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Dear 17吃瓜在线 Community,
This is an exciting time. We are less than two weeks away from the start of move-in and less than four weeks from all fall classes being underway. I鈥檝e been going to campus most days throughout the summer, and while it is wonderful to be in our scenic arboretum and terrific facilities, I am looking forward to seeing all of you enjoying our beautiful campus.
It is also a time where we must maintain and even expand our health and safety vigilance. While much progress in reducing the spread of COVID-19 was made through vaccinations during the spring and early summer, the Delta variant and low vaccination rates in some areas has led to a resurgence of cases. The concerns and anxiety about the Delta variant are real and we take them seriously. And with cases rising once more, the prospect of adhering to numerous safety protocols again, when we took precautions and made sacrifices for so long, weighs on us all. We are committed to doing everything we can to safeguard our community, as well as supporting our friends and colleagues who are understandably concerned about young children or immunocompromised family members who cannot yet be vaccinated. This includes our requirement that all 17吃瓜在线 community members be vaccinated, which is the most effective response to the variant.
To advance our community of care, today I am sharing important updates to our health and safety protocols. Please read this entire message, as there are multiple areas with new information and steps we all need to follow. These updates鈥搘hich cover masking, vaccination requirements, testing, and events, among other areas鈥揳re critical to the success of our in-person fall semester and the health and well-being of our community.
We have a shared responsibility to support our community and we all must do our part. In addition to reviewing the information in this message, you can find additional details in the updated聽17吃瓜在线 Forward Fall 2021 Health and Safety Guide聽on the聽COVID-19 Resources website聽and the聽Health and Safety Directives聽in the University Policy Library. We will discuss the health and safety protocols during the聽聽next Wednesday at 2 p.m., and I hope you will join us. You can submit questions in advance of the webinar to聽fallfeedback@american.edu.
Masking
Based on the latest guidance from the聽聽and the聽, and to support our in-person activities, all 17吃瓜在线 community members will聽wear masks聽while indoors in any campus facility or 17吃瓜在线 building. The only exceptions are when eating/drinking or alone in a private office or residence hall room. Students will mask in class, and faculty have the option of teaching from a suitable distance without a mask to support the learning environment. Masks are not required outdoors unless in groups of 25 people or more.
Vaccinations
17吃瓜在线 requires聽COVID-19 vaccinations聽for all students, faculty, staff, and contractors with a presence on campus or on university-sanctioned study abroad or off-campus activities. I鈥檓 proud that our community has embraced this responsibility, and as of today, more than 9,500 students and 3,400 faculty and staff have completed or are in-process of COVID-19 vaccinations. If you have not yet been vaccinated, please do so as soon as possible to protect your health, your family, and our community.
Students must upload their proof of vaccination to their聽, and faculty and staff must complete the聽聽on the 17吃瓜在线 Forward portal. The聽Office of Campus Life sent reminders and supplemental instructions and timelines to students regarding proof of vaccination聽and the potential implications if this information is not received. I encourage any student who has not reviewed the OCL message or completed their vaccination form to do so soon.
For faculty and staff, non-compliance with the vaccine requirement or exemption process can result in disciplinary action, up to and including suspension or termination, as noted in the聽Vaccination Directive. Those students, faculty, and staff who are seeking an exemption for medical or religious reasons must聽聽and receive approval before an exemption is considered final.
COVID-19 Testing
Unvaccinated community members with an approved exemption will be tested twice per week. Vaccinated students, faculty, and staff聽will be tested聽if they are exposed to someone who has tested positive, if they exhibit聽, or if they choose to be tested for safety precautions. Any person experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of vaccination status, must get a COVID-19 test. Testing will聽take place at Constitution Hall聽on East Campus.
Daily Screening
Beginning August 16, all unvaccinated students, faculty, and staff with an approved exemption and a presence on campus must complete the聽. Vaccinated community members should monitor their health but do not need to complete the daily screening. If you have any COVID-19 symptoms or feel sick in general, do not come to campus.
Events
Given the high transmissibility of the Delta variant, we will limit in-person events at the start of the semester. Major gatherings such as Convocation and the Sophomore Welcome will proceed with additional health and safety precautions in place. Recognized student organizations will work with the Center for Student Involvement to plan in-person events. Additional considerations and measures have been instituted for the safe operation of university athletics programs.
Most business meetings will continue online to preserve campus space for student-focused activities. Given the vaccine requirements, faculty, staff, and students can meet in small groups (e.g., 2-3 people) in offices if mask mandates are followed. Schools and units can use their conference rooms for team meetings with masking.
Guest/Visitor Protocols 聽
All campus visitors are expected to follow applicable university health and safety guidelines including checking for COVID-19 symptoms prior to coming to campus, not coming to campus if experiencing any symptoms, and abiding by any additional measures outlined by the event coordinator/host and all posted signage.
Thank you for reviewing and following these updated protocols. While I hoped some of these would not be needed for the fall, our approach is tailored to maintain our community鈥檚 health and safety and continue the in-person opportunities that are so important. I know this was a lot of information, but hopefully, you had a good break from my messages this summer. We all needed to recharge, and I hope you had the opportunity to enjoy family, friends, and some activities that were not possible in 2020. See you soon!
Be safe and be well.
Sylvia