Greetings Bulldogs!

Our first two weeks together have already brought many memorable moments, and I hope you have countless more throughout the year!

As we approach the first break of the fall, now is a good time to remember what I shared before the start of our new academic year.  While we are to the point where COVID-19 is no longer defining every aspect of our lives, it is still very much present and we need to be mindful of its ramifications.  While we may never be able to eradicate the virus, we can take steps to minimize its effects.

There is no mask requirement on campus; however, individuals may choose to wear one at any time.  Everyone is also encouraged to be current on their vaccinations and test if they are symptomatic or have reason to believe they may be infected.  Anyone traveling during the long weekend should consider testing before returning to campus.

Truman will continue to provide COVID-19 information and resources:

• Possible exposure – If you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, follow this CDC guidance.  Residence Life has protocols in place for those who need to isolate.  Any student needing to isolate themselves should contact their instructors to make arrangements for their coursework.
• Testing – The Student Health Center has a very limited number of free at-home tests still available and will continue to conduct COVID-19 tests.  The federal government’s free at-home test program has been suspended due to funding, but many area providers have testing available.
• Information updates – Any COVID-related messaging will be emailed directly to campus and shared on edu/coronavirus.  Adair County information can be found here and CDC Community Level information can be found here.

We are a community that cares for one another.  Let’s continue to consider our actions in the context of our fellow Bulldogs and work together to have a healthy and happy school year.

Be safe and enjoy your break!

Susan L. Thomas, Ph.D.
President
200 McClain Hall
100 E. Normal Avenue
Kirksville, MO 63501
(660) 785-4100
www.truman.edu

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Related Links:

• Coronavirus Updates and Resources Website
• All Communications

Greetings Bulldogs!

I hope your summer has been filled with memorable experiences and you are as excited to start the new year as we are to have you on campus!

As we get ready to start our new year, we know COVID-19 is still present.  However, scientific advances have brought us to a place where COVID-19 is no longer defining how we live, learn, and engage on campus.  We expect to continue to have cases and we will continue to follow CDC guidance.  While there is no mask requirement on campus, individuals may choose to wear a mask at any time.  When the Adair County COVID-19 Community Level is high, everyone is encouraged to wear a mask in indoor public spaces.  To minimize the spread of COVID-19 on campus, everyone is also encouraged to be current on their COVID-19 vaccinations and to test prior to returning to campus.

Truman will continue to provide COVID-19 information and resources:

• Possible exposure – If you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, follow this CDC guidance.
  • Students residing on campus – Residence Life has protocols in place for those who need to isolate.
  • All students – Any student needing to isolate should contact their instructors to make arrangements for their coursework.

• Testing – The Student Health Center will conduct COVID-19 tests and has free at-home tests available.  You can also order free at-home tests from the federal governmentand many area providers also have testing available.
• Information updates – Any COVID-related messaging will be emailed directly to campus and shared on truman.edu/coronavirus.

If we continue to be a thoughtful community that cares for one another, I know we will have a fabulous year.  For our new Bulldogs – we have an exciting Truman Week ready for you!  For all students – I hope you will take advantage of the fun Welcome Week activities, especially our brand new kickoff tradition, New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, from 7-8:30 p.m. on August 21 on the quad.

I can’t wait to see you!

Susan L. Thomas, Ph.D.
President
200 McClain Hall
100 E. Normal Avenue
Kirksville, MO 63501
(660) 785-4100
www.truman.edu

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Related Links:

• Coronavirus Updates and Resources Website
• All Communications

On February 25, the CDC released new mask guidance based upon COVID-19 Community Levels.  Under this new guidance, the Adair County COVID-19 Community Level is classified as “low.”  For counties with low community levels, there is no recommendation to wear a mask unless a person has symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19.  Effective at 5:00 p.m., February 25, masks will no longer be required on campus.

Those who prefer to wear masks should continue to do so.  Individuals may require others to wear masks in their personal office or workspace but must provide masks if needed.

The University will continue its current contact tracing program and will adhere to CDC guidelines regarding quarantine and isolation procedures.

Decisions regarding the mask policy are made by the President in consultation with the Executive Leadership Team.  Factors taken into consideration include, but are not limited to: the number of active cases related to the University; the transmission rate in Adair County; the campus vaccination rate; Truman’s capacity to effectively accommodate students in isolation and quarantine; guidance of the CDC and the local health department; and the advice of Faculty Senate, Staff Council, and Student Government.

As has been the case since the beginning of the pandemic, the University will maintain a flexible approach to COVID-19 prevention and make decisions based on all relevant information available.

Office of the President
200 McClain Hall
100 E. Normal Avenue
Kirksville, MO 63501
(660) 785-4100
www.truman.edu

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Related Links:

• Coronavirus Updates and Resources Website
• All Communications

In light of the significant increases in COVID cases in Adair County, as well as among students and employees, Truman State University will continue its mask policy, with the next review date on or before Feb. 25.

This month has seen the highest number of known cases in the county since the start of the pandemic. Based on the CDC COVID Data Tracker, community transmission in Adair County is listed as “high,” the most extreme category. The CDC recommends everyone should wear a mask in public indoor settings when transmission is high.

Decisions regarding the mask policy are made by the president in consultation with the executive leadership team. Factors taken into consideration include, but are not limited to: the number of active cases related to the University; the transmission rate in Adair County; the campus vaccination rate; Truman’s capacity to effectively accommodate students in isolation and quarantine; guidance of the CDC and the local health department; and the advice of Faculty Senate, Staff Council and Student Government.

As has been the case since the beginning of the pandemic, the University will maintain a flexible approach in regard to COVID-19 and make decisions based on all relevant information available.

Office of the President
200 McClain Hall
100 E. Normal Avenue
Kirksville, MO 63501
(660) 785-4100
www.truman.edu

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Related Links:

• Coronavirus Updates and Resources Website
• All Communications

 

 

Dear Truman Community,

Our campus community is seeing incredible spread right now.

In the past 12 days, our campus has seen 76 people recover from COVID-19 and 28 active COVID-19 cases.

Given this spread people should be vigilant about layering prevention methods.

• Wear a mask. If you have not done so, upgrade your mask by double masking, adding a filter, or getting a KN95, KF94, or N95.
• Keep your distance and limit in-person events. We should be doing as much as we can online. The higher the cases the greater the use of our resources.
• Get vaccinated. The reinfection rate with Omicron is higher than Delta’s reinfection rate; it is not safe to assume that natural immunity will provide protection against serious illness and death.
• If you have any cold-like or flu-like symptoms, get tested. Many cases of omicron do not include loss of taste and smell, so get tested even if you do not have those particular symptoms
• If you have been vaccinated with a mRNA vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer) and are five months past your second dose, go get a booster. If you are two months past your J&J vaccine, get a mRNA booster (Moderna or Pfizer). Breakthrough infections who had a booster are experiencing the mildest form of infection. Despite the new variant, vaccines continue to protect you by keeping you out of the hospital and from dying.

Given the surge, the health department is currently performing the contact tracing for the campus. Be mindful in meetings about who you are near. Maintain seating charts in your classroom and encourage students to get the contact information for those within 6 feet of them. This will help everyone be ready to identify close contacts.

Every household is eligible to receive four at-home COVID tests, via this link, until they run out:
https://www.covidtests.gov/

Links for updated case numbers:

• Truman Case Counts, updated weekly: https://www.truman.edu/coronavirus/reporting/
• Current Adair County Numbers: https://covidactnow.org/us/missouri-mo/county/adair_county/?s=28201705
• CDC Data Tracker: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker

Local links of interest:

• Truman’s COVID-19 Information portal: https://www.truman.edu/coronavirus/
• Adair County Health Department: https://adair.lphamo.org/

Our COVID-19 working group is not regularly active this semester, and we do not plan to send out weekly videos.

If you have questions about moving classes or activities online, talk to your chair or supervisor.

– Nancy Daley-Moore, PhD, Health Science
Christine Harker, PhD, English
Scott Alberts, PhD, Statistics

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Related Links:

All COVID-19 Campus Communications

Coronavirus Updates and Resources Website

Welcome back, Bulldogs!

I hope your break was everything you wanted it to be and more!  While we once again begin a semester with the challenges of the pandemic, I am confident that we can successfully get on the other side of this surge if we strongly consider the impact of our decisions on others.

It is essential that individually, and as groups, we continue to make community-affirming decisions to provide the best opportunity to have the type of semester we all want to have.

While all of us wish we did not have to continue to do so, we must continue to practice multiple mitigation methods, including correctly wearing masks indoors, social distancing when possible, and frequent hand washing.

It is important to stay home if you are not feeling well or have recently been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID.  Your instructor/supervisor/coach will work with you about your absence.  Please also consider limiting gatherings during the first few weeks of the semester.

While it has always been the case, it has become even more clear during the pandemic that the decisions you make impact others.  Let’s all make sure it is a positive impact.

Have a happy, healthy and successful semester,

Susan L. Thomas, Ph.D.
President
200 McClain Hall
100 E. Normal Avenue
Kirksville, MO 63501
(660) 785-4100
www.truman.edu

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Related Links:

• Coronavirus Updates and Resources Website
• All Communications

 

Dear Truman Community,

An eleven-minute video walks through omicron, upgrading your masks, and the start of the semester.

https://zoom.us/rec/play/nr0FA5MHb1DxHf6X1auhf5p-X1Bpm0_cj7rBhEKauCmvhTAxK6RpSeONv9HnnNaX-GgX296TT-NJh452.qemn2gXoxLWna7I9

Highlights from the video:

• We don’t have Truman case numbers due to the holiday, but if you’ve checked any news at all, you know that omicron numbers are shooting up nationally and in Adair County. Cases do seem more mild (at least among those who are vaccinated and boosted), but seem to spread faster. This gives us some hope that the peak will be sharp, but quick, which might actually be good news, if we can stay safe for the next few weeks.

• We should all be encouraging each other to think about how to be safe. Although Truman classrooms remain among the safest public places to be, given our good ventilation and strict mask policies on campus, we know that omicron is more contagious than earlier variants. Avoid large gatherings, parties, and even restaurants, as much as you can. If you aren’t up-to-date on your vaccinations, now is a great time to take that step. For some, that’s getting the booster, but if you haven’t gotten your first vaccine, right now is the perfect time to get a vaccine. We especially recommend the two-dose mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna), since it seems to have strong protection.

• Now is also the time to consider your masks and upgrade them as you can. You can boost a simple cloth mask with a filter or disposable mask, or consider getting better masks like N95s, KN95s, or KF94s. Local supplies do seem limited right now, we’re afraid.

• In-person classes are starting next week, with the same policies we’ve been having, including the campus mask mandate. In some circumstances, it might make sense to move a course online for day or a few days — faculty members who are considering a temporary change in modality should consult with their chairs, and students who aren’t able to attend class in person should talk to their faculty members right away, since the semester is close at hand. Good communication among campus members has done pretty well of helping us reasonable and accommodating throughout the various hurdles of the 22 months. If a class does change modality, please be sure to communicate early and often with your students, and remember that all campus policies are still in effect, such as the expectation for substantive interaction. Students, if you need to be online, please do talk to your faculty and advisors as soon as you can, so that accommodations can be worked out.

 

• The guidelines for isolation and quarantine have changed, based on CDC recommendations. You should have received another e-mail with those specifications.

While there is cause for concern, especially with omicron, we are still hopeful that we can have another successful semester at Truman, especially if we all continue to be diligent in applying the mitigation layers, the “swiss cheese” that helps stop the spread of COVID, as much as we can.

==

Although we aim these updates at our faculty and the campus community, please do share this information or the video with students in your classes, with parents, and elsewhere. This information is shared with all students via their COVID Blackboard page, sent directly to all Truman faculty and staff, and shared on our public web page here:

https://www.truman.edu/coronavirus/covid-19-working-group-videos/

If you have questions or topics you’d like to know more about, please contact us at: ndmoore@truman.edu

-Faculty Senate COVID-19 Working Group
Nancy Daley-Moore, PhD, Health Science
Christine Harker, PhD, English

Scott Alberts, PhD, Statistics

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Related Links:

• Coronavirus Updates and Resources Website
• Mask Policy Updates
• All Communications

 

Dear Truman Community,

An eleven-minute video walks through omicron, upgrading your masks, and the start of the semester.

https://zoom.us/rec/play/nr0FA5MHb1DxHf6X1auhf5p-X1Bpm0_cj7rBhEKauCmvhTAxK6RpSeONv9HnnNaX-GgX296TT-NJh452.qemn2gXoxLWna7I9

Highlights from the video:

• We don’t have Truman case numbers due to the holiday, but if you’ve checked any news at all, you know that omicron numbers are shooting up nationally and in Adair County. Cases do seem more mild (at least among those who are vaccinated and boosted), but seem to spread faster. This gives us some hope that the peak will be sharp, but quick, which might actually be good news, if we can stay safe for the next few weeks.
• We should all be encouraging each other to think about how to be safe. Although Truman classrooms remain among the safest public places to be, given our good ventilation and strict mask policies on campus, we know that omicron is more contagious than earlier variants. Avoid large gatherings, parties, and even restaurants, as much as you can.If you aren’t up-to-date on your vaccinations, now is a great time to take that step. For some, that’s getting the booster, but if you haven’t gotten your first vaccine, right now is the perfect time to get a vaccine. We especially recommend the two-dose mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna), since it seems to have strong protection.
• Now is also the time to consider your masks and upgrade them as you can. You can boost a simple cloth mask with a filter or disposable mask, or consider getting better masks like N95s, KN95s, or KF94s. Local supplies do seem limited right now, we’re afraid.
• In-person classes are starting next week, with the same policies we’ve been having, including the campus mask mandate. In some circumstances, it might make sense to move a course online for day or a few days — faculty members who are considering a temporary change in modality should consult with their chairs, and students who aren’t able to attend class in person should talk to their faculty members right away, since the semester is close at hand.Good communication among campus members has done pretty well of helping us reasonable and accommodating throughout the various hurdles of the 22 months. If a class does change modality, please be sure to communicate early and often with your students, and remember that all campus policies are still in effect, such as the expectation for substantive interaction. Students, if you need to be online, please do talk to your faculty and advisors as soon as you can, so that accommodations can be worked out.
• The guidelines for isolation and quarantine have changed, based on CDC recommendations. You should have received another e-mail with those specifications.

While there is cause for concern, especially with omicron, we are still hopeful that we can have another successful semester at Truman, especially if we all continue to be diligent in applying the mitigation layers, the “swiss cheese” that helps stop the spread of COVID, as much as we can.

==

Although we aim these updates at our faculty and the campus community, please do share this information or the video with students in your classes, with parents, and elsewhere. This information is shared with all students via their COVID Blackboard page, sent directly to all Truman faculty and staff, and shared on our public web page here:

https://www.truman.edu/coronavirus/covid-19-working-group-videos/

If you have questions or topics you’d like to know more about, please contact us at: ndmoore@truman.edu

-Faculty Senate COVID-19 Working Group
Nancy Daley-Moore, PhD, Health Science
Christine Harker, PhD, English
Scott Alberts, PhD, Statistics

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Related Links:

Faculty Senate COVID-19 Working Group Videos and Emails

All COVID-19 Campus Communications

Coronavirus Updates and Resources Website

As the Spring 2022 semester begins, Truman will return under the same guidelines that were in place during Fall 2021. Given the minimal risk of COVID-19 transmission in the classroom, we believe we can safely return to campus by adhering to our mitigation strategies.

The indoor mask policy remains in effect, but due to the Omicron variant’s increased infectiousness, you are encouraged to upgrade your cloth masks by adding a filter and/or adding a surgical mask underneath your cloth mask to enhance protection.  More protective options include KN95 masks and N95 masks.

It is essential to practice multiple mitigation methods, including social distancing and frequent hand washing. Consider limiting gatherings during the first few weeks back to campus.

These precautions continue to be necessary given the rise in cases due to the Omicron variant and have proven to be very effective for Truman to this point. The next review of the mask policy will take place on or before January 28.

It is anticipated that some students may be unable to return to campus safely due to exposure or illness while on break. Truman will continue to be flexible and understanding if students need to be absent to ensure their own health and the health of others. Anyone feeling ill or with recent exposure to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 should stay home and take the proper precautions. Students who are in quarantine or isolation should notify their instructors and report their case to the Student Health Center at (660) 785-4182 or studenthealth@cfmcares.com. We strongly recommend that, regardless of symptoms, students who have been isolating or quarantining get tested before returning to campus.

If you are six months past the last dose of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or two months past the last dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, we strongly encourage you to get a booster shot. If you are unvaccinated, now would be a very good time to start getting vaccinated.

In accordance with updated CDC guidelines, the University is changing the time for isolation and quarantine to a minimum of five days. Students will be provided with a KN95 mask to wear after release from isolation and quarantine.

Isolation: Everyone who has presumed or confirmed COVID-19 should stay home and isolate from other people for at least five full days (day 0 is the first day of symptoms or the date of the day of the positive viral test for asymptomatic persons). They should wear a well-fitting mask when around others for an additional five days. People who are confirmed to have COVID-19 or are showing symptoms of COVID-19 need to isolate regardless of their vaccination status.

Quarantine: Individuals who are not fully vaccinated, including boosters, who come into close contact with someone with COVID-19 must quarantine for five days and wear a well-fitting mask for an additional five days to minimize the risk of infecting others. Individuals who have received all recommended vaccine doses, including boosters, are not required to quarantine. They should wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days from the date of their last close contact with someone with COVID-19.

Decisions regarding the University’s COVID-19 policies are made by the President in consultation with the Executive Leadership Team. Factors taken into consideration include, but are not limited to: the number of active cases related to the University; the transmission rate in Adair County; the campus vaccination rate; Truman’s capacity to effectively accommodate students in isolation and quarantine; guidance of the CDC and the local health department; and the advice of Faculty Senate, Staff Council and Student Government.

Office of the President
200 McClain Hall
100 E. Normal Avenue
Kirksville, MO 63501
(660) 785-4100
www.truman.edu

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Related Links:

• Coronavirus Updates and Resources Website
• Mask Policy Updates
• All Communications