Dear Georgetown Students:
As we begin the new academic year and welcome back a limited number of individuals to campus and many students to the neighborhoods, it is important we take the time to remind you of the importance of complying with the health and safety guidelines of the Georgetown University Community Compact (“Community Compact”), the District of Columbia and the federal government, and the significant potential repercussions for those who violate these rules.
It is important to emphasize that we will only be successful in returning to campus if together we all comply with these critical safety guidelines and acknowledge that our public health responsibilities do not end at the boundaries of our campus. This email will outline our policies and how we will address violations of new measures employed to keep each other safe. We are focusing on educating our community about the importance of these measures and that we must all work together to reduce transmission of the virus.
You must adhere to the rules set forth in the Community Compact and the Code of Student Conduct, including the Office of Student Conduct’s COVID-19 Impact and Related Student Policies, which include sanctions for violations of public health guidance. If you violate these policies you pose a threat to public health, and as such, your violation will be adjudicated through an expedited process, and significant policy violations will result in severe sanctions including disciplinary suspension or dismissal. Policies and sanctions will remain in place while any appeals might be considered. As stated in the Code of Student Conduct, if it is determined that a violation of the Code occurred at your residence, all residents may be held accountable unless compelling information, as determined by the Conduct Officer, is presented during the adjudication of the case.
We will be strictly enforcing the new policies for students living on and off campus. As a reminder, here are the guidelines for required behavior, which include:
- A prohibition on hosting or attending non-University-sponsored gatherings of more than ten (10) individuals;
- Wearing masks over your nose and mouth at all times (except when alone in a room, when eating/drinking, when in your personal residence without guests, or when exercising outdoors with at least six feet of physical distancing);
- Maintaining six feet of physical distance between you and any other person outside of your household even when gathering in groups of 10 or fewer; and
- Adhering to University and DC public health directions and policies relating to COVID-19 testing, quarantine, isolation and other health and safety measures.
We do not expect you to spend the semester alone, and there are still safe ways to gather with friends.
- Small, physically-distanced gatherings of 10 people or fewer in backyards, on-campus outdoor spaces or other outdoor locations in walking distance are safest.
- While students living off-campus are not able to access campus buildings, they are welcome to join with small groups of physically-distanced friends on campus grounds.
- Even when in groups of 10 or fewer – both indoors or outdoors – everyone should wear masks and maintain at least six feet of distance.
- If you are feeling sick, you should stay at home.
It is important that you familiarize yourself with these new directives and encourage others to do the same. As the public health crisis is constantly evolving, the University will continue to monitor, adjust and communicate any changes to the Student Conduct COVID-19 Policies, when necessary. Questions about the policies can be sent to studentconduct@georgetown.edu.
Please know that these measures have been put in place with the health and safety of all members of the Georgetown community as our paramount concern. We encourage you to maintain these practices – as Every Hoya, Everywhere has a role to play in keeping our community safe.
Sincerely,
Robert M. Groves
Provost
Edward B. Healton
Executive Vice President of Health Sciences and Executive Dean, School of Medicine
Geoffrey S. Chatas
Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer