NDUS and BSC provide guidance to students regarding holiday break: Flexibility, safety emphasized | Bismarck State College

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NDUS and BSC provide guidance to students regarding holiday break: Flexibility, safety emphasized

Published: Nov 20 2020
As the Thanksgiving holiday break approaches, the North Dakota University System is working in cooperation with the North Dakota Department of Health to increase student testing of COVID-19. The NDUS is asking students to minimize their activities prior to leaving campus if they plan to visit loved ones outside of their normal social circle. If students choose to leave campus, they are encouraged to get tested prior to leaving campus and again when they return. While the additional testing may increase the number of reported positive COVID cases, the goal of these efforts is to identify positive cases, thus minimizing the risk of spread to families and communities.
 
“Our ultimate goal is to keep our families and communities as safe as possible. Finding the positive COVID cases is a way to keep our campuses open and our communities as safe as possible,” said NDUS Chancellor Mark Hagerott.
 
Thanksgiving break at Bismarck State College is Wednesday, Nov. 25 through Sunday, Nov. 29. No classes will be held during this time. BSC offices will be open on Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

BSC is encouraging students to limit their travel and avoid large gatherings over their holiday break. Students who wish to remain on campus, are quarantined on campus or need to return to campus early should make arrangements with their residence hall coordinator. Dining services will be available with adjusted hours during the break.

“We understand students are looking forward to a well-deserved break and spending time with their families. We ask that they continue to be diligent about safety protocols during this time to protect themselves and the campus community when they return. We want to finish out the semester healthy and on campus,” says BSC President Doug Jensen.

BSC will hold testing events before and after Thanksgiving on Monday, Nov. 23 and Monday, Nov. 30, and students are encouraged to participate. Both events will be held in the BSC Armory from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Those wishing to be tested can sign up for a time slot and pre-register at bismarckstate.edu/events.

After Thanksgiving, BSC will continue in-person, online and hybrid class formats. Students should continue to leverage the weekly testing available on campus and continue to be diligent about practicing multilevel mitigation procedures which include masks, social distancing, hand hygiene and other practices.