As students at Meredith experience another abnormal school year due to COVID-19, some have to abide by two sets of guidelines to protect themselves and others from contracting the virus. Students dual enrolled at Meredith College and NC State University (NCSU) are required to follow both of the policies set by the individual schools. These guidelines can be found on both Meredith's and NC State's websites under their Community Standards sections.
The policies mostly share similarities. Both institutions require face coverings to be worn inside at all times and submission of one’s vaccination status through an online portal. Each school also has data concerning active positive cases of COVID-19 available to the public. They are also both offering locations on campus if residential students are required to quarantine or isolate.
Like Meredith, NCSU is requiring unvaccinated students to participate in weekly testing. While Meredith’s data states their vaccination rate for students is 78% and 79.4% for staff, NCSU’s overall vaccination rate is 74%. NCSU is offering vaccinations for faculty, staff, students, alumni and family members 12 years of age and older. In the spring semester of 2022, Meredith College will begin requiring students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they are eligible for a religious or medical exemption, but NCSU and the entire UNC system of colleges have not yet made the decision to require the vaccine.
When asked if she had noticed any differences between the two universities’ policies concerning the pandemic, dual-enrolled student Abiha Khanam, ‘22, stated that she does not “see a large difference between the directions both schools have taken to enforce safety on campus.” Khanam added that she “appreciate[s] how Meredith College offers hybrid classes so that I can have a good learning experience, while NCSU will not consider hybrid classes. I understand their point of view as well since certain classes are difficult to translate and understand on an online platform.”
While these two universities have their own set of guidelines when it comes to protecting their campuses from the global pandemic, they share more similarities than differences. As the school year progresses, these protocols may be subject to change for the safety of staff, faculty and students on both campuses as the situation evolves.
By Maggie Barnhill, Staff Writer