Parent & Family Update

Public health

COVID-19 Vaccination

As of yesterday (April 6, 2021), all New Yorkers 16 years of age and older — including college students studying within the state — are eligible to schedule vaccination appointments.

Colgate continues distributing COVID-19 vaccines on campus for community members. The University only receives so many doses at a time, so we are also offering students a free shuttle to clinics at locations in nearby Morrisville (reservation required).

We are regularly telling students about vaccination opportunities both on and off campus through the Colgate Together Digest (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays) and other campus broadcast emails; please encourage your student to remain tuned in. Vaccinations are not required; however they are encouraged.

Students looking to schedule a vaccine appointment are advised to keep in mind potential conflicts between the date for any necessary second dose and when they will be departing campus for the semester. We have received information that some area clinics as well as some local pharmacies are beginning to receive the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, so students can be looking for those opportunities. They can visit local pharmacy websites for details, and the Madison County Department of Health website offers information about scheduling appointments at clinic locations in the area.

Contact Tracing, the Colgate Together Way

One initiative that has successfully reduced the spread of COVID-19 on campus was the creation of Colgate’s own Contact Tracing Team in early January 2021. The team is headed by Dr. Ellen Larson ’94, university physician, and made up of 12 volunteer staff members from across campus, who have donated their time and skills to ensuring students with positive test results are contacted swiftly and their close contacts are identified and alerted as soon as possible. Learn more in this article by Janisa Middleton '23.

Health Analytics

Through our surveillance testing protocols, we have recently identified a few COVID-19 positive students and employees — see the Health Analytics Dashboard for the latest numbers. Due to gatherings, there have been a large number of close contacts. We are all sending our best wishes for speedy recoveries.

Meanwhile, as Vice President Laura Jack wrote in Monday’s campus Colgate Together Digest, “While we lead with the hope of vaccination, we acknowledge the need to remember the basics: masking, distancing, avoiding large gatherings. Gate 4 guidelines offer more opportunity for socializing, but they also bring associated risks. Thank you for your vigilance, for fighting pandemic fatigue, and finishing strong.”

Updates From Campus

Virtual Speaker Series Features TV Stars

On April 8, American comedian, actress, writer, television host, and podcaster Nicole Byer will be the second TV star to appear in a dynamic virtual speaker series taking place this spring. Byer, who gained recognition for her work in the commentary series Girl Code, is known as the host of the Netflix comedy reality bake-off series Nailed It! Other speakers in the series include Polish-Canadian TV personality, actor, author, chef, and model Antoni Porowski (March 31) and one of Porowski’s fellow Queer Eye castmates, American hairdresser, podcast host, activist, actor, and author Jonathan Van Ness (April 22). Students can enter a drawing for a chance to take part in a Meet and Greet with one of the speakers.

13 Days of Green

Colgate will celebrate the 13th annual 13 Days of Green April 10–22, leading up to and including Earth Day. A variety of events and activities for the Colgate community will take place in a hybrid format. Highlights include a kickoff event, Green Summit and Oak Awards, and an Afternoon of Service, as well as a clothing swap and tie-dye activity.

View the full schedule here

Alumnae Connections Series

Alumni and students can join together for a weeklong series of conversations beginning April 12. The series, which will connect women with shared professional interests, is part of the yearlong celebration of 50 years of coeducation at Colgate, sponsored by the Office of Alumni Relations, the Women’s Leadership Council, and the Colgate Professional Networks.

Events

Citizen James

April 8–21, 2021
The ALANA Cultural Center and the Department of Theater invite all Colgate community members to view a filmed theatrical performance of Citizen James, or the Young Man Without a Country. Written by Assistant Professor Kyle Bass, Citizen James is a compelling one-man show that introduces us to 24-year-old James Baldwin at a critical moment in his life. Visit YouTube to set your bookmark and watch the stream April 8–21.

Final Thoughts

Colgate community members roll up their sleeves to fight COVID.

During the weeks of transition between winter and spring, our campus can look like an empty canvas. We’ve been sharing this gallery of campus beauty with the community to remind us of how it will transform in the weeks and months ahead.

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