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May 25, 2021

Dear UAF faculty and staff,

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control revised its masking guidelines, and UA interim President Pitney to align our face covering policies per the new CDC guidance. As I mentioned in my , wearing a face covering is now optional if you are fully vaccinated. There are many reasons why a person may wear a face covering regardless of their vaccination status, and this is welcomed and supported. There is no stigma associated with face coverings, vaccinated or not, and I expect that we will see face coverings for some time to come. You can read the . Keep an eye out for changes in signage throughout campus as we make this transition.

UAF is currently transitioning into Phase C, predominantly in-person work. Many of our facilities are opening to the public, such as the Rasmuson Library. I’m looking forward to seeing more people on our campuses and in our facilities. If you’d like to know more about remote work options or have questions about how to make this transition, please review the , and be sure to connect with your supervisor and with HR to answer any additional questions. Telework (remote work) agreements during Phase C operation are considered temporary, while long-term regulations and guidelines are being developed by UAHR with an anticipated completion date of Aug. 1. Information on that project is available on the .

For the fall semester, we are planning for full occupancy in our classrooms and residence halls along with a majority of in-person classes. Should circumstances change, we will be responsive to ensure the health and safety of our students, faculty and campus community. As we plan for in-person classes, we will be paying attention to room spacing, making sure cleaning supplies are readily available, and communicating often about the expectations for fall over the summer.

UAF continues to adapt to changes in our world and our community. Thank you for your patience as we work through these changes together, and thank you for choosing UAF.

— Dan White, chancellor
UA