Posted: April 12, 2021
Spring Break Travel
In general, the College discourages students, faculty, and staff from traveling during spring break (April 24 – May 2). Staying on campus or close to Ashland will help to limit transmission of the COVID-19 virus, increasing the chances that our community can stay safe and successfully complete the academic year.
If you must travel, students should complete a COVID-19 travel request if heading beyond a 40-mile radius of Ashland. Each request is evaluated by a team for risk assessment and appropriate follow-up is communicated to each student. It is crucial that students submit travel requests in advance, so that required protocols can be determined and communicated. Submitting a travel request does not mean travel has been approved. Self-quarantine, quarantine, or isolation periods may interfere with May Term courses scheduled to start May 3. Not all courses may be able to accommodate physical absences from classes.
Faculty and staff – please contact Human Resources if you anticipate traveling outside of the Ashland 40-mile radius.
Posted: March 16, 2021
Northland Sponsored Travel Update
The College has implemented new transportation protocols effective March 15. Double masking or KN95 masks will now be required in all Northland-owned or rented vehicles. The College will provide KN95 masks or a disposable mask for a second mask, if needed. As has been the policy, all vehicles must not exceed fifty percent capacity. For guidance on double masking (e.g. double disposable masks are not effective), please refer to CDC guidelines.
Vaccine Protocol
If you have been vaccinated, please provide a copy of your vaccination card to Human Resources (faculty and staff) or Health Services (students). Having accurate information about how many people in our campus community have been vaccinated will help the College make future decisions about adjustments to campus protocols and policies.
At this time, individuals who have been vaccinated are still expected to follow all of the College’s current COVID-19 protocols and policies.
If you have not been vaccinated and need information, we recommend that you contact your health care provider, county health authorities, or local pharmacies.
Because the circumstances of individuals in our community vary significantly and because county, state, and federal disseminations of vaccines are not currently in full alignment, the College is choosing not to provide specific recommendations at this time. However, if you have information about vaccinations that you believe would be helpful to others, or if you are having trouble getting vaccinated, please contact us through covid@northland.edu. We will continue to coordinate information sharing for the community as a whole or provide individual assistance.
Posted: March 4, 2021
Vaccine Update
To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine, including eligibility and where to get the vaccine, visit the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website. Announced today, Wisconsinites can now call (844) 684-1064 (toll-free) for personal assistance with vaccine-related questions. You can also use the COVID-19 vaccine registry to access vaccine information.
College Vaccine
The College is working towards securing a supply of the COVID-19 vaccine and will keep you informed as this develops. In the meantime, below are some alternatives and basic information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.
Pharmacies
You can register at area pharmacies. Check their respective websites, Facebook pages, or call for information.
Counties
You can register for the COVID-19 vaccine with Ashland County and Bayfield County and find information about vaccine phases and eligibility through the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Health Care Provider
You can contact your local health care provider for vaccine information and availability.
Eligibility
According to Wisconsin Department of Health Services, “faculty and staff in higher education settings who have direct student contact” are eligible. Educators are anticipated to be vaccinated in March and April.
Insurance
The federal government is providing the vaccine free of charge to people living in the United States. However, your vaccination provider may bill your insurance company, Medicaid, or Medicare for an administration fee. You are encouraged to check with your insurance plan provider.
Questions or concerns?
Please reach out to the COVID-19 Planning Team at covid@northland.edu. We closely watch the COVID email and do all we can to respond immediately. We are in continual communication with health officials in the region and monitor health data and updates daily.
Posted: February 22, 2021
Vaccine Update
The COVID-19 Planning Team has been monitoring the rollout for vaccinations. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has announced that faculty and staff who have direct contact with students in higher education settings will be part of the next phase of eligibility that opens on March 1. The question that remains is supply and availability in this region. We will continue to monitor and announce developments as they emerge. In the meantime, Wisconsin Department of Health Services is posting up-to-date information on vaccine phases and eligibility.
Posted: February 1, 2021
Vaccine Update
The question on many people’s minds right now is when and how they can get vaccinated. As a leadership team, we’re actively monitoring and discussing vaccine distribution, schedules, and policies. Recent updates regarding coordination of vaccine delivery have been released by Ashland County and Bayfield County. You can also find information on COVID-19 vaccination by visiting the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website. We will continue to provide updates specific to our campus community as information becomes available.
For now, our advice is to be patient, monitor county-level COVID-19 communications for your county of residence, and continue with COVID-19 prevention practices, especially mask wearing, hand washing, and physical distancing.
Posted: December 22, 2020
Witer/Spring Athletic Competition Update
Dear Campus Community,
The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Council of Presidents and Chancellors supported a recommendation from the UMAC Council of Athletics Directors to continue pursuing conference competition in baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, and softball beginning UMAC competition no earlier than January 30, 2021.
In addition to these winter and spring sport decisions, the UMAC Council of Presidents and Chancellors affirmed a commitment conducting competition in the spring for the fall sports of men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball, according to schedules previously approved and released. Cross country competition conducted at the institutional level in spring 2021 remains at the discretion of each institution, with no UMAC conference championship this spring.
Additional information related to the conference’s decisions can be found in the UMAC press release.
Northland College is dedicated to adhering to the UMAC and NCAA recommendations and guidelines. We will also continue to monitor updates from local and national health organizations to maintain a safe and healthy campus environment.
Best,
Karl I. Solibakke
President
Posted: December 21, 2020
Community Pledge
Members of the Northland Community,
In January, we plan to resume—in a modified fashion—the academic, athletic, and social activities that define and sustain our college.
However, in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, we know from our own experience, and from the experiences of communities around the world, that we will only be able to resume and continue these activities if each and every member of our community acts responsibly.
Therefore, as a condition of returning to campus in January, the College is requiring all members of our community to affirm their commitment to a healthy campus by signing a pledge. Please click on the link to read the pledge and respond by completing the acknowledgement form by Wednesday, January 6, 2021.
Thank you for supporting our community. If you have any questions please email covid@northland.edu.
Best,
Karl Ivan Solibakke
President
