Dear Campus Community,
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced last Friday that it is relaxing its mask guidance in communities where hospitalization rates are low and local hospital capacities are not under high strain. Greenville County is classified as medium risk, which means that individuals without symptoms, who have not tested positive for COVID, and who have not recently been exposed to an individual who has tested positive for COVID, are not required to wear a mask indoors.
In light of the revised guidance, our exceptional rates of vaccination/boosting, and our low case counts on campus, effective Saturday, March 5, we are moving to “masks optional” in on-campus, indoor settings (exceptions listed below). Instructors may not require masking in classrooms, and masking is not required at CLP events.
- Faculty and staff may require that students and colleagues wear a mask when entering their office, studio or high-contact lab areas, or when meeting individually. Likewise, students may ask faculty or staff to wear a mask when meeting with them individually.
- Faculty, staff and students may require masking of all participants when traveling in vehicles on or off campus for university-sponsored purposes.
Faculty and staff who require or may qualify for reasonable accommodations based on a disability may work with Human Resources to inquire about the ADA process. Students who require or may qualify for reasonable accommodations based on a disability may work with the Student Office for Accessibility Resources to inquire about the ADA process. Additionally, students, faculty and/or staff may receive notification that masks are required in classrooms or other spaces on campus to reasonably accommodate a student or colleague’s confidential disability.
Instructors may not shift their classes to remote learning in response to changes in masking guidance.
We are supportive of students, faculty and staff who choose to continue to wear masks, and individuals should not be questioned about their decision, nor should they be discouraged or prohibited from wearing them.
All protocols for contact tracing, isolation and quarantine remain the same. Students and employees who have tested positive, as well as those who are symptomatic but not yet tested, should immediately self-isolate, remain in their campus residence or at home and submit a LiveSafe Health Survey or contact the Earle Student Health Center (students) or Human Resources (employees).
Other adjustments and relaxed COVID protocols
Other adjustments and relaxed COVID protocols are more fully outlined on the Furman Focused website, so please carefully read more about the items below:
- Dining access
- PAC access
- Library access
- Furman-sponsored travel
- Eating and drinking indoors
- Campus visitors
- Enforcement
COVID-19 dashboard
There were 0 positive student cases reported this past week by the Earle Student Health Center (ESHC) and 0 positive employee cases reported by Human Resources. The Furman Focused Dashboard was updated yesterday and will be updated again next Thursday.
Administrators and health professionals will continue to monitor COVID-19 conditions in our community. While the COVID Response Committee (CRC) and the Public Health and Safety Advisory Group (PHSAG) will significantly reduce COVID-19 related management activities effective March 18, either or both groups may reactivate should conditions change. If it becomes necessary, previous mitigation protocols may be reinstated, and new mitigation protocols may be created.
If you have any questions, please email furman.focused@furman.edu.
Students, please have a fun, safe Spring Break!
Sincerely,
The COVID Response Committee