BraveNation:
We are nearing the end of the fall 2021 semester, with just a few short weeks left to graduation. You have all worked hard to mitigate the effects of the ongoing pandemic on our campus, and I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together. By taking your personal responsibility seriously, getting vaccinated, adhering to our testing protocol and abiding by our health and safety protocols, we have had a successful on-campus semester with minimal restrictions in place. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our campus community.
I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you some important information about COVID testing, vaccines and Student Health Services (SHS) operations for the remaining weeks of the semester.
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CHANGES TO INDOOR MASK REQUIREMENTS | In response to the declining positive case trends in Robeson County and at UNC Pembroke, effective Monday, November 22, face coverings or masks will be required indoors in classroom and instructional settings and Student Health Services only. Masks will be optional for all other indoor campus locations and outdoors. Faculty and staff have the right to request that visitors in their personal workspaces wear a face covering. Unvaccinated individuals should consider continuing to wear a face covering in all situations when in close proximity to others.
REQUIRED COVID-19 SURVEILLANCE TESTING | This requirement for those in the surveillance testing protocol ends today, November 19. Surveillance COVID testing will still be available on campus for exit testing through December 10, but it will be optional.
COVID-19 TESTING AT SHS | SHS will continue testing for COVID-19 through December 10. After that date, students requiring COVID-19 testing will be referred to an outside provider for coordination of care in advance of the holiday break.
CAMPUS QUARANTINE & ISOLATION | On-campus quarantine and isolation end on December 3. Any student that needs to quarantine/isolate beginning December 6 will need to do so in their own apartment or permanent residence.
COVID-19 EXIT TESTING| Get a COVID-19 test before you plan to leave campus. Students who would like to have a test before returning home may visit one of the testing sites below for a rapid COVID-19 test.
All faculty, staff and students can use the campus surveillance testing locations at any time Monday-Friday, regardless of vaccination status and/or participation in the surveillance-testing program. COVID testing on campus is free of charge, convenient and takes only a few minutes to complete. Results are typically delivered in the NAVICA app and via email within 15 minutes.
Testing is available at the following locations and times:
- Pine Hall Multipurpose Room: Monday, Tuesday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., 1-4 p.m.
- Cypress Multipurpose Room: Thursday, Friday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., 1-4 p.m.
- Courtyard Community Building: Wednesday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., 1-4 p.m.
TRAVEL PLANNING | Review all travel restrictions and guidelines for any destinations to which you are traveling. Always take precautions like masking, sanitizing and social distancing. During your travel/trip home, plan your routes and stops carefully. After travel, self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
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Over the Thanksgiving break, I encourage you each to spend well-deserved time with family and friends and take care of yourself both physically and mentally so you can return ready to work hard preparing for the final days of this semester.
Go Braves!
Robin Gary Cummings, MD
Chancellor