In an email to the American University community Monday, President Sylvia Burwell announced that the University will continue the 10-day isolation period for students who test positive for COVID-19 despite the change in guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“There are ongoing discussions with DC Health and expected updates from CDC specific to higher education communities,” Burwell wrote in the email. “Until the DC Health isolation guidelines for universities change, AU is not testing students out of isolation before 10 days conclude.”
This is a change from a Dec. 29 email to the AU community, where Burwell wrote that those who test positive would be required to isolate for five days.
The latest information for on-campus operations included links to updated testing hours, the AU self-report portal and a reminder for students to upload proof of booster vaccinations by Feb. 10. The testing hours have been updated to include Saturdays as well as expanded hours on weekdays.
In the email, Burwell said that while AU still intends for classes and operations to begin in person starting in February, the University is “prioritizing predictability in the academic experience and availability of our core support functions amidst omicron-driven disruptions.”
While AU has shifted to online learning for the month, Burwell announced that the University will not provide discounted tuition or housing.
“Given that classes are proceeding on our original calendar, the campus is operating with services available, and the move to online operations is temporary, there is no tuition discount or prorated fees for housing or meal plans associated with this brief shift,” Burwell wrote.
Alongside COVID-19 information, Burwell included resources for student support and services currently operating on-campus, including the library, the tutoring and writing centers and the wellness center. These services are outlined in the University’s new student guide for the spring semester, which shares information about COVID-19 protocols and campus operations. Burwell also said that the University will provide additional information on the Jan. 31 return to in-person classes and operations.
