Dear Franklin Community,
Welcome to the New Academic Year!
Faculty and staff have been preparing for a safe and healthy in-person experience and are excited to welcome more than 180 new students starting classes today! Students are expected to attend in-person classes and follow the attendance policies indicated in their class syllabi.
We are proud to announce that more than 82% of students and 85% of faculty and administrative staff on campus have reported that they are vaccinated or partially vaccinated. We appreciate everyone’s efforts to help keep our community safe. We know this number will continue to change as some individuals who intend to get vaccinated were not able to do so before arriving at Franklin.
As a reminder, students who develop flu-like symptoms or have close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19 should immediately contact medicalservices@fus.edu for instructions and advice. Franklin continues to require masks in all indoor common areas and outdoors when you cannot be socially distanced. I encourage you to take the Franklin Pledge to express your commitment to follow the health and safety guidelines that have proven key factors in keeping our community healthy during the pandemic. You can consult our COVID-19 Information and Updates page, the COVID-19 Resources in the Franklin App, as well as our current Pandemic Protection Plan for additional details.
Franklin is expanding our future with the fast approaching completion of Phase 3 scheduled to open in spring 2022. In addition to a Residence Hall with more than 60 beds, this four-story structure will include a student center, auditorium space, the Office of Student Life office suite, a new gym, the Angela Fowler Atrium, and the Garden of Light. Students will be invited for tours of the Phase 3 site soon. Check the Franklin App for an invitation and details to register for a tour in the Tutte Le Strade tile.
A brief road construction update – the street from campus to the Lugano train station (called Via Sorengo in Lugano) re-opened for traffic today.
Lastly, we appreciate everyone’s patience with the recent WIFI issues. Presently, the LAC, Falcon’s Nest, and the Kaletsch Campus have working WIFI. Please be assured that every effort is now placed to make sure the residence halls are up and running as soon as possible.
We have many great events and activities scheduled for this semester and we are looking forward to seeing everyone come together and strengthen our community. For now, save the date for our Convocation Event on Wednesday, September 8!
Warm wishes for a successful semester!