Increased campus activity means taking precautions

It was wonderful to see so many of you Wednesday at the ice cream social on Warriner Mall. Thank you to everyone who attended — it truly raised my spirits to see you.

This has been an exciting week of activity, with new programs from the Career Development Center and Multicultural Academic Student Services, performances by University Theatre, competitions for CMU student-athletes, and more. I appreciate all the hard work of students, faculty and staff who made these events possible and helped to foster a sense of true community here on campus.

As we continue to engage with one another, it is more important than ever to take precautions to keep ourselves and others safe. CMU requires everyone to wear masks in most indoor settings and to use the daily CMU Health Screen app each day you will be on campus. If you have not done so already, please carefully review the health and safety guidelines on the COVID-19 Information and Resources webpage.

This week, CMU had 63 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19. While this figure represents only 0.70% of our campus community, we do not want to see that number grow. Please, practice personal and social responsibility. We each have an important role to play in slowing the spread of the virus on our campus and within our community.

Remember, too, that all unvaccinated individuals are required to participate in weekly COVID-19 testing. This includes students, faculty and staff. If you have not received a COVID-19 vaccine, you must be tested weekly and upload your test results using the CMU Health Screen app every week.

Individuals who are not compliant with CMU’s health and safety guidelines will be notified via email from the Office of Student Conduct or through a conversation with their supervisor. Progressive discipline is possible, so please do not wait to do the right thing. Get vaccinated or get tested!

Before closing this week’s message, I want to touch briefly on the topic of mental health.

Over the past year and a half, many of us significantly reduced our interactions with others. We avoided crowded places and most of us even cut down on visits with close friends and family. Although our community has been slowly coming “back to normal” over the summer, it may still feel very strange to walk into a busy hallway or stand in line with others in a residential restaurant.

Feeling anxious is understandable! We have all been through a significant ordeal, and it is completely normal to feel uneasy making these transitions.

One way to address those feelings is to take steps to protect yourself and others. Wear a mask, allow physical distance? between yourself and those around you, and, above all, get vaccinated! You also can take advantage of support services, such as the CMU Counseling Center or the Employee Assistance Program, to get help managing stress and anxiety. Please, take care of your mental health just as you do your physical health. Your wellbeing is important!

Thank you for all you are doing to make this a successful semester at CMU. I appreciate your efforts, your enthusiasm and your passion for our university community.

Be well, and Fire Up Chips!

Bob Davies, Ph.D.

President

Central Michigan University