To All Members of the Campus Community:

Here are the main updates at-a-glance:

• COVID-19 vaccine supplies are plentiful, and anyone who wishes to be vaccinated can do so readily and at no cost. The vaccine is highly effective and safe. Don’t miss your shot, as we continue to strive to return to a more residential experience on campus and to more normal activities in our lives.
• Washtenaw County has one of the highest vaccination rates in the state at more than 63 percent, and more than 11,000 students have reported their vaccination information to U-M. Fully vaccinated students are exempt from mandatory testing requirements for spring/summer terms.
• Michigan Medicine is scheduling COVID-19 vaccine appointments for any individuals 12 years of age and older. They do not have to be a Michigan Medicine patient. Scheduling information is available here.
• Although the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services have changed their face covering guidance for those who are fully vaccinated, U-M’s policy will remain unchanged for now. We are evaluating the changes and will provide more information about bringing campus practices into alignment with state guidance in the coming days. I encourage everyone to view these changes in federal and state guidance as yet another reason to be vaccinated.
• For students choosing to live on campus, the university recognizes vaccines that are authorized for use by either the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the World Health Organization (WHO) as meeting COVID-19 policies and requirements. Updated information is available in Campus Maize and Blueprint site’s FAQs and from our International Center.
• We have updated the asymptomatic COVID-19 testing locations and hours as demand has decreased significantly with the end of the winter term.

Vaccination Update

COVID-19 vaccine supplies are plentiful, and anyone who wishes to be vaccinated can do so readily and at no cost. The vaccine is highly effective and safe. Don’t miss your shot, as we continue to strive to return to a more residential experience on campus and to more normal activities in our lives.

Washtenaw County has one of the highest vaccination rates in the state at more than 63 percent.

More than 11,000 students have reported their vaccination information via Wolverine Access. Fully vaccinated students will be granted an exemption from mandatory testing requirements for spring/summer terms.

Michigan Medicine is scheduling for COVID-19 vaccine appointments for individuals 12 years of age and older. The youths do not have to be a Michigan Medicine patient to schedule an appointment, but they will need a Michigan Medicine medical record number. Scheduling information and additional details are available here.

Our Michigan Stadium vaccine clinic will be offering the Pfizer vaccine by appointment only today through Friday, May 21.

Beginning May 26, the North Campus Research Complex (NCRC) will open as a vaccination site by appointment only, administering doses of the Pfizer vaccine and the Brighton Health Center will transition to a patient vaccination site administering doses of the Moderna vaccine.

As of May 27, University Health Service will begin offering vaccination appointments two days per week to UHS students and others within the campus community. Additional details will be provided when they are final.

Occupational Health Services is providing vaccines directly to Michigan Medicine faculty, staff and learners on a walk-in basis. And remember, vaccines remain free and available through pharmacies like Meijer, Kroger, CVS, Walgreens and RiteAid all around the country.

Please note that the state’s Vacc to Normal timeline does not affect or accelerate our plans for returning to more in person work.

Overseas Vaccinations Updates

For students choosing to live on campus, the university recognizes vaccines that are authorized for use by either the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the World Health Organization (WHO) as meeting COVID-19 policies and requirements. The number of recognized vaccines may change, and the current WHO list is here.

International students will still be able to live on campus if they have received a non-authorized vaccine, but they will not be considered fully vaccinated and will be expected to comply with required weekly testing and mitigation procedures until they receive an approved vaccine. We’ll also offer an authorized vaccine to students upon arrival.

We encourage all students to report their COVID-19 vaccines, including those that are not authorized for use in the United States.

More details are available in the Campus Maize and Blueprint site’s FAQs and from our International Center.

Campus COVID-19 Update

We have updated the asymptomatic COVID-19 testing locations and hours as demand has decreased significantly with the end of the winter term. Campus case counts are low.

Although the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services have changed their face covering guidance for those who are fully vaccinated, U-M’s policy will remain unchanged for now. We are evaluating the changes and will provide more information about bringing campus practices into alignment with state guidance in the coming days. I encourage everyone to view these changes in federal and state guidance as yet another reason to be vaccinated.

Our current policy allows people to be unmasked outdoors in groups of under 100 people but continues to require masking indoors except for when you are in a single enclosed private office with the door closed, in your assigned residence hall room/suite or apartment, or eating or drinking but still maintaining social distance.

Campus COVID-19 Briefing and Michigan Medicine Town Halls

Next Friday, I will host our biweekly 1 p.m. COVID-19 briefing with Provost Susan M. Collins, Vice President for Student Life Martino Harmon, and Chief Health Officer Preeti Malani. We’ll send out the invitation next week, which will include a form to submit questions. Previous briefings are posted here.

This will be our final regularly scheduled briefing of the spring. In the future, we’ll schedule briefings as needed, and will be sure to send out invitations in advance. We’ve very much appreciated the opportunity to answer your questions and share information during the briefings.

Michigan Medicine leaders have scheduled virtual town halls once per month for the remainder of the calendar year.

I will continue to provide weekly COVID-19 updates through May to help keep everyone informed, address concerns and respond to feedback and questions from our community. After that, I’ll send updates as needed. You may also read the University Record for the latest stories and the Campus Maize and Blueprint site for updates. Stay safe and be healthy.

Sincerely,

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