Changes to CMU COVID guidelines

Dear students, colleagues and friends,

As we enter the slower months of summer, and as many students are away from campus pursuing internships and summer employment opportunities, we are making some changes to CMU’s COVID-related guidelines and practices. In this email, I will provide updates about:

In alignment with guidelines at the local and state level, and with CDC guidance in mind, CMU will allow individuals to choose whether to wear a mask in most outdoor and indoor spaces on campus. This means the use of masks is now optional in most places, except in spaces where masks are mandated by state or federal guidelines, such as health clinics and public transportation, or when required for individuals who are symptomatic or close contacts.

Every individual may decide for themselves whether to wear a mask. As a community dedicated to respect and inclusiveness, I ask that we honor those decisions with compassion. 

Now that our county — and much of the country — has a “low” community level rating from the CDC, CMU will suspend the Protect Yourself, Protect Others plan, at least temporarily.

Use of the CMU Healthscreen app is still strongly encouraged. Please use the app each day you come to CMU and help us prevent the spread of COVID-19 within our university community.

Beginning this week, unvaccinated individuals are no longer required to complete and upload results from weekly COVID-19 tests. For this reason, we have closed the testing center in the Bovee University Center. CMU will still offer COVID-19 testing in the following situations:

We continue to strongly encourage members of the university community to receive their vaccines and boosters. Vaccines have shown to be a powerful tool in preventing serious illness and in reducing the spread of the virus.

If you wish to receive a vaccine or a booster, please contact CMU University Health Services to schedule an appointment: 989-774-6599. Vaccines and boosters will be available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays by appointment only. Vaccines and boosters also are available from the Central Michigan District Health Department and many local pharmacies. 

Although CMU will continue to monitor data including new case numbers, virus trends in our area and more, we will cease weekly updates to the CMU COVID-19 Dashboard. Instead, we encourage our university community members to review current COVID-19 statistics on The State of Michigan’s Michigan Data webpage. 

Again, our area has been designated as a “low community level” area by the CDC. These designations consider total numbers of new cases, hospital admissions and hospital bed use. CMU leaders will continue to follow updates from the CDC, as well as guidance from national, state and local health care leaders as we adjust our plans for summer and beyond.

Throughout the pandemic, our students, faculty and staff set the leadership standard for safety, and I know we will continue to do so. COVID-19 is still with us, and we can all continue to do our part to limit the spread of the virus. This includes following CDC best practices, including washing your hands regularly, covering coughs and sneezes, and, most importantly, staying home if you feel sick. 

Please, do your part. Stay home if you feel unwell. Report your symptoms with the Healthscreen app. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions. 

Our community continues to successfully navigate the pandemic thanks to YOU. Your efforts have kept CMU open and mission-focused, and have kept our colleagues and friends as healthy as possible.

I appreciate all you have done, and all you continue to do, to make our community the best place to live, work and learn.

Be well,

Bob Davies, Ph.D.

President

Central Michigan University