Updated 7/12/2021:

Goddard College is committed to the health and safety of its students, and employees; and to playing an active role in responding to COVID-19 in the larger community and beyond. This page provides an update of our current efforts and activities, and it will be updated as circumstances change.

Fall 2021 Residencies 

Updates for Washington and Vermont

For the most updated information on vaccination rates at Goddard’s site communities visit the Vermont Department of Health and the Washington State Department of Health. At the time of writing both states have lifted most restrictions, therefore Goddard College is enacting the following Vaccination and COVID-19 Mitigation Policy for the safety of our community: 

Masking, Social Distancing, and Contact Tracing

  • Masks must be worn when inside of Goddard College buildings while in shared common areas. 
  • Social distancing protocols should be observed when possible throughout the campus.
  • Sign-in sheets will continue to be used for contact tracing purposes for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, entering a Goddard College building. 
  • Employees are still encouraged to work from home with permission and coordination of their supervisor.

Access to Vaccinations

The history of forced medical interventions on communities of color and others underrepresented in American power structures compels us to respect people’s right to choose.   

  • Goddard College will not require vaccinations for employees or students.     
  • Goddard College encourages members of the college community whose health allows them to be vaccinated against COVID-19.  
  • If anyone in the community needs assistance acquiring vaccinations, Goddard College will assist individuals in obtaining vaccines through The Community Life Office.

This policy will be reviewed and revised on an ongoing basis. We will alert the community when changes are made.

Previous Residency Information

Program residencies with a scheduled start date from July 2 through August 13 will remain virtual for the fall semester. Assuming that it is safe to do so, these programs will offer in-person residencies along with a virtual option for the spring 2022 semester. This includes: 

  • Start Date July 2: MFAW-VT
  • Start Date July 16: EDU-VT, MFAIA-VT, MFAW-WA, and MFAIA-WA
  • Start Date July 30: UGP1, GGI 
  • Start Date August 13: PSY

For the program residencies with a scheduled start date in late August and September, an in-person option is being tentatively offered. These are:

  • Start Date August 27: UGP2
  • Start Date Sept 25: EDU-SEA

We will be piloting a combined virtual and in-person residency option (sometimes called HyFlex). However, for the in-person option to be viable, we need a minimum number of students to declare their intent for this option by June 30. In addition, we need a comparable number of faculty who are willing to attend in person. As such, we urge anyone planning to attend in person to obtain travel insurance for any flights in case there is a need to cancel it. The Registrar’s Office will communicate the process to Declare Intent before May 1. The Student Services Office will follow up before the residency start dates with details on the specific regulations and safety precautions (quarantine or vaccination, masks, social distancing, etc.) if we are able to move forward with the in-person options for these programs.

Declaration of Intent

For planning purposes, we ask that you declare your intent as early as possible. An announcement from the Registrar’s Office with details will be sent when the form goes live.

For those programs (UGP2, EDU-SEA) with a in-person residency option, you will be given a choice on the Declaration of Intent form of either attending your program’s residency in-person or virtually.

Based on careful research and hearing from many in the community through several surveys, we believe that these decisions prioritize several factors: the safety and well-being of students, faculty, and staff; responding to the challenges impacting many students during COVID and how the virtual residencies helped alleviate those challenges by allowing students to continue their studies rather than take a semester off; and being careful and well-equipped to safely pilot and support in-person residencies with the necessary health, technology, and equipment needed on campus to support students online and in-person simultaneously in future semesters. 
Please contact Academic Affairs (academicsaffairs@goddard.edu) with any questions about enrollment options or residencies.

Status of Students Currently Enrolled for the Semester

Given our distinctive low-residency academic model, most of the Goddard College students and faculty are actively engaged in their academic work from home. All academic and enrollment policies remain in effect, including existing published due dates and dates for mid-semester check-ins, and extension requests. Students who feel their work is being disrupted should contact their academic advisor and/or course mentor immediately. Students needing support are encouraged to reach out to the Community Life staff at studentlife@goddard.edu. Policies regarding Extenuating Circumstances Extensions and Withdrawing from the Semester are available in the Undergraduate Student Handbook and the Graduate Student Handbook. Both are available on the College’s website: https://www.goddard.edu/academics/curriculum-guides/

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF)

At this time, all of the additional funding for emergency CARES / HEERF support has been awarded.

As you know, Congress has been working on releasing additional funds but have been stalled in their negotiations.  If we receive notice of additional funding, we will reopen the application process. Further information is available by contacting the Financial Aid Office at finaid@goddard.edu.

HEERF Reporting Requirements: The school will need to be able to meet the reporting requirements in section 4(c) of the Certification and Agreement, which requires that schools report the following information:

  • How grants were distributed to students;
  • The amount of each grant awarded to each student;
  • How the amount of each grant was calculated; and
  • Any instructions or directions given to students about the grants.
  • Full Policy Link

Internet Assistance for Low Income Families

Emergency Broadband Benefit

Updated For COVID-19: Guide To Internet Plans For Low And Fixed-Income Households

Goddard College and the Agency of Health Services Wellness and Recovery Center

Goddard College was formerly in communication with the Vermont Agency of Health Services regarding the requested use of a portion of the Goddard College campus as a temporary Wellness and Recovery Center for people who are recovering from COVID-19. However, on April 10, 2020, Goddard College was informed by the State that the Governor’s Executive order is working, and that some facilities identified in the early stages of their response (including the Goddard College campus) are no longer needed to execute their response plans. As such, plans for this temporary use of the campus have been cancelled.

Ongoing Care Suggestions

Hand-washing remains paramount to personal safety as well as changing personal habits: no touching the face, regular sanitizing of counters, doorknobs and common surfaces, sneezing and/or coughing into your elbow, and staying home if you are feeling sick at all. Current recommendations for staying well and keeping others well include physical social distancing. Avoid crowds wherever possible and keep six feet of distance between you and others. For our most vulnerable populations, those with compromised immune systems and those 50 and older, the physical social distancing is the most important consideration. The next 2 – 6 weeks is a crucial time to stay socially distant and protect yourself from contamination. Reach out to community supports for help with groceries, prescriptions etc. For those who must still work or be out and about in the community, wash your hands, use hand sanitizer and be clear about no touching or social distancing. It’s more than okay to set good boundaries.

Physical social distancing does not mean social isolation. There are many safe ways to connect with friends and loved ones, and it is important to do so at this time. Consider starting a Zoom account so you can have virtual get-togethers with loved ones or use video calls from apps such as FaceTime, Facebook Messenger or Skype to name a few.

There are many different flu and virus strains currently circulating as well as the COVID-19 virus. We will hear about more cases of the Coronavirus confirmed in the next few weeks as testing protocols are instituted. Initially, treatment for all flu and virus symptoms remains the same – lots of liquid, bedrest, over the counter medications for aches and pains. Be alert for an increased fever or an ongoing dry cough. Call your doctor and check in with them to determine what other action should be taken at what point in your symptom development. 

You will be receiving ongoing letters from Community Life as we are in this crisis period together. Student Life Coordinator Liz Medina will send out some further news about health tips. Access and Disability Support Coordinator Suzy Shedd will create notes for students about study habits and Anne Connor will suggest helpful ideas about staying grounded, focused and present during this time of unprecedented global stress. Community Life wants to be in touch and supportive at this time.  

Employee Work Disruption

Faculty who feel their work is being disrupted should contact their program director/lead faculty member, the Academic Affairs Office (academicaffairs@goddard.edu), and/or the Human Resources Office (HR@goddard.edu) depending on the nature of the disruption. Likewise staff members should contact their director supervisor and/or the Human Resources Office.

Uncertainty is stressful. If employees are experiencing a high level of stress during this uncertain time, we encourage employees to access our Employee Assistance Plan (https://www.investeap.org/).

Vermont Campus Events

In order to reduce risk, we have cancelled all events scheduled for the Plainfield, VT campus until further notice. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as soon as they are available. 

Library

We are following the VT State guideline for limited re-opening of the Eliot D. Pratt Library for in-person Library Services and Space use Starting July 1st, 2020 

For more information follow this link: https://www.goddard.edu/lits/

Actions Taken at the Plainfield, VT Campus and WA Instructional Sites in Port Townsend and Seattle

While students are not presently on site in Plainfield, Port Townsend, and Seattle, the safety and health of Goddard College employees is a high priority. As such, we have taken the following steps:

  • All employees who can work remotely are working remotely. While working remotely, we are asking that supervisors and employees maintain daily scheduled phone or Zoom check-ins.
  • All employees are using telephone and Zoom meetings instead of face-to-face meetings.
  • We require that employees not report to work while experiencing respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headaches, chills or fatigue. No employee should hold in person meetings in any locations if experiencing these symptoms.
  • All employees are asked to wash their hands frequently with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds, and to cover their mouth with tissues whenever they sneeze, and discard used tissues in the trash.
  • Avoid people who are sick with respiratory symptoms.
  • Clean frequently touched surfaces.

Travel 

Any travel for official Goddard College business that is scheduled through May 15 must be submitted to the Executive Leadership Team for review prior to reservation. All international travel is suspended and we ask that employees minimize domestic travel for college purposes until further notice. Travel requests should be emailed to presidents.office@goddard.edu.

Communication

Questions, concerns, or media inquiries can be directed to Presidents.Office@Goddard.edu. 

Recommended Resources to Learn More About COVID-19

For more detailed and current information about COVID-19, please consult the following sources: