coronavirus; COVID-19; Editorial

Mason announces new safety guidelines

Melanie Balog — Wed, 26 May 2021 18:18:10 +0000

Mason announces new safety guidelines Melanie Balog Wed, 05/26/2021 - 14:18

Dear Patriots,

We have just completed one of the most challenging times in the history of George Mason University, and I am grateful for the important role that everyone played in making this year a tremendous success.

This week, I am pleased to share that we are reporting just one active case of COVID-19 on our campuses. Think about that for a moment. That’s an amazing accomplishment for our community and it is a testament to the number of people who have been vaccinated.

As we turn our attention to the Fall Semester, we must all continue to do our part and work together to keep Mason safe. This starts with new policies for COVID-19 vaccination, testing and masking. Below is a summary of what we will require, so please read this carefully.

COVID-19 Vaccination

Students: Mason will require that all students be vaccinated against COVID-19 by August 1. This policy does not apply to students who take online courses only and do not come to any campus, or to individuals who have an approved medical or religious exemption.

Plan ahead: Depending on the type of vaccine you receive, you may have to receive your first dose no later than July 4 to meet the August 1 requirement.

Upload COVID vaccination documentation to the Health Services Patient Portal. Visit the Student Health Services website for FAQs, information on how to upload your COVID vaccine documentation (all students), or submit your Mason Immunization Record Form (newly admitted students). If you are an international student with limited access to COVID vaccines, please email immunize@gmu.edu to request an extension. Students with approved extensions must get vaccinated when they arrive in the United States.

Faculty and Staff: All faculty and staff are expected to be fully vaccinated in time for the Fall Semester, and are strongly encouraged to receive vaccines over the summer. All employees are required to disclose whether or not they have been vaccinated in Mason Covid Health Check by June 11, 2021.

Those who have been fully vaccinated will be required to upload vaccination documentation into the Health Services Patient Portal before August 1. We anticipate full FDA approval of at least one COVID vaccine over the summer. At that time, we anticipate requiring that all employees receive the vaccine. An exemption process will be made available.

We encourage everyone to learn about the vaccine and get immunized. Mason will continue to host vaccination clinics on campus at no cost through the fall semester. To set up an appointment, go to vaccine.gmu.edu.

Masking

Mason will lift mask requirements for all fully vaccinated individuals on campus as of May 29 – except in medical facilities, public transit, child care facilities and in accordance with the Governor’s policy.
Unvaccinated individuals should continue to wear masks on campus, per the Governor’s new executive order. Masks may be removed while eating, drinking, playing instruments and for other exemptions allowed.
Mason will encourage everyone to wear masks in classes and indoors this summer, to allow more time for people to get vaccinated, and will support anyone who wants to continue wearing a mask after that.
See Mason’s updated mask policy.

Testing

Unvaccinated individuals will be required to participate in COVID testing at least once a week and as frequently as three times a week, depending on conditions.
Vaccinated faculty, staff and students may be required to participate in less frequent testing, based on the guidance from public health officials and testing capacity.
Symptomatic individuals, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, should still self-isolate and seek evaluation and diagnostic testing.

Additional Safety Policies

Physical Distancing: Mason will require physical distancing of three feet during the summer; in the fall, we anticipate being able to remove physical distancing requirements once vaccination rates exceed 80 percent.

Mason COVID Health Check: Mason will continue to require everyone’s participation in the daily health check this summer; we will reassess the need for continuing in the fall, based on the vaccination data received.

We have made tremendous strides during this extraordinary time. I continue to be amazed by the resilience of the Mason Nation. Let’s keep working together to keep Mason safe.

Sincerely,

Gregory Washington

President

Topics

Office of the President

coronavirus; COVID-19; Editorial

Campus News

coronavirus; covid-19

Statement: Office of the President

Creativity, dedication have propelled Mason forward despite the pandemic, President Washington says

Colleen Rich — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 20:07:21 +0000

Creativity, dedication have propelled Mason forward despite the pandemic, President Washington says Colleen Rich Thu, 03/18/2021 - 16:07

In This Story

Gregory Washington

A slide from the president's presentation

George Mason University President Gregory Washington on Wednesday praised the Mason community for its collective response to the COVID-19 pandemic, calling it “as great of a team effort as I’ve ever seen in academia.”

In remarks at a general faculty meeting, televised on GMU-TV, Washington cited students, faculty and staff as well as his leadership team for keeping Mason campuses safe and operational during the pandemic.

At the same time, he emphasized that continued vigilance is necessary to finish the job.

“I don’t know how we tell this message and how we get it public, but a great thing has happened here over the last year,” Washington said. “There’s just no other way to say it. I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for what you’ve done. All of you. The institution thanks you, the state thanks you and the nation thanks you as well.”

During a wide-ranging 30-minute talk billed as a state of the university address, Washington shared statistics he had cited at the Board of Visitors meeting in February, describing how favorably Mason compares to other Carnegie Classification Tier 1 research universities and to U.S. News & World Report top 50 institutions.

In regard to the university’s COVID response, Washington pointed out the research and technology of Mason faculty, discoveries that have enhanced national efforts to combat the virus. He also cited Mason economist Tyler Cowen’s Emergent Ventures Fast Grants program that has incentivized research and the College of Health and Human Services’ robust commitment to public health—about 21,000 Northern Virginians have been vaccinated thanks to Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics and mass vaccination clinics held on the Mason campuses.

In addition, Washington praised the instructional creativity throughout the university, including the School of Dance with its innovative Center for Live Interactive Virtual Education and Window Wall, which allow dance instruction to continue while students are geographically dispersed, as another example of triumph at a challenging time for students, faculty and staff.

“If I look at all of our schools and colleges, I can find great things happening in every single one of them,” Washington said.

Washington also cited the university’s increased surveillance testing. Last fall, Mason conducted about 17,000 COVID tests on students, faculty and staff and experienced far fewer positive cases than many of its peers. This spring, thanks to saliva-based testing conducted on campus with same-day results, the university has already administered 27,000 tests.

Washington said that next week the university plans to offer vaccinations to Mason employees over 65 who have not yet received their shots. He added that the infrastructure is in place to vaccinate all Mason employees by the end of May, contingent on state rollout and regulations.

Topics

Campus News

Faculty and Staff News

coronavirus; COVID-19; Editorial

President Washington: A promising outlook for the fall

Colleen Rich — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 23:55:38 +0000

President Washington: A promising outlook for the fall Colleen Rich Thu, 03/04/2021 - 18:55

In This Story

Gregory Washington

Hello Mason Patriots,

We are approaching the midpoint of the spring semester, and I’m pleased to say that our community continues to do a remarkable job of showing how to thrive during this pandemic. A crisis can be an opportunity to learn and lead, and we have done both.

This spring we leaned into the expertise of our faculty and staff to improve and advance testing on campus while reinforcing the safety guidelines offered by public health officials. The results have been impressive: We are testing thousands each week and the number of active cases on our campus is currently 57—which is well below many of our peers at institutions around the commonwealth. Additionally, George Mason University has played an important role in helping distribute vaccines to the most vulnerable in Northern Virginia, working with our local public health departments to conduct clinics on our Fairfax Campus and in Prince William County.

Our people are working hard to help end this crisis, and we are starting to see real results. More people are vaccinated. Cases nationally are declining. Children are returning to K-12 schools. And this week, President Biden said the nation was on track to have enough supply of vaccines for every adult in America by the end of May.

With more progress on the way, we are looking to expand operations in the fall and resume a more normal campus environment. This includes:

Bringing classrooms back to their original capacity with some modifications to ensure safety, with a goal of having at least 75 percent of instruction on campus.
Building a schedule that supports choice of instruction for students, with a focus on robust on-campus engagement, while continuing opportunities for hybrid and online modes of learning that are integrated within our curricula.
Creating a vibrant and safe campus environment, filled with more on-campus activities, programs, and opportunities to connect and enrich the student experience.
Expanding capacity in residence halls to near normal levels.
Continuing to require masks, testing and enhanced safety protocols until public health guidance changes.

Students deserve a choice to learn in an environment that works best for them, and we will do our best to offer multiple modes of learning and experience. At the same time, we are mindful of concerns raised by faculty and staff, and we will continue to follow the guidance of public health officials. We are prepared to change course, if necessary.

I’m excited to see more people on campus and feel the full impact of Mason Nation spirit. Now’s not the time to drop our guard, but to double down on safety and look forward to a promising fall. Thank you and best wishes for the remainder of the semester.

Gregory Washington
President, George Mason University

Topics

Campus News

President

coronavirus; COVID-19; Editorial

Statement: Office of the President

President Washington updates Spring 2021 plans

Melanie Balog — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 14:26:52 +0000

President Washington updates Spring 2021 plans Melanie Balog Fri, 01/15/2021 - 09:26

In This Story

Gregory Washington

Dear Patriots,

The start of spring semester is 10 days away, and we are on schedule and ready to get started. I know everyone is eager to put 2020 behind us, and I’m right there with you. But before we turn the page, let’s take a moment to think about all we achieved over the last year.

George Mason University went fully online in March 2020, then demonstrated that we could safely bring our students back to campus for a meaningful fall semester. We kept our COVID cases among the lowest in the Commonwealth, having confirmed fewer than 500 cases of COVID among our 50,000 students, faculty, staff and on-campus contractors since reopening campuses on August 17. We educated and graduated record numbers of students. And we contributed greatly to the national conversation around finding a way out of this pandemic, through our research and our expertise.

Up to this point, our management of the virus has taught all of us that Mason can handle whatever challenge comes our way. Solving problems is what we do, it’s in our DNA. Furthermore, this experience has reminded us that our strength comes from our ability to work together to find solutions. Mason’s commitment to shared governance, shared support and shared responsibility has been instrumental in leading us to this moment.

After considerable conversations with leaders across the university and public health experts, we plan to start the semester on Jan. 25 – as we announced in December and one week later than originally scheduled – with a mix of in-person, online and hybrid classes, and skipping spring break. We did not make this decision lightly. We have spent the past few weeks monitoring data, talking with faculty and staff from across the campus, hearing from many experts in public health on what’s best for our community and directly engaging our scientists relative to predictive models that they have developed. This has helped us determine that we are well-positioned to open and expand our operations through the course of the semester, as conditions allow.

From the fall, we learned that students’ risk of serious illness from COVID-19 was extremely low on college campuses when appropriate precautions are put in place and strictly observed. Two-thirds of the more than 700 colleges surveyed by The Chronicle of Higher Education reopened with in-person instruction in the fall, as we did. Mason was a leader in keeping cases low in the Commonwealth, and we found no evidence of transmission in any significant way in the classrooms, laboratories or lecture halls (this was true overwhelmingly for our peers at other universities). In fact, spikes in cases were found to have most often occurred when students left their campuses during holiday breaks.

Students have made it clear that they want to continue to learn on campus and participate in activities when it is responsible to do so. I know that cases have been rising nationally and regionally since the late fall, and that you want to stay safe. I do, too. We also have a responsibility to be here for our students. They want to continue learning in a safe campus environment while staying engaged with their faculty and peers. I believe this is not an either/or decision and to make it one would be a disservice to our students and a default of our responsibility. We can do both, and the fall semester has helped to solidify that fact.

Given the broader prevalence of the virus in our midst, and the threat of a more contagious strain, we have stepped up our efforts to keep COVID-19 at bay. It starts with a stronger plan for testing led by our faculty.

Large-scale, rapid-results testing, run by Mason faculty

This week, we switched to a saliva test, which is less invasive to administer and quicker to analyze. We are greatly expanding our testing capacity and are now processing test results in a lab on our Science and Technology campus, run by our own esteemed faculty. We will start by testing every residential student a minimum of once per week. It is expected that this testing will ramp up to twice per week by mid-semester. This also allows us to increase the number of faculty, staff and off-campus students participating in surveillance testing, with a total goal of 10,000 tests per week by March, as we shared earlier this week. Our systems will enable faster and more reliable results of asymptomatic cases on campus, which will allow quicker isolation of students, faculty and staff with a goal of limiting any potential spread.

Pretesting residential students

We are also pretesting our residential students this month before they arrive on campus and will require a “soft quarantine” until results are given. After that, students will be tested at least once a week, as noted above.

Pausing on the 50 percent return goal

We have decided to hold off on the goal of having faculty and staff return to campus 50 percent of the time. We will continue with how we operated in the fall and will reevaluate this goal at the end of February, when we have a better sense of the virus and progress made on efforts to vaccinate across the region.

Pivoting to vaccinations

The majority of our faculty and staff are in Group 1c for the vaccine rollout. While we do not have any vaccines and are not currently conducting vaccine distribution, we have been asked to prioritize distribution given our large number of faculty and staff. Toward that end, we will prioritize staff and faculty based on those who are returning to campus regularly or interacting in person with students.

Staying the course to limit the spread

As a community, we have shown that we can all do our part to limit the spread. We will continue wearing face masks in public, staying six feet apart, completing the Mason Daily COVID Health Check, washing hands frequently or using hand sanitizer, and staying home when feeling unwell. Please consult the university’s Safe Return to Campus website for more details on our safety plan.

A great university is the sum of its parts, and everyone’s contributions are essential to our success. We have come so far in this journey, and I’m excited for what the spring semester holds.

Let’s get started!

Gregory Washington

President

Topics

Campus News

coronavirus; COVID-19; Editorial

Statement: Office of the President