COVID-19 Latest Information

On-Campus Health and Safety Protocols

Last Updated: Nov. 13, 2020

Our Reopening Task Force, Medical Advisory Committee and Health Center staff have worked diligently to establish on-campus health and safety protocols for COVID-19.
On-Campus Health and Safety Protocols
 
Personal Hygiene and Safety Practices
  • All members of our community (day students, boarding students and employees) will be expected to complete daily health self-screenings before arriving on campus. They will be required to stay home if they exhibit symptoms or meet other criteria. 
  • All individuals will be required to wear face coverings (no valved masks or neck gaiters made of fleece or polyester) in buildings and anytime they are within six feet of someone else outdoors. For activities in which masks cannot be used (e.g., dining, band rehearsal), other safety measures will be in place and will be communicated in greater detail at a later time.
  • All individuals will be expected to wash or sanitize their hands regularly throughout the day. 
  • Individuals should maintain six feet of distancing from others, except when passing another individual is incidental or momentary.
 
Campus Enhancements
  • We have built and installed plexiglass barriers in strategic places (e.g., library, dining hall, offices in high-traffic areas) to promote health and safety.
  • Outdoor gathering spaces are being enhanced for safe, physically distanced gatherings. This includes new picnic tables near the Crossroads, as well as six new large shade canopies with seating positioned on The Hill and on the west side of the Dining Hall.
  • Hand-sanitizing stations have been installed at the entrances of buildings and in classrooms. 
  • Signs have been installed around campus to remind all community members of behavioral expectations on campus. In addition, signs are posted at the front-entry guard gate reminding people of COVID-19 symptoms. 
  • We are installing REME-HALO LED air purification systems in high-traffic buildings around campus, including Gunn Hall, the Dining Hall, and the Library, as well as repurposed isolation spaces in the Advancement building and Gregg C.
  • We have purchased four electrostatic sprayers to be used for cleaning high-traffic indoor spaces.
  • The library, Crossroads and other indoor gathering spaces have been reconfigured to allow for safe physical distancing by occupants.
  • We have established 21 separate private living quarters on campus to be used as isolation spaces for students determined to be COVID-19 positive.
 
Limiting Access to Campus
  • Parents’ access to campus will be limited for drop-off and pick-up purposes. Parent meetings will occur virtually until further notice.
  • Campus was closed to prospective students and families from Sept. 6 to Nov. 1. We have resumed campus tours/visits for prospective families on a very limited basis. These tours take place only when classes are not in session: on Wednesdays after 4 p.m. on days when classes let out at Noon, on Saturday mornings and on school holidays. The tours involve small groups (less than 10 people), all participants are masked, and the tours do not go inside buildings. In addition, we have created a new video tour of campus so prospective families can easily experience our campus remotely. 
  • Non-St. Stephen’s personnel employed by families as private tutors will not be allowed on campus. Students who engage with private tutors during the school day will need to do so virtually.
  • Outside organizations will not be able to rent St. Stephen’s facilities.
  • College admission officers' visits to St. Stephen's will happen virtually.

Other Changes
  • We have built a daily schedule with significantly reduced class sizes. Occupancy of classrooms will be governed by the 45-square-foot per-person standard.
  • Dining Hall practices have been altered to promote physical distancing and safe delivery of meals, with a limit of three people at each indoor table. Students will be able to eat outdoors as well, when appropriate.
  • Faculty and staff will be encouraged to open windows -- when appropriate -- to improve air circulation in classrooms and work spaces.
  • Bathroom occupancy will be restricted to two people at a time.
  • Passing periods will be extended to give students more outdoor time as well as breaks from viewing computer screens. These periods also will give us more time for cleaning classrooms and making technology adjustments between classes.
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Address: 6500 St. Stephen's Dr., Austin, TX 78746
Phone: (512) 327-1213