As you heard at last week’s UMMS Virtual Town Hall meeting, we are encouraged by the downward trend of COVID-19 case numbers in our city, region and state, which has led to changing restrictions in some settings. While this progress is heartening, it is prudent for UMMS to continue certain infection control guidelines due to the nature of the work that takes place on our campus, and the fact that not all members of our community are fully vaccinated.
Please take a few minutes to read the following updates about COVID-19 guidance and the plans to return to full campus operations over the summer. Please note that all current budgetary restrictions – including a hiring freeze and ban on the use of school funds for discretionary items such as travel and food – remain in effect until further notice.
Masks
Masks will continue to be required in all indoor spaces on the UMMS campus, including in labs and when riding on shuttles. Individuals may choose to remove their masks outdoors when alone or in a group with fully vaccinated individuals. Masks are still recommended for unvaccinated individuals if gathering in small groups with others who may or may not be vaccinated. Masks may be removed when an individual is alone in an office, and for up to 15 minutes when actively eating or drinking.
Choosing to wear a mask is an individual’s right. As a community, we respect the choices of individuals to wear masks, even if guidance indicates that they may remove their masks.
Physical Distancing
Beginning tomorrow, May 29, when most remaining Massachusetts state COVID-19-related guidelines will be rescinded, vaccinated individuals will no longer need to maintain six feet of physical distancing. The CDC advises unvaccinated individuals to continue to distance when unmasked (outdoors, while eating) and to avoid gatherings.
COVID-19 Vaccination is Strongly Recommended
We strongly encourage vaccination for everyone who is and will be learning at, working on and visiting UMMS campuses. Vaccination protects the individual from severe COVID-19 disease, and vaccinated individuals are less likely to shed virus and transmit to others. Vaccination protects us as individuals and protects those around us, including vulnerable and immunosuppressed people. Soon, we will provide more information about a new system for UMMS employees and students to voluntarily submit proof of vaccination. The CDC vaccination card will be acceptable proof and this program will begin with those currently enrolled in the UMMS surveillance testing program.
Full Campus Operations to Resume August 1
Full academic activity and appropriate administrative support for new and returning students will resume August 1, when our campus will return to in-person, prepandemic operations. This does not necessarily mean that all employees will be required to return to full-time on-campus work at that time. Employees who have been working remotely or in a hybrid model should talk with their manager to determine the most appropriate work site, based on the institutional needs and nature of their work, after August 1. In instances when an employee and their manager agree that remote or hybrid work is appropriate, the UMMS Work from Home policy should be followed. The work from home policy is a six-month renewable agreement that specifies the scope, responsibilities and guidelines for employees and managers; signed work from home agreements must be submitted to Human Resources.
UMMS Surveillance Testing Protocol
Employees and students who are enrolled in weekly surveillance testing should continue to participate in testing, regardless of vaccination status. Employees who have been working remotely and will be returning to two or more days per week of in-person on-campus work should email Theresa Kane at Theresa.kane@umassmed.edu for instructions.
Post-Pandemic Work Group Survey
The Post-Pandemic Work Group would like to thank the more than 1,200 members of the UMMS workforce who completed a survey earlier this month. Survey responses and thousands of comments provided leadership with important insights about the future of our campus culture and work environment that will help UMMS achieve its goal to be an employer of choice for exceptional and diverse talent across all mission areas, departments, business units and functions.
Ensuring a Safe Learning and Working Environment
Throughout the pandemic, our highest priority has been to protect the health and safety of our UMMS community members while continuing mission-critical work. Given that our guidelines should align with those of the health and university systems, while meeting the needs of our unique campus activities, we appreciate your attention to evolving institutional guidance. Thanks to the cooperation of the UMMS community, we have maintained productivity and critical contributions to health care and science during an unprecedented time, while keeping our community safe, as evidenced by a 0.17 percent positivity rate among the more than 90,000 COVID-19 tests that have been administered so far.
Stay Informed and Connected
Our goal is to provide timely updates and information based on evolving data and guidelines. Please join upcoming UMMS Virtual Town Hall meetings on June 22 and August 10 at 1 p.m. using the Zoom link in your calendar. Questions and comments may be submitted to postpandemicplanning@umassmed.edu.
