COVID-19 Archive

Bethel University has partnered with Saint Joseph Health System, one of Michiana’s leading health providers, in crafting our plans for Fall 2020. BU leadership will consult with SJHS practitioners as the need arises, and SJHS will administer some COVID-19 testing for BU students.

The BU app has been updated to include a daily self-assessment reminder and instructions for all BU faculty, staff and students. The self-assessment includes instructions on what to do and whom to contact if a scoring threshold is reached. 

BU staff, including the nurse, athletic trainers, residence directors and human resources personnel, have information on available testing sites should an employee or student need to be tested.

All Bethel students will receive a face covering at the beginning of the semester. All residential students should bring their own thermometer.

See MyBethel for information on downloading the app.

• Per state and county requirements, everyone on campus must wear a face covering when appropriate physical distancing isn’t possible, including entering and exiting buildings.
• See additional sections on student life, academics and events for more specifics about face covering requirements.

• Across campus, clear barriers have been installed in high-traffic offices and spaces.
• Furniture in communal spaces such as the library, Dining Commons, classrooms and residence hall lounges will be rearranged prior to the start of the semester to promote physical distancing.
• Signage across campus will be installed prior to the start of the semester to remind employees and students to physical distance and adhere to safety guidelines.

Any event held on campus – whether sponsored by Bethel University or an outside group – must adhere to national and local guidelines/requirements for physical distancing and face coverings.

• The BU housekeeping staff has increased cleaning and disinfecting procedures, following recommendations from national and local experts.
• Hand sanitation stations have been installed across campus, especially in high-traffic areas.
• Cleaning products will be provided by housekeeping in high-traffic areas for individuals to use as needed.

• Each floor of a residence hall will be considered a pod/family unit. Activities with your pod will not require face coverings or physical distancing, though these practices will be encouraged. 
• Students will be encouraged to stay with their pod or to practice physical distancing when attending chapel and eating in the Dining Commons. Commuter students will have assigned locations in chapel.
• Common areas in the residence halls will be open to a limited number of occupants and will have furniture spaced to promote physical distancing. These spaces will be regularly sanitized by residence life and housekeeping staff.
• In order to limit campus exposure, outside visitors will not be permitted in the residence halls, and residential students will be expected to limit travel off campus.

• Additional dining locations will be available to reduce traffic in the Dining Commons.
• New sanitation protocols and physical distancing measures have been put in place for all food service locations.
• All food will be served by staff members.
• Food will be provided to any students who need to be in quarantine or isolation on campus. 

• Students will attend one of three identical chapel services per week, in order to reduce the number of people in the room at one time.
• Commuter students will be assigned a seating area based on their last names; residential students will be assigned a seating area based on their residence hall/floor.
• Per state and county requirements, students must wear face coverings during chapel while singing.

Bethel University is following regulations and advice from local, state and federal leaders as we have brought faculty and staff back to campus for work. We are in the final phase of returning to full campus operations, with measures in place to accommodate social distancing.

Faculty and staff remain committed to walking alongside students during this time and we appreciate your patience as we navigate the return to on-campus operations, and make quick adjustments to our activities for the fall.

• Student Accounts: StudentAccounts@BethelUniversity.edu
• Student Development: StudentLife@BethelUniversity.edu
• Financial Aid: FinAid@BethelUniversity.edu

Individual faculty and staff may be reached by email (you can look up staff members on My.Bethel under “Quick Links,” “Campus Directory”). 

• Social activities will take place on campus this year! Varied formats will be provided to aid in physical distancing.
• Activities with your residence hall pod/family unit will not require physical distancing or face coverings.

• All visits to the nurse will be by appointment only and will begin with a phone call. If you need to see the nurse, call the Wellness Center (574.807.7370) during office hours to discuss your needs and set up an appointment.
• Counseling will be available in person and via tele-counseling/virtual services. 
• Support groups will be held with physical distancing protocols.
• For all COVID-19 needs, the Wellness Center staff will serve as a link for between students and our robust community health resources.

• Academic services such as the library, Learning Commons, Center for Academic Success and career services are available remotely and in person.
• All in-person services will be provided with appropriate physical distancing, face coverings and sanitation protocols, per state and county requirements/guidelines.

• All campus offices, including the registrar, business office and student development, are available for in-person services. 
• Clear barriers have been installed in high-traffic service area to allows for masks to be removed for improved communication.
• Visit the Campus Directory on MyBethel and search by department to find each office’s phone number/email addresses to see if services can be provided remotely.

• Classrooms will be arranged to promote physical distancing. This includes 10 feet of distance between the front of the classroom and the first row.
• Students will be asked to choose a seat location and use it for the duration of the semester.
• Faculty will wear face coverings when entering and existing the classroom, but may take them off or wear a face shield while teaching class. 
• In accordance with state and county requirements, students must wear face coverings in classrooms. A student without a face covering will be asked to leave the room in order to retrieve one or to participate via live stream.
• Housekeeping staff has increased cleaning and sanitizing procedures for classrooms, and will also provide sanitizer in every classroom for faculty and students to use as desired between classes.
• Live streaming equipment has been installed in every classroom.
• If a student is unable to attend class due to lack of a face covering, the need to quarantine or isolate, or because of a special circumstance, they will be able to live-stream the class.

• For all field experiences, students should follow the protocol for their field experience site. For example, nursing students will follow hospital protocols, student-teachers will follow the protocols of their school system, interns will follow the protocols of the business or organization.
• Students should consult with their academic advisor and/or their academic department for more instructions about preparing for their field experience.

• Music and theatre performances will occur following the St. Joseph County Health Department orders, including hybrid options, such as live streaming.
• All academic events, such as department meetings, club gatherings and art gallery openings, must follow the St. Joseph County Health Department orders for gathering in groups.

• All coaches must follow NAIA guidelines for team activities, including practices and competitions.
• Per the NAIA, all athletes must be screened daily and report to the athletic trainer and their coach if they are symptomatic. This may be done through the BU app self-assessment.
• All athletes must be tested for COVID-19 before their first competition of the season. Athletes should contact their coach for more information and for when and how they will be tested.

• New procedures have been put in place for weight room, cardio room, locker rooms and other athletic facilities, including increased sanitization, occupancy limits and equipment rearranged for physical distancing.
• Some rooms and buildings will be accessible only to specific personnel or teams.

• All teams traveling to Bethel for competition will follow NAIA guidelines for screening, pre- and post-game activities, locker room use, and physical distancing.
• All BU athletes will be screened by BU trainers before boarding the bus for an off-campus competition, and will follow NAIA guidelines while off site.

• Per state and county requirements, fans must wear face coverings while attending athletic events, unless they (and their family unit) are maintaining physical distancing requirements.
• Where possible, all bleachers will be pulled out to increase the ability to follow physical distancing guidelines.

• All visiting students and their families will be asked to follow the current state and county requirements for wearing face coverings.
• Group visits, such as Pilot Preview Days, will continue with modifications to follow the St. Joseph County Health Department guidelines. 
• Go2BU – Bethel’s immersive admission experience for high school students – has been modified with a reduced schedule and no on-campus housing. 
• Individual visits are being scheduled and arranged to accommodate physical distancing guidelines. Most meetings are taking place in large lobby areas instead of in individual offices.

• All campus events – those hosted by Bethel University as well as those hosted by outside groups – must follow the current physical distancing, face covering and occupancy guidelines from national, state and local authorities. 
• At this time, we are only offering plated and served meals, served buffets or prepackaged meals.

• This web page will have the most up-to-date information about Bethel’s response to COVID-19. 
• Important institutional announcements will be sent to students, faculty and staff via email and will be posted on the Stronger Together web page.
• Information and announcements specific to various groups will be sent via email from specific offices:
  • Traditional students – Student Life Office
  • AGS students – Adult and Graduate Studies Office
  • Faculty and Staff – Human Resources or your supervisor
• In addition to information sent via email, announcements may also be reinforced through social media, campus monitors, the Bethel app, residence directors or assistance, faculty, supervisors, etc. 

On June 17, Bethel University announced changes to the academic calendar for fall 2020 for traditional students. Classes began two days early (on Aug. 18) and will run, with no breaks, until Thanksgiving, which will be the end of the semester. Classes will be held on Labor Day, there will be no fall break, the final exam schedule will be modified and the university will have modified class breaks for Spiritual Emphasis Week services.

In order to minimize exposure to Bethel's campus, we have modified the academic calendar so we will finish the semester by Thanksgiving break. More details will be available in the coming weeks, as faculty and staff work to make adjustments and think through necessary changes.

Here is an overview of the new academic calendar for fall 2020:

• Aug. 18: Classes begin
• Sept. 7: Labor Day, classes will be held
• Oct. 8-9: Class will be held (no Fall Break)
• Nov. 20: Last day of classes
• Nov. 21: Final exams begin, with condensed schedule
• Nov. 25: All final exams done by 1 p.m.; semester ends

These changes keep us from losing any in-class seat time and allow final exams to take place in person, on campus.

We know these changes will cause students and families to have to rethink their normal semester patterns, but we are grateful for everyone's partnership in reorganizing to make it work. We are all looking forward to the return of face-to-face classes and want that to happen in a way that is safe for everyone.

Here is an overview of the academic calendar for Spring 2021:

• Classes began Jan. 11, two days later than usual, to allow a space of more than 14 days from Christmas gatherings and more than 10 days from New Year’s gatherings to the return to campus.
• We continue to remind all of our community members to be diligent in our mitigation measures, including daily self-checks, wearing face coverings, and physical distancing. 
• Spring Break adjusted to March 1-3 (Mon.-Wed.) 
• Easter break observed April 1 and 2 (Thurs. and Fri.), as originally planned
• Final's week remains April 26-29 and Commencement is scheduled for May 1, 2021
• Get full details here.

Guidelines for Campus Gatherings
These guidelines are intended to provide a consistent, safe framework for university events and gatherings that occur outside of established classroom presentations and seating (where distancing and other precautions are already in place). 

Plan for groupings to include up to 30 individuals, hosted in areas that can accommodate physical distancing. Face coverings are required in enclosed spaces per St. Joseph County Health Department guidance.

If you have a larger number of people involved, the following recommendations and expectations apply:

• Use staggered timing and/or larger or multiple locations for offering a distanced experience in smaller groupings of 30 or less.
• Use outdoor space when possible, with physical distancing and face coverings when 6 feet of distance isn’t manageable.
• When the number of attendees is unknown (and likely to exceed 30), appoint a team or staff member to manage the size of the group that gathers.
• The hosting department or group should supply sanitization products such as disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer.
• Staff will remind attendees to wear face coverings and maintain physical distance whenever possible.
• If food, drinks, or items are given they should be individually packaged or served adhering to CDC guidelines.
• The Conference Services Office can assist with:
  • finding available locations and reserving space,
  • hosting external guests (where additional coordination and waivers may be needed).

No, we are not planning a virtual ceremony. The celebration boxes in May served as our version of an alternate celebration for those who wouldn’t be able to attend the ceremony in August. We’re thankful that nearly half of our graduates were able to come back to campus to receive their diploma in person, and we hope all of our graduates enjoyed the contents, even if they weren’t able to come to campus.  

Please also know that our Alumni Office is in the beginning stages of planning an event for 2021 that would serve as a time to celebrate our 2020 graduates on campus. We will send more information as details are confirmed in the coming months.

No, the Nurse Pinning Ceremony will not take place as planned, but the School of Nursing is working on alternative plans for a ceremony. Nursing graduates should watch for more details to come soon from the School of Nursing.

In May, we produced this video to honor our 2020 graduates and mark the day they would have walked in our originally-scheduled commencement ceremony.