Miami community to continue to mask for spring semester

Miami University students, staff and faculty will be required to wear masks for the spring semester, according to a Jan. 5 email from Miami’s COVID Response Team.

The email notes that as of Jan. 5, the semester will begin as scheduled in-person on Jan. 24. This announcement comes after many universities across the country announced a delayed or virtual start to their spring semesters.

“We do not anticipate any major changes to university operations at this time,” the email reads. “We are planning for a robust semester including the in-person instruction that is already scheduled.”

Jessica Rivinius, director of news and media relations, wrote in an email to The Miami Student that more information will be released within the next two weeks regarding testing, move-in procedures and booster shot clinics.

“We are closely monitoring the situation around the COVID-19 omicron variant and meeting on a daily basis to discuss how to best protect our campus,” Rivinius wrote.

Some January non-classroom events will be rescheduled or held virtually, and the university events calendar will be updated accordingly.

The university-wide email also encourages off-campus students to delay their return to campus until closer to the start of the spring semester, as well as encouraging the community to get their booster shot.

The university is asking students, faculty and staff to report records of booster shots to help with planning, though receiving boosters is still voluntary.

Drop-in booster clinics will be held throughout the upcoming semester through TriHealth for students, faculty and staff. Miami has not yet announced the schedule for the booster clinics.

guntercr@miamioh.edu

@cosettegunter