September 10, 2021
I’m so grateful that we’re back to campus for the fall 2021 semester! Western Theological Seminary is a community of faith and learning, so we demonstrate our Christian care for one another in all times – and especially as we continue to live through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The seminary’s Health & Safety Plan (linked at the left) summarizes its actions to maintain a healthy and safe environment as we work and learn together. In particular, please note:
Until further notice, all persons inside the seminary facility must wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status
- when gathering indoors for class, chapel, community time, and in shared spaces (Cook Library, hallways and bathrooms)
- in meetings of 2 or more people in a confined indoor space where 6ft distance cannot be maintained between participants.
All classrooms will be configured to provide distancing between students.
When food or beverages are served indoors, 6ft distance from others must be maintained while masks are removed to eat or drink.
The seminary will monitor conditions of the pandemic and respond to guidance from the Ottawa County Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control.
If you are not fully vaccinated, you are encouraged to consider beginning the vaccination process as soon as possible.
Please contact me or a member of the COVID Task Force if you have questions.
Grace and Peace,
Rayetta Perez
Chair, COVID Task Force
David Becker
Jill English
David Komline
Jackson Nickolay
Beth Smith
Cherri Westhouse
Frequently Asked Questions
COVID-19 Workplace Coordinator
Rayetta Perez
Director of Administration and Human Resources
616 392.8555 x103
COVID-19 Safety Coordinator
David Becker
Superintendent of Buildings & Grounds
616 392.8555 x138
Do I have to wear a mask while I’m at the seminary for work or study?
Until further notice, all persons inside the seminary facility must wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status
- when gathering indoors for class, chapel, community time, and in shared spaces (Cook Library, hallways and bathrooms)
- in meetings of 2 or more people in a confined indoor space where 6ft distance cannot be maintained between participants.
All classrooms will be configured to provide distancing between students.
When food or beverages are served indoors, 6ft distance from others must be maintained while masks are removed to eat or drink.
When am I considered fully vaccinated?
You are fully vaccinated 2 weeks after your second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.
Do I have to prove my COVID vaccination status?
Not at this time.
To preserve the seminary’s safe working and learning conditions, please
- Stay home if you are sick.
- Follow CDC isolation and quarantine guidelines if you are not fully vaccinated and test positive, become symptomatic, or are exposed to COVID-19.
- Be prepared to wear a mask and maintain distance in meetings and classrooms with immuno-compromised individuals.
Do I still need to use the Sign In App?
No, you are no longer required to use the Sign In App upon entry to the building.
Are virtual meetings still required?
Meetings may be held in person or virtually at the discretion of the manager or department.
Is distancing required for in-person meetings?
Yes, distancing is recommended but not required for in-person meetings. In a confined space where distance cannot be maintained, you must wear a mask.
Are visitors allowed in the building?
Yes, visitors are allowed in the building and Cook Library is open to the public.
Is there a size limit for indoor gatherings at the seminary?
The size of indoor gatherings on campus depends on the amount of distancing possible.
Is WTS restricting personal or business travel?
No, the seminary is not restricting travel. Please follow guidance from the CDC before and after domestic and international travel.
Does the seminary have a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan?
Yes. The COVID-19 Preparedness Plan is available here.
The CARES Act for Students
THE CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF AND ECONOMIC SECURITY (CARES) ACT
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress and signed into law to provide economic relief from COVID-19. One section of the CARES Act established the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, which provided colleges and universities funds for student emergency grants.
The Seminary received $36,595 in Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds in three distributions of which $24,397 went directly to students in the form of financial grants for expenses students incurred related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus. Expenses include things like technology, health care, course materials, rent, food, child care, or moving fees.
ALLOCATING FUNDS
How is Western Theological Seminary allocating the CARES Act funds?
The Department of Education encouraged institutions to distribute the CARES Act funds as widely as possible while prioritizing students with the greatest need. WTS allocated $12,198 and an additional $12,199 as standard relief grants to all residential students who qualified for Federal financial aid as verified by the ISIR report which was generated by the successful completion of a FAFSA application. As residential students face the greatest disruption of their educational pursuits because of COVID, they were the only WTS students eligible for these funds.
GRANT ELIGIBILITY
Who is eligible for the WTS CARES Grant?
The U.S. Department of Education determined that only students who met basic federal student aid eligibility criteria could be considered for CARES Act funds. To ensure this, only students who filed a 2020-2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and maintained a half time status for the fall 2020 semester were eligible. We estimate that approximately 30 WTS students were eligible to receive CARES Act funds.
DISTRIBUTING FUNDS
When and how will I receive the WTS CARES Grant?
If WTS had your 2020-2021 ISIR report on file and you were enrolled for 6 or more credit hours for the fall 2020 semester, you automatically received a grant in the month of December 2020 in the amount of $400 and an additional grant of $450 in February.
