Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates
Please continually check this page for updated information.
October 30, 2020
July 20, 2020 – Update: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Reporting
Emergency Financial Relief Grants to Students
In accordance with Section 18004 of the CARES Act, Bennett College has performed the following:
- On April 23, 2020, Bennett College signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement under which the College is allocated a total of $768,798 in CARES Act funding. Under this Agreement, Bennett College provided the assurance that the institution intends to use no less than 50 % of the funds received under Section 18004 (a) (1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Relief Grants to students.
- Pursuant to above mentioned Agreement, Bennett College has received its allocation of $384,399 under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act from the Department of Education on May 4, 2020.
- On May 15, 2020, Bennett College distributed $391,000 in Emergency Financial Relief Grants to 264 eligible students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. The College has distributed $6,601 in excess of the stipulated 50% requirement restricted for use for Emergency Financial Relief Grants to students.
- Of the 266 students enrolled at Bennett College at the time of the campus closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 264 students were eligible to receive, and did receive, Emergency Financial Relief Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
- In addition to the 264 eligible students, Bennett College has distributed an additional $3,000 for the two remaining students based on the methodology described below. This $3,000 in additional Emergency Financial Relief Grants was disbursed from the Institutional portion of the CARES Act funds.
- Bennett College recognizes that all of its 266 Spring 2020 semester students were impacted by the campus closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In determining the amount of the Emergency Financial Relief Grant to be allocated and paid to each student, the institution used the proration of the room and board charges for the Spring 2020 semester based on the number of days from the date of the campus closure to the end of the semester which was approximately $1,500 per student. This was a suitable proxy for the financial loss sustained by each full time student at Bennett College as a result of the campus closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board of Trustees approved the distribution of $1,500 per full-time student and $100 per credit hour for part-time students.
- Concerning these Emergency Financial Relief Grants, the students were provided information about the nature of these Emergency Financial Relief Grants and how to access each student’s emergency financial aid grant through the College’s third party processor, BankMobile.
July 5, 2020 – Fall for Bennett College 2020 Plan
Bennett College is launching alternative systems to deliver classes and programs for the Fall semester. After careful research, analysis and consideration, we have made a decision to operate remotely for the Fall semester. This was a data-driven decision, but one that was guided by principles that place the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff above everything else.
We did not come to this decision lightly. The Senior Leadership Team and Board of Directors reviewed the growing body of research showing that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionately negative impact on Black women. As a Black women’s college, we could not afford to put our students at risk. We were equally concerned about faculty and staff–many who are in demographic groups that are more likely to be at risk of negative outcomes from COVID-19.
We looked at dozens of scenarios and determined that there was no way for us to bring students back to campus and keep them safe from the pandemic. When we weighed the benefits versus the costs, there was nothing that outweighed the value of the lives of members of our Bennett family.
While we were considering the ramifications of the pandemic, we never took our eyes off the long-term goals for the college and our students. We have planned a semester that promised to deliver high-quality academics, wrap-around support services, and a full array of community engagement experiences. We will miss seeing each other in person, but students won’t miss out on a high-value education.
We are choosing to look at this decision—born of necessity—as an opportunity for growth.
June 18, 2020 – Update: COVID-19 and Fall 2020
Dear Bennett College Family,
We hope that you are staying safe and healthy. We have seen some very powerful social media posts from our students and alumnae who have been in the streets, halls of power, board rooms and even on their couches championing the cause of social justice and equality. Continue the good fight.
Public health is at the forefront of our minds as Bennett College students, faculty and staff engage in social activism on various fronts, and as the coronavirus continues to surge in many parts of the US. The decision for the fall semester is a challenging one and must be grounded in public health and the Bennett College context. College leadership is weighing a variety of issues and challenges for evaluating a decision regarding the fall– keeping in mind that the course of the pandemic cannot be perfectly predicted.
While our smallness is our strength and we have the ability to practice social distancing in classes with 5:1 student faculty ratio, the residence halls with their shared bathrooms and the dining hall require more careful assessments. We are also evaluating the following issues:
- Ongoing prevalence of the disease in NC and Guilford County
- Availability of sufficient COVID-19 tests
- Availability of sufficient PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) such as facemasks
- Ability to isolate, quarantine and contact trace
- Cleaning and sanitation equipment, products and processes
- Hospital/ healthcare surge capacity when colleges and universities return to the region
- Academic calendar modifications
- Distance and/or in-person learning options
- Related issues
College Leadership continues to closely monitor COVID-19 in NC and is in weekly contact with the Guilford County Department of Public Health. We will be meeting with the Board of Trustees to review options for the fall and anticipate providing an update no later than the second week of July to ensure that we are using the most current information before the beginning of the academic year. Communications about Fall 2020 will come via email and via the Bennett website (www.bennett.edu).
Stay healthy and stay safe.
Suzanne Elise Walsh, JD
President
June 5, 2020 – Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Reporting
Emergency Financial Relief Grants to Students
In accordance with Section 18004 of the CARES Act, Bennett College has performed the following:
- On April 23, 2020, Bennett College signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement under which the College is allocated a total of $768,798 in CARES Act funding. Under this Agreement, Bennett College provided the assurance that the institution intends to use no less than 50 % of the funds received under Section 18004 (a) (1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Relief Grants to students.
- Pursuant to above mentioned Agreement, Bennett College has received its allocation of $384,399 under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act from the Department of Education on May 4, 2020.
- On May 15, 2020, Bennett College distributed $391,000 in Emergency Financial Relief Grants to 264 eligible students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. The College has distributed $6,601 in excess of the stipulated 50% requirement restricted for use for Emergency Financial Relief Grants to students.
- Of the 266 students enrolled at Bennett College at the time of the campus closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 264 students were eligible to receive, and did receive, Emergency Financial Relief Grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.
- In addition to the 264 eligible students, Bennett College intends to distribute an additional $3,000 for the two remaining students based on the methodology described below. This $3,000 in additional Emergency Financial Relief Grants will be disbursed from the Institutional portion of the CARES Act funds.
- Bennett College recognizes that all of its 266 Spring 2020 semester students were impacted by the campus closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In determining the amount of the Emergency Financial Relief Grant to be allocated and paid to each student, the institution used the proration of the room and board charges for the Spring 2020 semester based on the number of days from the date of the campus closure to the end of the semester which was approximately $1,500 per student. This was a suitable proxy for the financial loss sustained by each full time student at Bennett College as a result of the campus closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board of Trustees approved the distribution of $1,500 per full-time student and $100 per credit hour for part-time students.
- Concerning these Emergency Financial Relief Grants, the students were provided information about the nature of these Emergency Financial Relief Grants and how to access each student’s emergency financial aid grant through the College’s third party processor, BankMobile.
June 4, 2020 – NC Governor Cooper announces Executive Order No. 143
North Carolina Gov. Cooper has announced an executive order that addresses the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color. View Executive Order No. 143.
April 30, 2020 1:10 PM
Dear Bennett Belles,
The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has presented Bennett College students with many challenges such as unanticipated moves, including leaving residence halls, friends and the familiar learning environment on campus. Bennett College will be receiving approximately $384,399 in CARES Act emergency financial relief funds to help students with expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus. The legislation grants the College broad authority in how the money is awarded.
Bennett College is committed to providing all students with emergency financial relief grants for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus. We are small and so we are able to keep close tabs on each of you. There is not a single Belle whose life has not been disrupted and our hearts go out to you and your families.
We recognize that all students have experienced a variety of challenges and disruptions connected to the coronavirus including housing and food insecurity, loss of employment, changes in childcare, and lack of access to reliable technology and Wi-Fi.
Emergency financial relief grants will be made to each full-time student in the amount of $1,500 on their MobileOne debit card. Part-time students will receive an amount on their MobileOne debit card based on their credit hours ($100 per credit hour) during the Spring 2020 semester. Please note: These grants may be taxable to each student.
Once we have received the funding from the Federal Government, we will begin our COVID-19 emergency financial relief grants to students. More details will be shared via email as they become known to us. Please make sure we have all of your updated contact information.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Catherine Hurd, VP – Enrollment Management or James Hastings, VP – Finance.
These are challenging VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) times. With this support we hope to lessen the VUCA of this moment so that you may stay healthy and as focused as possible on continuing your academic journeys.
Sincerely,
Pres
April 13, 2020 10:38 AM – Spring Semester Calendar & Grading Updates
Bennett College has adopted a revised calendar for the remainder of the Spring Semester. The semester has been extended by one week to recapture the time needed by students to move out of dorm rooms and transition to remote learning options. The updated semester calendar is listed below.
In addition, we have adopted emergency grading accommodations that will allow use of Pass/Fail instead of a letter grade. All Spring Semester courses will be graded using the standard letter grade scale. After letter grades are recorded, students will have the option to designate the final recorded transcript grade as Pass/Fail instead of the letter grade for any or all of their courses.
Spring Semester Calendar:
| Last day to withdraw from a course with “WP” – Withdraw without Penalty from 2nd Mini-mester classes | April 3: Friday | |
| Interdisciplinary Research Day | Canceled | |
| College Holiday – No Classes | April 10: Friday | |
| Classes resume at 8:00 a.m. | April 13: Monday | |
| Recognition Day (virtual) | April 16: Thursday | |
| Graduation Application available for December | April 17: Friday | |
| Last day of classes for full-term and 2nd Mini-mester classes | April 30: Thursday | |
| Reading Day | May 1: Friday | |
| Final Examinations | May 2: Saturday May 4-6: Mon – Wed. | |
| Senior Grades Due by 12 noon | May 7: Thursday | |
| Faculty Vote on Graduating Senior Degrees at 5:00 p.m. | May 7: Thursday | |
| Baccalaureate Ceremony | Postponed | |
| Commencement (virtual) | May 9: Saturday | |
| Final Grades Due from Faculty in Bellenet by 5:00 p.m | May 11: Monday | |
| Program & Administrative Unit Assessments Due | May 13: Wednesday |
April 3, 2020 4:15 PM
Dear Bennett Family,
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how Bennett and other colleges and universities all over the world operate. We recognize the many challenges encountered by students and their families in having to make unanticipated moves, such as leaving residence halls, friends, and the familiar learning environment of the campus.
The financial implications of these changes are significant and therefore we wish to inform you that we are waiting on guidance and recommendations and/or mandates from both Federal and State government on the process to follow related to partial refunds (prorated) for room and board for the spring 2020 semester. Because of the requirement for students to vacate residence halls and campus prior to the end of the semester, and the variations in individual financial aid packages, there are many details to be addressed and issues to be resolved.
Once we receive further information from these Federal and State agencies, the Business Office, in collaboration with the Office of Financial Aid, will finalize the process to be used in the prorating of refunds. Students will be notified of the process to inquire about these reimbursements. More details will be shared via email as soon as possible.
March 17, 2020 9:00 PM – URGENT UPDATE for Residential Students and Additional Operational Guidance
Dear Bennett College Family,
As you know from local and national news, the COVID-19 virus continues to spread rapidly. Reducing the spread of the virus requires more comprehensive and urgent action in the community. There have been no cases of COVID-19 at Bennett College. As of 2PM today, however, there has been one confirmed case in Guilford County. Guilford County Interim Public Health Director Dr. Iulia Vann issued the following, “Since we have this first confirmed case, we anticipate additional positive testing. The County is heavily monitoring this case and will continue to address future cases as they arise. It continues to be important for the community to follow the preventive measures outlined by the CDC and contact their primary care doctors if they are experiencing symptoms.” It is with this information in mind that we are making the following urgent changes to our operations:
- Effective immediately, students must now vacate all Bennett College residence halls by 6 p.m. Friday, March 20, 2020. Students able to leave more quickly are asked to do so.
- Classes are suspended for the rest of this week (March 18 – 20) to allow students to move out of the residence halls. Remote classes resume Monday, March 23, 2020
It is critically important to stay connected and informed during this time. Please regularly check our dedicated coronavirus webpage for updates. Bookmark it for easy access and to keep up-to-date. Please also ensure you monitor your email as we will update conditions as soon as the information becomes available. Finally, don’t forget to sign up for BelleAlert to keep informed.
We appreciate the patience of all of our students, faculty, staff, and families as we continue to navigate this difficult and ever-evolving public health emergency. Continue to stay safe and healthy.
Suzanne Elise Walsh, JD
President
March 14, 2020, 9:00 PM – All Students To Leave Campus By March 23
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Bennett College will transition all academic classes to remote learning options effective Monday, March 16. The College has cancelled all in-person classes for the remainder of the spring semester and residence halls will close at noon on March 23.
These steps are proactive measures to ensure the health and safety of all students, faculty members and staff. No members of the Bennett College community have been diagnosed with COVID-19. There have also been no diagnoses in Guilford County.
For the rest of the semester students will continue class work virtually through multiple remote approaches including email and phone modalities to accommodate students who may not have access to technology or broadband. Bennett faculty and staff will work with each student to establish procedures to complete their coursework.
Out of an abundance of caution, the campus will not re-open for the remainder of the semester while undergoing a systematic cleaning and disinfecting of all facilities. While the traditional commencement ceremony will not be held, Bennett will identify opportunities to confer degrees for graduating seniors and celebrate their accomplishments.
Bennett has established an Emergency Call Center (ECC) to respond to calls regarding the current situation surrounding the COVID-19 impact on Bennett College. The EEC will be located in Black Hall on the Bennett College campus. The EEC phone number is 336-370-8621.
Please refer to the Bennett College website for updates related to the COVID-19 situation.
March 14, 2020, 8:45 PM
Dear Bennett College Family,
This past week has been a challenging one as the coronavirus continues to quickly progress. To ensure the health and well-being of our Bennett College community, and in accordance with CDC and WHO guidance, the College is announcing a transition to remote instruction beginning Monday, March 16, 2020 for the remainder of the semester and is requiring students to move out of their residence halls by Monday, March 23, 2020 at noon.
I want to thank all of our students, faculty, staff and families for being ever-vigilant in practicing social distancing and good hygiene practices as we all returned from Spring Break last Sunday, March 9, 2020. We have been able to take advantage of our early Spring Break and smallness to stay on campus longer than other institutions. There have been no coronavirus cases at Bennett College or in Guilford County.
As we have made adjustments in the past week, I appreciate the level of calm and thoughtful reflection you have demonstrated in the midst of this quickly evolving situation. COVID-19 is certainly a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) situation. We have been practicing and excelling in our responses to VUCA environments all year. We are ready for this next phase to ensure that our community remains safe.
Special Circumstances
The timing and pacing of this decision has been a measured approach because we have been taking into consideration the multiple contexts from which our students come to Bennett College: the financial burden of returning home so soon after Spring Break; as well as the need to consider students who are Pell-eligible, have housing or food insecurity, are foster youth, or homeless. We wanted to support our students as long as we could so do safely.
Students who have special circumstances that we should be aware of should be in contact with Dean Kimberley Drye-Dancy .
Remote Learning
Faculty have each put together remote action plans and will provide more details to each student about how to access classes remotely. For students, our goal is to make sure that your academic work is fairly recognized and you are able to continue to make academic progress toward your degrees.
Faculty and Staff
Faculty and staff are asked to report for work and maintain their regular hours. College employees should contact their supervisors with specific questions during this period.
Commencement
Commencement will be a virtual celebration this year. Since commencement is just seven weeks out and we do not know when the Governor of North Carolina’s Executive Order banning gatherings of more than 100 people will be lifted, there will be no in-person ceremony in May. Details about the virtual ceremony will be forthcoming. The College will confer degrees for students who complete all pending degree requirements this academic semester. Your degree will be mailed. Please make sure your mailing address is up-to-date.
Honoring Our Legacy
As I mentioned in my remarks on Senior Day, being a member of the Academy means, being a leader; keeping calm; resisting panic, rumors and gossip; and offering measured, thoughtful, and informed support to others. It is now our turn to join together to thoughtfully and calmly transition to a campus community working remotely. Continue to support one another. This is when we need each other most—when we are not face-to-face. This is when Sisterhood matters. Check in on each other. Help be tech support for your Sister or Professor or Colleague. Have patience and empathy with each other and the new modality. Most importantly, stay safe. Continue to practice great hygiene.
As you start diving into working remotely, remember our Bennett Sisters who 60 years ago this year, had to figure out how to get their schoolwork done while in jail as part of the Sit-Ins. We owe it to them to live up to their legacy by excelling this semester and once again show how Bennett College women are the most resilient, smart, and creative leaders in the world. Nothing will stop us.
Have a great rest of the semester and please stay in touch via social media.
Suzanne Elise Walsh, JD
President
March 12, 2020, 10:30 PM
No members of the Bennett College community have been diagnosed with COVID-19. There have also been no cases diagnosed in Guilford County. We are in close contact with state and local health authorities. Bennett College remains open. Please read this site carefully for updates.
We are committed to the health and well-being of our community. Along with state and county health authorities, we are vigilantly monitoring and assessing the spread of the novel coronavirus.
This is an evolving situation. Please refer to these local, state, and national agencies for current information about the novel coronavirus
- Guilford County Health Department
- North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
What Bennett College is doing now
We understand the increased anxiety on our campus and throughout the community. Bennett’s leadership is actively monitoring and responding to the situation and will continue to follow the guidance of public health agencies. Bennett College is coordinating closely with county public health agencies, the NC State Department of Health and human Services, and US Department of Education on its response, including contingency planning, and will continue to do so.
In addition:
- To accommodate individuals who may be experiencing symptoms or who believe they should isolate themselves, faculty and staff have been encouraged to be flexible and responsive to requests.
- Sodexo facilities crews have implemented extra measures to clean and disinfect surfaces in public areas that are touched frequently. This includes surfaces such as door handles, banisters and elevator buttons. Please notify Facilities if bathroom supplies, including soap, paper towels or toilet paper, need to be restocked.
- Study abroad trips for Summer have been canceled.
- The following events have been canceled
- Spring Open House, March 21, 2020
- Interdisciplinary Research Day, April 10, 2020
- Ebony Soul, April 13 – 19
For students living on campus
If a quarantine involving students becomes necessary, we would take direction from Guilford County Health Department. We are currently planning for a multi-faceted response that would include providing food service and/or moving students off-campus or to sequestered areas of housing.
Additional wellness and prevention advice
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Do not share hand towels, and launder your hand towels frequently.
- Clean your hands by washing them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using a hand sanitizer that contains 60%–95% alcohol immediately after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. Use soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces (e.g., door knobs, tables, keyboards, light switches).
We will continue to keep you updated as we receive information from Guilford County Health Department, NC Department of Health and Human Services, and the CDC.
March 8, 2020, 2:00 PM
Dear Bennett Family,
As a means to help maintain our Bennett family’s well-being and coronavirus preparedness and prevention, we want to remind our entire campus community about the importance of practicing good respiratory hygiene. This is especially true as our Bennett students prepare to return to campus on Sunday and faculty and staff return on Monday. As of today, Saturday, March 7, 2020, there have been no known cases of the coronavirus on our campus; however, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has confirmed two cases in North Carolina—one in Wake County and one in Chatham County.
We are sharing this information to keep you informed. Health officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) continue to monitor global updates around the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). While this is a rapidly evolving situation, this respiratory illness is not currently spreading widely in the United States. There is still much to learn, and at this time, the CDC reports most people in the United States will have little immediate risk of exposure to this virus.
Coming Back to Campus from Spring Break
It is critical that all returning students, faculty, and staff are clear and accurate about any travel that has occurred over Spring Break so we can effectively support your individual needs. Please note that this is essential to protecting community health. If you travelled to China, Iran, Italy, and South Korea, or Japan over break, the College is directing you, per CDC guidelines, to remain off campus until 14 days after you returned to the US.
While you have been away, we have been taking proactive measures to maintain the health and safety of the Bennett College community including:
- Our Senior Leadership Team continues to meet to discuss prevention and necessary precautions as guided by the CDC, WHO, Cone Health and the Guilford County Health Department.
- Campus Facilities continues to work with housekeeping to ensure a high level of cleanliness in high traffic areas and will continue these operations.
- The college remains engaged with students who are currently studying abroad.
- We have increased access to hand sanitizer, across campus
Take Precautionary Steps
The seasonal flu continues to be common in our area. The same actions that help prevent the spread of the flu also help prevent the spread of COVID-19. These actions include:
- Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid shaking hands.
- Disinfect frequently touched objects using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Stay home when you are sick and avoid close contact with those who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of water, and eat nutritious food.
Stay Informed
Bennett College will continue to monitor updates from the CDC, WHO, local, and state health departments for guidance and recommendations for our campus and our community. We will continue sending updates as needed and as information evolves. These will be made available by email and social media. These communications are important – please be sure to read any updates that we post.
For more detailed information, please review the below FAQ.
Frequently Asked Questions
The college is committed to maintaining the health and safety of the Bennett College community.
What if someone thinks they’re sick?
Should anyone experience fever, cough and/or difficulty breathing, please contact the Bennett College Student Health Center immediately at (336) 517-2230 or if after hours call 911.
If you recently traveled to an impacted area or have been exposed to someone who is known to have COVID-19 and feel sick with fever, cough or difficulty breathing, you should:
- Seek medical care right away. Before you go to student health, a doctor’s office or emergency room, call ahead and tell them about your symptoms.
- Avoid contact with others and sharing personal household items.
- Do not travel while sick.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to avoid spreading the virus to others. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Clean all “high-touch” surfaces daily.
How is it diagnosed?
Your health care provider can determine if diagnostic testing with the CDC is needed.
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