this document provides policy and guidance for all abac faculty, staff, students, and persons visiting the abac campus. it takes precedence over other guidance and/or policy and will remain in effect until it is replaced, amended, or canceled.

this document reflects many hours of research and preparation by eight working groups preparing for abac reopening. the recommendations, guidelines, and policies herein assimilate information from sources such as the centers for disease control, the georgia department of public health, the university system of georgia, and others.

we will continue to add to this frequently asked questions section of the site.

april 17, 2020

dear stallions:

over the last few weeks, many alumni and friends of abac have reached out to help our students, particularly those facing financial hardship, during these unprecedented times.

these are very trying times. while much has been said about the immediate needs of food, shelter and technology, we are doing our best to meet these needs of our students as they arise.

once we come out of the acute phase of the covid19 pandemic, we will likely face challenges that extend into the foreseeable future. families, institutions, and the world economy will be impacted for a long time.

our concerns are drawn to the challenges which the college will face as a result of the financial impact of the pandemic that will remain with us. reduced state funding and lower enrollment numbers are real challenges for abac when phase one of this storm has passed. many families of abac students will have suffered financial damage that will make the continuation of their college education more difficult.

if you are in a position to help, we invite you to consider making a gift to one of the following funds:

• the fund for abac. your gift will help us continue to provide essential student services such as supporting remote learning and its significant technological needs, and other areas of highest priority for the college during this time.

• scholarship fund. the need for scholarships is greater than ever and will continue to grow. financial hurdles will be as varied and unique as the students themselves. gifts to scholarships will help students continue to progress toward graduation in spite of family hardship and other difficulties.

please know that we are working and will continue to work to meet the needs of our students and ensure their well-being and academic success. i hope that all of you and your loved ones are healthy and safe.

sincerely,

david bridges, president, class of 1978

march 26, 2020

dear abac alumni and friends,

we are living in challenging times and today, as we have for more than 112 years, abac stands prepared for the challenge.

i know that you care deeply about abac and for that reason, i wanted to share the college’s response to the covid-19 pandemic. our first concern is always the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and the community.  we are working with local and state officials in that regard.

abac is not 已关闭，但校园运营已大幅更改。支持 social distancing and in compliance with various federal, state, and local actions to limit exposure and hopefully minimize spread of the virus, abac has:

• suspended face-to-face instruction – beginning march 30, and for the remainder of spring semester, instruction will be delivered online. abac is working diligently to ensure that abac students have a quality educational experience, even though it will be quite different than their typical campus experience.
• closed dormitories and most students have moved out. for a few who might be better served by staying than returning home, we permitted them to stay.
• 取消了本学期剩余时间的所有学生活动。
• cancelled all public events for the remainder of the semester, including homecoming and spring commencement. when the all clear is given, we will celebrate appropriately.

we seek your thoughts, prayers, and encouragement for abac faculty, staff, and students. we will continue to update this site with our response to the covid-19 crisis.

the abac spirit is alive and well and transcends campus boundaries and physical proximity. we will get through this situation together, for the ties that bind us are stronger than these current challenges. i look forward to welcoming our community back to an even stronger and better campus in the future.

sincerely,

david bridges, president, class of 1978

prevention is a key strategy with any virus, such as influenza or coronavirus, so it is important to both protect yourself and take measures against the spread to others.

according to the cdc，可以采取以下预防措施来降低接触风险：

there is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease in 2019 (covid-19). the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. however, as a reminder, the cdc always recommends daily preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

• 避免与生病的人密切接触。
• avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• stay home when you are sick.
• 用纸巾遮住咳嗽或打喷嚏，然后将纸巾丢进垃圾桶。
• clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• 请遵循cdc有关使用口罩的建议。
  • cdc does not recommend that people who are well wearing a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including covid-19.
  • facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of covid-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. the use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and 照顾别人的人 (at home or in a healthcare facility).
• wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • if soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

may 26, 2020

please be reminded that all travel and events by clubs and abac personnel must be approved before the travel or event.  through this approval process, we are seeking to keep all students, staff, and faculty safe during this time of uncertainty. therefore, no travel or group events will be approved during this heightened time of caution and social distancing.  we are asking that no club or organization participate in activities representing abac during this public health state of emergency executive order issued by governor kemp and supported by abac.

the order is set to expire on friday, june 12 at 11:59 unless renewed by the governor. after this date, clubs and organizations may request an exception to participate in activities. the request must be in writing and submitted 14 days in advance of the event for approval or denial.

send the request to bernice hughes at deanofstudents@abac.edu.

if clubs and organizations fail to follow these instructions, sanctions will be given.

updated: march 6, 2020

several health organizations are advising against non-essential travel as this reduces exposure and chance for spread.  hence, we are taking actions to limit non-essential travel and educate our students and employees about the dynamic nature of the coronavirus situation. these actions will promote the safety and welfare of the college community and facilitate management should the situation worsen.

travel authority – effective, march 6, 2020, all previously approved travel for employees is subject to reapproval. 

this includes all travel approved before march 6, 2020, related to study abroad, student clubs, field trips, athletic teams, and professional meetings that have not yet taken place. it includes all travel approved under travel-specific authorizations and blanket authorization to travel.  you must resubmit for approval.

The new travel approval process
this action is taken so that the college can gather accurate and detailed information about travel by abac employees.  it does not necessarily mean that you cannot travel.  it means that you must resubmit for approval using the new process below:

1. complete the existing travel authorization request (triplicate paper form) available at the abac post office and at many school/department offices across campus or the new online version of the form, and
2. complete the electronic travel registry 并将确认书副本转发给您的直接主管， and
3. 获得您的直接主管的批准 and 旅行发生之前，您的主管副总裁。
4. if you have questions about this process, contact your supervising vice president.

failure to comply with all steps above will make you ineligible for travel reimbursement.

我们为什么要对旅行批准流程进行这些更改？

• to make sure the abac administration knows where and when people are traveling 
• so that we can keep employees up-to-date while they are traveling, if necessary
• to make sure everyone is aware of the potential risks currently associated with traveling
• 尽我们最大能力确保我们的abac校园/社区安全健康 

right to know
all employees and students are advised that according to the cdc, the georgia department of public health, and other informed sources that those who travel, whether personal or on business, and especially those traveling abroad, may face unpredictable circumstances, travel restrictions, and other challenges in returning home or accessing health care while abroad.  therefore, you are advised to seek travel guidance from the cdc.

march 9, 2019
update regarding study abroad to belize

due to new recommendations from trusted and informed sources and the ever-changing circumstances surrounding the coronavirus, the abac administration has decided to cancel the spring break study abroad trip to belize.