Fall 2021 Update - August 6, 2021
Dear campus community,
In a few days, we will welcome our newest class of Colonels to campus. We are excited to start this academic year with the best experience and environment possible to learn, work, and live at EKU. We are committed to offering a full schedule of in-person courses and campus services. The latest uptick in COVID-19 cases, however, will require minor adjustments to our COVID-19 campus protocols. Our goal continues to center on implementing best practices that will allow us to serve our students, faculty, staff, and visitors with the least amount of interruption to academic instruction and campus services.
Indoor Masking
Today, EKU joined leadership from Kentucky’s public higher education institutions and the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) in a joint statement on a universal indoor face-covering requirement for all public four-year universities and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.
We, along with our peer institutions, will require face coverings inside all campus buildings for both vaccinated and unvaccinated students, faculty, staff, vendors/contractors, and guests beginning August 15 and until further notice. Individuals in residence halls, dining facilities, and athletic recreation centers should wear a mask anytime in a common area unless they are alone in space. Activities, like student and employee convocation, will continue as planned with precautions like proper distancing and mask-wearing. All outdoor activities, including the Welcome Walk and Big E Photo, will continue as usual.
Vaccinations Matter
Vaccinations are our greatest opportunity to obtain our goal of a normal semester. The higher the vaccination rate we achieve as a community, the closer we move toward a return to unrestricted daily activities. If you are eligible, all students, faculty, and staff are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated. Throughout the semester, EKU will offer vaccination clinics, monitor our campus community’s vaccination rate, and offer incentives for those who have been vaccinated.
Campus Vaccination Clinics
EKU will offer vaccination clinics with FREE vaccines available to students, faculty, staff, and community members, including:
EKU COVID-19 Free Vaccination Clinic
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Friday, August 13, and Saturday, August 14
Powell Plaza
Sponsored by the Madison County Health Department and the Kentucky National Guard
Both Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available for ages 18 and up.
When the semester begins, students will have additional access to the vaccine through EKU Student Health Services. In addition, Team Kentucky’s https://govstatus.egov.com/kentucky-vaccine-map. Click or tap if you trust this link.">online directory can assist anyone desiring a COVID-19 vaccination to find a location that is close and convenient for you.
Vaccine Verification
Beginning Monday, August 9, 2021, EKU will open the vaccination verification secure online portal via EKUDirect to establish a baseline percentage for the number of fully vaccinated individuals within our campus community. Only students who have at least one in-person class in Richmond or a regional campus are being asked to verify. This information will remain confidential and will NOT be shared outside the baseline assessment group. The percentage will be used to make further decisions about potential necessary responses as the fall semester gets underway.
Get the Vaccine and Get a Chance to Win Prizes
If you are able, getting the vaccine is the right thing to do for your health and the health of those around you, especially to limit the spread and severity of illness and help protect those who might not be eligible to be vaccinated.
Students, faculty, and staff who have received their COVID-19 vaccination and completed the COVID-19 Vaccine Completion Form are eligible for various incentives including free parking permits, reserved parking spaces, dining dollars, free recreation classes, athletic event VIP packages, event tickets/VIP experiences and MORE! Get the details and see the list of prizes at https://staywell.eku.edu/vaccine.
Eastern Excellence
When the Colonel community is asked to step up, we do it with pride and spirit. I am confident this time will be no exception. We know how to do the right thing. Wear a mask, social distance if necessary, wash your hands, monitor for symptoms or exposure, and stay home if you’re sick or have been in close contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19. We cannot give up on fighting this pandemic, and we must continue fighting it together.
Please enjoy these last weeks of summer and I look forward to seeing you on campus for another exceptional year of excellence at EKU!
One Eastern,
David T. McFaddin
President
Published on August 06, 2021