Weekly VP Update January 28
Dear MIIS Community:
We are looking forward to the start of the spring semester on Monday and want to assure that everyone is informed on the latest COVID-19 Omicron guidance so that we can keep members of the campus community as safe as possible. Please make sure you have performed the following measures before coming back to campus:
Checklist for Return to Campus:
- Verify your vaccine and booster status in Sentry MD.
- If you have traveled during the break, obtain a negative COVID test before returning to campus.
- If you test positive, follow Institute and public health isolation guidelines.
- Wear a well-fitting mask, preferably an N95, KN95, or KF94 when indoors.
- Always wear your lanyard with ID and vaccine compliance sticker when on campus.
Verify your vaccine and booster status in Sentry MD: If you have not already done so, please upload your booster verification (and vaccine verification for new students) into the Sentry system by logging in with your middlebury.edu email address. The deadline to provide verification of COVID-19 booster shots was today, January 28 for all members of the Institute community who will be on campus at any point during the spring semester. Students not yet eligible for a booster by January 28, due to the later timing of their second vaccination, should complete and submit the Booster Information Form.
Obtain a negative COVID test: Faculty, staff, and students who are returning from the winter break are strongly encouraged to get tested for COVID-19 before returning to campus. A COVID-19 testing site is available at the Portola Hotel & Spa at 2 Portola Plaza in downtown Monterey, within easy walking distance of the Institute. Free PCR tests are available from 7 AM - 4 PM Tuesday through Saturday. There are other vaccine and testing locations in the local area, including at the Tuesday Farmers Market (including rapid antigen tests), the Monterey Airport, and Monterey Peninsula College. Additionally, you can now order 4 free rapid test kits from the United States postal service at this link. Residents of Munras Housing will receive separate guidance on testing requirements.
If you test positive, follow Institute and public health isolation guidelines: There is a lot of confusing information out there on what to do if you test positive for COVID-19. The Institute has a quick COVID-19 Response Plan that will help guide you if you test positive. The California Department of Health has also compiled easy-to-follow guidelines.
Wear a well-fitting mask: The Institute and the State of California continue to mandate face coverings indoors. We are happy to announce that we will be distributing a pack of two KN95 masks to each member of the Institute community next week. An announcement of the day, time, and location will be sent early next week. To prevent the spread of COVID-19 and its variants, members of the Institute community are strongly encouraged to wear N95, KF94, KN95 masks, all of which feature high filtration efficacy.
Always wear your lanyard with ID and vaccine compliance sticker when on campus: Lanyards are available for pick-up from Security for all faculty, staff, and students and must be worn at all times on campus unless in your personal office. COVID compliance stickers are available for those that have uploaded their vaccine verification or have an approved exemption. Stickers are available in Security for students and in HR for faculty and staff. Only faculty, staff, and students who are fully vaccinated or have an approved exemption are allowed on campus.
For more details on our COVID response and policies, visit our return to campus web page.
Your diligence in following the guidelines so far this academic year has resulted in a low positive test rate for members of the Institute community. Let’s work together to keep it that way for the spring semester.
Sincerely,
Jeff Dayton-Johnson
VP for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Institute