For the Spring 2022 semester, UMW plans to continue its in-person campus experience while closely monitoring developments with the coronavirus, especially as new variants emerge. To do that, though, all members of the community must exercise common sense practices. Vaccination — including boosters — is the single most important tool we can utilize as we transition back to the in-person activities that define the UMW experience.

Vaccinations

All students physically accessing campus services and classes must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before returning to campus for the Spring 2022 semester. Additionally, students who are currently eligible for a booster will be required to provide proof of booster. If you are not yet eligible for the booster (less than six months from second dose of Moderna/Pfizer vaccine or less than two months from J&J vaccine), you will be expected to receive the booster as soon as you are eligible and upload an updated vaccination card within 14 days of eligibility. Individuals who have a waiver on file will be exempt from this requirement.

There are two permitted exemptions to the University’s vaccination requirement. Those with approved exemptions must undergo daily symptom attestation and weekly COVID testing as well as mask and socially distance.

• A medical exemption will be granted to those for whom receiving the COVID-19 vaccination is medically inadvisable. Documentation from a  health provider must be provided.
• A religious exemption will be granted in accordance with Certificate of Religious Exemption (Form CRE-1). This request must be notarized.

Masking

Besides vaccines, the wearing of a well-fitting mask is highly effective at preventing the spread of the coronavirus, including its variants. Consequently, masks will be required indoors in public spaces, which include all classrooms, laboratories, meeting spaces, foyers and hallways, and auditoriums. Masks are not required in one’s own residence hall room, private offices, other spaces where you are alone, and when eating and drinking. We also strongly recommend wearing a mask when outdoors in large groups.

Testing

Everyone who has COVID symptoms, regardless of their vaccination status, should stay away from others and get tested. Students can contact the Student Health Center, while employees should consult their health care provider or get tested at a local pharmacy. In addition, vaccinated people who are exposed but are asymptomatic should get tested 3-5 days after their exposure.

Flexibility

As we’ve all learned since March of 2020, COVID-19 is a moving target. Thus, members of the UMW community need to be flexible and adjust as conditions and directives change. The Public Health Advisory Working Group and the Cabinet will keep a close eye on many of the metrics we measure on our dashboard and the local COVID conditions. These include case counts, weekly testing numbers, quarantine/isolation space availability, local hospital capacity, local positivity rates and transmission numbers, among others. And, as necessary, we will take additional temporary steps to further protect the UMW community, including limiting gathering sizes, changing modality of courses, limiting visitors, etc. We also look forward to conditions that warrant lifting of restrictions.