[Cas-allemps] Updates on fall term

[CAS Dean]

Dear CAS faculty, GEs, and staff,

As we move closer to the start of fall term and the return to in-person activities, I know many of you have questions about fall operations and university efforts to create a safe atmosphere. Things have certainly been complicated by the Delta variant, but fortunately our community has a high vaccination rate and our late fall start provides time for cases to go down, as is predicted in state modeling. I want to share with you a couple of key pieces of information and an FAQ that answers many questions about fall operations.


  *   Last week the President and Provost updated campus on compliance<https://president.uoregon.edu/update-uo-vaccination-rates> with the university's vaccine mandate<https://president.uoregon.edu/covid-19-vaccine-requirement>. Current data is very encouraging, with 96% of faculty, staff, and students who have submitted their status reporting being vaccinated. You can see that latest data on the university's vaccine compliance dashboard<https://coronavirus.uoregon.edu/vaccination-dashboard>.


  *   It's critical that every member of the university community comply with the mandate to report their vaccination status. Students are required to upload proof of vaccination-which is validated by University Health Services-or to request an exemption. Currently, faculty and staff compliance is done through attestation. However, the university is in the process of acquiring software that allows for faculty and staff to upload proof of vaccinations as well. This software should be available early this fall as individuals begin to receive booster shots.



  *   Masks will be required in all indoor settings as we begin the fall term. See the FAQ linked below for more details.


The pandemic and the recent increase in cases caused by the Delta variant have raised a number of questions about how to manage your classrooms, workspaces, accommodations, COVID-19 mitigation protocols, and a host of other issues. For the answers to many of these questions, please review this FAQ.<https://provost.uoregon.edu/resource-rubric> (We have already noted a couple of questions about the FAQs; if you have questions, please write to casdean at uoregon.edu<mailto:casdean at uoregon.edu>. We will continue to collect and answer additional questions as they come up.)

As the pandemic continues to evolve, we are working with the administration and public health authorities to provide the most up-to-date guidance, and develop processes and policies to keep our campus safe. If you have additional questions, please reach out to your department or unit head or send an email directly to Karen Ford (fordk at uoregon.edu<mailto:fordk at uoregon.edu>) in the Dean's Office for further assistance. I appreciate your patience and collaboration as we return to supporting our students in-person.

Bruce

Bruce Blonigen
Tykeson Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences



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