Towson University: An Update From TU's COVID Response Leadership Team

Press release from Towson University:

The latest changes to TU’s COVID-19 protocols

The following message was sent on behalf of TU’s COVID Response Leadership Team:

Dear TU students, faculty and staff —

Today we are providing an update regarding several “step down" measures impacting
TU’s COVID mitigation protocols, while we continue to monitor and manage the presence
of COVID-19 on campus.

As a reminder, last week, the University System of Maryland shared that all USM campuses are "determining modifications” in a “step-down approach” to
their COVID mitigation protocols. Based on the USM guidance, TU began that process
in collaboration with shared governance and in consultation with USM leadership and
medical experts, as well as the TU Medical Advisory Committee.

Today we know that Maryland's transmission rate is among the lowest in the country,
and the case rate in Baltimore County has decreased by 95 percent in recent weeks.
Recently Gov. Larry Hogan announced mask wearing would become voluntary in state buildings
effective today, Feb. 22. Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced the
same change for all county buildings and facilities, and the discontinuation of COVID
testing for unvaccinated county employees effective Feb. 28. These changes are in
addition to Baltimore County announcing a shift to voluntary indoor mask wearing for
all retail, office and restaurant facilities on Feb. 1. Finally, Gov. Hogan also recently
called upon the state school board to rescind the K-12 mask policy that ends on Feb.
25.

TU’s campus positivity rate since the start of the spring semester remains less than
0.5 percent, as determined via sentinel testing by the University Health Center. It
is important to also note that at more than 95 percent, TU is a highly vaccinated
community.

As a result of that consultative and comprehensive review of data, best practices
and our current local environment, the following changes will be made to TU’s COVID-19
mitigation protocols:

Effective immediately, TU’s Office of Events and Conference Services will fully resume
its operations to host on-campus events for third party non-affiliated groups and
organizations. TU‘s campus remains open to guests for many other events including
Tiger Athletics competitions, visual and performing arts events in the Center for
the Arts and other college- or department-sponsored events. Furthermore, university
organizations that host summer camps on campus have been advised they are permitted
to do so for the upcoming Summer 2022 season.

Effective Monday, Feb. 28, TU will adjust its sentinel testing protocol for those
exempt from the USM's vaccination requirement. Testing will change from twice-weekly
to once-weekly beginning Feb. 28. Additional instructions regarding the change will
be provided to those who are part of the sentinel testing protocol via university
email later this week. We ask those individuals to please monitor your email for additional
information.

The Campus Clearance Tool and the COVID-19 dashboard will be discontinued effective
Feb. 28. These shifts are being made as a result in the changes to the testing protocols
and align with similar actions taken by other USM institutions.

TU will continue to monitor the presence and impact of COVID-19 on campus, in our
surrounding community, and the state. TU will continue to follow local, state, and
federal guidance regarding COVID-19 mitigation protocols, consult with local, state
and USM medical and public health experts, and confer with TU Medical Advisory Committee
and shared governance. The changes announced today to TU’s COVID-19 mitigation protocols
are a first phase in a “stepped down” approach advised by the USM as guidance to all
member universities.

As a reminder, there are currently NO changes to TU’s Temporary COVID-19 Masking Protocols. The requirement for masks to be worn indoors remains in effect for all TU facilities and buildings. This masking requirement is mandatory for all
faculty, staff, students, contractors, vendors and guests to campus.

Additionally, anyone who is symptomatic or who has been exposed to COVID-19 must fill
out the Tigers Care QuickScan, regardless of vaccination status. We remind everyone that if you are symptomatic
you are NOT to come to campus but need to fill out the QuickScan and will be contacted
by University Health Center staff regarding appropriate next steps.

Vaccinations and boosters continue to be required and remain widely available and
free for all who are eligible. Find a vaccine site near you at vaccines.gov. All employees will be granted paid administrative time to get a booster shot during
a regularly scheduled shift. Students are eligible for a booster through the University
Health Center. In addition, the Maryland Lottery has announced "VaxCash 2.0," a booster incentive program that will pay out $2M statewide. As a reminder, non-compliance
with the vaccination mandate can result in restricting access to facilities and progressive
discipline.

If you have individual questions about COVID-19 mitigation protocols, you are encouraged
to visit Towson.edu/Coronavirus or email AskTU@towson.edu.

Thank you for continuing to show how Tigers Care!

Sincerely,

Melanie Perreault, Ph.D.

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs

Vernon Hurte, Ph.D.

Vice President for Student Affairs

Steve Jones

Chief Human Resources Officer and Vice President for Operations

This press release was produced by Towson University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.