The Board of Trustees gathered last Wednesday, April 13, to discuss the UW COVID-19 policy for the summer of 2022, in addition to appointing an interim vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The 2022 summer campus plan will see the end of the university’s random testing program, in light of a low prevalence of positive cases of COVID-19. Last week there was only one confirmed positive case of COVID-19 on campus and the prevalence rate was .08%.
“Our testing program has been a tremendous success throughout the pandemic, and we express our deepest appreciation to those on our campus who have made it happen,” President Ed Seidel said in a press release.
“We have now reached a point where surveillance testing no longer will be necessary. But it’s great to know that we have the capacity to restart it in the event of an extended surge in viral transmission in our community, as monitored by state and county health officials.”
Initially, President Ed Seidel proposed that masks be worn indoors only when there is a high prevalence of COVID-19, or in UW medically related units.
Seidel also recommended that testing would no longer be conducted by UW, and that vaccines be required for employees working in medically related units and the Early Care and Education Center, barring medical or religious exemptions.
The Board of Trustees approved of the changes in policy for the summer of 2022, with the exception of vaccine requirements for employees in the ECEC. Currently, the policy requires that ECEC employees be vaccinated or test twice a week.
David Jones, Dean of the College of Health Sciences and member of the Presidential COVID Advisory group discussed his perspective on the matter.
“I would recommend that they either have the vaccine, or that they can test out, or they may be able to have another type of medical or religious exception but they would probably need to test out if they had those exceptions to having the vaccine,” Jones said.
While vaccinations are still highly encouraged, there will not be any new vaccination requirements outside of employees in health care units, which matches federal rule. However, religious and medical exemptions remain.
The COVID Hub, which has been in place for the last couple of years, will also be disbanded, meaning that the university will no longer be contact tracing.
Quarantine and isolation rooms will still be available to students living in the residence halls.
In addition to the summer plan addressed by the Board last Wednesday, the Vice President for Student Affairs, Kim Chestnut, was appointed interim Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
“I am happy to serve in this capacity as we continue to advance as an excellent and inclusive university,” Chestnut said in a press release.
“I am so pleased to see the Board’s strong support to move forward now with this appointment, emphasizing our commitment to this critical area at UW,” President Ed Seidel said in a press release.
“I’m confident she will expand upon the work she has already done with various stakeholders to assure a strong foundation for the person ultimately selected as vice president.”
