Three students wearing masks sit outside to study together

Campus Activity Levels

Grinnell College has created a system of color-coded levels to communicate what our core activities look like on campus depending on community health conditions on campus, in town, and in our region. You can find more information about what each level means below, including links to other areas of Grinnell’s web site.

Along with expert advice from our public health team, we are reviewing a number of factors to determine campus and institutional activity levels. We are considering each of these factors independently and in relation to each other as conditions change, creating a holistic assessment of our community health environment. The factors we are considering are:

Campus community health conditions
Grinnell community and regional health conditions, including the latest test positivity rates in the City of Grinnell and region and the state of the area health care system
Latest guidance from public health experts, including the Iowa Department of Public Health and the CDC

Please reach out to specific departments and offices if you have questions about their operations at a particular campus activity level.

All information on this page and linked pages reflects the latest information about our community health conditions and is subject to change as new information becomes available. Updated August 2021.

Safety/PPE: Masks are required inside campus buildings except for in an individual's own dorm room, while eating in the dining hall, and while alone in closed spaces (for example, a private, non-shared office).

Classes: Courses will meet primarily in-person.

Meetings and Events: Meetings may occur indoors, masked, and in-person. We encourage meetings and events to be in person when they directly impact student experience. For large meetings of 40 or more individuals (not student-related), online or hybrid meetings are preferable. For meetings of fewer than 40, indoor, masked, in-person are reasonable with an option for online participation included.

Athletics: Varsity athletic competitions will continue. Masking is required for all indoor venues, including spectators and all participants except those actively competing. Team training and competitions will follow mitigation practices as laid out by the NCAA and Midwest Conference.

Visitors: Visitors are welcome in campus buildings (other than the dining hall) and are required to wear masks.

Travel: Please continue to be cautious when considering travel. We recommend viewing the CDC transmission estimates prior to travel. College-sponsored travel remains limited and only with approval by supervisors for staff and the Dean’s Office for faculty.

Student Dining: Students are welcome to eat together in the dining hall, seated in every other chair and in small groups, or in their rooms. Students may remove their masks when seated in the dining hall. Masks are required when selecting food items.

Employee Dining: We strongly encourage outdoor dining while the warm weather lasts. Individuals who do not have a private office or designated room to eat, such as an open office setting, may eat at their work areas and briefly remove masks to do so. Unmasked time should be as limited as possible. Dining together indoors is not permitted at this time.

See details for this and other levels below.

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Green

Level Green indicates that we are approaching pre-pandemic activity levels or that we have the tools and resources to appropriately mitigate spread of the virus.

Safety/PPE: Effective Aug. 9, 2021, all members of our campus community and visitors will be required to mask while indoors in shared spaces regardless of vaccination status. Individuals are welcome to wear a mask at any time for any reason, including outdoors.

Meetings and Events: Meetings and events may occur in person and restrictions on group events/meetings are no longer in place.

Buildings: Buildings are at normal capacity and accessible during normal operating hours. Academic and student-centered spaces are accessible by P-card after normal business hours.

Travel/Visitor: Travel is allowed – please continue to be cautious when considering travel. We recommend reviewing CDC transmission estimates prior to travel.

Visitors are welcome in campus buildings (other than the dining hall) and are required to mask while indoors.

Dining: Dining and catering may now serve indoors. Visitors, faculty, and staff will not be allowed in the dining hall at this time. Summer hours and services may be limited.

Blue

Level Blue indicates that community health precautions are still in place for most campus activities.

Safety/PPE: Masks are required inside campus buildings except for in an individual's own dorm room, while eating in the dining hall, and while alone in closed spaces (for example, an office).

Classes: Courses will meet primarily in-person.

Meetings and Events: Meetings may occur indoors, masked, and in-person. We encourage meetings and events to be in person when they directly impact student experience. For large meetings of 40 or more individuals (not student-related), online or hybrid meetings are preferable. For meetings of fewer than 40, indoor, masked, in-person are reasonable with an option for online participation included.

Athletics: Varsity athletic competitions will continue. Masking is required for all indoor venues, including spectators and all participants except those actively competing. Team training and competitions will follow mitigation practices as laid out by the NCAA and Midwest Conference.

Visitors: Visitors are welcome in campus buildings (other than the dining hall) and are required to wear masks.

Dining: Students are welcome to eat together in the dining hall, seated in every other chair and in small groups, or in their rooms. Students may remove their masks when seated in the dining hall. Masks are required when selecting food items.

Employee Dining: We strongly encourage outdoor dining while the warm weather lasts. Individuals who do not have a private office or designated room to eat, such as an open office setting, may eat at their work areas and briefly remove masks to do so. Unmasked time should be as limited as possible. Dining together indoors is not permitted at this time.

Yellow

Level Yellow indicates a heightened risk of infection for those in our community and/or decreased community resources to react to infection spread and illness, with corresponding effects on campus activities.

Safety/PPE: Masks worn indoors. Masks worn outdoors with others. Exception: in a private space with the door closed, shower, pool.

Classes: Hybrid, primarily online, some in-person with appropriate PPE/safety precautions.

Meetings and Events: Primarily online, limited events/meetings in-person with appropriate PPE/safety precautions.

Athletics: No competition, limited training with PPE/safety precautions; buildings at reduced capacity.

Travel/Visitors: Faculty and staff travel restrictions in place with limited opportunities by permission. Limited visitors by reservation only; please check with department or office you intend to visit.

Dining: Take-out food available during business hours from the Marketplace Dining Hall for students and employees on meal plans.

Red

Level Red indicates significant community health risks. At Level Red we recommend limiting, as much as possible, interaction with others outside of your immediate family or ‘bubble’. General community health conditions are negative.General community health conditions are negative.

Safety/PPE: Masks and shields required when indoors. Masks when with others. Exception: in a private space with the door closed, shower, pool.

Classes: Online only.

Meetings and Events: Online only.

Athletics: No competition, no group activities. Buildings closed.

Travel/Visitors: No visitors, staff and faculty travel restrictions in place.

Dining: Prepackaged food available for students and employees on meals plans to pick up at designated times from the Joe Rosenfield Center.

Campus Activity Levels

Campus Activity Level Descriptions