Re-Engaging in the World

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This may not have been the Fall semester we expected but we are proud to have safely welcomed back students and staff and able to return to some traditional education atmospheres and activities. To ensure the health and safety of our students and staff, UMW continues the strict COVID-19 preparedness plan that goes beyond the state and federal health guidelines. Our COVID-19 safety plan is structured on the consultation of the local health district to ensure our preventative measures match the conditions of the Rappahannock area.

First and foremost, UMW continues to require all students and staff to be fully vaccinated to participate in in-person classes and campus life. In addition to vaccination requirements, UMW also mandates masks for all communal settings, such as classrooms, meeting spaces, and academic buildings. While we understand that the transmission rates for those who are vaccinated are lower, we are taking every measure to reduce the spread of COVID-19 on our campus. Our priority is for everyone in our Eagle family to engage in normal academics and activities without the added worry of the safety of our community.
As vaccination rates increase, UMW expects that the number of COVID-19 cases within our community will decrease throughout the 2021-2022 school year.

Re-Engaging in the world after covid, a woman sitting in a class enviornment with mask on.

We will continue to closely monitor reported cases and use our trained case investigative staff to trace all reported outbreaks. Any individual experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and tests positive must notify the university and quarantine for at least ten days from the time they are tested or begin showing symptoms.

We know quarantining can be difficult, so we have created resources to keep isolated students connected in the community while they are away. Students in quarantine will have access to virtual counseling services through the Talley Center and will have the option to be paired with a virtual quarantine buddy (a fellow UMW student). It is just as important that our students are supported in their mental health as they are in their physical health. UMW will continue to work hard to maintain a safe environment for all our students and staff this school year so that we can resume our traditional in-person activities. We’re all in this together, Eagles!

For more information on what UMW is doing to keep our students safe this school year, visit the Coronavirus Response Plan on our website.