Lindsey Wilson College Plans to Resume Normal Operations Beginning Fall 2021
COLUMBIA, KY. -- Lindsey Wilson College plans to resume normal operations this fall based on guidance from the CDC, the state of Kentucky and the local health department.
The College has experienced a consistently low rate of infection, as well as, a high vaccination participation rate among the LWC campus community and student body.
LWC President William T. Luckey Jr., announced the operational plans for fall 2021 in an email to faculty, staff and students on April 28, more than a year after the pandemic began. The 2021-2022 academic year will begin on Mon., August 30.
“I am just so honored to be associated with a place that has responded so well to this challenge,” said Luckey. “We have exactly zero known Covid cases on campus among our faculty, staff and students.”
Luckey credits the intentional actions of the campus community for the mitigation of the spread of the coronavirus. The 118-year-old liberal arts college shuttered its doors in March of 2020 in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic. The fall 2020 semester opened with strict social distancing and safety guidelines that continued into the spring semester of 2021.
“We’ve made all the sacrifices and difficult decisions necessary to put us in this position. We delayed the start of the spring semester, eliminated spring break, required a negative Covid test before returning to campus, and followed CDC guidelines regarding social distancing and wearing masks. We even hired a full-time campus nurse to randomly test residential students throughout the semester.”
In early April, LWC hosted a vaccination clinic in the Doris and Bob Health & Wellness Center for students who wanted to be vaccinated.
“We had a tremendous response from our faculty, staff and students and partnered with the local health department and Adair Drug to offer the Covid-19 vaccination here on our campus,” said Luckey. “It was beautiful to see us all rowing in the same direction to take care of our Lindsey Wilson family.
Luckey finished with a hopeful message to the student body and is encouraged by what the new academic year will look like.
“With all that’s been accomplished as well as the continued progress expected throughout the summer, we definitely expect to be back in a face-to-face format with classes held throughout the week. Students love spending time with each other in the residence halls, and in the dining center just talking about the big issues of the day or absolutely nothing.
“We look forward to seeing live theatre performances, the marching band and students back rocking Biggers Sports Center, and couch nights at the soccer games. There are certainly brighter days ahead as we all long for the chance to connect again with our L-dub family.”