As we prepare for the fall 2022 semester, here are some important reminders for the Arkansas State University campus community related to COVID and other communicable illness. Members of our A-State community are urged to receive appropriate vaccines and boosters to limit the spread and potential severity of illness, particularly COVID and seasonal flu. A seasonal flu shot clinic will be held later this fall when the new shot is made available. All are encouraged to have received a COVID-19 vaccine and appropriate boosters.
We want to stress to all: if you feel sick, stay home.
One of the ongoing lessons is we should not “power through” if we are feeling sick. If you are exhibiting symptoms consistent with illness like COVID, flu or others, you should stay home and seek appropriate medical care and testing. COVID brought this message to us, but it applies to any easily spread malady from stomach flu to chicken pox.
All classes will be conducted this fall in the format in which they are scheduled, and classroom and other activities will be held as normal. Obviously, all is subject to changes provided from the state of Arkansas, in particular the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH).
Class attendance this fall will be managed in accordance with faculty requirements on their syllabus, with the standing exception of the Provost’s Inclement Weather Policy which reminds both students and faculty to provide considerations for when travel is not safe or practicable. For employees, normal sick leave policies will apply, and specific COVID-related leave has ended. It is no longer necessary to report COVID status to A-State.
Arkansas State University’s Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) will monitor COVID numbers provided by the state’s Department of Health (ADH) and Department of Emergency Management (ADEM), as well as the national and county reports from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). We remind all members of the A-State community that the CDC’s county report is available here, and based on the weekly level of COVID within the community, individuals may wish to take the recommendations of the CDC related to use of masks indoors or other measures recommended.
A-State will follow CDC recommendations, and in turn, recommend them to campus. We also continue to stress that we must be a considerate community and respect the choices of those who may wish to wear a face mask. Unless new guidelines are issued by the appropriate authorities, the university will not require masks for indoor settings. Employees who have concerns or questions are asked to reach out to Human Resources.
Specifically for COVID, please review the recent CDC guidelines which no longer recommend quarantine after exposure, but do recommend masking.
In closing, the most important lesson we learned during the past two years: everything is subject to change. Our EOC team will remain vigilant and campus leadership will revise these guidelines as future circumstances require. Thank you all for your past efforts in limiting the spread and we appreciate in advance your assistance when you or your students or employees may be ill.
Here’s to a great fall semester as we welcome back the Red Wolves to Jonesboro.
A-State Emergency Operations Committee
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