“Atchison and Benedictine: Stronger Together” Plan Announced

Updated Plan for COVID-19 Mitigation at Benedictine College

ATCHISON, KAN. – Benedictine College and the Atchison County Health Department have announced a joint agreement for enhanced COVID-19 mitigation efforts at Benedictine College. The plan, dubbed “Atchison and Benedictine: Stronger Together,” addresses on-campus learning, off-campus students, and athletics. It will be in effect from Sept. 5 until Sept. 18. The entire document is available online on the college website.

Provisions of the agreement include:

• Beginning Saturday, Sept. 5, students who reside on the Benedictine College campus are not to leave campus, except for:
  • scheduled or emergency medical or mental health appointments,
  • to fulfill academic requirements,
  • to work or to obtain essential goods (e.g., groceries, medications, and household products) for an outside pick-up order at a local business.

This avoids a quarantine order restricting students to their dorm rooms and allows for the continuation of in-person classes for these students.

• Off-campus students are not permitted on campus except for authorized athletic practices (see below), religious services, work study, labs, or other necessary academic purposes.
• Athletic teams that maintain no active cases may hold practice in smaller groups, determined on a team by team basis and authorized by the Athletic Director. Teams with members who are in isolation due to active COVID cases are prohibited from practicing until Sept. 12, 2020.

These steps are in addition to the Raven Safety Plan and the updated mitigation protocols already in place at the college.

On Sept. 4, Benedictine College reported 23 active COVID-19 cases on campus, 0.9% of the campus population. The active cases and new positive cases have been trending downward for the past week.

Founded in 1858, Benedictine College is a Catholic, Benedictine, residential, liberal arts college located on the bluffs above the Missouri River in Atchison, Kansas. The school is proud to have been named in the Top 10 in the Midwest of America’s Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report, the best private college in Kansas by The Wall Street Journal, and one of the top Catholic colleges in the nation by First Things magazine and the Newman Guide. It prides itself on outstanding academics, extraordinary faith life, strong athletic programs, and an exceptional sense of community and belonging. It has a mission to educate men and women within a community of faith and scholarship.

CONTACTS:
Steve Johnson
Director of Marketing & Communications
Benedictine College
913.360.7415
stevej@benedictine.edu

Lori Forge RN
Local Health Officer
NEK Multi-County Health Departments, Inc.
913.367.5152
lforge@nekmulticounty.org