College-sponsored campus events resume Feb. 1

By Daphne Thomas

Southwest Tennessee Community College leaders met recently to discuss the pandemic and safety procedures on campus. According to Shelby County Health Department data, the average number of reported COVID-19 cases per day is decreasing. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 – 11 years old. Therefore, college officials have determined that college-sponsored on-campus activities may resume Feb. 1, 2022. Masks are strongly recommended and social distancing will be practiced.
 
Southwest president Tracy D. Hall says the College is monitoring the pandemic and will bring back campus events in phases. “We are approaching on-campus activities with cautious optimism,” President Tracy D. Hall said. “We will phase in campus events by allowing only those activities that are coordinated and sponsored by the college to occur on campus for now. All events coordinated by external organizations continue to be prohibited until further notice.” 
 
Examples of approved activities include:

• Instructional events, i.e. workshops, seminars, concerts and academic competitions
• Faculty and staff meetings
• Student organization meetings and activities
• Athletic events
• Recruitment events

Southwest continues to follow public health guidelines to offer the safest teaching and learning environments possible. Should conditions improve and guidelines from public health agencies align, on-campus events sponsored by external agencies will be allowed to resume at a later time. 
 
Southwest strongly encourages everyone to get vaccinated, wear masks, frequently wash hands and sanitize and socially distance. Stay tuned for updates on our COVID-19 response online, via email and by phone. Sign up for Southwest’s Emergency Messaging System, also known as Rave, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @SouthwestTN.