Bi-Weekly VP Update November 4
Dear MIIS Community,
Welcome to November and the second half of the semester. We’d like to thank you all for your continued adherence to our COVID-19 policies that keep our community safe. As a reminder, detailed information on COVID-19 policies in place for the fall semester can be found on the Return-to-Campus webpage and the Vaccine webpage.
Monterey County Mandates Masks Indoors: Per Monterey Country regulations, masks will officially be required indoors in public spaces throughout the entire county beginning today, Friday, November 5. The Institute’s indoor masking policy has been in effect since August 23. In addition to masking indoors while on campus, you will now be required to wear face coverings indoors, regardless of vaccination status, in public spaces throughout the County. There are exceptions to the County’s mask mandate, like being in one’s own home, or alone with members of the same household in a closed room, office, or vehicle. The mandate could last for up to 30 days, unless the Board of Supervisors terminates the requirement.
Please Notify Us If You Are Diagnosed With COVID-19: If you regularly come to campus and are diagnosed with COVID-19, please be sure to notify us so we can implement our contact tracing protocols. Students should notify Ashley Arrocha, Associate Dean of Students Services, and faculty and staff should notify Michael Ulibarri in Human Resources. Full details of our COVID-19 diagnosis response plan can be found at this link.
COVID-19 Testing Site Opened Close to Campus: If you suspect you might have been exposed to COVID-19, we’d like to remind you that a convenient COVID-19 testing site is open at the Portola Hotel & Spa at 2 Portola Plaza in downtown Monterey, within easy walking distance of the Institute. In collaboration with Virus Geek, Inc., testing will be available for staff, guests, and community members, from 7AM - 4PM Tuesday through Saturday. More generally, you can click here to find information about vaccine and testing locations in the local area.
Weekly COVID-19 Office Hours: If you have any COVID-19 questions, please join us each Wednesday between 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM PST for Middlebury’s COVID-19 office hours. Experts who have been monitoring and managing the COVID-19 pandemic response will be available to answer your questions. Click this Zoom link to join. This is an opportunity for faculty, staff, and students to learn more about the COVID-19 pandemic, including current guidelines, and the latest developments worldwide and locally.
No Visitor Policy: A reminder that visitors are currently not allowed on campus, although exceptions can be requested and will be reviewed individually for approval. For authorization and visitor exceptions, email Barbara Burke at blburke@middlebury.edu at least 24 hours in advance. This includes guest speakers and anyone else who is not a current faculty member, staff, or student. Vaccine verification will be required.
Students: Need a Quiet Space with WiFi for Online Learning? Several small offices in the McCone building are now available for individual students who might need a stable WiFi connection for remote learning. Use of the offices will be monitored by Campus Security and the following protocols will be in place. Sign-up will be required via the sign-up sheet. Reservations are available Monday – Friday between 8AM – 10PM and must be made no later than the day before. If a classroom or other venue is needed, a Room Reservation Request is required.
We hope you enjoy your weekend.
Sincerely,
Jeff Dayton-Johnson
VP of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Institute