When she thinks about all the ways that COVID-19 precautions have affected her second-to-last semester at Covenant College, senior Cammie Messer sees the impact at the macro level — masks, outdoor dining, a rotating outdoor chapel schedule, and canceled programming. But at the micro level, the economics major from Grove City, Pennsylvania, says life remains the same.

Students remain committed to building community and meaningful relationships, even if they must stay six feet apart while they do it.

As the college works to keeps its nearly 1,000 students and faculty members safe atop Lookout Mountain, it maintains a culture that values discipleship and Christ’s preeminence.

Like most colleges around the U.S., the Covenant College community was shocked when students had to be sent home halfway through the spring 2020 semester. As the virus marched across the country in April and May, faculty adjusted to new models of delivery instruction, students learned through online courses, and the administration worried about what a fall semester might look like.

Carefully, prayerfully the administration planned the return to campus for August. Desks were distanced in all classes, the housekeeping staff strengthened its protocol, dining hall employees took increased precautions with meal preparation. And the students embraced the changes. No one wanted a repeat of March, even though it seemed likely that the virus would force another campus shutdown at some point.

But as Thanksgiving break and the end of the semester approach, students are still on the mountain. To date, the college has only had four cases of COVID-19 among students, and two  among employees.

Messer tempers the disappointment of what can’t be with gratitude for what is. “Every day we are here is a gift, and I don’t take that for granted,” she said. “This isn’t what I would have chosen, but if this is what it takes, I will take it.”

Brad Voyles, Covenant’s vice president for student development and dean of students, said a key component of Covenant’s COVID plan was maintaining opportunities for community. Since discipleship is an essential aspect of Covenant’s ethos, the college looked for creative ways to continue life together. Students are not required to wear masks on their halls, and the chance to literally take off the mask has led to emotional vulnerability, too. The college invested in portable camp chairs so that meetings could take place outside and unmasked. The fire pits remain stocked with plenty of firewood for the cooler weather.

And the college constructed a tented dining deck over the college pool. Students can share meals together in a well-ventilated space, but the deck also serves as a safe spot for hosting admission events, musical performances, and informal gatherings.

Chapel services take place outside, and guest speakers and faculty continue exhorting and challenging students. Messer appreciates faculty speaking on the theme of tolerating complexity, an idea desperately needed in unconventional times.

Covenant also adopted a condensed semester of classes from August to Thanksgiving with no breaks. The purpose was to keep students on campus so they didn’t travel and risk exposure. So far the strategy has worked, but the result has been exhausted students and faculty.

Exhaustion also heightens anxiety about the future. As COVID cases reach new highs around the country, the battle to keep students and faculty safe is far from over.

Messer grieves for the events she might miss due to COVID, but as an resident assistant in her dorm, she’s even sadder for the freshmen on her hall, that they had such a strange introduction to the community that has so powerfully shaped her during her nearly four years at Covenant.

Discipleship is such a key aspect to the Covenant education experience that the administration is committed to keeping the classroom doors open as long as possible.

“We continue to need prayers for protection at Covenant College,” Voyles said. “We think what we do here is really distinctive as the college of the PCA: rigorous education and faithful discipleship are best done with everyone here.”