AS OF MARCH 3, 2022
-
Effective March 3 at 8 a.m., the indoor mask mandate in all campus buildings is lifted.
AS OF FEBRUARY 5, 2022
- External visitors are now allowed at on-campus events. We do ask that fans are masked.
AS OF JANUARY 14, 2022
- External visitors will not be able to attend on-campus events, including athletic competitions through February 4. Employees and students may still attend on-campus events and athletic competitions during that time. Faculty and staff are still allowed to host external attendees for meetings and official College business.
August 18, 2021: Hood College spectator policy
Outdoor Venues
(Thomas Athletic Field, Hood Softball Field, Hood Tennis Complex and PB Dye Golf Course)
No masks will be required for fans.
Off-Site Venue
(FCC Baseball Field)
TBA
Indoor Facilities
(BB&T Arena, Huntsinger Aquatics Center, Esports Arena)
Indoor fans will be required masks.
STATEMENTS
March 3: MAC Statement on Spectators
As the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) prepares to begin spring competition, conference leadership believes that protecting the health and safety of the student-athletes and the greater campus communities must take priority. The MAC has reaffirmed a previous decision that spectators will not be permitted at any athletics events until further notice. No individuals outside of those deemed necessary to conduct the event may attend, including students, faculty or staff. This policy covers all MAC sports.
The MAC leadership will continue to evaluate circumstances as the spring semester progresses and will provide updates regarding spectator attendance if and when that information becomes available.
February 18: MAC announces spring schedules
The Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) has announced its plans to proceed with spring sports and swimming beginning in March. The return dates, schedules and championship formats have been determined.
As the season progresses you can stay up-to-date with scheduling changes by checking institutional athletics websites or by viewing the composite schedules on www.gomacsports.com.
It has been determined that there will be no spectators allowed at MAC sporting events until further notice.
Below is an explanation of each sport's return date, schedule and championship format for the spring semester. However, the safety and well-being of our student-athletes and campus communities remain a priority. All plans are subject to change due to the realities of the pandemic.
Click here for full story.
January 12: Hood update on winter sports
FREDERICK, Md. - In response to the Middle Atlantic Conference's decision to move forward with the 2020-21 winter athletics season, Hood College announced today that it will opt out of the MAC men's and women's basketball seasons. This decision was based on the recommendations of the public health experts from the Frederick County Health Department and Frederick Health, as well as the College's COVID Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Board of Trustees. At this time, the plan is for track and field to begin practicing for their outdoor spring season and swimming to compete within the MAC beginning in mid-March.
"As with our previous decision to forgo competition in this fall, this is a very difficult decision, as I know how important competitions are to our athletes and our whole community. Yet, it is the only responsible one for not only the Hood community, but also the Frederick community," said President Andrea E. Chapdelaine, Ph.D. "Local hospitals are facing limited capacity. The county's positivity rate currently is higher than the state average and areas where our students would be competing are four times Frederick County's rate."
Director of Athletics Susan Kolb, Ph.D. said that student-athletes and coaches will continue in-person practice and intrasquad scrimmages, following COVID protocols put in place in the fall. "I know our student-athletes and coaches want to compete. While I understand the experience will be different than competing, we will continue to provide an engaging athletic experience and use this opportunity to get better technically, tactically and physically."
This decision only affects men's and women's basketball. College officials will look at metrics in February for a possibility of intercollegiate competition for the Blazers' NCAA and club sports. Varsity esports will continue to compete remotely.
December 2: MAC announces plan for winter sports
ANNVILLE, Pa. – The Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Presidents met this week and affirmed their support for moving forward with tentative plans for winter sports in a manner that prioritizes the health and well-being of student-athletes, coaches, campuses and local communities.
Due to state and local restrictions and rising rates of infection across the MAC region, the conference leadership will meet over the next few months and continue to track the trajectory of the pandemic and resulting health and safety recommendations or mandates from local, state and national public health authorities to determine on-going plans and schedules.
The tentative plan for men's and women's basketball is to start a conference-only season no earlier than mid-February with a 5-to-6 week schedule and the possibility of a conference championship. The swimming season is slated to start in early March, potentially culminating with a MAC Championship in mid-April.
The 2021 MAC Indoor Track & Field Championships and the 2021 MAC Wrestling Championship have been canceled. However, the conference presidents supported institutional autonomy for indoor track & field and wrestling, allowing each institution to schedule outside competition at its discretion.
The MAC will rely on the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) decision as it pertains to the men's and women's ice hockey season.
"We continue to be hopeful that circumstances will allow intercollegiate competition to resume for MAC institutions in 2021," said Megan Morrison, MAC Executive Director. "While we remain hopeful, we simultaneously share in the disappointment that our athletics communities feel in having championships canceled and seasons cut short."
The MAC athletics directors continue to develop plans focusing on conference and regional competition in fall and spring sports for consideration by the presidents at a future meeting.
The MAC will continue to prioritize the health and well-being of student-athletes, coaches, campuses and communities and therefore will continue to evaluate both internal and external factors as needed. The conference will, at minimum, comply with all applicable mandates and NCAA Sport Science Institute's recommendations for resocialization of collegiate sports.
July 24: MAC suspends NCAA competition for fall of 2020
After careful consideration of internal and external circumstances and with the health and well-being of each campus and community in mind, the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Presidents made the difficult decision to suspend all intercollegiate athletics competition through the fall semester in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The MAC Presidents are well aware of the important role athletics plays in the lives of student-athletes and are committed to exploring creative approaches and alternatives that will provide future competitive experiences for fall sport student-athletes in the spring semester as circumstances allow.
The MAC presidents, athletics directors and the MAC COVID-19 Advisory Group will continue to evaluate the athletics landscape throughout the 2020-21 academic year to address:
- Engaging fall, winter and spring sport student-athletes in the fall term with coaches following all institutional, local and national health and safety guidelines
- Shifting fall sport competitive seasons to the spring, insofar as possible
- Scheduling winter sports competition beginning in 2021
- Implementing league-wide and campus safety measures for practices and competitions when they do occur
- Developing league-wide and institutional personal and professional development programming
"This decision was very difficult, as we know how deep the love of the game is for our student-athletes and that intercollegiate events are an important part of campus life for our entire community," said Dr. Andrea E. Chapdelaine, Chair of MAC President's Council and Hood College President. "However, we are confident that our coaches and athletic staff will work with the students to build an engaging athletic experience for our student-athletes while mitigating the risk of COVID-19."
General questions will be addressed through an FAQ document available
here.
July 10: MAC Announces Update on Fall 2020
The Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) President's Council met on Thursday to discuss athletics for the fall of 2020 and has made the following statement:
The MAC intends to pursue fall athletics competition, with each campus formulating plans for resocialization that will comply with local, state and NCAA guidelines. Competition will be limited to MAC institutional members beginning no earlier than September 18, 2020 and with the goal of reaching NCAA minimums in all sports.
The MAC will continue to prioritize the health and well-being of student-athletes, coaches, campuses and communities and therefore will continue to evaluate both internal and external factors and revisit this decision if necessary.
"It is paramount that each campus prioritizes the health of its entire campus community," said Megan Morrison, MAC Executive Director. "I am hopeful that with carefully crafted resocialization plans, athletics, as an integral piece in the co-curricular experience for so many student-athletes and campuses, may be able to happen this fall."
If you have questions, you can email
questions@gomacsports.com.
March 16: MAC to Cancel All Athletics Events Through Remainder of 2019-20 Academic Year
ANNVILLE, Pa. (Conference News) – With further developments in the outbreak of COVID-19, the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Presidents announced their unanimous decision to cancel all spring athletics practices and competition through the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year.
On Friday, the NCAA announced it was canceling the remainder of its winter and spring championships. \
With this news the NCAA Division III Administrative Committee provided flexibility for schools to assist students with travel, lodging and meals as a result of campus displacements. The committee waived all requirements for sports sponsorships for the spring season. It also granted an additional season/semester of eligibility for student-athletes participating in spring sports.
March 13:
March 13: IHSA to cancel remainder of season
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – March 13, 2020 – The Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) executive committee regrets to announce their decision to cancel the remainder of the 2019/2020 competition season, as of midnight March 12, 2020. This cancellation applies to all IHSA shows including Zones, Western Semi-Finals and Nationals. Our top priority is the well-being and safety of all our members. This decision was not made lightly and is based on the latest information concerning the coronavirus (COVID-19).
We recognize the hard work and effort put forward by the membership, the hours of practice, volunteerism, fundraising and team spirit of the student members and the dedication and leadership of the coaches.
We encourage IHSA members to refer to the
CDC website for up-to-date information on the status of the coronavirus and to follow prevention measures and personal care recommendations. Members are also urged to follow the advice of your state and community concerning any specific coronavirus guidelines and travel policies.
We look forward to the IHSA 2020/2021 season.
March 12: NCAA cancels remaining winter and spring championships
Today, NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors canceled the Division I men's and women's 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships. This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities.
March 12: MAC Announcement on COVID-19
ANNVILLE, Pa. (Conference News) – Thursday morning, the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Presidents determined it is in the best interest of campus communities to suspend athletic competition over the next two weeks, effective Monday, March 16 through Monday, March 30.
The MAC will be actively monitoring the situation and reassessing this action over the next two weeks to determine if further action is warranted.
MAC institutions will suspend conference and non-conference athletic contests, on or off campus, during those two weeks.
General questions will be addressed through an FAQ document
available here.
Questions about the MAC's response not addressed in the FAQs can be directed to
questions@gomacsports.com.
March 11: Letter from Hood College President Andrea Chapdelaine, Ph.D:
Dear Hood Community,
As the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has spread around the world, it has challenged all of us in different ways.
The uncertainty of it all can be frightening, but we are a strong community and we are here to support one another. To that end, the Campus Emergency Response Team has been gathering information, consulting with local health officials (including our partners at Frederick Health and the Frederick County Health Department) and conferring with other colleges and public officials, not only in the state, but around the country with the foremost goal of serving, protecting and supporting our students and other members of the campus community.
While there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Frederick County, the College is committed to doing our part to minimize the spread of the virus, especially as students and faculty are due back on campus after traveling out of the area on spring break.
After careful consideration, we have made the following difficult, but we believe necessary, decisions for the well-being of our community:
- We are extending spring break by one week (March 15-21).
- There will be no classes during the week of March 15-21, while faculty prepare to provide online instruction.
- Beginning Monday, March 23, all undergraduate and graduate classes will move online. More information will be forthcoming regarding resources that are being put in place to support faculty in making this transition.
- A decision about maintaining online classes for the week of March 30 will be made and communicated no later than close of business on Friday, March 20.
- Students should not return to campus until further notice.
- Students currently on campus or returning to campus from College-sanctioned trips must be prepared to depart campus within 24 hours upon arrival.
- For any students who require on-campus housing during this time, we will consider those cases on an individual basis. In order to be considered, students must complete the Petition to Remain on Campus by Thursday, March 12 at noon. Limited dining services will be available; details will follow.
- All non-essential college-related travel and on-campus events, including athletic practices and competitions, through Sunday, March 29 are canceled and will be rescheduled, if possible.
- Campus offices will remain open to support students during this trying time. Reducing in-person meetings and making use of social distancing is encouraged.
While I realize this decision will immediately raise a large number of questions and concerns, I ask for your patience as we navigate this complex situation. We will communicate additional information in the days ahead for students, faculty and staff. To help inform and educate members our community, an FAQ page is under development and can be found at hood.edu/covid19; email queries may be sent to covidquestions@hood.edu.
The goal of these changes is preventative, achieved by minimizing gathering in large groups and spending prolonged time in close proximity with each other in spaces such as classrooms, dining halls and residential buildings. We encourage all members of the Hood community to continue practicing prevention behaviors outlined on the COVID-19 page.
Warm regards,
Andrea E. Chapdelaine, Ph.D.
President
