For Immediate Release
Contact: Wendy Hinton
Director of Advancement Communications
(570) 208-8130
wendyhinton@kings.edu

August 18, 2020 – This week, King’s College welcomes its student body back to campus for the fall semester, as resident students begin the process of moving into their residence halls. Classes will begin on Monday, August 24, 2020. The College has made extensive efforts to establish new operational practices on campus to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 including enhanced cleaning protocols, physical classroom modifications, providing personal protective equipment for employees, increased sanitizing stations across campus, establishing directional travel in campus buildings, enhanced health monitoring and reporting systems, and the establishment of quarantine spaces. In addition, the College recently announced the prohibition of all smoking and vaping on any College properties.

In an effort to prioritize instruction and the educational experiences of its students, the College is limiting access to the campus for visitors. Prospective undergraduate students and their families are still encouraged to visit campus but are asked to do so by appointment through the Office of Admissions by calling (570) 208-5858. Prospective Graduate students may contact the Graduate Admissions office at (570) 208-5991. The College has shifted all non-academic events from in-person to virtual whenever possible to lessen the density of people on campus at any given time. Local organizations and community groups will not be able to utilize campus spaces for events until it is deemed safe to do so.

All individual visitors to campus are required to:

  • wear a face covering in all public, common areas of the campus, both inside and outside of buildings
  • maintain 6 feet social distancing in all interior areas
  • follow CDC guidelines: washing hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an effective hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol), and cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
  • refrain from smoking or vaping anywhere on King’s College property
  • perform a temperature check prior to leaving for campus and stay at home if he or she has symptoms of COVID-19, especially a fever (100.4 degrees or higher)

Representatives from the College’s Student Health Center, Facilities staff, and senior leadership have established relationships with the Wilkes-Barre City Department of Health (DOH), which is the local office for the PA Department of Health. In the event of a positive case determined on campus, the Health Center will notify the Wilkes-Barre City DOH. A comprehensive Health and Safety Plan is available for download at https://www.kings.edu/mykings/covid-19-information. Questions regarding the College’s operations during the pandemic can be directed to Thomas Butchko, Chief Pandemic Officer, at thomasbutchko@kings.edu or (570) 208-5928.