Healthy at Transy

2022-23 Academic Year Guidelines

Transylvania University’s Healthy at Transy action plan prioritizes individual empowerment and community responsibility among our students, faculty and staff.

As we have throughout the COVID pandemic, our Healthy at Transy plan for the 2022-23 academic year has followed the guidance of federal and state public health officials. With the end of the federal health emergency declaration in May 2023, we will no longer be making weekly updates on community COVID rates. Upcoming changes to the plan for the 2023-24 year are also included below.

What You Need to Know

  • The federal COVID-19 PHE declaration ends on May 11, 2023.
  • Most tools, like vaccines, treatments, and testing, will remain available.
  • CDC’s ability to collect and share certain data will change.
  • CDC is updating its guidance to align with data changes.

Visit CDC.gov for more information.

This page was updated May 11, 2023.


Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our Healthy at Transy protocols have reflected federal, state and public health guidelines with emphasis on the current impact within our local and campus communities. Doing so has allowed us to create a safe campus experience for our students, employees and visitors. We intend to continue using public health guidance to evaluate any needed on-campus mitigation measures while prioritizing individual empowerment and community responsibility among our students, faculty and staff. 

With regard to masking on campus, any student or employee may choose to wear a mask anywhere on campus at any time for any reason and are encouraged to do so if they have a cold, other symptoms or a recent exposure to someone with COVID. We ask that our community be mindful of those who choose to wear a mask and those who choose to not wear a mask, as well as respect the wishes of those who require others to use a mask in their offices, classrooms and residence hall rooms.

Community Level COVID — Healthy at Transy Guidelines

(Through May 31, 2023)

 LOWMEDIUMHIGH
Vaccination

Transylvania currently requires all students and employees to be fully vaccinated.

Beginning June 1, the university will strongly encourage all students and employees to be fully vaccinated and up-to-date on their booster shots.  

Stay up to date with vaccinations.

Transylvania currently requires all students and employees to be fully vaccinated.

Beginning June 1, the university will strongly encourage all students and employees to be fully vaccinated and up-to-date on their booster shots.  

Stay up to date with vaccinations.

Transylvania currently requires all students and employees to be fully vaccinated.

Beginning June 1, the university will strongly encourage all students and employees to be fully vaccinated and up-to-date on their booster shots.  

Stay up to date with vaccinations.

Mask use

Mask based on individual preference, informed by individual risk.

Faculty, staff and students have the right to require others to continue mask use in their personal spaces, including classrooms, offices and residence hall rooms.

Targeted mask use in indoor settings following exposures

Mask use is encouraged, but optional in common spaces on campus.

Faculty, staff and students have the right to require others to continue mask use in their personal spaces, including classrooms, offices and residence hall rooms.

Targeted mask use in  indoor settings following exposures.

Mask use is strongly encouraged. Wear well-fitting masks in all indoor public settings, including common spaces, classrooms and offices. 

Faculty, staff and students have the right to require others to continue mask use in their personal spaces, including classrooms, offices and residence hall rooms.

Targeted mask use in  indoor settings following exposures.

Isolation Stay home when sick.
Follow isolation  guidance, including getting tested if you are exposed or have symptoms of COVID.
Stay home when sick.
Follow isolation guidance, including getting tested if you are exposed or have symptoms of COVID.
Stay home when sick.
Follow isolation guidance, including getting tested if you are exposed or have symptoms of COVID.
Physical distancing  Limit indoor in-person gatherings and reduce size of gatherings. Encourage physical distancing.
High-risk peopleTalk to healthcare provider about preventative treatments.

Consider wearing well-fitted mask in all indoor public settings.

Talk to healthcare provider about preventative treatments.

Consider avoiding non-essential indoor public activities.

Talk to healthcare provider about preventative treatments.

COVID Isolation 

Transylvania University no longer issues isolation and quarantine orders. Students who test positive will be responsible for notifying their faculty and staff of their absence from in-person activities. It will also be the responsibility of the positive individual to notify their close contacts.

Following a positive test and/or a known exposure to COVID, all individuals are asked to follow the current CDC guidance on testing and isolation. At any point these guidelines are updated by the CDC, Transylvania will follow the new guidance. 

Students who test positive for COVID may be required to isolate off campus (at their own expense), as on-campus housing will be limited. Employees may use sick or vacation leave to cover any time away from work or may make alternate arrangements with their supervisor as appropriate. 

People who have been in close contact with someone with COVID or have COVID can use the CDC’s Quarantine and Isolation Calculator to determine if they need to isolate or take other steps to prevent spreading COVID. 

If it is determined from your calculations that you need to isolated, you will need to follow the prevention steps below.

Separate yourself from other people. As much as possible, you should stay in a different room from other people. This will require moving to your permanent residence or to a quarantine space on campus. You also should use a separate bathroom if possible. Do not go to the Campus Health Clinic if you are in isolation. Email the clinic, campusclinic@transy.edu, about setting up a telehealth visit.  

If you are isolated on campus for COVID, please feel free to contact residence life if you need anything at reslife@transy.edu or by phone at 859-233-8181. After 5 p.m., call DPS at 859-233-8118.

Isolation Requirements

  • If you test positive, you will be in isolation for a minimum of five FULL days. After five full days of isolation and you are fever free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and your symptoms are improving, you may return to in-person activities with a mask. Continue to wear a mask for the next five full days.
    • If after five full days of isolation you are still experiencing a fever (100.4 F or higher), isolate for 10 full days.  
    • Day 0 is the day your symptoms started or the day you tested positive if you are asymptomatic.
    • You should isolate at home and not in your dorm room, where you might expose your roommates and suitemates.  

Monitor your symptoms. And notify your health care provider or the campus clinic at campusclinic@transy.edu if you develop symptoms (e.g., fever, respiratory symptoms, difficulty breathing). 

Support. Counseling is available for all students on campus, in Lexington or in Kentucky. Students may sign up for counseling by emailing counseling@transy.edu.

Stay inside except to get medical care. You should restrict activities except for getting medical care off campus. If you develop symptoms, email the campus clinic, campusclinic@transy.edu, about setting up a telehealth visit. Do not go to class, work-study or public areas — and do not use public transportation.

Vaccines and booster shots

Currently, Transylvania requires all students and employees to be fully vaccinated. This requirement will remain in effect through May 31, 2023. Beginning June 1, 2023, the university will strongly encourage all students and employees to be fully vaccinated and up-to-date on their booster shots. 

For more information on current vaccine guidelines and eligibility requirements, visit the CDC website.

Physical Distancing and Campus Events

Transylvania has returned to a full schedule of activities and events, including athletics, speakers, performing arts and student life programs. 

Specific policies regarding visitors, group size limits, mask usage and other protocols may be determined closer to the start of each event. Guest artists, athletic organizations or others presenting events may implement specific protocols beyond the university guidelines, which will be communicated in advance of the event.

Academic Policy

The university no longer provides COVID-specific remote learning as a full-term option. 

Students who are in isolation should notify their faculty and work with them to keep up or make up work in a manner appropriate to each course. The faculty member has discretion to decide how students should make up work missed. Should the number of students in isolation make it necessary at any point during the term, faculty will be empowered to offer classes virtually for a period of time to accommodate the current situation.

Visitors

All visitors to Transylvania’s campus are required to follow the same guidelines as students and employees for mask usage on campus. Individual groups or events may implement specific protocols beyond the university guidelines, which should be communicated to visitors and participants.

Recent Updates