Reunion 2022 COVID-19 FAQ

Reunion Weekend
COVID-19 FAQ

St. Olaf College is eager to welcome alumni to Reunion Weekend 2022, which will be the largest gathering of visitors to campus since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. 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 robust community standards 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 Reunion Weekend, the College requests that all Reunion Weekend visitors 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 Reunion Weekend visitors will follow in that tradition.

Please note this policy is subject to change if conditions warrant.

Reunion Weekend participants are required to 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 Reunion Weekend activities.

Once your vaccination status 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 entertainment venues. Provided you are wearing your lanyard, you will not be asked to show proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test after registration.

Unvaccinated guests are required to take a COVID-19 test before coming to campus.

Vaccinated guests are strongly 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 should 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 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Sunday. Because St. Olaf does not have the capacity for large-scale testing of visitors, testing will only be available for symptomatic guests.

Any guest who tests positive for COVID-19 (symptomatic or asymptomatic) should leave campus immediately.

Guests who learn they are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 should wear a mask in all public spaces on campus for the duration of Reunion Weekend, except when eating or drinking, and monitor themselves for symptoms.

All St. Olaf students, faculty, and staff members participating in Reunion 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.

Indoor campus spaces used for Reunion Weekend 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 the COVID-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) and personal living spaces clean. The college will provide hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes upon request.

All Reunion Weekend participants are required to pre-register. Unregistered guests will not be allowed into dining or entertainment venues, including Stav Hall, the Pause, Campus Green and Mellby tent.

Walk-up guests must register at the desk on the first floor of Buntrock Commons between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) or 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. (Sunday). All guests are to show proof verification of vaccination OR a negative COVID-19 test (see Vaccines and Testing).

Walk-up guests will be required to pay a one-time fee of $15 to cover the cost of their lanyard and name tag. St. Olaf College reserves the right to ask unregistered guests to leave campus or to prohibit their participation in events.

While children may attend Reunion Weekend, guests should keep in mind that activities are planned with an adult audience in mind. All children must be pre-registered regardless of age.

Children will be held to the same vaccine and testing standards as adults (see Vaccines and Testing). Reunion attendees must be prepared to show proof of vaccination or a negative test for any children under 18 who are members of their party.

St. Olaf College reserves the right to cancel Reunion Weekend 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 13, 2022) to allow guests to recoup travel costs.
In the event that Reunion Weekend is canceled, St. Olaf will reschedule the following reunions: 50th Reunion, 25th Reunion, and the St. Olaf Orchestra Reunion. Other Reunion Weekend events will not be rescheduled.

If Reunion Weekend 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 develops symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19 and is unable to attend Reunion Weekend, they will be refunded the full cost of their registration.

St. Olaf will not reimburse guests for travel expenses if Reunion Weekend is canceled. We strongly encourage attendees to book refundable airfares, rental car reservations, etc.

Reunion 2022 COVID-19 FAQ

Intro panel

Our community has shown great care and cooperation throughout the pandemic, and we trust that our Reunion Weekend visitors will follow in that tradition.

Please note this policy is subject to change if conditions warrant.

Vaccines and Testing

Masking

COVID-19 Testing

Prevention Measures

Unregistered Guests & Children

Refunds and Cancellations