Author: Eleftheria Giannopoulos

Fellow Patriots:

We are just six weeks away from the kickoff of the fall 2021 semester, and I am thrilled to confirm that the campuses of George Mason University will be fully open to welcome a record number of students. It has been a long road back from March 2020 when we had to shut operations down to stay ahead of the pandemic, but we find ourselves on the verge of fully reopening.

We are about to return to a Mason that has changed due to the pandemic, and even though we are able to return, we do so as the COVID-19 virus and its variants continue to circulate through our communities.

I am writing to share how we will open in order to balance a return to full capacity while continuing to assure safe conditions of operation.

Reopening

In keeping with our university value of putting students first, we will reopen campus fully starting Monday, August 2. At that time, we will pilot a hybrid work environment that allows for telework/remote work for one or two days per week – with the necessary assessment to ensure the responsibilities of the position are able to be achieved.  The goals are to:

• Retain the efficiencies we gained in remote working.  
• Capitalize on the contributions that result from the synergies and collaborations that occur when we are on campus. 
• Serve the thousands of students who will come to campus every day and who call Mason home.  
• Reinvigorate the campus environment that has come to define a significant part of the full Mason experience. 

Recognizing that class will not be in session yet on Monday, August 2, either at Mason or at regional public schools and that some people have to manage transitional needs (childcare, transportation, etc.) we will use the first two weeks of August to transition back into this new framework. Thus it is expected that everyone will be fully integrated in their pilot working environment by Sunday, August 15. Note, this is a pilot program and we will evaluate its effectiveness quarterly.

The Office of Human Resources and Payroll will issue more detailed back-to-work guidelines shortly.

Vaccination and proof of status 

Because we will come together as COVID-19 continues to circulate, we have an obligation to maintain a safe environment in which to study, work, and live. While those of us who are vaccinated are now able to enjoy a return to campus without masks or physical distancing, measures are still required as long as pandemic conditions persist among those who are unable or unwilling to receive the vaccine. Therefore, as previously announced:

Students 

All students will be required to be fully vaccinated, and share proof of vaccination, via this link by Sunday, August 1. Appropriate medical and religious exemptions will be observed, and those who are not vaccinated will be required to wear masks while on campus and undergo frequent COVID-19 testing. Those who do not share proof of vaccination or an approved exemption will have their registrations held until they do so.

The Office of University Life will issue more detailed back-to-school guidelines shortly.

Faculty and staff 

All employees will be strongly encouraged to get vaccinated, and required to share their vaccination status via this link by Sunday, August 1. To see incentives that encourage faculty,  staff, and students to share their vaccination documentation and for instructions on how to do so, follow this link. Disclosure of vaccination status – whether vaccinated or not – will be a prerequisite for eligibility for any future merit pay increases. Those who are vaccinated but do not disclose vaccination status and upload proof through Mason COVID Health Check by August 1, will be considered unvaccinated. Those who cannot or choose not to get vaccinated will be required to wear masks while on campus, physically distance, and undergo frequent COVID-19 testing.

All students, faculty, and staff should follow this link to upload their vaccination status.

Focus on well-being 

It is important for us all to recognize that our return to an open campus is accompanied by a mix of excitement and uneasiness. We are excited to resume life that feels normal again – to be together on our campuses, and to see each others’ full and healthy smiles. But it is also natural to feel reluctance to venture back onto campus, given the experience we have all been living through. Our plan gets Mason back on campus as it should be without endangering public health or compromising our ability to deliver excellence to our students and the community. We will all feel anxiety from time to time, and I  encourage us to be good to ourselves and each other, and take these steps together, as one Mason Nation.

Onward!

Sincerely,

Gregory Washington
President

Dear Patriots,

As you know, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam last week lifted the mask requirement for people who have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. As a public university, George Mason University is complying with the Governor’s order, eliminating face covering and distancing requirements for all fully vaccinated people, effective today, June 2.

Mask and distancing requirements will remain in place for non-vaccinated individuals. Please indicate your vaccine status using the Mason COVID Health Check before June 11.  This information will help us provide support for our community’s vaccine needs, COVID testing program and other public health precautions.

Because children under age 12 are not yet eligible to be vaccinated, we will maintain masking and distancing requirements for summer camps. See Mason’s mask policy for more detailed information.

Requests to host internal camps should be submitted to Programs, Events and Camps for approval, more information is available here: https://www2.gmu.edu/safe-return-campus/meetings-and-events/programs-events-camps-serving-minors.

As a reminder, all employees and students are required to upload documentation of vaccination by August 1.Instructions for students on how to upload vaccine records is available here. Instructions for employees can be found here.

Together, we can make Mason a safe place to study, work, live, and play. Thank you for your cooperation.  If you have any questions about Mason’s COVID response plans and procedures, please contact [email protected].

Sincerely,

Carol Dillon Kissal
Senior Vice President, Administration and Finance

Dear Patriots,

We have just completed one of the most challenging times in the history of George Mason University, and I am grateful for the important role that everyone played in making this year a tremendous success.

This week, I am pleased to share that we are reporting just one active case of COVID-19 on our campuses. Think about that for a moment. That’s an amazing accomplishment for our community and it is a testament to the number of people who have been vaccinated.

As we turn our attention to the Fall Semester, we must all continue to do our part and work together to keep Mason safe. This starts with new policies for COVID-19 vaccination, testing and masking. Below is a summary of what we will require, so please read this carefully.

COVID-19 Vaccination  

• Students: Mason will require that all students be vaccinated against COVID-19 by August 1.  This policy does not apply to students who take online courses only and do not come to any campus, or to individuals who have an approved medical or religious exemption.Plan ahead: Depending on the type of vaccine you receive, you may have to receive your first dose no later than July 4 to meet the August 1 requirement.Upload COVID vaccination documentation to the Health Services Patient Portal. Visit the  Student Health Services website for FAQs, information on how to upload your COVID vaccine documentation (all students), or submit your Mason Immunization Record Form (newly admitted students).  If you are an international student with limited access to COVID vaccines, please email [email protected] to request an extension. Students with approved extensions must get vaccinated when they arrive in the United States.
• Faculty and Staff: All faculty and staff are expected to be fully vaccinated in time for the Fall Semester, and are strongly encouraged to receive vaccines over the summer. All employees are required to disclose whether or not they have been vaccinated in   Mason Covid Health Check by June 11, 2021.   Those who have been fully vaccinated will be required to upload vaccination documentation into the Health Services Patient Portal before August 1. We anticipate full FDA approval of at least one COVID vaccine over the summer. At that time, we anticipate requiring that all employees receive the vaccine. An exemption process will be made available.We encourage everyone to learn about the vaccine and get immunized. Mason will continue to host vaccination clinics on campus at no cost through the fall semester. To set up an appointment, go to vaccine.gmu.edu.

Masking

• Mason will lift mask requirements for all fully vaccinated individuals on campus as of May 29 – except in medical facilities, public transit, child care facilities and in accordance with the Governor’s policy. 
• Unvaccinated individuals should continue to wear masks on campus, per the Governor’s new executive order. Masks may be removed while eating, drinking, playing instruments and for other exemptions allowed. 
• Mason will encourage everyone to wear masks in classes and indoors this summer, to allow more time for people to get vaccinated, and will support anyone who wants to continue wearing a mask after that. 
• See Mason’s updated mask policy.
   

Testing  

• Unvaccinated individuals will be required to participate in COVID testing at least once a week and as frequently as three times a week, depending on conditions.
• Vaccinated faculty, staff and students may be required to participate in less frequent testing, based on the guidance from public health officials and testing capacity.  
• Symptomatic individuals, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, should still self-isolate and seek evaluation and diagnostic testing.

Additional Safety Policies 

• Physical Distancing: Mason will require physical distancing of three feet during the summer; in the fall, we anticipate being able to remove physical distancing requirements once vaccination rates exceed 80 percent
• Mason COVID Health Check: Mason will continue to require everyone’s participation in the daily health check this summer; we will reassess the need for continuing in the fall, based on the vaccination data received. 

We have made tremendous strides during this extraordinary time. I continue to be amazed by the resilience of the Mason Nation. Let’s keep working together to keep Mason safe.

Sincerely,

Gregory Washington
President