order, students should plan to remain in their residential spaces from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

• Dining operations are open, but seating is limited in the W.T. Harris Food Hall and the Klondike is “to go” only.

But there are also reasons to be encouraged:

• We are beginning in-person, undergraduate classes with a low case count on the Wingate campus. 

• Registered student organizations may be able to meet in person beginning Feb. 8.  Please watch for more information, including an approval process, in the coming days.

As in-person classes begin today, we will closely monitor cases and adjust restrictions as needed. Our testing program remains an essential part of moving forward with as many in-person programs as possible. With testing supplies having become more readily available, the University will increase surveillance testing across our main campus. The first step in that process was requiring all students returning to the University to be tested for Covid-19. As we continue through the semester, students should expect the following:

• Health Center staff will contact students at random and periodically throughout the semester and require them to get tested. Students will be given a reasonable period of time to comply.

• Health Center staff may show up at University events, classrooms, residence halls, offices, etc., to test random subsets of the campus community.

Although there is light at the end of the tunnel, we still don’t know how long the tunnel is. With vaccines being rolled out, it’s no time to let our guard down. Let’s all do our best to Stay Safe at Wingate.

Your Covid Response Team

Feb. 1, 2021

This email was sent to students on 1.18.2021 from Dean of Campus Life, Michael Reynolds.

Dear Students,

Please take note of the following updates regarding COVID-19 Entry Testing Locations.  Beginning tomorrow (1/19), these are the locations open for COVID Entry testing.  As a reminder, all students must be tested for COVID-19 upon returning to the university.  Please fill out the WUSync form if you have not already done so.

UPDATED COVID ENTRY TESTING LOCATIONS:

Updated Locations:

1. LaVerne Banquet Hall (10am-4pm on check-in days)

   1. Residents of South Village, Old Cannon, New Cannon, CM Black, East and West Wilson, Helms, Northeast, Faculty Drive Apartments

2. The University Health Center (Holbrook Building, 8am-3pm, Monday-Friday)

   1. All Commuters

3. Welborn 814 (10am-4pm on Check-in Days)

   1. Residents of JM Smith, Alumni, Beam, Welborn, Byrum, Bennet, Holbert, Greek Apartments, and University Place Apartments.

As a reminder, the following days are still open for returning student check-in:

1. 1. 1. January 19

      2. January 20

      3. January 26

      4. January 29

      5. February 1

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

This email was sent to students on 1.15.2021 from Dean of Campus Life, Michael Reynolds.

Dear Students,

With approximately half of our residential students back on campus, I’m happy to report that less than 1% have tested positive. While encouraging, we still have a significant number of students who have yet to check-in. This means, we can’t let our guard down. 

Over the last several weeks, our state has seen the virus spread significantly. As we head into a holiday weekend, just a couple of reminders:

• If you are planning to return to campus next week, we are asking you to continue to quarantine and limit your exposure to others to limit the potential of exposure to the virus.

• If you have not already submitted a return to campus date, please fill out our WUSync form. 

• If you’ve already checked-in and plan to return home, please continue to stay away from high-risk activities (large gatherings, public places, restaurants, etc.)

For those that remain on campus over the weekend, just a couple of notes:

• No visitors or gatherings will be allowed in residence hall rooms or apartments. This means that students cannot visit other residential spaces or rooms. 

• Campus Safety and Residence Life staff will monitor gatherings and break up groups with more than 10 people or groups in which people are not social distancing or wearing face coverings.

• Per the Governor’s order, students should plan to remain in their residential spaces from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

• Dining Operations are open; limited seating in WT Harris; Klondike “to go” only

• Please make sure to wear your blue wristband when on campus. This will allow you access to the McGee Center, dining hall, library, etc.

Our COVID entrance testing is an important part of managing our re-entry to the campus, but testing is only effective if we continue to be diligent with our routines. Let’s start the semester off on the right foot and take care of each other. Remember the 3 Ws: washing your hands, wearing a face covering and waiting 6 feet apart from each other.  

This message was sent to students on 1.8.2021 from Dean of Campus Life, Michael Reynolds.

Dear Students,

As we prepare for your return to campus, the COVID Response group has been closely monitoring the status of COVID cases in the state of North Carolina. While we remain dedicated to providing an on-campus experience for our students, community spread is at critical levels throughout the state. In fact, there are now 84 counties designated as red (critical community spread). Union, Mecklenburg and surrounding counties are all in that category.

Wednesday, Governor Roy Cooper noted, “In North Carolina, we have seen some of our highest case counts, percent positives, hospitalizations and ICU bed usage numbers in the past few days. No matter where you live, work, worship or play, COVID-19 remains a deadly threat, and we must treat it that way."

In order to mitigate the risk for all faculty, staff, and students, the University will test students upon their return to campus and intends to continue random and targeted surveillance testing as needed. 

College students are identified as part of Phase 3 in North Carolina’s phased approach to providing Covid-19 vaccines. We remain in contact with officials as to who can receive a vaccine when, how and where and will provide vaccination information as soon as it becomes available.

While we know it’s frustrating, the University will also continue with the following restrictions until at least February 1.

• No visitors or gatherings will be allowed in residence hall rooms or apartments. This means that students cannot visit other residential spaces or rooms. 

• Campus Safety and Residence Life staff will monitor gatherings and break up groups with more than 10 people or groups in which people are not social distancing or wearing face coverings.

• Per the Governor’s order, students should plan to remain in their residential spaces from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

• Dining Operations are open; limited seating in WT Harris; Klondike “to go” only

 Failure to comply with any of these requirements may result in university sanctions.

 The University will continue to monitor the number of positive and quarantine cases on campus, the number of spaces available to house quarantine and isolation students, as well as the overall health of the community (including our University, county, and state) in determining when restrictions can be lifted.  Students are also reminded to fill out the Daily Symptom Tracker and download the SlowCovidNC app.

 Our greatest hope would be that our steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 will result in the University relaxing some of these restrictions. Our faculty, students, and staff faithfully following the 3 Ws: washing your hands, wearing a face covering, and waiting 6 feet apart from each other, is the best way to get back to the kind of on-campus experience that we know is integral to a true Wingate University experience.

Take care,

m

This email was sent to the campus community on 1.4.2021

Dear Students,

Happy New Year!  As we start a new year, and prepare for a new semester, a couple of reminders about the spring semester.