Update from the President’s Office

July 20, 2021

I am happy to welcome all students, faculty and staff back for the fall 2021 semester beginning August 2, 2021. The college is preparing for more in person activities this school year. Please continue reading for new COVID-19 guidelines recently adopted.

The COVID-19 Emergency Management Team met on July 8, 2021, to review the college’s response to the pandemic and changes to the situation now that a vaccine is available to those over the age of eighteen. The college plans include offering more in-person classes and continuing with online courses as needed starting fall 2021 semester. Each campus will conduct an in person student orientation including staff and faculty to communicate COVID-19 guidelines as well as other information. Orientations are scheduled for August 5-6 at all campuses.

Following are highlights of changes to the previous COVID-19 guidelines. The italicized phrase summarizes the change. The full details are available online at http://www.comfsm.fm/vpa/er/Emergency-Management-Plan-Final_2_25_19_Updated_7222021.pdf, Appendix G.1:

• Promote or encourage COVID-19 vaccination (new guideline)
• Encourage health-promoting behaviors, maintain healthy facilities, and improve ventilations (same as before)
• Require and/or encourage the wearing of acceptable facial coverings or masks when on campus and on college-owned or rented facilities (facial coverings must be worn indoors; facial coverings optional when outdoors if observing social distancing of 3 feet)
• Practice or observe physical (or social) distancing when on campus or on college-owned or rented facilities (social distancing reduced to 3 feet from 6 feet)
• Require the wearing (or displaying) of COM-FSM photo-identification cards and/or COM-FSM issued identification badges (same as before)
• Offer in person, online, and hybrid (or blended) classes (more in person classes offered)
• Allow only on campus co-curricular activities including other important functions or events (some large group activities allowed if guidelines are followed and approval from college president)
• Require students in the residence halls at the National Campus, and the dormitories at FSM-FMI to be fully vaccinated (new guideline)
• Continue to provide administrative, student learning and student support services, either in person or online (same)

If you have questions, feel free to contact the campus nearest you. Welcome back for fall 2021.