Update from President Houston Davis to students, faculty, and staff
The Arkansas Department of Health has provided guidance in response to the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) removal of face-covering requirements for fully vaccinated individuals except for certain high-risk settings. As stated by CDC and echoed by ADH, being fully vaccinated provides substantial protection and far lower likelihood of spreading the virus to others.
Therefore, fully vaccinated employees, students, and guests will no longer be required to wear face coverings in campus facilities with the exception of summer term classrooms and laboratories. In fairness to all the students that registered for summer classes under the assumption of a face covering requirement, we will continue our original plan to require face coverings in summer 2021 classes through July 29, 2021, the implementation date of the state law eliminating face-covering requirements by any public entity in Arkansas.
Fully vaccinated is defined as:
- Two weeks after the second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or,
- Two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine
Employees, students, and guests that are not fully vaccinated are still required through July 29, 2021 to wear appropriate face coverings in all indoor common areas such as hallways, entrance/exit areas, elevators, stairways, meetings rooms, and offices/spaces shared with others. It is important to note that no person (other than our Student Health Clinic staff) can ask another if they are or are not fully vaccinated.
Additionally, as we prepare for 100% occupancy for classrooms and all other spaces in the fall semester, we are using an 80% target for occupancy of classrooms, labs, and other common spaces through the summer semester.
As a reminder, all UCA employees, family of employees, and all students may receive the COVID-19 vaccine through our UCA Student Health Clinic. The vaccines are free of charge and can be used for either the first or second Pfizer dose. Please call the Student Health Clinic at 501-450-3136 to schedule an appointment or receive additional information about the vaccine.
Thank you for your time and attention as we continue to navigate this stage of the pandemic.