Roughly 70 UWC-USA students will remain on campus during the Dec. 17-Jan. 5 winter break.
Another 40 will be hosted by Get-Away and students’ families in New Mexico, while about 120 are expected to travel elsewhere in the United States.
Because of COVID, students and faculty were asked to remain on campus or in New Mexico to reduce the number of people requiring quarantine. The governor has mandated a two-week quarantine for all international arrivals and for U.S. arrivals traveling from 47 high-risk states.
“These mandates are updated regularly, and it is difficult for us to predict what they will be in early January,” said UWC-USA Dean of Students Naomi Swinton. “We are planning rejuvenating and fun activities on campus for the students who stay, and expect that being on campus is the safest option for students.”
The $500 fee for students to stay on campus can be offset with financial aid. Activities will include global holiday celebrations, virtual hackathon, winter camping, small group activities, sledding, time with friends, and off-campus activities consistent with COVID careful protocol.
Students staying with host families will be tested for COVID before leaving campus; host families also will be asked to get tested. Students also will need to get a COVID test through the New Mexico Department of Health within the week prior to returning to campus and share results via email by Jan. 3.
UWC-USA plans on quarantining people based on the positivity rate of the state students are returning from, and quarantining roommates who travel together with one another upon return.