To All Members of the Campus Community:

All students, faculty and staff coming to the Ann Arbor campus – and U-M students living in the area – can now be tested for COVID-19 weekly through our regular asymptomatic testing program, and I encourage all to do so. The process has been streamlined so that you can register online and select a test time in two easy steps.

Weekly testing is mandatory for Ann Arbor undergraduates who live in Michigan Housing or who enter buildings on campus for class, work, recreation or study. Details are available at our asymptomatic testing site, and Student Life addressed expectations for staying safe and healthy in a message earlier this week to undergraduates.

Regular COVID-19 testing through U-M helps protect our community by identifying quickly where the virus is, allowing us to care for those who are sick, and begin isolation and case investigation. Please get tested regularly and do your part at preventing spread of COVID-19 while we await vaccination to be widely available.

We have also updated the ResponsiBLUE app, and undergraduates will now see a box that shows whether their weekly testing status is complete or expired. Please update your app, if you’ve already been using it. Further ResponsiBLUE information, a link to download the app for Apple or Android, and FAQs on mandatory testing for undergraduates are available on the Campus Maize and Blueprint site.

Additional information is available in the University Record.

Presidential Inauguration

Our nation continues to face turmoil and violence stemming from fractious discord, and our community is feeling the effects. I appreciate all who have expressed their support for the integrity of our elections and the peaceful transfer of power, which are foundational qualities of our system of governance. We have heard questions and concerns about Inauguration Day safety and have been planning over several weeks with our local, state and federal partners. Many of our public safety partners shared information yesterday about their extensive planning efforts.

Vaccination Update

U-M will provide COVID-19 vaccination to all students, faculty and staff who want to be vaccinated.

Timing will be based on state prioritization guidance and the availability of vaccine. Michigan Medicine has temporarily paused most new first-dose COVID-19 vaccination appointments due to lower than expected supplies of vaccine this week. This action was taken to ensure that we have enough vaccine for those who are due for their second doses in the coming days.

We have already vaccinated about 85 percent of those in priority groups identified by the state as Phase 1A. I want to remind all students, faculty and staff from all three campuses to complete the Blue Queue signup survey so that we can contact you for an appointment when it’s your turn. We’re asking everyone to complete the survey regardless of whether you want to receive the vaccine.

Further signup information for U-M community members, along with FAQs that are updated daily, are available from Michigan Medicine here. Additional details and data on our vaccine distribution, as well as information for Michigan Medicine patients, are available here.

Campus COVID-19 Briefing

The video for this week’s Campus COVID-19 Briefing is available here. We will continue to hold these biweekly on Fridays, alternating with Michigan Medicine’s Friday Town Halls. At today’s briefing:

• Chief Health Officer Preeti Malani gave an update on campus conditions and important reminders and recommendations for our community.
• Provost Susan M. Collins discussed child care options for employees and Fall 2021 planning.
• Vice President for Student Life Martino Harmon discussed student engagement opportunities and provided an update on Michigan Housing.
• Rob Ernst, chair of the Campus Health Response Committee, discussed testing and other elements of U-M’s COVID-19 response.
• Sandro Cinti, an infectious disease physician and one of the co-leads of Michigan Medicine’s COVID-19 Vaccination and Therapeutics Task Force, discussed U-M’s vaccination efforts.

Each also answered several questions from the community.

Additional Updates

• Our COVID-19 Playbook outlines the University of Michigan’s approach to slowing the spread of COVID-19 and how we’re supporting our community with new and updated resources throughout this challenging time.
• Our Campus Maize and Blueprint page includes contact information for various offices and resources, including our Campus COVID-19 Call Center and COVID-19 Concerns Reporting Line.

During the semester, I will continue to provide weekly COVID-19 updates to help keep everyone informed and address concerns and respond to feedback and questions from our community. You may also view the University Record for the latest stories and the Campus Maize and Blueprint site for updates.

I wish everyone a safe, healthy and productive semester. Please continue to remain vigilant in efforts to reduce spread of COVID-19: wear a face covering, practice social distancing, avoid social gatherings and stay home when sick.

Sincerely,

Mark S. Schlissel, M.D., Ph.D.
President