COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Spring 2022

ETSU News

Dear Students,

As we prepare to begin the spring semester next week, we are faced, yet again, with combatting another dangerous variant of COVID-19. The Omicron surge has battered our hopes that we might leave the struggles of the past two years behind. We are tired. We are frustrated. But we must not give in to the temptation to surrender. Instead, we must resolve to stay strong and fight this wearisome and perilous pandemic together.

Following the CDC’s recommended health and safety precautions is the best way to care for one another and protect those most vulnerable. Yes, wearing a mask is inconvenient and annoying. However, at ETSU, we put people first, and our commitment to putting others before ourselves is a point of pride in our community. You never know who is sitting near you in class, at the cafeteria, or in the library. Perhaps it is someone who just finished chemotherapy or someone who has diabetes. It may be a parent with an immunocompromised child at home. It could be a veteran with a service injury that makes them more vulnerable to the disease.

In the face of these risks, it is our civic duty — and an act of genuine kindness — to bear the inconveniences necessary to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Wash your hands frequently. Wear masks in all public spaces. When you are sick, stay home. Most importantly, if you have not yet been vaccinated, please consider getting the vaccine. It is the single most effective action we can take to protect one another and end the pandemic. The Stay Safe Bucs website (formerly “Bucs are Back”) will continue to serve as our primary portal to provide information to keep the ETSU community safe and communicate updates regarding policy changes.

However, to help you prepare for the new semester, we have outlined several resources below to help answer commonly asked questions and provide direction regarding key protocols and procedures.

Face Coverings

Policy on Face Coverings:

We strongly encourage all campus community members to wear a mask any time they are near others or in a public setting. This includes hallways and common spaces of campus facilities except when actively eating or drinking. When exercising in the CPA, please consider wearing a face covering unless doing so hinders your ability to breathe properly and stay safe.

Accessing Masks:

Free “ETSU Strong” masks are available in the Carrier Center on the second floor of the D.P. Culp Student Center and in the Sherrod Library. Additionally, disposable masks will be available at a variety of public locations across campus, including many classrooms.

Vaccinations and Boosters:

ETSU strongly encourages all students, staff, and faculty who are eligible to get vaccinated. It is the single most important thing a person can do to prevent illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID. If you have been vaccinated, but you are due for a booster, we encourage you to consider getting the additional shot to protect yourself and others further.

Vaccine Clinics:

If you have not done so, I urge you to get the COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible. This is the most important thing you can do to protect your health and the health of others. The vaccine is free, and our friends with ETSU Health are hosting several upcoming vaccine clinics. Booster shots are also available at these clinics. If you are not on our main campus, visit vaccines.gov to locate a vaccine clinic near you.

Testing, Reporting, and Tracing

Testing:

Testing helps identify persons who have COVID-19 and helps prevent the spread of the disease. It also provides peace of mind for those who have concerns about exposure. ETSU Health and University Health Center are available to provide COVID-19 testing. Testing is available Monday through Friday.

Self-Reporting of COVID-19 Diagnosis/Exposure:

If you have tested positive or think you may have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, please call 423-439-7785. A member of the Environmental Health and Safety team will fill out an intake form, coordinate contact tracing efforts, and provide guidance on any quarantine guidelines.

When to Stay at Home:

If you have tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to a positive case, please read our guidance for when to quarantine and when to return to work or class.

COVID-19 Dashboard:

The COVID-19 dashboard is updated regularly and provides information that has been reported to ETSU. This includes confirmed cases of individuals tested through ETSU University Health Center as well as self-reported cases from members of the ETSU community.

In-Person vs. Remote Work and Instruction

The Importance of In-Person Learning:

The adjustments we had to make at the beginning of the pandemic were the result of not having a viable alternative to help protect our community. Now that a vaccine is available and research has shown that masking can help reduce the spread, it is important that we continue traditional operations of having students in the classrooms and residence halls. While we must do all we can to ensure physical health and safety, these considerations also include the social, emotional, and educational well-being of our communities. Our students come to ETSU to have a traditional university experience – an experience that involves in-person learning and educational activities as well as in-person engagement and social interaction and the opportunities to participate in events and other beloved campus traditions.

Expectations and Policies for Classroom Attendance for Students in Quarantine:

1. Faculty should adopt attendance policies that encourage students to stay home when they are sick or if they must quarantine.

2. Faculty should plan to provide students with opportunities to make up or complete alternate assignments when student health circumstances require them to avoid face-to-face classes.

3. Faculty may not ask students if they are vaccinated.

Additional frequently asked questions regarding academics and instruction.

Self-Care and Well-Being:

This is a difficult time for all of us, and we encourage you to make your health and self-care a top priority. This includes your social, emotional, financial, intellectual, creative, physical, spiritual, occupational, cultural, and environmental well-being. Campus resources and services to support our community include: