May 26, 2021
Dear University Community:
As the Public Health Team of the Future Planning Group (FPG) continues to
monitor evolving guidance from state, national and international experts,
we have established the following updates to our summer campus risk
mitigation activity:
Vaccinations:
- The university strongly encourages all students, faculty and staff to get fully vaccinated. For details about where and when vaccines are available on campus, visit our COVID-19 Vaccine Information page.
- For instructions on how to upload a copy of your completed vaccine card to MyHealthSpace visit our COVID-19 Vaccine Information page.
- Vaccinations will also be available and encouraged for incoming freshmen and their families during Summer Orientation.
Face Coverings:
- For fully vaccinated individuals (those who have had two doses of Pfizer or Moderna plus 14 days, or one dose of Johnson & Johnson plus 14 days) – there is no mask requirement in university facilities except the Center for Health and Well-Being and Thomson Student Health Center and on shuttles, buses and other forms of public transportation. Fully vaccinated individuals who wish to continue wearing masks are free to do so.
- In alignment with the tenets of the Carolinian Creed, those individuals who are not yet fully vaccinated are expected to continue wearing a mask when indoors in any university facility unless you are actively engaged in eating or drinking, in order to help protect the health of the greater university community.
COVID Testing:
- COVID testing is not required for fully vaccinated individuals.
- For those not yet fully vaccinated, mandatory return-to-campus testing is required through the summer.
Physical Distancing:
- The university supports the 3-feet physical distancing guidelines recently issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but additional distancing is encouraged where feasible, particularly indoors.
Environmental Monitoring:
- The university will continue to conduct environmental monitoring to identify and rapidly respond to COVID-19 outbreaks within the campus community.
International Travel:
- The FPG will continue regular monitoring of international disease activity and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, US Department of State and others. Please continue to monitor the university COVID-19 website for current guidance/expectations for those traveling to areas deemed ‘high risk’ for COVID-19.
Isolation and Quarantine:
- Fully vaccinated individuals are not required to quarantine following exposure to a positive COVID case.
- Those individuals who are not yet fully vaccinated may be required to self-quarantine for 7 days upon return from domestic or international travel. Please continue to monitor the university COVID-19 website for current guidance/expectations for those returning from abroad.
Event/Activity Approval:
- The FPG SOCR Team is transitioning control of campus events/activities to the Dean and/or Vice President level for approval of all events taking place on August 16, 2021 and later. Approval guidance for events occurring after that date will be forthcoming by the end of June.
Expectations for Fall:
- The FPG will continue to monitor guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control throughout the summer and will issue revisions to this guidance as conditions warrant.
The health, safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty and staff remains our number
one priority. As always, we recognize the added stress that the COVID pandemic has
introduced into our daily lives and we encourage students, faculty and staff to connect
with resources available through University Health Services to support your overall health and wellbeing.
Sincerely,
Deborah Beck, MPA, EdD, FACHA
Vice President Health and Well-Being and Chief Health Officer