Washington has reopened. What does that mean for PLU?
Dear PLU Community,
It’s been some time (decades, perhaps) since I eagerly counted down the weeks and days till Christmas morning, but that holiday feeling has returned as my anticipation builds for the fall move-in, our new student orientation, and the start of the fall semester. I find myself daydreaming more and more about meeting students for coffee in the middle of a bustling Anderson University Center, sitting in the front row at sold-out theatre and music performances, cheering loudly at athletic competitions, and attending evening lectures.
We’ve spent months planning every last detail of our return to campus, but these plans could not be set in stone without two critical confirmations. This week, those final two boxes were checked as Governor Inslee fully reopened the state and updated the existing emergency order addressing institutions of higher education, clarifying the requirements for fully vaccinated campuses and for campuses that are not fully vaccinated.
PLU is able to qualify as a fully vaccinated campus because we require vaccinations for students and employees (with previously noted exemptions), so we also continue to strongly encourage all PLU community members to get vaccinated and submit their vaccination attestations or documentation as soon as they are able. (Details here for students and employees.)
As a fully vaccinated campus, we can now stop saying that we “plan,” “hope,” or “are very likely” to return to our full, vibrant campus this fall. We will be back, and we are spreading the word!
In the continued spirit of care for community well-being, please remember that:
- Masks are required for all currently unvaccinated people in indoor public settings (except in dining spaces while seated and eating or drinking) and crowded outdoor locations where physical distancing is not possible. This will be a consistent requirement at PLU, whether you are a student, faculty or staff member, visitor, or vendor.
- We will also continue to provide some limited university-hosted COVID-19 testing opportunities, as well as quarantine and isolation spaces for individuals who are not vaccinated and need these mitigation resources to remain healthy. Community members who are exempt from vaccination will be asked to participate in proactive community testing.
- Wearing a mask does not signify vaccination status. Those who are fully vaccinated may still choose to wear a mask at some or all times, and we support that choice. We also encourage mask-wearing, regardless of your vaccination status, while experiencing or recovering from other cold and flu viruses.
This pandemic has required every member of our campus community to be resilient in new ways. We worked together to care for each other, putting health and safety first every step of the way, and I couldn’t be more excited to see all of you this fall. Please continue to stay safe, practice self-care and community care, and enjoy your summer.
In service and celebration,
Allan
P.S. Full details on student and employee vaccination policies, FAQs, and more can be found at plu.edu/coronavirus.
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