June 7, 2021

Dear AU Community,

With beautiful summer weather here and vaccination rates continuing to increase, I hope you can safely enjoy many outdoor activities with family and friends. As Staff Appreciation Week kicks off, we are so thankful for our staff whose hard work and dedication supports the health and safety of our community and advances our mission.

Today, I want to share some updated health and safety protocols for our campus based on the improving pandemic conditions and the current guidance from the CDC and DC Department of Health. This is the next step in the evolution of our overall approach to health and safety and campus operations. We will continue to update our protocols as needed during the summer based on revised guidance, vaccination rates, case counts, and other relevant factors. Revised comprehensive health and safety guidance for the fall semester will be provided before move-in and the start of classes.

First, masks are no longer required outside if you are vaccinated. Masks should be worn outdoors if you are in a large gathering of people (25 or more). Inside our buildings, face coverings must remain on unless you are alone in an office or residence hall room, in a gathering of fewer than 15 people (with limited exceptions such as the fitness center, shuttle busses, Student Health Center, and COVID testing site, where masks are required at all times), or you are eating. Masks are still required indoors for any classes, events, or large gatherings. We understand this is a greater level of caution than current guidelines, but we are continuing this safety measure until we reach a high vaccination level across our community.

Second, COVID testing will continue through the summer. AU community members with a campus presence will test once per week regardless of vaccination status as we continue our surveillance testing. If you are not yet vaccinated, the daily self-screening form must be completed on any day you come to campus. For community members who are vaccinated, you no longer need to fill out the form. These steps, along with the updated airflow systems in our buildings that meet all CDC requirements, will continue to help keep our community safe. Please note that the campus buildings with reduced heating/cooling services in support of our cost savings will remain in this mode during the summer.

As a reminder, we are implementing the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for students, faculty, and staff. The campus vaccine clinic with DC Urgent Care is now operating every three weeks on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Constitution Hall. Clinic days will increase in August as community members return to campus. Students can upload their vaccination information online, and the faculty/staff attestation form and exemption request form will be available the week of June 21.

Visitors to campus, including summer conference attendees, will wear masks indoors at all times (except when eating) and outdoors if physical distancing is not possible. Summer conference guests will be tested for COVID-19 prior to their arrival and regularly during their stay on campus. Visitors from outside the Washington, DC, region should also follow travel guidance from the DC Department of Health.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to the health and safety of our community.

Sincerely,

Fanta Aw
Vice President of Campus Life & Inclusive Excellence
American University
campuslife@american.edu