As members of the St. John’s College community, we have come to appreciate and value our collective ability to govern ourselves which rests on the observance of two principles, those of responsibility and honesty. We recognize that the wellbeing of the campus community, which is composed largely of students, depends primarily on personal self-regulation through public-spirited acceptance of the common good. In the face of Covid-19, we are called to build upon these core values, recognizing that now more than ever, each of our actions, and inactions, has profound impacts on our fellow community members. All members of the college community share the responsibility to uphold a Culture of Care in order to protect the wellbeing of everyone—including students, faculty, staff, and community members. The Culture of Care serves to promote and protect the greater good by providing students with a framework for living and working together as students of St. John’s. The Culture of Care principles include:
St. John’s Culture of Care will be essential in the months to come in order to safely bring our campus community back together. The Culture of Care can only be successful through the people who commit to its continued success. In order to carry on the educational missions and rich traditions of our college while minimizing transmission of Covid-19 and protecting those most vulnerable to the disease, St. John’s puts forth this Culture of Care Agreement that outlines the behavioral expectations for members of the St. John’s community in preserving safe communities, both on and off the Santa Fe campus.
By joining us as students, you agree to adhere to these expectations for face coverings, physical distancing, and social activity detailed below—all in effect until further notice. Additionally, by enrolling as students of The Program, you agree to care for others’ health and safety as much as you care for your own—recognizing that on campus, many of our tutors, essential staff, and our peers are in age groups or have chronic health issues that pose significant risk should they contract Covid-19, and recognizing that even off campus, you are representatives of the college. You understand that the health of our community is contingent upon these measures, and thus to remain a member of the residential community and/or have access to campus and remain in good standing, one must strictly adhere to these policies.
I understand, as a member of the St. John’s community, that I play a vital role in upholding and promoting St. John’s Culture of Care in all of the various ways that students interact not only with each other but also with faculty, staff, and members of my wider community. I especially understand that this participation is essential to protecting the health and safety of others during a global pandemic. I agree to abide by all federal, state, city, and college mandates, policies, protocols, and procedures related to Covid-19, and I agree to participate in any required training.
I understand that violations of this Culture of Care Agreement will be handled through our Community Standards process detailed in the Student Handbook. I agree that, should I choose not to follow all aspects of the Agreement, I may forfeit my right to live and study on campus now or in the future in addition to any other sanctions determined through the Community Standards process.
Any violations of the above policies will be reported to the Director of Student Life for review. Contact will be made with the alleged party and if found responsible, will likely result in immediate removal or future suspension from housing and access to campus.
The expectations for St. John’s students in this Agreement are guided by the values essential to every member of St. John’s. The values we cherish at St. John’s are embodied in the Culture of Care, and these values are more important to uphold now than ever before. We recognize that these difficult and unparalleled times call for changes in how we conduct both our college’s operations and our own lives in order to uphold those values that we have always held dear. St. John’s values remain constant, but these principles call for temporary adjustments to our way of being together, which are necessary to protect everyone—our students, faculty, staff, family, and community—to the best of our abilities. To provide everyone with a reasonable, equitable sense of safety, we must all agree—and have assurance that every other member of our community has consented—to abide by certain behavioral guidelines. Please note that these guidelines may be changed or provided with more specificity over time as changes in public health guidance require. St. John’s students agree to monitor their own behavior to conform and abide with these expectations and will comply with directions from the college for the safety of the community.
St. John’s is committed to the health, safety and well-being of our students, staff, faculty, and extended community. Therefore, all members of the St. John’s community will wear facial coverings and will maintain appropriate physical distance in campus buildings, outdoors, and in their broader community as is recommended by the Department of Health.
St. John’s is committed to excellence in higher education. Enrolled students will certainly be challenged and experience academic growth in all the ways that St. John’s College has offered since its beginnings. Faculty will remain available for support, engaging in academic dialogue, and consultation related to coursework.
St. John’s recognizes the importance of extra-curricular, social, and recreational activities as part of our educational experience, as long as these activities can be conducted safely both for their participants and for those with whom they may come into contact with during and after those activities. To ensure this safety, these activities must follow St. John’s safety protocols, including guidelines for physical distancing. On campus, this means that all buildings will have signage with further information for students, faculty and staff, including occupancy limits in the rooms in academic and public buildings and residences. Outdoor furniture will be designed and arranged to maximize social connectivity while maintaining physical distance. St. John’s students have the responsibility to follow the directions provided in these guidelines, and to seek clarity if confusion arises.
By enrolling as a student at St. John’s College, I affirm that I have read the entirety of this Culture of Care Agreement and pledge to comply with the expectations detailed above in order to keep our community safe and healthy.
I understand that taking these measures will reduce the risk to my health and the health of others, but I also understand that St. John’s College cannot completely eliminate my risk of contracting Covid-19.
I also understand that noncompliance with the expectations listed above may result in sanctions, including my immediate removal or future suspension from campus.
Please log into your mySJC account to sign the Culture of Care Agreement.
