Dear students, faculty, and staff,With the spring semester approaching, I want to share an update on our university’s ongoing response to the pandemic to help you understand what to expect on campus. We find ourselves facing another period of uncertainty, but I am confident that we will once again persevere and keep our students on track towards earning their degrees while continuing to move the university forward. The Omicron variant is now the dominant strain of the virus. While health officials indicate Omicron cases are generally mild (especially for those who are vaccinated), the transmissibility of Omicron is significantly higher than the Delta variant. We anticipate that classes and services delivered on our campus will face disruptions.
- The spring semester will remain in-person and commence on our campus as scheduled on Tuesday, Jan. 18.
- The mask requirement for public indoor spaces remains in effect, and it is essential that all of us comply. As we begin the spring semester, we must be more vigilant because wearing a mask is a simple and important layer of protection to limit spread of the virus. Visit this page for more information on current protocols, and please follow CDC guidelines for how to wear a mask so that masks can be as effective as possible.
- We encourage you to hold any and all meetings virtually when you are able.
- If you test positive for COVID-19, feel sick or experience symptoms, stay home to avoid contact with others and do not attend school, work, meetings or events. Notify your supervisor or instructor. Refer to the updated CDC isolation and quarantine guidance.
Ultimately, vaccination remains the best and most widely available protection against severe illness. We strongly encourage everyone to get vaccinated and boosted.We know there is a lot of COVID fatigue out there, but our best path forward is to get vaccinated, follow the protocols, and limit the spread. We may not want to wear masks, but doing so helps to minimize the impact of the virus. This is a special community, and that has been evident through the ways in which we have persevered for nearly two years in navigating this pandemic.Be on the lookout for additional communications in the coming days that will provide more detailed guidance and information. Thank you for your patience and your commitment to seeing this through.Stay healthy,
Glenn F. BoyceChancellor