Parent & Family Update

Public health

Fall-Semester Departure

As a quick reminder, all students need to sign up for a departure time slot. Students have received instructions and a link to register their departure date and time as well as mode of departure. Times are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and choices will be removed as time slots reach capacity, so encourage your student to register as soon as possible.

Guidance for Safe Travel

Colgate and the American College Health Association advise that students should:

• Minimize risk of exposure and infection during these two weeks leading to departure from campus. If they become infected or are identified as a close contact between now and their scheduled departure day, they will not be allowed to board airplanes or trains.
• Review the regulations governing travel to their home. Do they need to complete a travelers’ form prior to arrival? Are there testing requirements for their flight? Remember to pack identification cards or passports.
• Delay travel if sick or exposed. Anyone feeling ill, recently diagnosed with COVID-19 (within 10 days), or exposed to someone with COVID-19 (within 14 days) should self-isolate and delay travel. Students should follow guidance from Student Health Services regarding when recommended isolation/quarantine periods are complete and travel can be resumed.
• Reduce the number of people with whom they have close contact prior to departure from campus. Any close interaction with persons outside immediate residence hall roommates will present an opportunity for infection.
• Plan the route home to minimize stops (take a direct flight if possible, fill up the gas tank before departing Hamilton, pack snacks for the car trip home), wear a face covering, stay at least 6 feet away from other travelers, carry hand sanitizer and use it frequently.
• Take safety precautions during travel, especially if using public transportation. Wear a face covering at all times and consider also wearing a face shield. Stay at least 6 feet away from other people; if not possible on public transportation, sit as far away from other passengers as possible.
• Use a disinfecting/sanitizing wipe to clean any touchable surfaces in the vehicle in which they are traveling. This includes planes, trains, and other forms of transportation.
• The least risky option is private transportation by themselves or family members. If in a car with others outside the household, wear a mask and sit in the back seat if someone else is driving. If weather conditions permit, open the windows.

Picking Up Students

Family members coming from out of state to pick up their students should refer to the New York State Travel Advisory guidelines regarding filling out the traveler form, testing, and quarantine; the guidelines have changed as of November 4, 2020. In a nutshell:

• Travelers coming from noncontiguous states
  
  • Those entering NY state for more than 24 hours must
    
    • Obtain a test within three days of departure, prior to arrival in New York.
    • Upon arrival in New York, quarantine for three days.
    • On day 4 of their quarantine, obtain another COVID test. If both tests come back negative, the traveler may exit quarantine early upon receipt of the second negative diagnostic test.
  • Those in NY state less than 24 hours must fill out the form but do not need to do a test.
• Travelers from states that are contiguous with New York are exempt from the travel advisory.

Read the NY Travel Advisory Guidelines

Spring Plans Deadline is November 13

The deadline for students to indicate whether they will be learning remotely or returning to campus for the spring 2021 semester is Nov. 13. Information and guidance can be found on the October 22 Spring Semester Return to Campus announcement.

Athletic Competition

On Monday, President Brian W. Casey shared an update with the campus community regarding athletics in the coming months. The update included an announcement that the Patriot League Council of Presidents has endorsed a plan that is contingent on the league and its member institutions being able to do so in ways that protect the health and safety of student-athletes, coaches, staff members, and the community. In addition, the update indicated that information about men’s and women’s hockey and the schedules for specific sports would be forthcoming.

Read the Announcement

Visit gocolgateraiders.com

Updates from Campus

Gate Cash for Dining Options

Students who hold a premier meal plan received $100 in Gate Cash at the beginning of the year and will receive another $100 at the beginning of the spring semester. They can use Gate Cash in multiple ways, including to grab a meal at one of the pop-up venues provided by local business partners like Ray Brothers BBQ at the Hall of Presidents (pictured), FoJo’s at the Coop, Royal Indian Grill food truck, and the Colgate Inn at Merrill House.

Colgate Bookstore Updates

Colgate Day Discounts

Friday, November 13, 2020, enjoy special savings and deals all week long at the Colgate Bookstore. The entire store will be 13% off November 9–14 (some exclusions apply), and colgatebookstore.com will be 13% off on November 13 & 14.

Textbook Buyback Nov. 16–19

Textbooks are accepted at the store for buyback from Monday, November 16–19. Students have been sent a link to make an appointment to bring their purchased and rented books in order to keep the number of people in the store at a permissible level. Students should only return books that they are sure that they are finished with. Textbooks that they will need until the end of the semester may be returned after quarantine in February. Students can also sell their purchased (not rented) books online.

Curbside Pickup Nov. 20 & 21

The bookstore will offer curbside pick-up only on Friday, November 20, and Saturday, November 21. To arrange for curbside pick-up, shop colgatebookstore.com, select FREE curbside pick-up* at checkout, and we'll bring your bags out to your car! You can also call us at 877-362-7666 any time during our store hours, pay over the phone, and arrange for curbside pick-up.

Graduate School Access Fund

The Graduate School Access Fund, established in 2020 through the generosity of Giovanni '94 and Maree Cutaia, provides financial support for Colgate students of color and/or low-income students with demonstrated need who seek admission to graduate and professional (e.g., architecture, business, engineering, law, medical) schools. The deadline to apply for Fall 2020 is Tuesday, November 24.

Second, third, and fourth-year students across all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply. The review committee will equally evaluate candidates seeking admission for master’s or doctoral programs. Applicants may be:

• Actively submitting graduate or professional school applications in the current year’s admission cycle
• Preparing for and completing standardized testing this year in anticipation of applying to graduate school in the future

Students must be currently enrolled and maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative Grade Point Average. Once selected, fellows can request grant funding to be used this year to support the following costs:

• One-time test prep courses offered through a recognized service or the purchase of self-study materials
• One-time GRE, GRE Subject Test, LSAT, or MCAT testing fees
• Fees to submit graduate/professional school applications
• Travel for assistantship interviews or admitted student days (if permissible with Colgate’s COVID travel policy)

Events

Spring Semester Family Forum TONIGHT

Parents and families are invited to a spring semester forum with:

• President Brian W. Casey
• Provost and Dean of the Faculty Tracey E. Hucks
• Vice President and Dean of the College Paul J. McLoughlin II, Task Force on Reopening co-chair
• Prof. Geoff Holm, Task Force on Reopening co-chair
• Prof. Eddie Watkins, Task Force on Remote Learning co-chair
• Niranjan Davray, CIO and Task Force on Remote Learning co-chair

Topics will include task force updates as well as insight into the planning processes underway for the spring 2021 semester. We hope to see you then and answer any questions you may have (submit questions in advance here).

Register for the forum

Final Thoughts

Friday is Colgate Day

Find all your Colgate Day digital swag here.

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