Davis & Elkins Athletics Return-to-Campus Resources

D&E Student-Athletes,

During the constantly evolving process of returning to in-person learning on campus and returning to play for the 2020-21 academic year, our athletic department wanted to provide a single resource that contains the most updated information, and where the state of West Virginia, Davis & Elkins College, the NCAA and Mountain East Conference currently stand. This page will be updated as quickly as new information is available.

Last Updated 8/21/20

• DII presidents council approves further COVID-19 protections for student-athletes: Click Here
• MEC Update on 2020-21 Season: Click Here
• NCAA update on fall championships: Click Here
• MEC Statement Regarding 2020-21 Season: Click Here
• Fall 2020 Triathlon Championship Season Canceled: Click Here
• Previous COVID-19 Resource Page for Student-Athletes: Click Here
• West Virginia DHHR COVID-19 Updates Page: Click Here
• D&E Student-Athlete Dashboard: Click Here (includes links to athletic training forms and more)

Davis & Elkins College Updates

• D&E Guide for Returning to Campus (PDF): Click Here
• RealDEal Return-to-Campus Video: Click Here
• D&E Updates: Click Here
• Fall 2020 New Student Orientation Schedule: Click Here

Returning to Campus 

• Davis & Elkins College announced an updated timeline for the Fall 2020 semester, beginning with the first day of classes on Monday, August 17. Classes are set to conclude on Friday, November 20 with final exams running from November 21-25. More information on the changes to the 2020 academic calendar can be found on page 21 of the D&E Guide for Returning to Campus.
• Certain academic preparations, such as the creation of hybrid courses allowing for a mixture of in-person and online course delivery, are in place. More information can be found in the D&E Guide for Returning to Campus.
• Move-in Day will be staggered pursuant to Office of Student Life reservations and guidelines. Physical distancing and face covering will be required during the move in process. Each student will be permitted two family members on campus, all of whom will be subject to the same campus screening procedures as students, faculty and staff.
• Student-athletes will return to campus based on their assignment as part of the Fall 2020 phased move-in process. More information on this phased move-in process can be found here and additional updates from the Office of Student Life will be communicated through your D&E email.
• Campus buildings and halls will have designated entry and exit points which will be monitored electronically, and all social distancing guidelines will be followed. PPE equipment should always be worn in any building or hall on campus. Sanitary stations will be located at the entrance to campus buildings and halls. COVID-19 capacity will be determined in all classroom spaces. Campus stairwells will accommodate one-way foot traffic and will be designated up or down.
• All student-athletes are required to have daily COVID-19 check-in for all sports programs upon arrival of campus. Any positive findings will require individuals to be quarantined until tested.

Returning to Athletics 

• The D&E athletic department, which created a sub-committee as part of the College’s reopening task force, has developed a phased plan to ensure the health and safety of student-athletes, staff and the greater campus community. The full plan for athletics is accessible through Appendix K of the D&E Guide for Returning to Campus.
• The Mountain East Conference Board of Directors today announced several decisions, including the postponement of fall sports until the spring semester. The board's resolutions come following last week's announcement from the NCAA Board of Governors regarding additional requirements and the cancellation of 2020 NCAA Division II Fall Championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• The athletic training office will be relocating to the Martin Field House to begin the fall 2020 semester.
• As of this update, the MEC is still finalizing what countable athletically related activities (CARA) and voluntary athletically related activities (VARA) will be permitted prior to the first practice date.
• The D&E athletics protocol includes COVID-19 testing of all student-athletes based off D&E Student Health Services guidelines.

Frequently Asked Questions

NCAA Updates

• NCAA COVID-19 Updates/Resources: Click Here
• NCAA COVID-19 FAQs: Click Here
• NCAA Recruiting Update: Click Here
• The NCAA has issued a waiver that will allow all spring sports student-athletes to regain the 2020 year as a season of competition. This pertains to only spring sports student-athletes and will not apply to winter sports student-athletes. All spring student-athletes, regardless of class, will not be charged a year of competition for the 2020 season if the following two criteria are met:
  • The student-athlete must have been eligible, and the program's season had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
  • This waiver can be taken with the student-athlete to another school. However, all normal NCAA transfer rules remain in place.
• The NCAA has issued a waiver that will grant an extension to the 10-semester rule for those spring sports student-athletes who met the following criteria:
  • The student-athlete must have been eligible, and the program’s season had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
  • Please note this only pertains to those who exhausted their 10 semesters of eligibility in the spring of 2020. All other student-athletes must complete their eligibility within 10 full-time semesters.
• Follow along on Twitter and online for the latest developments regarding compliance rules: @NCAA | @NCAADII | @NCAADIIRules