RETURN TO CAMPUS: JANUARY 2021

AUC will return to Sint Maarten to deliver the January 2021 semester using a hybrid approach to our academics. 

The semester starts on January 4, 2021. A full academic calendar is available here.

We know that public campus spaces including the gym, cafeteria, testing center, and study rooms are an important part of your medical school experience—and important to your academic preparation and wellbeing. These spaces will be open but will operate with new safety procedures, reduced occupancies, and potentially different hours to enable proper physical distancing and more stringent cleaning protocols.

The gym and cardio room are now available for use as of November 16. For more information on safety protocols and scheduling workouts, please see “What are the safety protocols for the gym?” .

Most businesses and public spaces in Sint Maarten are open, including grocery stores, restaurants, businesses, parks, beaches, etc.

Yes. Our Return to Campus Team is working hard on ways to safely conduct social events on and off campus.

AUC understands the COVID-19 pandemic has created increased anxiety and uncertainty that affects our entire community. That being said, there is currently no definitive end in sight to the pandemic, and it is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Please note that clinical students are currently working in hospitals, and as future medical professionals you will soon be expected to join your colleagues on the frontlines. Each of us as individuals, and together as a society, will need to come to our own terms with COVID-19.

If you would like to discuss your concerns about traveling or returning to Sint Maarten, please contact Dr. Scott Rinker, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, at [email protected] to arrange a meeting. 

The gym and cardio room are available for use as of November 16. Please schedule your workouts online through the following link: https://auc.myvideointerview.co/50868-gym/172738-emails/en  

Please be sure to arrive and depart from the gym in a timely manner during your allotted time. At all times you must adhere to campus guidelines for personal protection, both in transit and while working out in the facilities. If you will not be able to make your scheduled window, please be considerate to others and contact [email protected] so the slot can be made available for use again. 

All rules and regulations will be posted throughout the Gym and Cardio room and must be followed by all patrons. 

Entrance, Exit, and Maximum Capacity 

• Students, spouses and partners, and employees may use the gym and Cardio room. 

• Visitors must have approval from Safety and Security and the Office of Student Affairs prior to using the Gym or Cardio Room. 

• Maximum of 10 people in the Gym and 5 in the Cardio room at any given time. 

• No group workouts are allowed inside the Gym or Cardio room. 

• All gym goers must enter through the East-facing doors (near ping pong table) and check in with the Gym Manager before starting a workout. 

• Entrance door must remain open at all times while the gym or cardio room is in operation. 

• All gym goers must exit at the top of the hour through the Southernmost door nearest to Building 2. 

• Maximum of 2 people in the restroom at the same time. 

Maximum time and Scheduling 

• Maximum allotted workout time is 1 hour per day per person, with workouts scheduled to start and end on the hour. 

• All workouts must be scheduled at least one day in advance and can be scheduled for one week maximum. 

• Workouts must be scheduled online through the following link: https://auc.myvideointerview.co/50868-gym/172738-emails/en

Safety Protocols 

• The AUC Facility department will clean the Gym and Cardio Room every weekday morning from 7:00am – 11:30 am. 

• Social distance of at least 2 meters is required at all times by all gym goers and employees while in the Gym and Cardio room. 

• All gym goers must sanitize their hands at the entrance with the AUC-provided disinfectant before the Gym Manager will permit gym or cardio room access. 

• Face masks are required at all times in the Gym and Cardio Room by all gym goers and employees. 

• Gym and Cardio Room goers must bring and use their personal clean towel for each workout. 

• Wipe down all equipment with the AUC-provided disinfectant before and after every use. 

• Sanitize hands before and after using equipment. 

• Use of showers is prohibited. 

Consequences of Misuse 

• The Gym and/or Cardio Room may close at any time at the discretion of the Campus Response Team. 

• Failure to comply with the Gym and Cardio Room rules may result in the loss of Gym and Cardio Room access. Gym Manager will receive and report all violations to Office of Student Affairs for further review. 

• A maximum of 2 consecutive missed workouts with/without notification will result in the loss of Gym and Cardio Room access for 2 weeks. 

All students will need to check in on campus. Please schedule an appointment according to the directions below, based on your semester cohort in January, which will enable AUC to facilitate a socially distanced check-in process. At your appointment, you will collect your insurance card, welcome bag, and AUC ID card/badge (if you do not already have one). 

If you have an AUC ID card:  

• Use the appropriate link to schedule your check-in, based on your cohort: 
• Semesters 1-3 – Schedule Check-in 
• Semesters 4-5 – Schedule Check-in 

If you previously had an AUC ID card, but have lost your card:  

• Email [email protected] to schedule an appointment to pick up your replacement ID card. The replacement fee will be waived one time due to the length of time students have been off-island. 
• Then, use the appropriate link to schedule your check-in, based on your cohort: 
• Semesters 1-3 – Schedule Check-in 
• Semesters 4-5 – Schedule Check-in 

If you have never been issued an AUC ID card: 

• Schedule an appointment via this link. You will collect your welcome bag and insurance card while you receive your ID card. 

Students are encouraged to book travel now. You should arrange travel to Sint Maarten with enough time to prepare for our January 4, 2021 start.

Yes, we are ready to begin welcoming students immediately. Before making travel arrangements, please complete our Student Travel Tracker form so that we can plan for your arrival and coordinate your access to campus. Students must also complete the Sint Maarten government’s Electronic Health Authorization System (EHAS) form, which is mandatory for every individual planning to enter the island.

If you have previously studied on Sint Maarten, please bring your residency documents. If you had received a residency permit but misplaced it, please email [email protected] for an electronic copy. 

If you have not yet been to Sint Maarten and do not have a resident permit, make sure you have proof of a return flight (e.g., roundtrip ticket), have submitted all relevant documents to Admissions ([email protected]) and have a copy of your AUC acceptance letter. Please email Admissions if you need an electronic copy of your letter. 
 
If you are a 3rd, 4th, or 5th semester student who received a resident permit but misplaced it, please email [email protected] for an electronic copy.

In addition to adhering to safety protocols on campus, each of us also has a responsibility to consider the impact of our off-campus actions to our AUC community, and to do our part to keep our community safe. To help reduce the risk of being infected with the virus at the beginning of the semester, we ask that all students observe a 7-day period of limited physical interaction with others upon arrival in Sint Maarten. 

Why is it important to observe a limited interaction period? 

Because of high rates of infection in many parts of the world, it is possible that even with the best of efforts, some students may have either pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic coronavirus infections when they arrive in Sint Maarten. As we begin the January 2021 semester, AUC will be focused on identifying any infections and preventing their spread. 

To that end, all students will be asked to comply with the 7-day limited interaction to further reduce the risk of spreading the virus prior to the start of in-person classes. The protocols of the limited interaction period will be challenging to follow, but we cannot stress how important it will be for students to adhere to them to help create a healthy environment for all AUC community members. 

What does the limited interaction period mean? 

For the first seven days after arrival to the Princess Juliana International Airport, students will be expected to: 
•    Travel directly to their housing and stay in their residence as much as possible, going out only to purchase groceries or other essential supplies 
•    Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and check their temperature daily 
•    Eat in their residence, either cooking or getting take-out 
•    Practice social distancing of 6 feet minimum in all interactions, strict use of masks when in public, and frequent handwashing  
•    Limit their exercise/recreation to activities that can be done either in their residence, or outdoors while socially distancing 
•    Not come to campus except for required activities, as identified by AUC 

If you experience any flu-like or COVID-19 symptoms, call the Sint Maarten Ministry of Public Health’s COVID-19 hotline at 914 or +1721-542-1570 and do not come onto campus. We also ask that you inform AUC by contacting Dr. Scott Rinker, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, at [email protected] and AUC’s Office of Safety & Security at [email protected] .  

Please note, campus check-in is a required activity that you are to complete even if it falls within your limited interaction period. For more information about campus check-in and to schedule an appointment, please see “How will check-in on the island be conducted?”

All travelers to Sint Maarten are required to complete a health authorization application via the Electronic Health Authorization System (EHAS), including proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Effective November 25, the government will accept proof of a negative RT-PCR nasopharyngeal swab within 5 days of arrival OR a negative antigen test result within 48 hours of arrival. Your negative test must be uploaded to the government’s website prior to boarding your flight.   

• Currently, the following antigen tests have been approved: Abbott (CGIA Panbio COVID-19 Ag rapid test), Becton Dickinson (CGIA BD Veritor COVID-19 test), and Roche (SD Biosensor F test). 
• If you haven’t already done so, plan ahead well in advance where you will obtain your COVID-19 test and confirm that the facility can provide results within the outlined time frame.  
• Upload your COVID-19 test results as soon as you have them so you can receive verification that they have been accepted. Be sure to name your file “rt-PCR Test -Your Name” or “Name of Antigen Test- Your Name” before uploading; for example, Dr. Chumley’s file name might be “rt-PCR Test-Heidi Chumley”. 
• You will need to have copies of your COVID-19 test results and the travel authorization form with you when you are checking in at the airport, and when you arrive in Sint Maarten.  

Please continue to regularly monitor the government website at https://stmaartenehas.com/travel-requirements/.and familiarize yourself with the forms you will need to fill out, the types of COVID-19 tests accepted, and the information required when uploading. We urge you to pay close and regular attention to the entry requirements as they may continue to change.  

The CDC provides a comprehensive list of travel guidelines with best practices and recommendations.

Please reach out to Dr.  Scott Rinker, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, at [email protected] to discuss how AUC can best troubleshoot your situation. This will be handled on a case by case basis.

The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19), commonly known as a coronavirus, is a virus identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China. For additional information visit the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website. 

According to the World Health Organization, common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death. The CDC believes that symptoms may appear in as few as two days or up to 14 days after exposure. 

Students who are immunosuppressed or have a pre-existing medical condition should contact Dr. Scott Rinker, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, at [email protected] to discuss their unique case prior to arranging travel to Sint Maarten.

Precautions can be taken to minimize your risk and prevent exposure and spread of the disease. 

Personal Hygiene 

It is important that we work together to take common sense precautions that can reduce the risk of catching or spreading COVID-19.  

Per CDC guidelines 

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, if soap and water are not available. 
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick, even inside your home.
• Practice social distancing with people outside of your home. Stay at least 6 feet from other people.
• Wear a cloth face covering when around others.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. 
• Clean and frequently disinfect common work surfaces. 
• If you or a family member develops a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as a cough or shortness of breath, or are experiencing cold- or flu-like symptoms, work with to alert appropriate contacts and practice social distancing.   

Please visit http://www.sintmaartengov.org/government/VSA/Health-Updates/NOVELCORONAVIRUS/Pages/Current-Situation.aspx for more information.

AUC’s Campus Return Team has instituted numerous protocols as a part of our comprehensive safety plan. Some elements include symptom screenings with temperature checks upon campus entry, installing hand sanitizer stations, reduced capacity of common spaces, mandatory masks, redirecting pedestrian traffic to utilize one-way routes, and physical barriers in student service areas. We will continue to iteratively improve and implement best practices. Additionally, it should be explicitly clear that AUC has transparent expectations laid out in the student handbook detailing student code of conduct and behavior standards. These principles apply to all COVID-19 policies and students are expected to act accordingly.

A second wave has actually already come and gone in Sint Maarten similar to many communities in the US and around the world. Remember the major challenge with the first wave was flattening the curve to give health care systems the time needed to increase their capacity to care for COVID-19 patients and put safeguards in place. Second waves have largely stayed under the hospital system capacity, which is certainly the case in Sint Maarten. Cases are still expected to occur and the number of individuals affected will fluctuate, however temperate climate and ample outdoor spaces will enable a safe, socially distanced environment for fun, study, and relaxation.

Sint Maarten currently has no travel restrictions and a fairly low rate of COVID-19 incidence. That being said, whether families and loved ones should return is ultimately an individual decision. AUC considers students’ families to be part of the AUC community and they are very welcome, assuming they are comfortable returning.

Yes, both surgical and cloth masks will be available for students and faculty; although be aware you will need masks for travel to and from Sint Maarten and should have your own available.

All AUC students sign a code of conduct agreeing to abide by our policies and as future medical professionals are expected to adhere to them. Individuals found to be non-compliant will have a meeting with Dr. Rinker, Dean of Student Affairs. Each situation is different/unique and will be handled individually on a case by case basis.

We all share the responsibility of keeping our campus community safe. If you see something, please say something. We encourage you to kindly remind your peers and fellow campus community members of the safety protocols if you see that they are not being followed. If you continue to see concerning incidents, please use this form to report violations of the community standards for COVID-19-related health and safety protocols to the Office of Student Affairs. Situations may be addressed using the existing AUC’s Professional Conduct Policy. Particularly egregious, willfully dangerous, or repeated incidents may be deemed misconduct and handled through the administrative review process per the Student Handbook. 

If you experience any flu-like or COVID-19 symptoms, call the Sint Maarten Ministry of Public Health’s COVID-19 hotline at 914 or +1721-542-1570 and do not come onto campus. We also ask that you inform AUC by contacting Dr. Scott Rinker, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, at [email protected] and AUC’s Office of Safety & Security at [email protected].  

Prior to being on campus: Please contact Dr. Scott Rinker, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, at [email protected]. 

While on Sint Maarten: Please call the Sint Maarten Ministry of Public Health’s COVID-19 hotline at 914 or +1721-542-1570 and do not come onto campus. Please contact Dr. Scott Rinker, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, at [email protected] and AUC’s Office of Safety & Security at [email protected].  

Each situation will be considered on an individual basis through conversation with Dr. Scott Rinker, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs. In order to be approved a Leave of Absence (LOA), students will need to provide documentation of their illness from their healthcare provider to the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at [email protected]. Once approved for a LOA related to illness, AUC will work with you and your faculty to determine a makeup date for any mandatory activities that you may have missed.  

Students are responsible for any costs associated with COVID-19 testing that is part of a government requirement for entry to Sint Maarten. We encourage you to work with your insurance provider to see what coverage they offer for COVID-19 testing.  

If AUC implements campus-administrated COVID-19 testing, these costs would be managed by AUC. Please stay tuned for more information on this.  

All large group lectures will be pre-recorded and posted to Echo360. The large lecture halls will be primarily used for in-person activities with priority given to ICM and clinical skills practice. Anatomy labs and cadaver dissection will also be conducted in-person with social distancing. Select other courses will have in-person components (flipped classrooms, small group case-based learning) as time, space and schedules allow. It is likely that activities will have to be staggered to enable maximal use of our available spaces. Please understand that campus facilities are operating under reduced capacities and we must be creative to allow proper physical distancing for each space. All in-person activities will take place with appropriate PPE.

The large group lecture halls are reserved for in-person activities, so all lectures will be pre-recorded. AUC faculty have been diligently recording new, updated lectures. While lectures will not be presented live, we anticipate having most lectures recently recorded and updated with only a few instances where we will rely on old Echo360 recordings from prior semesters.

Many local landlords and property owners have agreed to offer 4-month and 8-month lease options. Rising 5th semester students can also request an on-campus housing unit for a single semester term through our Department of Housing and Residential Life. Units will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis so please contact [email protected] as soon as possible to secure your spot.

Additionally, a brand new housing development located just next to campus is expected to open in time for January semester start.

Please reach out to the Housing team at [email protected] with questions about requesting rooms.

No. The January 2021 semester plans have no bearing on your tuition and fees, which have been set for the entire academic year (September 2020 - September 2021). In July, AUC and our Board of Directors approved a tuition freeze understanding the financial hardships that medical students and their families are facing as a result of the pandemic. We continue to work hard to find efficiencies and keep costs down while investing in educational resources, innovation, and university-wide safety measures.