ÑÇÖÞAV

Dear Fellow Patriots:Ìý

We are fewer than two weeks from the start of the Fall semester and soonÌýwillÌýbe welcoming many of our faculty, staff and students back toÌýÑÇÖÞAV’sÌýcampuses.ÌýWe do so with a mix of excitement that accompanies every fall return to campus –Ìýand trepidation, because this is 2020 and the pandemic has changed just about everything.Ìý

My leadership team and I have been watching the ebb and flow of the COVID-19 virus in northern Virginia, and have determined that it is best to stay the course with our modified re-opening of campus, withÌýcontinuing flexibility for faculty with respect to the format of their classes. Faculty members who will be delivering their curriculum in person or via hybrid experiences should continue to use theÌýÌýto guide their efforts.Ìý

Tracking pandemic conditionsÌý

While most public discussionÌýcentersÌýon COVID-19 cases nationally and statewide, we areÌýcloselyÌýmonitoringÌýNorthern VirginiaÌýpandemic conditions, because they give us a more accurate understanding of what is occurring in the communities in which we live and serve. Specifically, our decisions are driven by data from Fairfax, Arlington and Prince William counties.Ìý

One data point we track particularly closely is the Positivity Rate,ÌýtheÌýpercentage of those receiving COVID-19 testsÌýwho test positiveÌýfor the virus. Virginia’s seven-day rolling average as of Monday afternoon was 7.4 percent, while Fairfax County’s was 5.1 percent and dropping, and Arlington County’s was 4.2 percent.Ìý

Changing of conditions, change of plansÌý

Unfortunately,ÌýPrince William County’s rates have headed in the other direction, and stood at 9.0 percent on Monday. And that trendÌýhasÌýtroubled us, particularly because we operate the Science and Technology Campus there, and many who work at Mason live in Prince William County.ÌýTherefore, we have made two decisions that affect classes this fall:Ìý

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1. WeÌýwill continue to provide facultyÌýat all Mason campuses flexibility to offer their classes through face-to face, hybrid or fullyÌýonline formats.ÌýBy applyingÌýthe public health and safety best practices set forth in our Safe Return to Campus Plan,Ìýwe have confidence to deliver our academic programs as had been planned and given evolving circumstances.ÌýHowever, ifÌýindividual faculty memberÌýcircumstances have changed, and individuals want to request a change in their course format, they should immediately be in contact with their academic program chair/director and dean.
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2. We will move to all-online instruction on November 30, following the Thanksgiving holiday.ÌýWeÌýhave decided to do this upon recommendation of our Emergency Management Executive Committee and public health advisors, in order to minimize the risk of transmitting both COVID-19 and influenza, both of which are expected to begin seasonal surges around then.Ìý

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Why not just keep campuses closed and go all online?Ìý

This is a very reasonable question, and one I am asked often, especially because many other universities have opted forÌýonline-only instruction, though no public universityÌýin VirginiaÌýis requiring all online instruction.Ìý

The reality is, there are no good solutions to carrying out our academic mission in light of the pandemic. Every solutionÌýcarriesÌýa host of negative side effects that threaten people’s ability to stay healthy and safe, and to remain affiliated with Mason.Ìý

Quality of instructionÌý– For many classes,Ìýonline instruction is just as effective as in-person teaching; in fact, we are seeing excellenceÌýin online instruction that we could not have predicted pre-pandemic.ÌýBut that is not universally true, for environments like laboratory learning, or for disciplines like the performing arts.ÌýOf course,Ìýwe will adapt as necessary, but driving all courses toÌýonline environmentsÌýis an option weÌýwillÌýavoid until it is necessary.

Inclusion of international studentsÌý– By going fully online, we could exclude international students from coming to our campus, because the federal government is refusing to process student visas for international students whose course content is all online.Ìý

Human toll for university faculty and staffÌý– Closing the campus to all instruction would come at a significant financial loss to the universityÌý– a devastating loss if we were to re-close residence halls. Such measuresÌýwould cripple the university’s ability to deliver on its education and research mission, not just forÌýthis academicÌýyear, but for years to come. The numbers of furloughs and layoffs that would be necessary to balance our budget would beÌýstaggering, made all the more challenging in anÌýeconomyÌýof 10 percent unemployment.ÌýThose employees’ ability to keep health insurance, pay their rent or mortgage, and meet basic living needs would beÌýimperiled.ÌýFurthermore, the impact would extend beyond our campuses toÌýsurrounding communities where the affected employees live.Ìý

Should evolving public health conditions make itÌýnecessary to fully close our classrooms, or even our residence halls, of course we will do so. But each of us should be mindful of the devastating impact this will have, not just on the university, but on theÌýpeople who rely on it for their education and their livelihoods.Ìý

The academic calendar remains the sameÌý

Classes will begin on August 24 and end on December 16 as scheduled, withÌýall-online instructionÌýstartingÌýon November 30, following the Thanksgiving holiday.ÌýÌýAs part of our effort to minimize the risks that increase in the winter months, we plan to hold Winter Graduation online.Ìý

Staff on campus

As the campus reopens, staff should work with their unit leaders to determine the proper balance of their work to be performed on campus versus from home. With the goal being to de-densify the campus and observe all health and safety protocols, every department has been required to submit its own safe return plan. As a general guideline, employees should avoid spending more than 50 percent of their time on campus. Social distancing rules will be in effect for all offices, just as they are in classrooms.

Residence halls will stay open throughout the semesterÌý

Mason’s residence hallsÌýwill remain open under all of our planning scenarios. We will reduce occupancy from 6,200 students to approximately 3,350 students to achieve appropriate physical distancing. In the event of another Governor’s stay-at-home order, we anticipate considering residence halls to be our students’ homes away from home. We willÌýtake appropriate measures to keep them as safe,Ìýhygienic, and comfortableÌýas possible, as well as offer appropriate public health and safety measures to the university employees who staff residence halls and dining facilities.ÌýIn addition, University Life has planned a robust line-up of programming to ensure residential students continue to experience a full and satisfying on-campus experience.Ìý

Pre-move in testing required for all residential studentsÌý

All students planning to live on campus in Mason’s residence halls have beenÌýrecommendedÌýto self-quarantine two weeks ahead of their arrival. In addition,ÌýMason has contracted with a vendor to provide comprehensive at-home testing kits to all students who plan to live on campus.ÌýResidential students are in the process of receiving and returning their test kits. Starting August 15, at move-in, every student will be required to have both a health screener greenÌýlightÌýas well as proof that they have taken a COVID-19 test to be cleared to stay in a Mason residence hall.Ìý We anticipate that residential students will be tested again periodically throughout the semester.ÌýÌý

Daily health checks required for all who step onto campusÌý

All students, faculty and staff who come to campus must complete an online health survey every day before arriving on campus. This tool – the Mason COVID Health Checkâ„¢, an online health screening protocol developed by the College of Health and Human Services – willÌýserve as aÌýquick and effective way to track the health conditions of all students, faculty, staffÌýand contractors who will work, study or live on campus.Ìý

Voluntary testing throughout the semesterÌý

Throughout the semester, students, facultyÌýandÌýstaff working on campus will be asked to engageÌývoluntarilyÌýin random COVID-19 tests. This protocol, recommended by Mason faculty expertsÌýandÌýin collaboration with university leadership, will help to trackÌýthe spread of the virus, should cases emerge. We encourage all members of the Mason community to agree to be tested if requested to do so.ÌýÌýWorking in partnership with our local public health officials, case investigation and contact tracing protocols also will be in place.Ìý

Safety measures being taken in our classroomsÌý

Our classroom spaces will look and feel different this fall. Classrooms and instructional spaces have been modified such that seating has been spaced out to allow for six feet of distance between students; faculty have been allocated more space, up to 100 square feet. Some classrooms will have seats noting they should be left empty to ensure physical distancing;Ìýothers will simply have fewer seats. High-contact surfaces will be cleaned and disinfected with an EPA-approved disinfectant twice each day during normal operation hours, in addition to regular overnight cleaning. In addition, disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer stations are available in or near classrooms.Ìý

Reminders to do our partÌý

Signage will be posted throughout campus to illustrate required physical distancing and point to hygieneÌýpractices such as frequent hand washing. All students, faculty and staff will be required to wear face coverings. EveryoneÌýwill be given two reusable face coverings to use. And a multimedia communications campaign is planned to encourage all Mason community members to do their part to stop the spread of COVID-19.Ìý

This will be aÌýFall semester unlike any other we have experienced.ÌýThe unknowns far outnumber the certainties. But together, we will continue to deliver on our academic mission, and I deeply appreciate the dedication and innovation of each andÌýeveryÌýoneÌýof you at this historic moment for ÑÇÖÞAV, the nation and the world.Ìý

With gratitude,Ìý

Gregory N. Washington, PhDÌý

PresidentÌý

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