Dear Colgate students,
Updated rules and regulations from New York State significantly alter the University’s current standards for gatherings in private residences and will also result in slightly reduced hours of in-person dining operations at Donovan’s Pub and Chobani at Hieber Café. In addition, these new rules restrict gatherings at private residences to 10 individuals or fewer — see details below. These New York State rules apply to all students living in apartments and homes off campus and supersede University Gate regulations.
The University will continue its conversations with the county and the state to determine whether University-owned housing is subject to these restrictions. Regardless of a gathering’s size and location, physical distancing must be maintained and face coverings must be worn, as required by New York State law and Colgate’s Commitment to Community Health.
These new rules, outlined below, go into effect today (Friday, November 13).
- Social Gatherings: Indoor and outdoor gatherings statewide at private residences will be limited to no more than 10 people beginning today, Friday, November 13. Colgate is making these restrictions effective immediately in the interest of community health.This guidance only applies to personal gatherings and does not currently impact University operations such as classes, approved events, and athletic practices. .
- Dining: Effective November 13 at 10 p.m., bars, restaurants, and gyms, as well as any State Liquor Authority-licensed establishment, must close in-person service from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily. For Colgate, this will mean that Donovan’s Pub and Chobani at the Hieber Café will close their seating areas at 10 pm; however, they will both remain open for takeout based on their currently published hours.
New York State has also made recent updates to its travel policies. Travelers from states that are contiguous with New York (Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Vermont) are exempt from the travel advisory; however, travelers from all other areas must fill out the traveler health form upon entering New York.
Updated Travel Rules
- Travelers from noncontiguous states must continue to fill out the Traveler Health Form.
- If you were in another state for less than 24 hours, you are not required to quarantine but you must get a COVID test on the fourth day after arrival in N.Y.
- If you were in another state for more than 24 hours, you must get a COVID test within the three days prior to heading to N.Y. Upon arrival in N.Y., you must quarantine for three days, and you must obtain another COVID test on the fourth day. Upon receipt of negative results from both tests, you may exit quarantine.
The new travel regulations do not change the University’s current prohibitions on travel, per the Commitment to Community Health. Students are still expected to remain in the local area throughout the current semester except as required by academic University-Sponsored Essential Travel (e.g. research project, field-based course requirements).
Please remember that violations of the Commitment to Community Health, whether in on-campus or private off-campus housing, may result in not being able to return for in-person instruction in the spring and/or loss of campus access in the spring if you live in private off-campus housing. Thank you for your adherence to these new regulations from the state. In the days ahead, new state guidance may come out, so please keep reading the regular Colgate Together emails for further updates.
Respectfully,
Dan Gough
Associate Vice President
Campus Safety, Environmental Health, and Emergency Management