TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN COMMUNITY:

Welcome to a new academic year at the University of Michigan.

This year more than ever, we are called upon to care for one other. Our campuses will look and feel different as we share in the responsibility for following the public health guidelines that will help to keep us all safe.

You are beginning or continuing your Michigan journey during a time of great uncertainty. The COVID-19 pandemic is placing extraordinary challenges on us as students, faculty, staff – and as people. Because COVID-19 is spread among people, and affects each of us differently, we all must do our part to prevent transmission. There’s too much at risk to let down our guard.

Our community has been hard at work preparing for the fall semester, and I am pleased to share with you some words of encouragement from members of our community in this year’s Welcome Back Video.

In Ann Arbor, we are welcoming thousands of new students and more than 400 new faculty members, either in person or remotely. We can all be proud that the Michigan here for them today remains a nurturing place for learning, teaching, research and service.

Please help encourage your classmates, friends, and colleagues to be smart and safe. Wear your face covering, wash your hands, maintain social distance and avoid larger crowds. We’re counting on everyone to care for one another. We will continue to post updates about our work to address COVID-19 on our Campus Maize and Blueprint site.

Please stay safe, help us keep everyone healthy, and as always, Go Blue!

Sincerely,

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