Health & Safety

This is the best question you can ask!

The BEST thing you can do is to GET VACCINATED!

Everyone can help to keep the campus healthy and safe by following our protocols based on guidance from the CDC and local, city, and state agencies. Our protocols may seem cumbersome, but luckily there is something else that you could to protect yourself and the college community. You can get vaccinated.

All students, staff and visitors must wear a mask while indoors. Non-vaccinated individuals must double-mask. Socially distancing yourself from others, maintaining effective hygiene practices, and monitoring your own health are all good ways of remaining healthy as well.

Students who are sick should not come to campus, attend classes, or engage in any other in-person college activities. Non-vaccinated students who have a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher or any symptoms of COVID-19, email health@walnuthillcollege.edu for guidance. Vaccinated students who are concerned they may have COVID-19 should email health@walnuthillcollege.edu for guidance. 

No, you are not required to quarantine prior to coming to campus. Follow all health and safety protocols upon arrival to campus. 

Yes. As part of the college’s focus on health and safety, all students, staff, faculty, and visitors to campus will be required to wear a face-covering when on campus. Face coverings that cover the mouth and nose, which may be homemade or commercially available, must be worn while on campus in building entrances, lobbies, hallways, classrooms, common areas as well as outdoors. 

Yes. In accordance with the City of Philadelphia’s mask mandate as of August 12, 2021, all individuals must wear a mask indoors at businesses that are not fully vaccinated.

If you are vaccinated, you may wear a single mask while indoors.

If you are not vaccinated, you must double mask indoors.

Masks are not required when you are seated and eating or drinking in our dining areas.

Yes, of course! The college wants to promote a safe and healthy campus environment for all students, staff, faculty and visitors. The college has developed policies and procedures that are available here.

Yes. Students, faculty, staff, and guests are expected to self-monitor their own personal health status. Students who are sick should not come to campus, attend classes, or engage in any other in-person college activities. Non-vaccinated students who have a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher or any symptoms of COVID-19, email health@walnuthillcollege.edu for guidance. Vaccinated students who are concerned they may have COVID-19 should email health@walnuthillcollege.edu for guidance.

Students will be asked to self-monitor their health and make decisions that will help prevent illness, specifically Covid 19, from spreading to campus. The college has developed a five-question survey that non-vaccinated students should take before coming to campus, leaving the dormitories, or attending class or each day. The completion of the survey will be a requirement for attending class for all non-vaccinated students. Instructors will review the survey prior to allowing a student to attend class each day.

Students who are sick should not come to campus, attend classes, or engage in any other in-person college activities. Non-vaccinated students who have a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher or any symptoms of COVID-19, email health@walnuthillcollege.edu for guidance. Vaccinated students who are concerned they may have COVID-19 should email health@walnuthillcollege.edu for guidance.

Additionally, students should be prepared to follow all college policies, especially those that relate to the health and safety of the student, and the entire college community. In addition to monitoring your health daily, the CDC provides details on how best to protect yourself and the community that includes regular and proper handwashing, wearing appropriate face coverings, maintaining a distance of 6-feet from others when possible, cleaning, and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces often, and other recommendations.

Students who are sick should not come to campus, attend classes, or engage in any other in-person college activities. Non-vaccinated students who have a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher or any symptoms of COVID-19, email health@walnuthillcollege.edu for guidance. Vaccinated students who are concerned they may have COVID-19 should email health@walnuthillcollege.edu for guidance.

Yes, however, the college has ALWAYS taken steps to provide a healthy, clean, and safe environment. We are monitoring the CDC, Department of Health, and governmental guidelines for updated cleaning and sanitizing practices so that we can modify our procedures if needed. Throughout campus, students, faculty, staff, and guests will have access to hand disinfectant and cleaning/disinfection supplies. Classrooms and public spaces will be cleaned even more often than normal with special attention being paid to high-contact surfaces such as door handles, light switches, and countertops.

About 400+ people! Every single student, faculty member, staff member, guest, and visitor to our campus must oblige by the best-practices, public-laws, community expectations, and our college’s requirements to fully cooperate to best ensure everyone’s health and safety.

Do not rely on the college, a government agency, or even your doctor to absolutely ensure your health. Certainly, they will guide and assist. However, it is you, how you care for yourself, how you are in public, and your role as a responsible citizen that will help us all succeed.

The CDC explains that contact tracing is used by health departments to prevent the spread of infectious disease. In general, contact tracing involves identifying people who have an infectious disease and any non-vaccinated close contacts (people who may have been exposed). For COVID-19, a close contact is defined as anyone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes during a 24-hour period starting from 48 hours before the person began feeling sick until the time the patient was isolated.

Non-vaccinated students can help to reduce the spread of COVID 19 by maintaining a list of locations they go to and contacts they have had. If you test positive, you will need to work with the state’s Department of Health and anyone you came into contact within the days prior to the onset of symptoms. The Department of Health can use that log to trace your contacts should you become ill or contract the virus. You will not be required to share this information with anyone else and will not be asked to share the information unless you become symptomatic.

The CDC suggests that vaccinated individuals do not need to quarantine nor isolate if they have been in close contact with an infected individual. Vaccinated individuals who have been in close contact with an infected individual should monitor their health conditions and get tested for COVID-19 should they begin to exhibit symptoms. Contact health@walnuthillcollege.edu if you want additional guidance.

As a College, we are determined in our fight against this pandemic while instituting policies and procedures to mitigate risks, provide quality education, and offer safe housing to our students. Walnut Hill College intends to return to on-ground operations for the fall 2021 term utilizing all on-ground instruction with the exception of classes previously taught remotely as a part of the colleges Extended Program.

All classes will be held on-ground with the exception of classes previously taught remotely as a part of the colleges Extended Program.

Yes. As part of the college’s focus on health and safety, all students, staff, faculty, and visitors to campus will be required to wear a face-covering when on campus. Non-vaccinated students, staff and guests will be required to double mask. 

Walnut Hill College remains committed to providing a dynamic and distinct learning experience for all students in all classes. Our hands-on (Supervised Lab, Production, and Operations) classes will continue to provide you with the instruction and practice you need to become technically skilled in the kitchen, bar, and dining room. Our lecture and demonstration classes that are directly related to your program of study will continue in the vibrant nature it always has. Although General Education/Liberal Arts classes for our upperclassman will be delivered remotely, our faculty have devised new and exciting ways to incorporate active learning via Zoom class sessions and Schoology.

No. According to the CDC, “It is not known if face shields provide any benefit as source control to protect others from the spray of respiratory particles. CDC does not recommend use of face shields for normal everyday activities or as a substitute for cloth face coverings.” As such, a face shield will not be permitted in place of a face mask/covering, however, students who want to wear them in addition to a face mask/covering will be permitted to do so.

Final class schedules will be available in the student portal two weeks prior to the start of classes.

Inquiries regarding class schedule adjustments should be sent to Student Success Advisor, Mr. Pilch at eplich@walnuthillcollege.edu or by phone at 267-295-2310 to see if accommodations may be made.

As always retake and make up courses are scheduled through your Student Success Advisor. You should contact Student Success Advisor, Mr. Pilch at eplich@walnuthillcollege.edu or by phone at 267-295-2310 no sooner than 2 weeks prior to the start of the term to ensure course and space availability.

As always, if you have a health condition that requires a reasonable accommodation, you should contact Student Success Advisor, Mr. Pilch at eplich@walnuthillcollege.edu. 

The college is not offering remote instruction this fall. If you need support with scheduling classes, you should contact Student Success Advisor, Mr. Pilch at eplich@walnuthillcollege.edu or by phone at 267-295-2310 to see if accommodations may be made. Any schedule adjustments may cause a delay in the student’s graduation date.

The College Academic Calendar is available here and is presently up to date. The ever-changing nature of COVID-19 may require changes to the calendar throughout the year. Check regularly for updates.

In addition to items you need for daily life, students should consider bringing a thermometer, a supply of face masks, and hand sanitizer; although remember that proper hand-washing is more effective than sanitizer alone. , Vitamins have been proven to improve your immune system, however only bring them if you already been approved to take them from your doctor. 

• • Non-vaccinated students will be housed on the same floor and/or in the same dormitories in single rooms only.
  • In nearly every incidence, there are no triple or quadruple occupancies.
  • We will restrict any unnecessary gatherings.
  • While we are always insistent on clean rooms, you will notice more inspections and careful attention to having everyone cooperate by keeping your room, your resident hall, and our college community healthy and safe.
  • We will require that you be reasonable when using the laundry rooms.
  • Also, you must be very neat and orderly when using snack centers.
  • You will notice a few more evening and weekend events that will offer fun, educational, and safe gatherings.
  • The college has taken several steps to support health and safety measures in the dorms.

August 29^th for underclassmen and August 31^st  for upperclassmen.

No. In order to manage the number of students returning to campus on a given day and conduct move-in more safely, we will use a move-in reservation system in which upper-class students will reserve time slots on the specified move-in dates while underclassmen will be assigned move-in times.

Members of the College’s Welcome Home staff will meet all students in the College’s main parking lot and transfer their belongings to a utility cart.  The Welcome Home staff will then deliver your belongings to your room.  Once the Welcome Home Staff leaves your room, you and up to two (2) guests may assist you in setting up your room.  It is very important to bring only the minimum necessary items with you to school in the fall.

Students are scheduled to move in each hour therefore we are requiring the room be cleared no later than 5 minutes before the hour, each hour. 

For Example, your scheduled move in time is 10:00am. 

1. You will enter the College’s main parking lot at 10:00 a.m.
2. The Welcome Home Staff will transfer your belongings to a utility cart while you register
3. Your belongings will be delivered to your room
4. You may bring up to 2 people to assist you with setting up your room
5. You and your guests must leave the room before 10:55 a.m.

You and your guest(s) are invited to Bistro Perrier in the Alison Mansion where you will enjoy a time appropriate meal.  The Walnut Hill College Hospitality Tent will also be available during this time to assist you with any last-minute details or address any questions you or your guests have.  Student and Parent sessions will be held shortly after your move in time. See your mailed schedule for details. 

Vaccinated students may visit other vaccinated students rooms in accordance with the Residential Life and Learning handbook. Non-vaccinated students are not permitted to have any guests nor visit any other student rooms.

Outside visitors are not permitted in dormitories as their vaccination status cannot be confirmed. You can feel free to meet with your guests in public spaces or in outdoor locations on campus, but during this time the college is not permitting outside guests in dormitories.

Vaccinated students may visit other vaccinated students rooms in accordance with the Residential Life and Learning handbook. Non-vaccinated students are not permitted to have any guests nor visit any other student rooms.

Yes. Expect student clubs/organizations and student activities to take place both remotely and on-ground. Understand that some adjustments might be made to help ensure everyone’s health and safety.

Yes. As of now the city of Philadelphia is permitting indoor dining at restaurants. Patrons will be required to wear masks when they are not seated and eating. The college will closely and carefully monitor government regulators and change policies as needed.

Yes. As of now the city of Philadelphia is permitting indoor dining at restaurants. Patrons visiting our Pastry Shop will be required to wear masks when they are not seated and eating.

Walnut Hill College is located in the heart of University City Pennsylvania. We are neighbors with the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian health systems, among others. Although the college does not offer onsite testing or healthcare, there are several walk-up and drive through testing centers located nearby. These are easily found by visiting https://www.phila.gov/covid-testing-sites/#/.

The college will work with the local Department of Health and follow all recommendations and requirements from them.

Students should review our Health and Safety Protocols found here for details related to absences and grading.

Yes. In accordance with HIPPA and FERPA laws, Walnut Hill College will keep all information about a specific individual confidential. Only required college administrators will have access to a person’s medical information. They will keep this information strictly confidential. Although the college, as a place of employment, is required to disclose if someone on campus has the virus, names will never be disclosed.

The college recognizes that this remains fluid and rapidly changing situation and we are committed to carefully monitoring and responding to new information about COVID-19 and its effects, just as we expect our student body to do. The college has developed several contingency plans and is prepared to adjust our plans quickly so that we may keep our community safe. Your flexibility, understanding, patience, and support will be greatly appreciated!

Please contact health@walnuthillcollege.edu and someone will respond to you as promptly as possible. 

Should you have any questions that are not answered in the Frequently Asked Questions or the college’s Health and Safety webpages, please contact health@walnuthillcollege.edu and someone will respond to you as promptly as possible.