Current COVID Counts on the LCU Campus
Total active cases - 18
Total cumulative cases - 206
Total cases recovered - 188
As of 9:30 a.m. – Monday, November 23
University leadership continues to implement plans to keep the LCU community as safe as possible as we re-open for face-to-face instruction for the fall semester. There are three mutually inclusive philosophical underpinnings to our plans:
- We will use evidence-based research to make decisions.
- We will lean on the guidance of local, state, and federal resources.
- We will always be led by our own Christ-centered mission as we establish appropriate standards.
While we will not be able to eliminate every risk factor, we are working hard to make the campus as safe as possible. Following health protocols is everyone’s responsibility and creates a caring environment where we are all doing our part to help keep our community healthy. Every facet of campus life is being examined to provide for you safety and wellness. A general overview of those plans can be found below. Continue to monitor this site for regularly updated protocols and educational resources.
Updated Academic Scheduling for 2020-2021
Due to the diligence of LCU students, faculty, and staff and God’s blessing and provision, the university community has experienced a manageable number of COVID cases, none of which have been traced back to the classroom. After much fact gathering and considering the interaction between mental and physical health/well-being of our students, staff, and faculty, the Senior Leadership Team for the university, in conjunction with the LCU COVID Response Team, has released the following information regarding university schedules.
Details for Options to Complete the Fall 2020 Semester
Due to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in Lubbock County, students are given the option to complete the fall 2020 semester either face-to-face or online following Thanksgiving. Students who opt to complete the fall semester online will be required to follow the more detailed information below.
Students concerned about their health, or the health of someone with whom they live, are not required to return to the LCU campus after the Thanksgiving break but will be required to satisfactorily fulfill all course requirements online. Those who do wish to continue face-to-face will complete the last week of class and finals on campus as scheduled.
If you wish to complete the last two weeks of the fall 2020 semester online, please complete this form by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 20.
Please note the following as you make your decision:
- This same opportunity is also being extended to our faculty members who believe their health, or the health of someone who shares their home, is unduly compromised by the increasing threat of COVID-19 in our community. These professors will complete the last week of instruction and the delivery of final exams online.
- To date, we are grateful that no instances of COVID-19 transmission have been traced back to LCU classrooms. Though no place on earth is perfectly safe during a pandemic of this magnitude, the LCU classroom remains one of the safest places you will find.
- Your election to finish your fall 2020 coursework online means that you will return to your permanent residence at the Thanksgiving break and not return to the LCU campus until we reopen in January for the Spring semester. Students living on campus are required to coordinate semester checkout with Residence Life prior to leaving for Thanksgiving.
While Lubbock Christian University is committed to finishing this academic semester, and entire academic year, in our face-to-face environment, we believe offering this accommodation is prudent given our current circumstances. We are thankful for the efforts of each of you to ensure we can continue to do so safely.
May God bless you with a strong and healthy finish to your fall 2020 semester.
December 2020 Commencement Postponed
In light of the significant increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in Lubbock County, the university has made the very difficult decision to postpone December Commencement to the spring. We do not take this action lightly, because we know that each of you has worked diligently for a number of years to get to this point.
We had considered hosting a purely virtual ceremony, but recognize that this significant milestone is celebrated not only by our students, but also by their families who have often sacrificed for their success.
The new date for the postponed ceremony will be announced as soon as it is determined.
Plans for Spring 2021
The Spring 2021 academic semester will begin with classes on January 11, followed by observation of MLK day on January 18, a week-long spring break beginning at the close of business, Friday, March 12, returning to campus Monday, March 22, and observing Good Friday on Friday, April 2 as expressed in our 20-21 academic calendar. Again, this is based on God’s blessings to this point and following the Governor’s and local health department’s instructions for universities.
Lubbock Christian University policy states “Public health situations may arise for which federal, state, or local health authorities determine institutional action may be warranted. In such cases, the university will implement applicable guidance provided by health authorities, when feasible and consistent with the mission and values of LCU.” The guidance and protocols below are currently in effect in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and are subject to change as circumstances warrant.
Community Declaration
Lubbock Christian University is a Christ-centered, academic community of learners, transforming the hearts, minds, and hands of students for lives of purpose and service. Part of the transformation of our hearts includes how we live with, and among, our fellow members of the Lubbock Christian University community. By participating in campus life, each LCU student and employee accepts the risks inherent therein during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will put the interests of our fellow LCU community members, those with whom we live, learn, and work, before our own. We accept personal responsibility to wear a face covering, practice proper hygiene (e.g., hand washing), and social distancing per established guidelines. As a community who follows the path of Jesus, we agree to put the well-being of others ahead of our own.
Summary of Current Campus Protocols
To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, all students, employees, and visitors to the Lubbock Christian University campus are expected to:
- Wear face coverings while in campus buildings and while in close proximity to others outdoors.
- Maintain an appropriate social distance of at least 6 feet from others whenever possible.
- Wash hands and use hand sanitizer frequently.
- Avoid any part of campus except one’s campus residence if exhibiting new or worsening symptoms associated with COVID-19.
Learn what to do if you or someone you have been in contact with has been exposed to COVID-19.
Videos of What to Expect - Fall 2020
Campus Cleanliness
LCU facilities and custodial crews have implemented the following cleanliness standards:
- Increased cleaning of high touch areas including door handles and bathrooms according to CDC guidelines.
- Advanced cleaning technology including electrostatic disinfectant sprayers have been deployed by the university in high-use areas.
- Hand sanitizer stations have been installed in campus buildings.
- Classrooms will be cleaned by custodial staff each day before the start of classes.
- Sanitizing solution and disposable towels will be made available in classrooms for faculty and student use between classes, with training signage and videos made available to faculty and students.
- Resident hall restrooms and common areas will be cleaned daily.
- Greater wireless connectivity has been added to high traffic areas, including labs and library areas, so students can utilize their own devices as much as possible.
Campus Protocols for Personal Hygiene
- According to public health guidelines, students, faculty, and staff should wash their hands often and supplement that with using hand sanitizer.
- All students, faculty, staff, and guests are to maintain a healthy distance between each other.
- Drinking fountains have been turned off to eliminate the potential spread of the virus through shared use of them.
- The university will provide an LCU branded mask to students when they arrive on campus to supplement the supply of face coverings each student brings with them to campus.
- Wearing a face covering(not merely a face shield) which covers the mouth and nostrils entirely is required of faculty, staff, students, and campus guests while in campus buildings and while in proximity to others in outdoor spaces. The only exceptions are as follows:
- Within your own room or apartment or campus office.
- While actively engaged in an exempted NCAA athletic activity.
- COVID-19 health and safety educational and training resources are found in the Education and Resources section below.
Social Distancing - Healthy Distancing
- Students, faculty, and staff should observe social distancing of at least 6 feet whenever possible.
- Classrooms and experiential learning environments (e.g. labs) have been matched to class size to allow for social distancing.
- Indoor community spaces, in general, will have reduced occupancy limits to provide for adequate distancing.
Chapel and Spiritual Life Programming
Spiritual life credits can be obtained through a variety of options as follows.
- To accommodate social distancing, students will select, or be assigned, either Monday or Tuesday as their designated day to attend chapel.
- Students may sign up for a Friday small group discussion facilitated by LCU faculty and staff.
- Online spiritual life programing will be available each week.
- Detailed spiritual life policy information is outlined in the Student Handbook.
Quarantine, Isolation, and Close Contact
- Quarantine is the term used for secluding yourself from others after having been in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19.
- The City of Lubbock Health Department, with the assistance of the LCU Medical Clinic or other trained contact tracers, will determine who has been in close contact with a person who tests positive for COVID-19 and thus needs to be quarantined. In general, you will be deemed to have been in close contact with a person who tests positive for COVID-19 if you have been with them in either one of the following ways during the time beginning 48 hours before their symptoms onset until they are released from isolation:
- You live in the same house, apartment, or residence hall room.
- You have been within six (6) feet of that person, with either of you unmasked, for at least 15 minutes.
- Isolation is the term used for secluding yourself away from others while sick with COVID-19.
- Information about Quarantine and Isolation protocols can be found here.
Employees Who are Symptomatic
- All employees are expected to monitor themselves daily for symptoms of COVID-19. Touchless thermometers are deployed throughout campus to assist you in monitoring yourself for fever (a body temperature equal to or greater than 100.4℉).
- Employees exhibiting potential COVID-19 symptoms are to avoid campus, seek medical attention, and contact their supervisor.
- Any employee who tests positive for COVID-19 should:
- Notify their supervisor and Human Resources.
- Avoid campus and follow isolation instructions (as directed by their health provider and the City of Lubbock Health Department).
- Obtain clearance before returning to work, in coordination with the LCU Medical Clinic.
- During isolation or quarantine, employees are to coordinate with supervisors to work from home as their health and work duties permit. If the employee is unable to work due to their health or work from home is not an option, please notify Human Resources.
Students Who are Symptomatic
- All students are expected to monitor themselves daily for symptoms of COVID-19. Touchless thermometers are deployed throughout campus to assist you in monitoring yourself for fever (a body temperature equal to or greater than 100.4℉).
- Students exhibiting potential COVID-19 symptoms are to contact the LCU Medical Clinic or their local health care provider.
- LCU Medical Clinic or the student’s local health care provider will determine whether a COVID-19 test should be administered.
- Any student who is awaiting test results or who tests positive should self-quarantine and notify the LCU Medical Clinic, who will also notify Res Life if the student lives in campus housing.
- Those living in campus housing should follow instructions provided below in the section Students Living in Residence Halls or Campus Apartments.
- The LCU Medical Clinic will notify Disability Services and the Provost of any positive COVID-19 test results so that academic delivery can be arranged during the isolation period.
- Students may return to classes when cleared by the LCU Medical Clinic in coordination with the City of Lubbock Health Department.
Students Living in Residence Halls or Campus Apartments
- Furniture has been arranged to create safe distancing within shared rooms and is to remain in its current configuration.
- If a student is being tested and has a campus roommate or lives in a residence hall with community bathrooms, Res Life personnel will coordinate moving the tested student temporarily into an appropriate quarantine space to await test results.
- Students who test positive and are in campus housing will be relocated as necessary into appropriate isolation accommodations.
- Apartment residents with a private bedroom who need to quarantine will do so in their own apartment.
- Any student who wishes to quarantine at their permanent residence may do so.
- Students may return to LCU housing when cleared by the LCU Medical Clinic in coordination with local health officials.
Guests and students needing access to campus offices:
- All visitors to the campus offices are required to wear a face covering when entering any campus facility.
- Guests and students with COVID-19 symptoms should not enter campus offices.
Athletics
- Student-athletes and athletics staff members will have their temperature taken daily upon initial entry into an athletic facility.
- Student-athletes and athletics staff members are expected to monitor themselves daily for symptoms of COVID-19.
- A student-athlete who exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 will be referred to the LCU Medical Clinic.
- Any student-athlete who tests positive for COVD-19 will be quarantined in accordance with university protocols.
Student Events, Activities and Gatherings
- Social distancing and face coverings are required indoors and at outdoor public gatherings, including meetings, events, and other activities, except when students are actively engaged in athletic activity.
- The Office of Student Life must approve food and its distribution process at events.
University Sponsored Student Travel
- University student group travel will be limited and considered on a case-by-case basis.
- When a student group does travel, face coverings and temperature checks are required.
- Should a student within the traveling group exhibit COVID-19 symptoms, including a fever of at least 100.4℉, the trip sponsor will contact the LCU Medical Clinic for guidance.
Education and Resources
Learn what to do if you or someone you have been in contact with has been exposed to COVID-19.
FAQ's for Faculty
Learn how to slow the spread of COVID-19:
Learn what to do if you think you have had COVID-19. When is it safe to be with others?
Learn about COVID-19 testing
How to manage stress and anxiety related to COVID-19:
What are we learning about COVID-19?