Director Corey Alderdice shared the following message with the campus community via email on Monday, July 12.
Students, Colleagues, and Families:
When ASMSA students and faculty returned to campus last August, there remained a significant amount of uncertainty about the year ahead. We were the only one of our peer institutions slated to fully resume the residential experience, which made the task seem even more daunting. In the end, we completed the year with zero cases of COVID-19 among students on campus. This incredible feat speaks to the willingness of our students, employees, and families to make the necessary sacrifices on a daily basis that ensure the safety and continuity of the ASMSA experience.
As we prepare for the fall semester, there is both good news and bad news when surveying the current landscape. The good news is two-fold: first, we now know this can be done; second, FDA-approved vaccines are widely and readily available that are both safe and effective at preventing the transmission of COVID-19. However, there is also cause for concern. Recent trends in statewide case numbers are higher today than they were last summer due to the emergence of the Delta variant as well as Arkansas’ lagging numbers in vaccine adoption.
Moreover, the Arkansas General Assembly passed two laws earlier this year that limits schools’ ability to adopt proactive policies in response to COVID-19. Act 977 of 2021 prohibits state agencies and other public entities from requiring the COVID-19 vaccine. Act 1002 of 2021 prohibits public entities (including both K-12 schools as well as colleges and universities) from enforcing campus mask mandates after July 27, 2021.
ASMSA’s COVID-19 Workgroup, which recommends policies and responses for the pandemic, has set forward the following framework for the year that intends, in large measure, a return to normal conditions. This includes sign-off from campus, weekend visits home, and additional time for family members to visit campus. However, our comfort with the policies as outlined in this FAQ is predicated on two factors.
- We anticipate that 85% or more of students will be fully vaccinated upon arrival to campus in August. Approximately 85% of all employees have already been fully vaccinated to date.
- Wearing masks or other appropriate face coverings should continue to be a part of ASMSA’s campus culture of shared responsibility. Consistent use of masks by both students and employees has been proven to reduce transmission of the virus and is the simplest step that we can take to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
To be clear: ASMSA cannot require these two actions based on the aforementioned state laws; however, the rest of our policies and responses will be adapted based on either the presence or absence of masks and a high rate of vaccination. This includes reactivating restrictions on time away from campus. While every effort will be made to ensure the safety of students and employees, our planning for the year ahead assumes scenarios in which the virus is present and could lead to temporary disruptions to the residential experience.
I am grateful for the ways our faculty, staff, students, and families have risen to the challenges of the past year with patience, understanding, and resilience. Challenges remain ahead, but I am confident that we will continue to work together to ensure continuity of learning and student growth.
Be safe. Be well. We’re all in this together.
For a history of campus COVID-19 updates, visit https://www.asmsa.org/asmsa-covid-19-updates/.