COVID-19 Updates

February 14, 2022,
COVID-19 Protocols Update from President LaForge:

Greetings to all students, faculty, and staff!

I hope that the Spring semester is off to a great start for you, and that you are staying healthy.

As I mentioned in my January 7th Campus Update, the University continues to monitor and assess the current conditions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and related response protocols, and to make adjustments that seem safe and reasonable, when necessary.  In our recent assessment, and with guidance from IHL, the State Department of Health, and officials at other state universities, the Cabinet has approved the following:

  1. The mandatory mask policy for indoor activities, including classes, is lifted, effective today, February 14, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. This change applies to all locations except for the O.W. Reily Health Center, where masks will still be required, until further notice, upon entry to the building.
  2. Individuals on campus may elect to wear a mask or face covering if they so choose, and the University continues to recommend doing so as an extra precaution.
  3. The lifting of the mask policy applies to all events and public use facilities, including the Bologna Performing Arts Center, Roberts-LaForge Library, all food and retail spaces on campus, all athletic facilities, and the Forest Earl Wyatt Gymnasium.
  4. The University will re-open the campus to all visitors, including the use of the cafeteria, library, and athletic facilities (for those with an activity card) — with only pre-pandemic restrictions continuing to be in place.

All other COVID-19 protocols remain in place with respect to testing, notification of test(s), quarantine, and isolation. Additionally, Delta State highly encourages all students and employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and to take a booster. All three shots are available in the O.W. Reily Health Center, as is testing, for all employees and students. To schedule a vaccination or test, please contact the Health Center at healthservices@deltastate.edu.

We will continue to monitor the pandemic situation, and make other changes as deemed necessary. Thank you for following the protocols that are helping us to keep the dreaded virus tamped down on our campus with much success.

January 7, 2022,
COVID-19 Protocols Update for Spring 2022 from President LaForge:

To all students, faculty, and staff:

Greetings, welcome to the spring semester, and a very happy new year!  I wish for all of us a healthy and productive 2022!

To ensure the health and well-being of the campus community as we face the challenges of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, the university is revising some of its pandemic-related protocols.  They are included as an attachment to this email. Please review them carefully.

For a quick overview of the plans for the start-up of the Spring 2022 semester, please note the following summary:

  1. Delta State will be fully open and on time for the resumption of classes on Monday, January 10.  All courses scheduled to be delivered in person will proceed as usual. The academic calendar remains unchanged.
  2. Delta State highly encourages all students and employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and to take a booster. All three shots are available in the campus health center, as is testing, for all employees and students.
  3. The university will continue its mandatory mask policy for indoor activities, including classes. While we fully understand the fatigue factor associated with wearing masks, facial coverings help protect each of us personally, as well as others. The mask policy will be strictly enforced.
  4. Regularly scheduled university activities, including intercollegiate athletic competition, will continue as scheduled.
  5. The residence halls will be open as usual. Food service in the dining hall and the Union will be available to all students and employees. However, all food service facilities are temporarily closed to the general public, as are the fitness center facilities and the Roberts-LaForge Library.
  6. On or before February 4th, the university will reassess all current protocols, and make adjustments that seem safe and reasonable.
  7. Quarantine and isolation required times are now aligned with CDC and state guidance to five (5) days. Necessary quarantine and isolation facilities will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

I ask you to help us keep our campus safe and healthy by adhering to the university’s protocols.