To Lafayette faculty and staff:
The College is returning to standard pre-COVID-19 operations for fall 2021. All classes this fall are expected to be held in person, and the typical array of residential learning experiences and extracurricular activities is anticipated. For this to happen safely, students are required to be vaccinated by Aug. 1.
Earlier this month, Gov. Wolf’s administration announced the lifting of all COVID-19 mitigation orders effective May 31. Aligning with new CDC guidance, the state also has announced that fully vaccinated individuals do not need to wear masks outside or indoors. As announced previously, weekly screening tests at the College will end May 28, and vaccination data for faculty and staff will be collected over the next two weeks. The daily symptom checker also will end on May 28, and we thank faculty and staff for completing it. Effective June 1, vaccinated faculty, staff, and students will no longer be required to wear masks in any campus building or on College grounds. Faculty and staff who have not yet been vaccinated are highly encouraged to do so. We will not adjust our masking policies further until we have data on vaccination rates among full-time faculty and staff.
Using the positive lessons learned from working through the pandemic, Human Resources is developing a work flexibility policy and accompanying processes that will be shared in July. As is the case with most workplace requests, approvals for any work flexibility arrangements including remote work must be approved by supervisors and, ultimately, division heads. As we continue to contemplate our future, we are guided by our identity as a residential college and cognizant that employees’ presence on campus is an integral part of our community. It is expected that beginning Aug. 1, College staff will begin transitioning back to a more typical on-campus work environment.
The resilience and strength of our community have never been more evident than they have this year. With June and July being prime vacation months for many College employees, we encourage you to work with your supervisor to schedule vacation time and recharge. June also marks 15 months since we vacated our campus in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we hope you join in our excitement about seeing our residential college fully restored.
Sincerely,
Lafayette’s COVID-19 Action Group
covid-19@lafayette.edu
P.S. Remember to register for the faculty and staff year-end celebration, which is scheduled for June 2.