March 3, 2021 – Undergraduate student Return to Campus Update
COVID-19 public dashboard update
The COVID-19 asymptomatic positivity rate for the week of Feb. 21–27 is 0.41 percent. This is a slight uptick from previous weeks, and we strongly encourage the Vanderbilt community to remain vigilant in following protocols. We continue to conduct contact tracing with each case to determine close contacts and monitor areas of concern.
Continuing to follow safety protocols in warmer weather
We all are excited about the warmer weather. While we can look forward to more opportunities to be outside engaging in activities with our friends around campus and Nashville, we must remember to continue to follow safety protocols. We all have a responsibility to keep one another as safe and healthy as possible, especially those most susceptible to COVID-19 who have not received the vaccine.
Some key reminders:
- Always wear a face mask when around others.
- Also make sure your mask fits properly to help protect yourself and others as much as possible.
- Wear a face mask during meals with others and only take it off to take bites and sips.
- Keep 6 feet of distance when hanging out or eating with others—this includes both indoors and outdoors, whether just hanging out or participating in an activity.
- Avoid crowded areas on campus and around Nashville.
- Do not attend large gatherings, defined as more than eight people according to university safety protocols.
- Avoid getting in cars with others.
- Regularly wash your hands.
Looking for ways to have fun with your friends more safely?
Reminders about traveling this semester
Students are required to stay in the Nashville/Davidson County area through the end of the semester and are not permitted to travel away from campus for weekend trips or otherwise.
- If you wish to leave because of extenuating circumstances, such as to receive medical treatment or to attend a family wedding or funeral, you must complete a travel request form at least 72 hours prior to the proposed travel.
- Requests will be reviewed, and you will be notified as to whether the travel will be permitted.
- You should continue to abide by the university’s COVID-19 safety protocols during approved travel.
Upon return from approved travel, you must:
- Shelter in place and not attend in-person classes or other on-campus activities until you receive a negative COVID-19 test result from your next scheduled test.
- Limit personal contact with others.
- Leave only for testing appointments and essential activities, such as picking up food or attending medical appointments.
Verify your My Health at Vanderbilt preferences
If you are a patient of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, which includes students who use the Student Health Center, we encourage you to access your My Health at Vanderbilt account and ensure you have an updated password and have elected to receive email notices. VUMC will communicate with patients via email when they are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine through the VUMC system. If you are a patient but do not yet have a My Health at Vanderbilt account, you may create one by visiting the website.
As a reminder, at present, Vanderbilt University is not a distribution site for the vaccine because we are not a health care organization.
Those who are not VUMC patients are encouraged to check with their primary care provider about vaccine options or review information about the state’s vaccination plan on the Tennessee Department of Health website.
Other news and updates
March 3: Graduate and professional student Return to Campus Update
March 3: Postdoc Return to Campus Update
March 3: Faculty Return to Campus Update
March 3: Staff Return to Campus Update
—The Return to Campus Team