Dear students, faculty and staff:

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff and the communities around us has been our priority. Your sacrifice and commitment have been instrumental in us maintaining our status as a national model for navigating the pandemic. 

As a result of your efforts, we are close to completing a safe, successful semester and beginning to plan for the spring. 

To prepare, we now ask that everyone who is eligible follow current federal, state and local health recommendations and get a COVID-19 booster shot as soon as it is recommended after your primary series (see the CDC site for details on eligibility). As with the initial vaccine rollout, each university will be issuing additional detailed guidance, so please be on the lookout for that. 

We committed from the beginning of the pandemic to follow the science and our own modeling of the pandemic and local situations, as well as other health guidance in making decisions and recommendations for our universities. Now, with data indicating that vaccine efficacy wanes and with the emergence of new variants of the virus, getting a booster shot is an important way to protect yourselves, our campuses and our communities. 

As always, we will continue to monitor advances in scientific understanding and updated guidance from public health authorities, adjusting as appropriate.

Thank you again for your vigilance and your commitment to each other. I wish you a successful finish to the semester, a joyous holiday season and a restful break. We look forward to seeing you in the spring. 

Sincerely, Tim