Q: Can prospective students visit campus in-person?
A: Yes! We’re offering in-person tours of campus. We have all kinds of information about visiting campus available on our admissions website.

Q: What are planning to do to lessen the spread of the virus on campus?
A: We  are requiring vaccination for every member of our community, with exceptions for medical and religious exemptions. Unvaccinated individuals will be required to wear masks, stay physically distant when possible, and be regularly tested for COVID-19.

Q: Are students and faculty required to wear masks?
A: Unvaccinated students and faculty are required to wear facial coverings .  

Q: In the daily health questionnaire, when it asks if a person has been around anyone with COVID-19 symptoms/positive test in the past 14 days, can you clarify what that means?
A: To help us with contact tracing, we want to know if you have been around anyone who, in the last 14 days, has experienced symptoms of COVID-19 or has received a positive test result.

Q: How many total individuals are in quarantine?
A: We will update the numbers daily on our COVID-19 Status page. 

Q: Why do the numbers of cases in quarantine go down as well as up?
A: As individuals test positive, the number of cases obviously goes up. However, the number may also go down as individuals recover and complete their isolation period.

Q: Are visitors allowed on campus right now?
A: Visitors may come to campus to take advantage of our outdoor recreational activities. They will be required to sign in and must have masks with them. Visitors are not allowed in the residence halls and are only allowed in common areas of campus.

Q: Are local residents allowed to walk or bicycle on campus this fall?
A: Yes. Local residents and other visitors may make use of our outdoor recreational activities. They will be required to sign in and must have masks with them. Visitors are not allowed in the residence halls and are only allowed in common areas of campus.

Q: What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
A: Per the CDC: Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Q: How can I prevent myself from becoming sick?
A: It is always prudent to follow normal precautions to prevent becoming ill.

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

Q: Is Sweet Briar offering in-person instruction right now?
A. Sweet Briar has completed its academic year, but we did offer in-person instruction during the 2020-2021 academic year.

Q: Will Sweet Briar students, faculty and staff get the vaccine when it becomes available?
A: At this time, Sweet Briar will not be a vaccination site, but we certainly hope that members of our community will be vaccinated as soon as it is made available to them. If you are a Virginia resident, you can determine what vaccination phase you are in by visiting the VDH website. You can also register for a vaccination on the VDH website and get other information about how to be vaccinated. If you’re a resident in another state, you should check your particular state’s health department website for information about vaccinations in your local area. You should also contact your primary care physician to see if they know of vaccination efforts in their practice.

Q: Are visitors allowed on campus right now?
A: Visitors may come to campus to take advantage of our outdoor recreational activities. They will be required to sign in and must have masks with them. Visitors are not be allowed in the residence halls and are only allowed in common areas of campus.

Q: Are there be on-campus health services?
A: Yes. The on-site health clinic opened in October.

Q: How are we helping students manage their stress?
A: Students can reach out to Horizon Behavioral Health or Dean Garrett and they’ll do everything they can to help.

Q: Who were the COVID Captains?
A: All class presidents, SGA President, ICC President, CEO president and a few other student leaders. Contact the Office of Student Life (studentlife@sbc.edu) for a full list.

Yes. Students must provide proof of vaccination for COVID-19 prior to Aug. 1, 2021. They can verify their status by sending a scan or photo of their vaccine card to covid@sbc.edu. Jodi Canfield, Dean Garrett and Dean Greenstein will have access to the information.

Yes. Employees must provide proof of vaccination for COVID-19 prior to Aug. 1, 2021. We are still determining the process for employees and will update this site when we have that information.

Yes. We will accommodate medical and religious exemptions for both students and employees.

Employees who need to request an exemption should contact Nickcole Maynard-Errami (nmaynarderrami@sbc.edu or 434-381-6478).

Students who need to request an exemption should contact Dean Greenstein (kgreenstein@sbc.edu).

Yes. Unvaccinated people must, at a minimum:

• Wear facial coverings indoors.
• Remain 6’ socially distanced (3’ in classrooms).
• Be regularly tested for COVID-19.

No. You can receive a COVID-19 vaccine for free.

We highly encourage all employees to get vaccinated. As such, you may use up to two hours to get a vaccination shot. Those hours will not impact sick or vacation time accruals.

If you are a resident of Virginia, visit the VDH website to find where you can get a vaccination in your area. The CDC website can also help you find a vaccination center according to your zip code, regardless of where you may live.

Absolutely not. There are many reasons someone might continue to wear a mask despite the availability of vaccines. People who may have symptoms of a cold, for example, might choose to wear a mask to protect others. Some people may simply feel more comfortable wearing a mask.

Probably. You should talk to your faculty member and use your best judgement. If there’s no reason to think you have been exposed to COVID-19, you might choose to go to class wearing a mask to protect your classmates from catching your cold.

Yes. Unvaccinated individuals who have been exposed to the virus will need to quarantine. Students who believe they have been exposed should go to the health clinic for a COVID-19 test and reach out to Jodi Canfield who can facilitate the quarantine process.