Link to Chrouser weight room reservations
COVID-19 FAQ FOR FALL 2020 WHEATON ATHLETICS
Q: Is there a chance for spring competition for fall sports?
A: For student-athletes in men’s and women’s cross country, football, men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, the CCIW will explore the feasibility of opportunities for these fall sport teams to compete during the spring while maintaining full conference competition in spring sports.
For student-athletes competing in women’s golf and women’s tennis, the CCIW Championships for these sports will be moved to the spring on dates to be determined by the conference office. The CCIW will create a conference schedule for women’s tennis in the spring season.
Q: Is there any information about winter sports and their schedule?
A: An announcement on winter sports will be made by the CCIW in the coming weeks.
Q: Will Chrouser Sports Complex be open to students in the fall?
A: Yes. However, the decreased capacity limits require that Chrouser usage be significantly restricted. The building is open only to faculty, staff and students and access will not be extended to family members and community members at this time. Hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. ---- (UPDATED ON SEPT. 11)
Q: What are the guidelines for use of the Chrouser Sports Complex?
A: Below is information on the using Chrouser Sports Complex at this time.
- All students, faculty, and staff must use Chrouser Sports Complex’s Facility Reservation System to book a space for exercise. Participants will need to create a username and password using their wheaton.edu or my.wheaton.edu email address.
- Masks are to be worn at all times and social distancing is expected at all times.
- Pick-up basketball is not allowed.
- You can make back-to-back reservations if 30 minutes is not enough time for you, or if you want to exercise in multiple areas. If you make two reservations, please tell the desk worker so they can check you in for both time slots when you arrive. No overlapping times are allowed.
- Make sure to cancel your reservations if your plans change and you are no longer coming to Chrouser. Bookings cannot be cancelled during reserved time.
- 3 “No-Shows” over a two-week period will result in the loss of reservation privileges for one week.
- If you show up 10 minutes late to a reservation, you will be marked as “No-Show”.
- You can make up to 20 reservations (each reservation is a 30 minute time slot) over a two-week period.
- If you made a reservation in the weight room, please go into the weight room to check-in.
- No stretching or working out in the hallways. ---- (UPDATED ON SEPT. 11)
Q: What is the NCAA guidance related to COVID-19?
A: All sports activity (preseason, regular season, post-season and non-traditional season) will follow the return-to-sport guidelines from the NCAA Sport Science Institute for all athletic activity. Should the guidelines be revised based on new information related to the pandemic, Wheaton will make necessary modifications based on updated NCAA guidance and Wheaton’s Student Health Services. To report any issues with the protocols, please send and email to covid.athletics@wheaton.edu. ---- (UPDATED ON SEPT. 11)
Q: I need to leave campus for a special occasion or family event. Is that allowed?
A: Students who would like to request permission to attend an essential event off campus such as a family wedding or funeral should read these brief instructions before completing this form. Students approved to engage in an essential off-campus event will be required to quarantine at home for 14 days and participate in class remotely before traveling COVID-safely back to campus. ---- (ADDED ON AUG. 27)
Q: What should an athlete do if they have previously tested positive for COVID-19 and are returning to practice?
A: They need to have the paper that has the date of testing positive and if the test was 10 days or more before their physical then they will be cleared to participate in practice. ---- (ADDED ON AUG. 7)
Q: What kind of negative test will suffice for clearance to return to school?
A: A negative PCR test or antigen test. ---- (ADDED ON AUG. 7)
Q: What if I want to defer my enrollment?
A: Returning students who have registered for the fall semester may opt to study remotely or defer their enrollments for up to two semesters through Fall 2021. If a student opts to study remotely for one or both semesters in the coming academic year, financial aid will be recalibrated to account for tuition fees only. For students who cancel their enrollment for one semester and plan to return Spring 2021, financial aid awards determined for the 2020-2021 academic year will be recalibrated to account for one semester's cost of attendance. For students who defer the entire academic year to Fall 2021, financial aid awards will be reassessed based on the annual FAFSA submission as is customary, though Wheaton merit awards will be held constant for students in good academic standing returning in Fall 2021.
Q: Can I participate in practice or other athletically related activities with my team if I chose remote learning?
A: Students approved for remote learning are NOT eligible to live on campus, attend in class in person, participate in sports practices, utilize campus facilities, music/arts participation, or participate in any on campus activities. ---- (ADDED ON AUG. 4)
Q: Can I begin the semester remotely and then choose in-person instruction later in the semester?
A: No
Q: I saw language about financial aid being “maintained” for returning students if they defer for less than a year – does that apply to freshmen as well?
A: It does not apply to new students who defer, since their financial aid will be based on the 2021-22 FAFSA and awarding qualifications. ---- (ADDED ON AUG. 4)
Q: Is there anything unique in our process/procedures for student-athletes coming in from hot-spot locations from a campus perspective?
A: Student-athletes will need to follow the institutional guidance if coming from a hot-spot location, which is to quarantine at home for 14-days prior to arriving on campus. Each student will need to show proof of a negative test prior to being permitted to be on campus. You can visit the Wheaton College FAQ page HERE. ---- (ADDED ON AUG. 4)
Q: I have questions about my athletics eligibility – whom do I talk to?
A: Associate Athletic Director, Bill Stukes (bill.stukes@wheaton.edu) should be consulted for all NCAA and academic eligibility questions. Additionally, the NCAA has provided a Q&A document as a resource.
Q: What COVID-19 testing protocols will be in place for practices?
A: We are working with campus Student Health Services, the NCAA Resocialization of Sport document and the DuPage County health department to assist in developing health and safety protocols for practice opportunities. This will involve some kind of regular surveillance testing, which will test groups of students in each sport depending on risk category.
Q: Will I be able to use the locker rooms and athletic training rooms?
A: Yes, those spaces will be available, but there are new COVID-19 capacity restrictions so locker room use will be assigned. You will not be able to go in a locker room outside of your permitted time. The athletic training room will have an electronic sign-up for individual treatments and you will not be permitted in the athletic training room without an appointment. Pre-practice athletic training room times will be assigned by your coach and athletic training staff.
Q: Can a student-athlete be part-time at Wheaton and still practice or participate in team activities this fall (zoom calls, for example?)
A: No. Students must be enrolled full-time to participate in practice or any athletically related activity.
Q: Can an student-athlete defer for the semester and still participate in team activities or virtual meetings (non-athletic activities)?
A: A student-athlete not enrolled at Wheaton cannot participate in any athletically related activities under Bylaw 17 of the NCAA Division III Manual. Additionally, due to Wheaton's plans regarding visitors to campus, they will be discouraged from visiting campus.
Q: For student-athletes living off-campus and/or remotely does the institutional testing for athletics count towards the weekly requirement of testing to come to campus?
A: The week they are tested as part of athletics practice, they won’t have to provide an additional test. On weeks they are not tested for athletics, enrolled students living off campus will have to provide a weekly test to be permitted to be on campus.
Q: How does taking classes this semester at another institution impact my eligibility and second semester enrollment?
A: It generally should not impact you. All students should verify courses will transfer to Wheaton by contacting the Registrar, Diane Krusemark (diane.krusemark@wheaton.edu) before enrolling in courses at other institutions.
Q: How does deferring for the semester impact my eligibility for second semester?
A: As long as the student-athlete is eligible at the time of deferral and enrolled full-time (at least 12 hours) for spring semester, they would be eligible the day after fall semester ends. We recommend that you consult Wheaton and the CCIW's requirements for GPA and hours required to stay in good standing.
Q: Currently a student can only be part-time once during their time as an undergrad and still be eligible to compete. Is it accurate that a student could not be part-time this fall (regardless of participation in competition) AND part-time in their final semester of competition?
A: Student-athletes are allowed a one time exception to be less than full time and still be eligible as long as the hours they are enrolled are required for graduation. So if a student-athlete is taking advantage of that this fall, in order to be eligible in the spring, they would need to be full-time enrolled as a graduate student or working on a second degree. The NCAA has passed a bylaw indicating if a team competes in 50% or less of the normally permitted contests they would not use a year of eligibility this year.
Q: Is the athletics secondary insurance changing?
A: The deductible per injury has increased to $1,000 but the terms of coverage remain the same. The secondary insurance will cover injuries occurring in athletically related activities during the regular permitted practice dates as defined by the NCAA. ---- (ADDED ON AUG. 4)
Q: Has the status of club sports and intramurals changed for 2020-21?
A: Club sport practice and competition continue to be suspended for the fall of 2020. Limited intramural opportunities are being offered for fall 2020. ---- (ADDED ON SEPT. 11)
Q: I didn't see my question answered in the FAQ, now what?
A: Please direct further questions to covid19@wheaton.edu. By doing so, your question will be sent to the correct person on campus to best provide an answer.
