VP Update July 21

Dear MIIS Community: 

With increased reports of the very infectious Delta variant throughout California, the Monterey County Department of Health released new guidance on Monday recommending that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks indoors in public places and in crowded outdoor situations.  The press release stated “Businesses are urged to adopt universal masking requirements for customers entering indoor areas of their businesses to provide better protection to their employees and customers.  This will also make it easier for businesses to be sure unvaccinated people are masked.”

While this means that masks are not mandatory, everyone is encouraged to mask up for safety. We anticipate the new guidelines will have minimal impact on current MIIS operations and protocol as we move toward the fall semester, as we are confident in the many safety precautions that the Institute has taken, including the mandatory vaccine requirement and increased ventilation in all campus buildings. We are continuing to monitor the COVID variant conditions closely and will make any adjustments that are needed.

For further details, check out recent graduate Eric Mora’s (MPA ’21) video, created on behalf of Monterey County Supervisor Wendy Root Askew’s office. We look forward to reopening campus fully in mid-August and the start of the new academic year.

Jeff Dayton-Johnson

Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Institute