University Updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) & Travel Restrictions

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

This webpage has been established to act as the main location to update our Friends University community of any changes or pertinent information you need to know. It can be accessed at www.friends.edu/coronavirus. We encourage you to share this page and check it daily.

Friends University will be lifting all remaining Emergency Declarations related to COVID on May 11, 2023.

To schedule a COVID-19 vaccination, visit https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/covid-19/vaccine/schedule/

Below is a list of important information related to Friends University’s COVID-19 response:

Older COVID-19 related news can be found on the COVID-19 news archive page.

For students who need ADA services, please view our ADA information below.

Take the Falcon Pledge to protect yourself and others and help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Travel Restrictions & Mandates

Friends University students, faculty and staff will adhere to new KDHE travel mandates

KDHE has issued the following new guidelines regarding travel for individuals who have traveled to certain international and select states. These individuals are mandated to follow the home quarantine procedures. Friends University students, faculty or staff who have traveled to the wide-spread COVID-19 areas will not be allowed on campus or in residence halls until the mandatory quarantine has been completed. In the event a student is in quarantine during the specified move out days, they can contact Residence Life at reslife@friends.edu to schedule an alternative time to retrieve their belongings.

Those who have traveled to the locations considered hot-spots will need to quarantine upon arrival in Kansas. The full list of locations can be found on the KDHE website. The length of quarantine varies depending on whether you have been tested for COVID-19.

International travelers from other countries will need to follow CDC re-entry protocol and subsequent quarantine guidance upon entry into the U.S. and Kansas. In addition, there are relaxed quarantine rules for those who have been vaccinated for COVID-19 or have had prior infection.

Visit the KDHE website for the most recent information regarding travel requirements: https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/175/Travel-Exposure-Related-Isolation-Quaran.

Financial changes due to COVID-19

If your family is experiencing financial issues (income reduction, job loss or other extenuating circumstances), specifically related to the COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise, your Expected Family Contribution may be eligible for re-valuation by the financial aid office at Friends University. To discuss a possible Professional Judgment, please schedule an appointment with a financial aid advisor at https://financial-aid-friends-university.appointlet.com/

Helpful Videos:

Helpful CDC Guidelines:

Classroom guidelines and mask policy will be provided soon.

NAIA Guidelines and Recommendations

The NAIA released guidelines for fall sports returning to play. Visit https://www.naia.org/covid19/files/Fall_2020_Guidelines_7.10.20_v2.pdf for more information.

Important COVID-19 Updates

Sept. 1, 2022 COVID-19 Update

Dear Students and Parents 

The semester is off to a great start! We are excited for you to be a part of Friends University and participate in the fun traditions and activities here on campus. We don’t want you to miss a thing, but while Covid-19 is still around, we need to share some important information with you. 

  • If you experience Covid-19 symptoms, or feel ill, please stay home. 
  • If you have been exposed to Covid-19, be mindful of those around you and consider wearing a mask and social distancing. 
  • If you test positive for Covid-19, isolate yourself and return home if possible. Contact your professors to make arrangements for class work and options to attend. (University isolation and quarantine accommodations are no longer available.) 
  • Local testing sites can be found here
  • If you are not vaccinated, but would like to do so, you can find a list of free vaccinations and booster sites here.  
  • Be responsible! Good hygiene is encouraged to prevent all types of illness. 

We pray this season at Friends University will truly be a transformational experience in your life. For additional Covid-19 information and updates, visit friends.edu/coronavirus

Blessings, 

Dr. Amy Bragg Carey 

President 

August 1, 2022 COVID-19 Update

Dear Friends Community, 

The fall 2022 semester is right around the corner! We have been hard at work preparing for our faculty, staff and students to return to campus in the coming weeks. Here is some important information for the Friends University fall 2022 semester:    

·         If faculty or staff test positive for Covid-19, they need to communicate with their direct supervisor to facilitate sick time or work from home options. It is not necessary to contact HR for positive test results. 

·         If you test positive or have symptoms, please follow the advice of your medical professional. 

·         If you have been exposed to Covid-19, please be mindful of others and consider wearing a mask and social distance when possible.   

·         Testing on campus is no longer available. Local testing can be found at these sites and employees with our BCBS insurance can find free testing information here.  

·         If you are not vaccinated, we encourage you to do so. Free vaccinations and booster shots can be found here.  

·         As always, we encourage good hygiene to prevent all types of illness. 

We continue to pray for God’s blessing and protection as we move into this new school year. Please feel free to reach out to your supervisor or your medical professional with additional questions. Let’s have a great year! 

January 29, 2022 COVID-19 Update

We’ve nearly made it to the end of January! Great work!! 

We are thankful everyone has been doing their part by wearing masks, social distancing and taking advantage of the Covid-19 vaccine clinic on campus. It is working to slow the spread of Covid-19 cases on our campus. 

Effective Monday, Jan. 31, Friends University will no longer require masks on campus. 

If you feel more comfortable wearing a mask on campus, we support you. We still strongly recommend masks for anyone who has not been vaccinated when indoors and social distancing is not possible. 

We have an exciting semester ahead of us! Keep up the good work! 

  • Get vaccinated 
  • If you feel sick, stay home  
  • Wash your hands often 
  • Social distance when possible 
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes 
  • Mask inside if you are unvaccinated 

Thank you again for your help with Covid-19 mitigation efforts at Friends University.  

January 21, 2022 COVID-19 Update

Our COVID Task Force continues to monitor current Covid-19 conditions and evaluate best practices to ensure the health and safety of the Friends University community.  The most important step we can take is to get vaccinated. 

Important information for Friends University faculty and staff:

  • Vaccinations – Vaccine locations for Sedgwick County can be found at Vaccine Clinic Locations | Sedgwick County, Kansas
  • Masks – Masks required through the end of January. 
  • Isolation and Quarantine – Please see attached isolation and quarantine guidance from Sedgwick County Health.
    • Covid Positive Cases (people with lab-confirmed covid-19 infections regardless of vaccination status)
      • Stay home for 5 days
      • If symptoms resolve after 5 days, you can leave your house with a mask.
    • Close Contact of a Person w/Confirmed Covid-19 (people who are fully vaccinated within last 6 months with Pfizer/Moderna or within last 2 months with Johnson and Johnson)
      • Wear a well-fitting mask around other for 10 days from the date of last exposure.
      • If you develop symptoms, get a test and stay home.
    • Close contact of a Person w/Confirmed Covid-19 (people fully vaccinated over 6 months for Pfizer/Moderna or over 2 months for Johnson and Johnson and no booster OR people who are unvaccinated)
      • Stay home for 5 days.  After that continue to wear a mask around other for 5 additional days.
      • If you develop symptoms, get a test and stay home.
    • The isolation and quarantine guidelines are frequently reviewed by Sedgwick Health Department, KDHE and CDC.  Please contact Vi Bumgarner and Nicole Rankin for information.
  • COVID Testing

Please continue to follow University Updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) & Travel Restrictions – Friends University for important and up-to-date COVID information as this remains a fluid situation.

Additional Sedgwick County and KDHE Covid information links:

Coronavirus FAQs for the General Public | Sedgwick County, Kansas

Isolation–Quarantine-Guidance-and-FAQs-PDF—12-2-2021 (kdheks.gov)

January 11, 2022 COVID-19 Update

Dear Students and Parents,

It has been wonderful to see everyone back on campus! Great job wearing your masks! We are hopeful that over the next two weeks, the masks will help our COVID-19 numbers from increasing. We know there is a lot of COVID-19 information in the news and all around us with the new variant. It can be overwhelming and confusing to determine how you should proceed if you have been exposed or have tested positive. This is a quick reference from the Sedgwick County Health Department (SCHD) which Friends University will utilize to determine the best course of action for you and those around you to stay healthy and safe.

We are determined to have a safe and in-person semester, but it takes all of us to do our part to make that happen. Keep up the good work!

  • Get vaccinated – (Vaccine clinic locations found here. Look for vaccine/booster clinics coming to Friends University campus soon!)
  • Stay home if you feel sick
  • Social distance when possible
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes
  • Wash your hands often
  • Mask up

Thank you again for your help with our Covid-19 mitigation efforts. For the most up-to-date information, follow friends.edu/coronavirus or contact the Covid-19 hotline at 316-295-5298 or covid@friends.edu

Guy Chmieleski

Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Campus Ministries

January 8, 2022 COVID-19 Update

Happy 2022! We are so excited to be starting another new spring semester at Friends University and it looks like we will be bringing in another larger-than-normal class of new students! That said, we have all seen the news about the Omicron Variant and have already begun to see some initial COVID positive cases and quarantines here on campus. So, effective Mon. January 10, we are asking ALL students, faculty and staff for a TWO-WEEK PERIOD to once again wear masks when inside any Friends University building. Our hope is that by doing this for two weeks, we can stop our numbers from increasing and return to a “mostly-maskless” on-campus experience. Of course, when you are in your private dorm room, actively eating or drinking, or outside you do not have to wear a mask.

So what else can you do?

1 – GET VACCINATED! The best defense against getting really sick and needing to go to the hospital is still to get vaccinated and boosted. We will be contacting the Sedgwick County Health Dept. to see about getting another vaccine clinic on our campus this Jan. In the meantime, vaccine locations for Sedgwick County can be found at Vaccine Clinic Locations | Sedgwick County, Kansas

2 – Stay home if you feel sick!

3 – Socially distance when possible.

4– Cover your coughs and sneezes.

5– Wash your hands often.

6 – Please follow the new CDC guidelines for Isolation and Quarantine.

This is a small “ask” to help keep our university community safe. We’ve done this before, so we know how to do it! We will continue to monitor the situation and adjust as needed.

Thank you in advance for helping us “slow the spread” so we can continue to have a GREAT in-person semester of education and activities here at Friends!

Dr. Guy Chmieleski

Vice President of Student Affairs | Dean of Campus Ministries

Friends University

January 5, 2022 COVID-19 Update

Hello Faculty and Staff,

Hope you had an enjoyable holiday and ready for the spring semester.

Our COVID Task Force continues to monitor current Covid-19 conditions and evaluate best practices to ensure the health and safety of the Friends University community.  The most important step we can take is to get vaccinated. 

Important information for Friends University faculty and staff:

  • Vaccinations – Vaccine locations for Sedgwick County can be found at Vaccine Clinic Locations | Sedgwick County, Kansas.
  • Masks – We are not requiring masks at this time but they are recommended.
  • Quarantine – Employees will need to quarantine at home and utilize sick/vacation time.  The isolation and quarantine guidelines are frequently reviewed by Sedgwick Health Department and CDC.  Please contact Vi Bumgarner and Nicole Rankin for information.
  • COVID Testing

If you are experiencing multiple symptoms, please reach out to Vi Bumgarner at vi_bumgarner@friends.edu and/or Nicole Rankin at Nicole_rankin@friends.edu to set up testing.

COVID-19 Testing Locations | Sedgwick County, Kansas

Please continue to follow University Updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) & Travel Restrictions – Friends University for important and up-to-date COVID information as this remains a fluid situation.

Additional Sedgwick County and KDHE Covid information links:

https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/

https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/covid-19/covid-19-faqs-for-the-general-public/

Isolation and Quarantine Guidance for Non-Hospital Healthcare Workers or People Who Work, Reside or Attend a Congregate Setting (ex. Correctional Facility, Long-Term Care, K-12 Schools) | Sedgwick County, Kansas

Please feel free to reach out should you have any questions.

September 24, 2021 COVID-19 Update

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff, 

Happy fall! We want to inform you of a few COVID-related items. The COVID vaccination clinics have been a big success on campus and we will host four additional clinic dates to get your first or second dose of the vaccine. The Sedgwick County Health Department will be on campus on Sept. 29 and 30 and Oct. 20 and 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Casado Campus Center Conference Room.  

Friends University students who get their first shot will receive a $50 gift card and after the second shot each student will be automatically entered to win one of ten $1,000 scholarships. To be entered into the drawing, a copy of the vaccine card showing two shots must be submitted no later than Oct. 31 to covid@friends.edu. Winners will be announced on Nov. 1. 

Beginning Jan. 1, any student who is COVID positive or deemed a close contact will need to isolate or quarantine at home. Students unable to return home will incur an additional fee for quarantine and isolation facilities provided by the university.   

As of Friday, Sept. 17, Friends University only had one positive COVID case for our students and zero for our faculty and staff. Keep up the good work to keep our campus safe! 

  • Get vaccinated! 
  • Stay home if you feel sick 
  • Socially distance when possible 
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes 
  • Wash your hands often 
  • Mask inside if you are unvaccinated 

We are enjoying a fun fall semester and need everyone’s cooperation to have a great in-person learning experience.  

Guy Chmieleski 

Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Campus Ministries 

September 10, 2021 COVID-19 Update

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff, 

We are thankful that everyone has been doing their part, wearing masks and social distancing when inside, and it seems to be working to slow the spread of COVID on our campus. Effective Monday, September 13, Friends University will discontinue our mask requirement for all students, faculty and staff. We still STRONGLY RECOMMENDmasks for anyone who has not been vaccinated and when you are indoors and social distancing is not possible. Our team will continue to monitor the situation and make any adjustments as necessary. Positive COVID cases and the number of individuals in quarantine are currently low at Friends University, which is a testament to everyone’s cooperation. 

So, what should you do now?  

  • Get vaccinated! – It’s the #1 way to keep our community safe and out of isolation and quarantine.
  • Stay home if you feel sick. 
  • Socially distance when possible.  
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes. 
  • Wash your hands often. 

Thank you again for your help with our Covid mitigation efforts. Have a great weekend!

Guy Chmieleski

Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Campus Ministries 

September 2, 2021 COVID-19 Update

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

First, I want to thank all of you for “masking up” once again. Wearing a mask is required in all classrooms. This and staying 3’ apart may eliminate the need to quarantine for exposure and so far, it seems to be helping control our Covid positive and quarantine numbers. 

Besides wearing masks and staying 3’ apart – what else can you do? 

  • GET VACCINATED!
  • Wash your hands.
  • Stay home if you’re sick.

Friends University is following CDC guidelines and if you test positive for Covid, you WILL need to isolate for 10 days AND have gone 24 hours with no fever AND any symptoms of Covid-19 you have must be improving before you end your isolation. 

Students – If you are feeling ill, please fill out the online symptom tracker found on the Covid page of the Friends website. Someone will be in touch with you as soon as possible. 

Faculty and Staff – If you are having any Covid symptoms, please continue to contact Vi Bumgarner in HR. We would also like you to test off campus, so we can keep our on-campus resources available to our students. There are many locations available where you can get a FREE Covid test.

And don’t forget to get your shot if you have not already done so. 

When?
Shots 1 and 2
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday, September 8 and Thursday, September 9

Where? 

Casado Campus Center Conference Room
Post-vaccination observation held in McKay Gym

Why?

Friends University students who get their first shot will receive a $50 gift card.
Getting both shots will enter all students into a drawing for the chance to win 1 of 10 $1000 scholarships.

We can do this, folks.

God bless you!

August 26, 2021 COVID-19 Update

Covid Update – Aug. 26, 2021

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

Here we are at the end of Week #2 of our Fall Semester! Can you believe it? We are so excited to be here and we are especially excited to be holding in-person classes, athletic events, fine arts rehearsals and soon – fine arts performances! That said, we have all seen the news about the Delta Variant and we are starting to experience increases in Covid positive cases and quarantines here on campus. So, effective Mon. Aug. 30, we are asking all students, faculty and staff for a TWO-WEEK PERIOD to once again wear masks when inside any Friends University building. (Faculty and staff who have not been vaccinated are required to always wear masks.) Our hope is that by doing this for two weeks, we can stop our numbers from increasing and return to a “mostly-maskless” on-campus experience. Of course, when you are in your private dorm room, teaching in front of a class (if there is space between you and your students), or in your office – you do not need to wear a mask.

How can we stop the “mask-madness?”

1 – GET VACCINATED! We will be having our second on-campus vaccine clinic with the Sedgwick County Health Dept. on Sept. 8 & 9. Anyone who received their first shot on campus August 18/19 will be able to get their second shot at this time. FIRST SHOTS WILL ALSO BE GIVEN ON CAMPUS September 8/9, and the $50 GIFT CARD will still be given to all students who get their first shot at Friends! Remember, anyone showing their completed vaccination card (with two shots) can send a copy of their card to Covid@friends.edu and be entered into a drawing for one of ten $1000 tuition scholarships!

2 – Stay home if you feel sick!

3 – Socially distance when possible.

4– Cover your coughs and sneezes.

5– Wash your hands often.

This is a small “ask” to help keep our university community safe. We’ve done this before, so we know how to do it! We will continue to monitor the situation and adjust as needed.

Thank you in advance for helping us “slow the spread” so we can continue to have a GREAT in-person year of education and activities here at Friends!

Guy Chmieleski

Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Campus Ministries

August 18, 2021 What To Do If You Feel Sick

All Students, Faculty and Staff, 

Welcome back! We are so happy to have everyone back on campus! Nothing beats the excitement of the beginning of a school year! That’s why we’re all here – right? 

With the start of any new school year comes the opportunity to share germs and illnesses. And with the new Delta variant, we want to make sure you and our entire campus community can stay safe. So here are some reminders on what you should do if you feel sick – mostly “stolen” from the CDC website. 

 
Stay home except to get medical care 

  • Stay home. Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home without medical care. Do not leave your home, except to get medical care. Do not visit public areas. 
  • Take care of yourself. Get rest and stay hydrated. Take over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen, to help you feel better. 
  • Stay in touch with your doctor. Call before you get medical care. Be sure to get care if you have trouble breathing, or have any other emergency warning signs, or if you think it is an emergency

 
Monitor your symptoms 

  • Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, or other symptoms
  • Please fill out the symptom tracker on the Friends website so we can help you decide if you should be tested. Rapid Covid tests are available right on our campus. Alternatively, you can email covid@friends.edu for help and advice. 
  • Faculty and staff should contact Vi Bumgarner at vi_bumgarner@friends.edu if experiencing any symptoms. 

Separate yourself from other people 

As much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people. If possible, you should use a separate bathroom. If you need to be around other people or animals in or outside of the home, wear a mask. 

Tell your close contacts that they may have been exposed to COVID-19. An infected person can spread COVID-19 starting 48 hours (or 2 days) before the person has any symptoms or tests positive. By letting your close contacts know they may have been exposed to COVID-19, you are helping to protect everyone. 

When to seek emergency medical attention 

Look for emergency warning signs* for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately: 

  • Trouble breathing 
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest 
  • New confusion 
  • Inability to wake or stay awake 
  • Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone 

*This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you. 

Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility: Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19. 

 
Cover your coughs and sneezes 

  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. 
  • Throw away used tissues in a lined trash can. 
  • Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. 

Clean your hands often 

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This is especially important after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food. 
  • Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry. 
  • Soap and water are the best option, especially if hands are visibly dirty. 
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. 

And just a quick reminder of our Vaccine Clinic taking place Wed. and Thurs., Aug. 18 and 19. The Sedgwick County Health Dept. will be in Casado giving the vaccines and students will receive a $50 Gift Card upon receipt of their first shot.  

Let’s all do our part to keep each other safe! 

Thank you, 

August 4, 2021 Covid-19 Update

Dear Friends Community,

The fall 2021 semester is fast approaching and we have been hard at work planning for the resumption of in-person classes at regular capacity beginning on Aug. 16.

Our COVID task force continues to monitor current Covid conditions and evaluate best practices to ensure the health and safety of the Friends University community. The most important step we can take is to get vaccinated. Students are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated before arriving on campus. We can all do our part! 

Important information for the Friends University fall 2021 semester:

  • Vaccinations-Vaccine locations for Sedgwick County can be found at sedgwickcounty.org. In addition to this, we have scheduled an on-campus vaccination event with the Sedgwick County Health Dept. for Aug. 18 & 19 with the second shot on Sept. 8 & 9. STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE A $50 GIFT CARD AUG. 18 OR 19 UPON RECEIPT OF THEIR FIRST SHOT. We will also be having a drawing for ten – $1000 tuition scholarships (Five for traditional students and five for adult and graduate students). Any current Friends University student who has a vaccine card completed by Sept 9 will be entered into the drawing. Please scan your completed vaccine card to Covid@friends.edu for entry.
  • MasksStrongly recommended for anyone who has not received the vaccine
    • Strongly recommended indoors where social distancing is not possible. This includes classrooms and large university gatherings.
  • Housing– will open as normal with no restrictions. For further questions on residence living, contact reslife@friends.edu or call 316-295-5500.
  • Food Services– will be open during regular operating hours with no restrictions. Accommodations will be available if the need arises and a student is not able to go to the dining hall due to COVID.
  • Academics– In-person classes will be held. If a student is unable to attend a class for any reason, they must contact the professor immediately to coordinate any missed class requirements.   
  • Athletics– Events will take place with no restrictions
  • Quarantine– Students will need to quarantine at home unless circumstances preclude it.
  • COVID testing– Rapid Covid Testing is available to all students, faculty and staff. COVID questions can be directed to the COVID hotline at COVID@friends.edu or 316-295-5298. There is also an online symptom tracker on the Friends University website at friends.edu/coronavirus.

Please continue to follow friends.edu/coronavirus for important and up to date COVID information as this remains a fluid situation and may change based on local government mandates.  

We are confident we will have an amazing year even with a few Covid mitigations. Flexibility will be the key and safety precautions will be at the forefront of our operations.

We continue to pray for God’s blessing and protection as we look forward to the fall 2021 semester. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to reach out to us at COVID@friends.edu. And once again, we encourage you to get vaccinated!

Dr. Amy Bragg Carey

President

Friends University

ADA Services

In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, Friends University does not exclude otherwise qualified persons with disabilities solely by reason of the disability from participating in university programs and activities, nor are persons with disabilities denied the benefits of these programs or subjected to discrimination.

It is the responsibility of the student to bring to the university’s attention the need for accommodation due to a qualifying disability. Requests for accommodation should be made to the Academic Resource Center. The Academic Resource Center will assist students in their request for accommodations and help them obtain other necessary support services. Once proper information has been received, the Academic Resource Center will notify appropriate faculty and/or staff of the student’s specific requests. The Academic Resource Center will also make arrangements with outside agencies for any services needed (i.e., interpreters, audio books, etc.). An updated disclosure release form is required each academic term in order for new faculty and/or staff to be contacted regarding the student’s requested accommodations. In addition, an updated application is required in order to meet any accommodation changes.

COVID-19 Contact Form

Contact Us

Have a question about COVID-19 for us? Use this form to reach out. Alternatively, contact our COVID Hotline at 316-295-5298 or covid@friends.edu. We will get back to you as soon as possible.