This periodic update is intended to keep you informed of the latest developments from our Protect the Nest Team. Please visit www.otterbein.edu/covid19/ for additional general and student-related information. If you have questions or concerns, contact the COVID Hotline at covid@otterbein.edu.

Otterbein Plans for Return to Normal this Fall  
Otterbein University is planning for a return to normal operations this fall semester, including mostly in-person classes and campus activities; traditional room set-ups in classrooms, the library, dining services, and other gathering spaces; normal housing policies; and regularly scheduled athletic seasons. Read more here. 

Spectators at Athletics Events 

The OAC has released new rules allowing a limited number of spectators at athletics events. Event participants will be permitted to invite two spectators of their choice, and tickets are non-transferrable. Walk-up spectators will not be allowed to enter, and general admission tickets are not available. Tailgating is not permitted. You can learn more about the new policy here. 

Commencement Plans 

We are excited to announce that recent changes to the State of Ohio guidelines for events will allow us to host safe, in-person commencement ceremonies in Memorial Stadium for the Classes of 2020 and 2021 on May 1 and 2. Working in close collaboration with state and county officials, Otterbein’s ceremonies will strictly adhere to Governor Mike DeWine’s recent order allowing for 30% occupancy in the stadium. To meet the state mandate while providing an in-person experience, Otterbein will host several ceremonies. Commencement ceremonies and related events will be re-imagined to meet health and safety precautions. More details have been sent to graduating seniors at their Otterbein email inbox.

Vaccination Updates 

A lot of news has been announced recently about vaccine availability. We want to keep our community informed of their options. Here is the latest: 

• Otterbein student nurses are now eligible to receive the vaccine.  
• This week, Ohio launched its centralized COVID-19 vaccine website, gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov. This site is an alternative to searching several websites for available vaccine appointments. The site guides users through a series of questions to determine vaccine eligibility. If eligible, the user is asked for their ZIP code and given a list of providers with appointments. Users are then directed to those providers’ websites to book appointments. 

• The CDC has released new guidelines for vaccinated people. Find out what you can and can’t do here.  
• If you have been vaccinated for COVID-19, please email a picture of your proof of vaccination to the COVID support team (covid@otterbein.edu). This information is helpful as we will proactively remove you from the asymptomatic testing pool so we can concentrate our asymptomatic tests for students that have not yet received a vaccination. Thank you for your assistance.  If you have any questions, please contact Matthew D’Oyly  at mdoyly@otterbein.edu or Danielle Kilboy at dkilboy@otterbein.edu. 

Stay Vigilant and Keep Up the Great Work! 

Otterbein’s COVID-19 numbers are low and remaining low, following the current trend of the State of Ohio. You have done an incredible job of keeping our campus safe and healthy — and we want you to keep up the good work! Public health officials tell us that a return to “normal” is in sight if we continue to take precautions, so it’s important to remain vigilant. Please continue to keep your social circle small, practice social distancing, and wear your facial covering. Also remember that attending large social events puts the entire campus at risk. Thank you for making smart choices for yourself, your friends, your family, and your community. We truly appreciate your commitment to protecting the nest! 

Reminders: 

• If you think you have COVID-19 symptoms, contact the COVID Hotline at 614-823-1586 or covid@otterbein.edu and let our Student Affairs staff and OhioHealth representative advise you on your next steps. 
• If you are asymptomatic but would like to have a COVID-19 test, you can request to be added to the weekly asymptomatic pool. Just contact the COVID Support Team at covid@otterbein.edu.