St. Olaf College is eager to welcome you to Commencement Weekend 2022. To ensure the safety of visitors and our campus community, the college has planned for this event with our consulting epidemiologist to determine our requirements and guidelines for vaccination, masking, testing, and other protocols.
St. Olaf has established a robust COVID Response to ensure the health and safety of our highly-residential community. Given that faculty, staff, and students will continue to live and work on the Hill during Commencement, the College requests that all Commencement guests take note of and abide by our guidelines, including our requirement that all visitors must be up to date on all recommended COVID-19 vaccines OR show proof of a negative COVID-19 test.
Our community has shown great care and cooperation throughout the pandemic, and we trust that our Commencement Weekend 2022 visitors will follow in that tradition.
Please note this policy is subject to change if conditions warrant.
Commencement Weekend 2022 COVID-19 Policy
Last Updated 4/14/2022 by St. Olaf Events Team
Vaccines & Testing
Commencement Weekend 2022 participants and guests must be up to date on all recommended COVID-19 vaccines OR show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 24 hours (antigen) or 72 hours (PCR) of arrival on-campus.
Guests traveling from outside the United States must be able to show proof of a negative test or proof they are up-to-date on a vaccine approved by the World Health Organization.
Yes. You’ll be asked to share your vaccination status OR negative test result at registration. Acceptable forms of vaccine certification include:
A COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card, including the manufacturer, lot number, and date the vaccine was received.
A digital immunization record that is sponsored or endorsed by the Department of Health in the state or municipality in which you reside. Examples include Docket (MN, NJ, UT); NYC COVID SAFE or Excelsior Pass (NY); and Vax Verify (IL).
Verification of international vaccines will take place on a case-by-case basis.
Acceptable proof of a negative test includes:
A time-stamped, digital photo of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 24 hours (antigen) or 72 hours (PCR) of arriving on-campus.
A lab report showing a negative COVID-19 test results taken within 72 hours of arriving on-campus (PCR).
If you are unable to show proof of vaccination OR proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 24-72 hours of arriving on-campus, you will be charged $30 for an on-site COVID-19 test. Your test must be negative in order to participate in Commencement Weekend 2022 activities.
Once your vaccine OR negative test result has been verified by a member of the St. Olaf staff, you’ll get a lanyard and name tag, which you must wear at all times during the weekend in order to access dining and event venues.
Provided you are wearing your lanyard, you will not be asked to show proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test after registration.
Masking
As of April 2022, St. Olaf College does not anticipate guests will need to wear masks during Commencement Weekend. However, the college reserves the right to announce a mask requirement at a later date if conditions warrant.
In the event masks become required, guests will be notified at least one week prior to the event.
COVID-19 Testing
Unvaccinated guests are required to take a COVID-19 test before coming to campus.
Vaccinated guests are encouraged to take a COVID-19 test 24 to 72 hours prior to arriving on campus. Guests who test positive or are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms are asked to stay home. St. Olaf also encourages visitors to wear a mask when traveling to and from campus, particularly through crowded airports, bus terminals, etc.
Yes. If a registered guest develops COVID-19 symptoms during their visit to campus, free testing will be available in Buntrock Commons between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 9:00 a.m. to Noon on Sunday.
Because St. Olaf does not have the capacity for large-scale testing of visitors, free testing will only be available for symptomatic guests.
Any guest who tests positive for COVID-19 (symptomatic or asymptomatic) is encouraged to leave campus immediately.
In the event a guest is not able to leave immediately (for example, additional time is needed to make alternate travel plans), housing and meals will be provided for up to 5 days without additional charge to the guest. Masks will be provided for guests who test positive for COVID-19 and must be worn at all times, except when isolated in your room.
Additional protocols as follows:
If a vaccinated guest learns they are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, they do not need to quarantine if the exposure was at least 14 days after their vaccination series was fully completed and they do not have any symptoms of COVID-19.
If an unvaccinated guest learns they are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, they are encouraged to leave campus.
Fully vaccinated guests who determine they are a close contact must wear a mask in all public spaces on campus for the duration of Commencement Weekend, except when eating or drinking, and monitor themselves for symptoms.
Prevention Measures
All St. Olaf students, faculty, and staff members participating in Commencement Weekend are required to be up to date on all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster dose(s) when eligible. Vaccines and booster shots will also be required for any vendors who interact with guests.
Handwashing stations will be available in outdoor locations throughout campus.
“To Go” containers will be available for meals served in Stav Hall (NOTE: Special catered events like the Grad Gala are excluded.)
Indoor campus spaces used for Commencement Weekend 2022 activities will be assessed for airflow and circulation. Every effort will be made to assign groups to spaces that are appropriate for the number of participating guests.
Custodial practices are detailed in theCOVID-19 Cleaning and Disinfection Protocols document. Priority spaces and objects have been identified and will be cleaned and disinfected more frequently due to their location in high-traffic areas. Custodial staff provide daily cleaning and disinfecting services to high-touch objects such as door handles, elevator panels, and railings, as well as common areas in the work environment including restrooms, break rooms, lounges, kitchens, utility rooms, laundry rooms, learning spaces, and meeting rooms. The document also includes enhanced disinfection procedures should a college employee, student, or visitor be diagnosed with COVID-19.
We encourage guests to keep personal items (e.g., cell phones and other electronics) clean. The college will provide hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes upon request.
Refunds & Cancellations
St. Olaf College reserves the right to cancel Commencement Weekend 2022 if circumstances related to the pandemic make it unsafe for large groups to gather. The decision to cancel will be made by the COVID-19 Campus Reopening Lead. Every effort will be made to announce a decision at least three weeks prior to the start of the event (May 6, 2022) to allow guests to recoup travel costs.
In the event that Commencement Weekend 2022 is canceled, St. Olaf will reschedule the ceremony at a future date.
If Commencement 2022 is canceled by St. Olaf, guests will be refunded the cost of their registration, minus a processing fee of $20 per guest.
In the event a guest tests positive for COVID-19 and is unable to attend Commencement 2022, they will be refunded the full cost of their registration.
St. Olaf will not reimburse guests for travel expenses if Commencement 2022 is canceled. We strongly encourage attendees to book refundable airfares, rental car reservations, etc.
Unregistered Guests & Children
All Commencement Weekend 2022 guests are required to pre-register by May 20, 2022. Unregistered guests will not be allowed into dining or event venues.
Walk-up guests must register at the desk on the first floor of Buntrock Commons between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Friday), 12:00 p.m – 8:30 p.m. (Saturday) or 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (Sunday). All guests are to show proof of vaccination OR a negative COVID-19 test (see Vaccines and Testing).
St. Olaf College reserves the right to ask unregistered guests to leave campus or to prohibit their participation in events.
Yes, children may attend Commencement Weekend. All children must be pre-registered and fully vaccinated, with the exception of those under age 5.
Children will be held to the same vaccine and testing standards as adults (see Vaccines and Testing). Commencement attendees must be prepared to show proof of vaccination or a negative test for any children who are eligible to be vaccinated under 18. Children under 5 are currently exempt.
