Healthy steps for fall

Dear students, colleagues and friends,

This week, we recognized our fourth and final vaccine incentive scholarship recipient, Lauren McDonald. I deeply appreciate student leaders like Lauren, Jessie Melton, Hunter Russell and Johnathan Taft, as well as the thousands of other students, faculty and staff who chose to set the leadership standard by getting vaccinated this year. Thank you for helping to keep our community as safe and healthy as possible.

Our total campus vaccination rate is nearly 80% now, and there is still time to receive your free vaccine on campus. Vaccines are available in the Foust Hall Clinic weekly on Wednesdays and Thursdays. We continue to see relatively few new positive cases of COVID-19 within our campus community — 27 this week — and we hope to see those numbers continue to decline.

We must remain vigilant in our efforts to prevent the spread of illnesses. We are entering flu season, and CMU will again make flu vaccines available on campus for students, faculty, staff and community members. Flu shots help to prevent severe illness, and we want everyone to remain healthy as we finish out the fall semester. For questions or to make an appointment, please contact CMU Health at 989-774-6599.

Another way to slow the spread of the flu is wearing a mask — something we already do in most indoor spaces on our campus. We all must take personal responsibility for keeping ourselves and others healthy. If you are in a space where masks are required, please wear one. And, if you are reminded to put on a mask, please respond courteously.

CMU's new Adobe Digital Lounge hosts its grand opening next Wednesday, and I encourage everyone to stop in and see the new space in Park Library. This is a wonderful resource for students, faculty and staff who plan to take advantage of the Adobe programs available through the Creative Campus initiative.

As we approach the midpoint of the semester, with exams, papers and project deadlines looming on the horizon, students may wish to take advantage of the many supports and resources available on campus. We are here to help you achieve your academic goals, so if you need help, please ask.

Thank you for all you continue to do to protect yourselves and others.

Be well,

Bob Davies, Ph.D.

President

Central Michigan University