Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

 

I write to call your attention to an important message that Chancellor Dannel Malloy shared earlier today with all University of Maine System students and employees:

Effective today through September 30, 2021, face coverings are required indoors at University facilities for all persons — students, staff, faculty and visitors — regardless of vaccination status. Individuals working in an office by themselves with the door closed need not wear a face covering. 

For more details on the change in policy, please carefully read the Chancellor’s message and review the System’s Together for Maine website. 

The delta variant has clearly changed the course of the pandemic, and our practices must change accordingly to ensure our own health and the health of everyone in the pack. 

In addition to the policy change on face coverings, please remember that students participating in an on-campus experience this fall must begin the process of becoming fully vaccinated by 5 p.m., Friday, August 20 — that's this coming Friday. 

Students who verify their status of getting at least their first shot toward full vaccination by 5 p.m., Friday, August 20, will remain eligible to participate in on-campus activities in the fall semester. 
 

We are deeply gratified by our campus community’s participation in verifying vaccination. ​If you are already fully vaccinated and have provided the University of Maine System with verification of your vaccination status, thank you for taking these critical actions to help ensure your well-being. And thank you for doing your part to keep everyone in the pack healthy.

If you are not yet vaccinated, USM will be offering a walk-in vaccination clinic before the August 20 deadline:

Brought to you by the VAX PACK, a committee of USM students, faculty, and staff focused on promoting COVID-19 immunization, this clinic will be open to all USM students and employees. Community members are welcome to get vaccinated at this clinic as well. The vaccines are available to everyone at no cost. For more information on this clinic, please contact usmcovidinfo@maine.edu.

If you plan to seek an exemption from the vaccination requirement, please see the instructions that are provided on the Pointnclick verification site. For the latest COVID-19-related news, please see the "Fall 2021 at USM" page. 

Thank you for your attention to the updated face covering policy. I look forward to welcoming you to campus for the start of the fall semester at the University of Southern Maine. 

With all best wishes for good health,
Glenn Cummings
President