To听the听University community,
Today marks the midpoint of the Spring 2021 semester! We begin by听听by defeating Rice University in the finals in Frisco, Texas. They are heading to the NCAA Tournament and learn their opponent tonight!
Their win this weekend is yet another sign of hope and renewal. In reaching听mid-semester, I am once again awed听by听the听amazing and enormous efforts听by听all听of听you 鈥� students, faculty and staff 鈥撎齮o protect our community during this pandemic and stay on course with our academics, research and service progress. This hard work and commitment has made possible the full return of in-person campus classes and activities for听the听Fall 2021 semester.
You may recall that听听to fully reopen the campus for classes and events听we enjoyed before the onset of the pandemic. We are encouraged by听the听tremendous progress made recently in vaccination efforts in the state and听the nation听鈥撎�听staff. President听Biden announced last Thursday that he directed the states to allow all adults be eligible for vaccination听by听May 1.听
Our course offerings will be back to normal 鈥� primarily in-person but with selected online options. We will use the lessons we learned from teaching during the pandemic, and the technology we installed to help us enhance our academic offerings even stronger. Our residence halls will reopen as before, with both single- and double-occupancy options.听The听faculty, administrators and coaches in Academics,听Athletics and Student Affairs are currently planning a robust return to听the听activities, events and games that enrich听the听student experience on our campus.听We will be back together this fall with more resilience and vigor than ever.
Finishing Strong this Semester
While听there鈥檚 light at听the听end听of听the听tunnel, we must maintain our efforts to contain and control COVID-19 as we wind down the Spring semester. To that end,听our campus mandates for听the听wearing听of听masks, social distancing and observing posted safety capacities in our rooms and facilities remain in听place.听We feel this is necessary so we can understand potential impacts that variants of the virus may pose.
However, we feel confident in our containment efforts to now allow听on-campus groups听to reserve spaces in campus buildings for activities, including end-of-the-year activities. Again, current COVID-19 capacities, as well as social distancing and听masking requirements, apply.听Food听will听not听be听permitted for听these events, a necessary step we鈥檙e taking to further protect our community. Off-campus groups听may also schedule space, under听the听same rules as on-campus groups, including that听there is no food and masking/social distancing rules apply.听听
Summer camps and conferences will be allowed in campus facilities, but overnight accommodations will not be allowed except by limited exception and only for academically related groups, such as the Governor鈥檚 School for听the听Arts. Again, masks, social distancing and capacity limits will be required.
Thank you for your continued diligence in our fight against COVID-19. Let鈥檚 finish strong for听the听second half听of听this semester! And I鈥檓 looking forward听
Sincerely,
Sidney A. McPhee
President
[email protected]