To the University community,

 This weekend we will celebrate one of the most important events in the lives of students and their families – graduation!  This ceremony represents the culmination of years of hard work and dedication, and we want to assure that everyone has the opportunity to safely participate in the day’s events.  With increasing incidences of the Delta Variant in the U.S. and the most recent recommendations from the CDC suggesting that even vaccinated individuals return to wearing masks indoors, it is necessary that all attendees take personal responsibility and care as they join our celebration. As such, we strongly encourage that graduating candidates and guests attending Saturday’s Summer Commencement consider wearing a face mask while inside Murphy Center or where maintaining social distance is not possible.

While we are not, at this time, reinstating our previous mandatory campus requirement for face masks, given the current increase of young adults becoming sick and hospitalized, we continue to strongly encourage everyone in our university community to have the COVID-19 vaccination. Masks will be available to any participants and guests in need at Saturday’s Commencement. For those not yet vaccinated, using a face mask is a prudent precaution.

Now, we are all eager to return to a more “close to normal” campus experience when the 2021 Fall Semester begins Aug. 23, and hope that each of you will take the appropriate precautions to assure we have a successful fall.  As we continue to monitor the resurgence of the Delta Variant, we recognize that additional protocols may be required if conditions do not improve. For those individuals interested in getting the vaccine, we will offer the COVID vaccine all semester at MTSU Health Services.  I also want to thank our student body president, Winton Cooper, and the Student Government Association for raising awareness about campus access to the vaccine, and the importance of taking this step.

I fully recognize that many of us wish these precautions were not necessary. However, we have shown resilience and perseverance in our efforts to contain COVID-19 in the past, and I have every confidence we will continue to do so going forward.

Sincerely,
Sidney A. McPhee
President
Sidney.McPhee@mtsu.edu

To the University community,

Effective immediately, and in accordance with guidance from federal and state public health officials, I am removing campus mandates for the wearing of masks, maintaining social distancing and observing modified COVID-19 room capacities. However, masks will still be required on public transportation, such as Raider XPress, and for symptomatic patients (i.e., those with flu-like, or coronavirus-like, symptoms) in our Student Health Services facility. 

 Current guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that vaccinated people do not need to wear a face mask or practice social distancing. Given the ready supply of vaccine available to the campus, as well as throughout the state and nation, we believe members of our community can make informed and individual choices about their health and safety, including appropriate actions and measures they should take to protect themselves from COVID-19. 

The CDC states that vaccines reduce the risk of people spreading COVID-19 and they also note it is effective at preventing COVID-19 disease, especially severe illness and death. The CDC defines “fully vaccinated” as 14 days past your final dose. 

However, if you are not fully vaccinated, we strongly recommend you wear a mask and practice social distancing for your protection. Also, anyone may choose to wear a mask.

Crews will begin work this week to remove or modify coronavirus-related signage on campus.

Visit the CDC’s website to learn more about ways you can protect yourself from the coronavirus: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

Also you can contact Student Health Services at this website to schedule a vaccination: https://www.mtsu.edu/healthservices/

I deeply appreciate the spirit of cooperation put forth by the University community during these difficult times to Defend True Blue. 

Sincerely,
Sidney A. McPhee
President
Sidney.McPhee@mtsu.edu