August 11, 2021
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
COVID-19 cases are surging because of the new delta variant, the large numbers of
unvaccinated people and other issues - setting new local and state records for hospitalizations.
Our School of Allied Health Sciences has again loaned ventilators to Tallahassee Memorial
HealthCare because of the surge in hospitalizations of critically ill patients in
our community.
Everyone at Florida A&M University has an obligation to the FAMULY to take steps to
prevent further transmission of COVID-19. We are in this together, and we all have
important roles in furthering our personal health and that of fellow students and
colleagues. It is the right thing to do - and medical experts say that vaccinations
and masking are two tools we can use to achieve these goals.
Therefore, we are advising you of the following steps we are taking in our efforts
to ensure a safe and successful fall semester:
- Effective immediately, in light of new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, we expect everyone to wear a mask at all times when inside any FAMU
facility, even if you are vaccinated. This includes students, faculty, staff,
vendors, and visitors. Recent studies and guidance from the CDC state that both unvaccinated
and vaccinated individuals can transmit the current COVID-19 variant to unvaccinated
persons.
- If you are not vaccinated, get vaccinated. Students should aim to be fully vaccinated
before their return to campus, but if unable, they should strive to have at least
one shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine no later than the first day of classes on
August 23. The on-campus vaccination site at 674 Gamble Street also has the Johnson
& Johnson one shot vaccine. Vaccination not only helps prevent you from becoming seriously
ill or hospitalized with COVID-19, but the more people who are vaccinated, the more
it also protects those around us as well - our friends, families, colleagues, and
others.
- a.m. to 5 p.m., daily Monday through Saturday. No appointment is necessary. Students
who receive the first dose of the vaccine at home can receive their second dose on
campus. Anyone who chooses not to be vaccinated assumes a significant risk of contracting
COVID-19 and spreading it to others.
- COVID-19 testing remains available on campus 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday,
at Bragg Memorial Stadium. Tests are free and no appointment is necessary.
- If you are sick, stay home and self-quarantine. Please call your primary care provider
if you are ill and need immediate care. Also report positive test results to our Director of Student Health Services, Ms. Tanya Tatum.
- Please continue to follow healthy habits such as frequent hand washing.
I would be remiss if I fail to applaud those who are already vaccinated for taking
this crucial step toward preventing the spread of the virus and for leading by example.
I am proud of the way our students, faculty and staff have persevered in the face
of this unrelenting pandemic over the past year and half. It has brought a new and
more profound meaning to our motto, "Excellence with Caring." However, as we have
witnessed, letting our guard down before the fight is over can lead to dire consequences.
Safeguarding your health and the welfare of this great institution entrusted to us
requires a continued commitment from each and every one of us.
Let' s "Protect the FAMULY." Sincerely,
Larry Robinson, Ph.D.