May 11, 2022

Dear AU Community,

With the transition to summer activities on campus, we are updating our health and safety protocols for masking, COVID-19 testing, and university-sponsored travel. The revised protocols outlined below go into effect over the next two weeks; please read each section for details. Updated health and safety guidance for the fall semester will be provided before move-in and the beginning of classes.

Masks

• Masks will be optional in most campus locations beginning May 23.
• For the first week of summer classes (May 16-20), masks will still be required in classrooms, offices, and other public indoor spaces.
• Masks will remain required in campus medical facilities throughout the summer, including the Student Health Center, Counseling Center, and COVID-19 testing sites; on the AU shuttle; and inside any AU vehicle used for public transportation.
• Masks will be required for the remaining commencement ceremonies, including the special ceremony for the classes of 2020 and 2021 on May 21 and WCL on May 22.
• Community members may choose to wear a high-quality mask (KN95 or N95) in any setting or location based on their personal preferences or situations. Campus distribution sites will continue to provide masks to community members with an AU ID. If a member of our community asks others to wear a mask when they are in close contact with one another, including faculty in our classrooms or labs and staff in our offices, please treat such requests with respect and give them full consideration.

COVID-19 Testing

• All AU community members should continue to test if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms
• For the remainder of this week (May 9-13), testing will take place in MGC 200. As a reminder, the testing center in Constitution Hall closed on April 29.
• Beginning on May 16 and continuing throughout the summer, COVID-19 antigen tests will be available on the first floor of Beeghly Hall from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Beeghly is located behind the Hall of Science and Centennial Hall, and the clinic location will be well-marked with signs.
• The antigen tests provided at the Beeghly site are for at-home use. No onsite testing will be conducted. Community members must present an AU ID to obtain a test. The Safer Community app will not be utilized during the summer. Fall testing protocols will be detailed before the beginning of classes.
• Faculty and staff, as well as students enrolled in on-campus/in-person summer courses, must continue to self-report positive test results from both on-campus and off-campus testing.
• On-campus isolation housing will be provided for summer on-campus residential students who test positive.
• For on-campus summer conferences, organizers will be provided with antigen test for attendees experiencing symptoms.

University-Sponsored Travel

• Approval is still required for all international travel. Faculty should complete this form and staff should utilize this form.
• For domestic travel, pre-approval is no longer required, but faculty and staff should work with their schools/colleges/departments to ensure the travel is necessary to advance university priorities.

Peter Starr
Provost and Chief Academic Officer

Fanta Aw
Vice President for Undergraduate Enrollment, Campus Life, and Inclusive Excellence

Seth Grossman
Vice President, People and External Affairs and Counselor to the President