Students, Faculty and Staff,

Welcome back, and happy new year. I hope all of you had a chance to take a bit of time for yourselves. I want to again say congratulations for all you are doing and all you have accomplished. Despite the challenges of the past two years, you are over-preforming — applications and enrollments are at record levels, retention and graduation rates are increasing, our professional grads are passing board exams at the highest rate ever, you are doing unprecedented research and meaningful service … and the college is on sound fiscal ground, as sound as any college on campus.

These accomplishments are noticed and have resulted in exciting new opportunities that will advance our enterprise to even greater heights.

But today is not the time to focus on our successes. Today, we have to talk about the challenges that are frustrating us all, angering many, and bringing fear to more than a few — the challenges of the unknown, specifically that of the latest surge of the COVID virus. Today, I spoke to members of the College at our annual Spring Kick-Off, and we discussed many issues related to this topic. We went over what we know and acknowledged there is much we do not. Let me quickly review the conversation:

Update on Spring Term Operations:

On Tuesday, the Deans were updated by the Provost of the President’s intent and extensive issues were discussed among the Deans regarding the Omicron variant and the latest surge, which is projected to peak in 2-3 weeks. We also discussed how we move forward as a campus.

I encourage each of you to review the UK Spring 2022 Guide which was circulated prior to break and contains some updates on operations and mandates. It is very similar to the Fall 2021 Guide, with the exception of the impact of the Omicron surge.

I would also encourage you to review the Presidents’ message today, as well as his earlier communication on returning to campus in the midst of the escalating cases. We need to be as vigilant as we were in the fall — and we need to remember to care for others, to be respectful and resilient.

We also need to remember that these guidelines can change daily — on campus, locally and regionally, nationally and globally. It can be frustrating and maddening, but I am confident that decisions are being made based on the most accurate information provided, and that our college community is more responsible, compassionate and thoughtful than most. I am confident we will continue to follow these guiding principles.

Allow me to provide an overview of how our leadership is translating this information, policy and practice to the colleges, and how our College will respond and manage developments.

Omicron:

• Trust that our Campus is monitoring the developments very closely with the assistance of the Start Team of Medical experts and scientists, and the COVID Operation Advisory Group, which is comprised of our Leadership making recommendations on implementation. All recommendations made to the President are related to the best science and practices established by these groups with input from the Health Department, CDC, WHO and others monitoring the spread. Additionally, the President is considering and seeking regular input from the Deans, faculty and staff through the respective Senates and Councils, and our Trustees.

What is known:

• This variant is highly transmissible and different. Perhaps it results in less severe health risks than the previous Delta and other variants. But I use the term different because I feel it is a better description according to some national authorities, since we don’t yet know the long-term severity. There is no question it is and will be more disruptive. And although it may be acutely less severe, we don’t yet know the long-term impact on health, wellbeing, or the impact on our community in general. That is why we must continue to take this new surge seriously.
• Our campus is better prepared than most, given that about 87 percent of our population is partially or fully vaccinated. But we know our community is not closed and transmission is occurring when the University meets the public. We also know that there are significant cases of breakthrough transmissions to individuals who are fully vaccinated, although these numbers are nowhere near the infection rates of those who are unvaccinated. Still, while our campus may appear safer, we are not immune.
• We will make mistakes. I think this is important to note. But we will always put the health and safety of our Faculty, Staff and Students first.

The Goal: Our goal is, simply, to mitigate the risk of transmission on campus while returning to fall levels of operation. In order to do this, we must:

• Continue to encourage vaccination and boosters (incentives for these are coming, but we recommend not waiting).
• Act in a responsible and respectful manner to protect ourselves and protect each other.
• Double down on masking and masking appropriately.
• Help each other as infections and quarantines are going to be inevitable. The policy on quarantines and isolations are changing daily.
• Ask questions and we will try to get answers.

What do we know:

• We are not delaying the start of the semester or universally moving classes online at the beginning of the term. Concerns should be shared with supervisors and faculty.
• Faculty attendance on campus unrelated to teaching should be consistent with department policy and needs.
• KN95 masks will be distributed to the entire campus and we are encouraging everyone to wear these (and to wear them appropriately at all times except when alone in your office). The mask model cannot be mandated but adherence to the policy can be.
• Staff have approved hybrid schedules for the academic year that will be adhered to but can be reconsidered. Please take your concerns to your direct supervisor who will share with Denise McCarthy and me. We need to ensure operations and assist each other.
• Staffing shortages are already occurring and we are covering for each other as best as we can. 

Moving forward:

• There will likely be more pivots and more frequent updates in the short term, and we will communicate as regularly as there are changes.
• I will meet with the College Leadership team weekly.
• We will send out weekly College communications on Friday afternoons to let you know the most updated information.

In short, I feel like this will be a difficult month — maybe one of the most difficult of the last two years — but I am certain things will be brighter on the other side.

As long as we can continue to work for each other, and make certain that we are following our guidelines and protecting ourselves, we will make it through this. That means you need to get vaccinated, get boosted, wear your masks and wear them in the correct way, among other guidelines.

At some time soon, we will again talk about our accomplishments and successes. And I am sure that when we do, we will talk about how we positively managed this latest challenging situation. 

Please continue to stay safe and well,
 
Scott