NEW: Updated Guidance for Spring Semester 1/11/22

Dear Members of the Campus Community,

Given the current status of the pandemic, we will implement additional protocols during this temporary period of high transmission of the COVID-19 virus here in Pierce County and throughout the United States. Below please find important new guidance as well as some reminders to help us all prepare for a safe and successful spring semester. 

Our goal is to have everyone return to campus on or before Tuesday, Jan. 18 so that we can complete our COVID-19 testing as a community, quarantine or isolate as needed, and resume normal activity on campus as quickly as possible.

TEMPORARY OPERATIONAL CHANGES

• Remote classes. To accommodate the time needed to test all members of the community, as well as those who may be in quarantine or isolation as the semester begins without interrupting the ability to participate in classes, all classes will be offered remotely for the first week of the spring semester. It is important to return to campus for the first week to participate in the PCR testing that is required in order to resume in-person class attendance as soon as possible. [See more information about testing below.]
• Ordering and picking up books. Students are advised to order their spring textbooks online as soon as possible. When notified, please pick up pre-ordered items in person to reduce crowding and limit the time spent in the Logger Store. If you are unable to order online, you may bring your schedule to the store and staff will select your books for you. (Depending on volume, you may need to return to the store to pick up your books and complete your purchase.) If you have questions or need assistance, email books@pugetsound.edu or call 253.879.2689. 
• Student Staff. Students are required to have a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken on campus prior to reporting to in-person campus work study assignments. Please consult with your supervisor for additional guidance about your work schedule.
• Dining Services. Until the initial COVID-19 testing period is complete and classes resume in person, campus food service will be served to-go and the cafes and The Cellar will utilize the GET app for ordering and pick up. Not all dining venues may be open during the first week of the semester while student staff await negative COVID-19 test results.
• Updated International and Domestic Travel Guidance. The Statement Regarding Temporary Restrictions on International and Domestic Travel was updated Jan. 7. 

REMINDERS

• Testing is required upon return to campus and will be offered in the Wheelock Student Center Rotunda, Tuesday,  Jan. 18–Thursday, Jan. 20, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. All members of the campus community who are living or working on campus will participate in PCR saliva testing once a week until further notice. Department heads can request additional PCR home test kits from Facilities Services to make available to staff and faculty as needed during the semester. Please note: Those who have had COVID-19 should refrain from participation in campus pooled testing for 90 days after their positive test.  
• Masks. Masks must be worn in public, indoor spaces on campus. We recommend N95, KN95 or three-ply surgical/medical grade masks for all members of the campus community, and require them for all unvaccinated individuals. Masks with instructions for use are available from Facilities Services by calling 253.879.3713, and can be picked up Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.  Data suggests that improved mask quality decreases the transmission of the Omicron variant.  
• Boosters. To ensure optimal protection against COVID-19, the CDC recommends getting vaccinated and keeping vaccinations up to date with booster shots. Boosters are required for all members of the campus community as soon as you are eligible to receive one (five months following two-dose mRNA vaccine or two months following single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine). Anyone who received from the university a previous medical or religious exemption is not required to get a booster shot. If you have not already done so, upload proof of booster shots here:
  • Undergraduate Students
  • Graduate Students
  • Faculty and Staff 
• Events and Gatherings. An updated event policy went into effect  Nov. 2021. All members of the campus community are advised to limit in-person gatherings and hold meetings remotely during this period of high transmission. 
• Card Access. Buildings remain on card access except for Wheelock Student Center, Memorial Fieldhouse, Welcome Center and Collins Memorial Library. Please remember to carry your Logger Card with you.

NEW ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE GUIDANCE FROM COUNSELING, HEALTH AND WELLNESS SERVICES

Please note new isolation and quarantine guidance from Counseling, Health and Wellness Services. Visit the COVID-19 website or contact contacttracing@pugetsound.edu directly with questions.

• Isolation.
  If you test positive on campus, you will be notified and instructed regarding next steps. If you test positive through non-University of Puget Sound testing, please notify contacttracing@pugetsound.edu. Faculty and staff members should notify their medical provider and then notify CHWS at contacttracing@pugetsound.edu. Upon request by the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Dept., our isolation period of 10 days following a positive COVID-19 test remains unchanged at this time. Isolate and test as soon as you have symptoms. Day zero is the first day of symptoms or, if asymptomatic, the date of the day of the positive test. You will be notified immediately should the isolation guidance change.

• Quarantine. 

  • Fully vaccinated high-risk close contacts of those who test positive are required to quarantine until they receive a negative PCR test result–whether or not you have symptoms. High-risk close contacts are defined as roommates, household members, romantic partners or others who have spent a substantial amount of time unmasked in the presence of someone who has tested positive. You are considered fully vaccinated if you have had a primary series of a two-dose mRNA vaccine plus a booster (when eligible); or a single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine plus a booster. 
  • Fully vaccinated low-risk close contacts of those who test positive are not required to quarantine unless they subsequently develop symptoms or test positive. Get tested five days after exposure, even if you don’t develop symptoms. Wear a substantial mask, and monitor for symptoms for 10 days from the date of exposure. If symptoms develop, get a PCR test and isolate immediately. A low-risk close contact is a person who has been within six feet for 15 minutes or longer, masked or unmasked, but is not a roommate, romantic partner, household member, or other individual who has spent significant time unmasked with the person who has tested positive. You are considered fully vaccinated if you have had a primary series of a two-dose mRNA vaccine plus a booster (when eligible); or a single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine plus a booster. 
  • Unvaccinated close contacts of those who test positive are required to quarantine for at least five days, and obtain a PCR test five days after exposure. Monitor for symptoms for 10 days from the date of exposure. Wear a mask, avoid travel, and avoid exposure to high-risk individuals. If symptoms develop, get tested and isolate immediately. You are considered unvaccinated if you have not had a primary series of the vaccine OR if you have had a primary series and are overdue for a booster.
  • The date of your exposure is considered day zero. Day one is the first full day after your last contact with a person who has had COVID-19. 
  • Fully vaccinated students who live on campus will quarantine in their current living spaces after close contact with an infected individual. Students who are not fully vaccinated will be offered quarantine space on campus.
  • Student-athletes should consult with Athletics for protocols specific to student-athletes, which are in accordance with Northwest Conference and NCAA guidelines.

This is a lot of information to assimilate. Please take your time to read this message carefully, and visit the university’s COVID-19 response website for further information. 

We will continue to work together to limit the spread of the virus as we pursue what I fully expect to be a rewarding spring semester—filled with thought-provoking classes, experiential learning opportunities, research and scholarship, lectures and performances, athletic competition, and the pursuit of knowledge in community with one another.

Sincerely,

Isiaah
Isiaah Crawford, Ph.D. | President