August 4, 2021

Dear Campus Community:

As excitement grows around the return of in-person instruction and the traditional back-to-school activities, I’m looking forward to a normal experience this fall. It’s been a challenging 17 months, and I want to again commend everybody for their tenacity and perseverance throughout the pandemic.

Since my last message on June 3, there have been updates to some of the COVID protocols and precautions for the Spokane campus. I’d like to touch on those, and other items as we approach the fall 2021 semester:
Updates

  • Staff and faculty are now able to declare their vaccination status in Workday. Staff and faculty can also access the exemption application process in Workday.

  • Managers can now view in Workday employees who have not declared their vaccination status using this process. Those employees are still required to wear masks on campus.

  • If you employ students, they will also have to declare their vaccination status in Workday. This means student employees will have to declare twice: Once through the student process and once through Workday as an employee.

  • Personnel or visitors coming to the Spokane campus no longer need to complete daily attestation.

  • We are moving forward on full capacity classrooms, conference rooms and offices this upcoming academic year.

  • Building access is now back to normal. You no longer need your ID card to access buildings during normal working hours. 

  • You no longer need to apply to the chancellor’s office to host in-person activities on campus. You still must go through the normal event scheduling process.


  • Faculty with questions about classroom protocols can find answers on this FAQs page from the provost’s office.

  • For personnel in Yakima or other locations across the state, please follow the guidelines of your location. Pacific Northwest University, where some of our WSU Health Sciences personnel are located, provided these guidelines for being on its campus.
Moving Forward

While we are moving forward with a 100% in-person experience this upcoming academic year, the campus and university is monitoring the various coronavirus variants. If there is a need to pivot to remote working and learning, we are prepared to do so. Please do everything you can to ensure that doesn’t become necessary. This includes being vaccinated, as that is the best way to prevent spread and severe illness from COVID-19. If you are sick, please stay home.
Vaccine Clinics Coming Up

Speaking of vaccinations, I’m proud to announce that there will be a vaccine clinic on campus for anybody who still needs one. The plan right now is to offer both the Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. The dates of the clinics are:

  • Aug. 19, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
  • Aug. 20, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
  • Aug. 26, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
  • Aug. 27, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
  • Sept. 9, 12 – 2 p.m.
  • Sept. 10, 12 – 2 p.m.
  • Sept. 16, 12 – 2 p.m.
  • Sept. 17, 12 – 2 p.m.

More details will be shared when available.
What to Expect on Campus

Many of you haven’t been on campus for more than a year. You will notice a few changes, including the new Student Fitness Center in the old Bookie location in CCRS. The fitness center, funded by students, is open 24/7 to WSU Spokane and EWU Spokane students only.

Perhaps the biggest change on campus is the ongoing construction along Spokane Falls Blvd. As a reminder, the entrance and exit to the Green 5 parking lot is now along Sherman Ave.

Speaking of parking, your 2021 – 2022 parking passes are now in use, and if you haven’t purchased one, you can do so online. In addition, daily and hourly parking will soon be purchased through the HONK mobile app or by scanning QR codes that will be posted at each parking kiosk location by Aug. 15.

The Fresh Plate Café in the SAC lobby is currently open from 7:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Hours will expand once the academic year begins. The Spokane Academic Library is also open 24/7 with ID access. The Bookie is open in SAC from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. After Aug. 16, it will be open until 4 p.m.
Important Reminders

As a reminder, here are some things to keep in mind:

  • WSU’s policy states that those who have declared that they are vaccinated do not need to wear masks on campus, while those who have not declared their vaccination status, or those who are unvaccinated, still must wear masks when on campus.

  • Still, the Spokane Regional Health District, amid an uptick in cases, recommends everyone wear face masks indoors where there is high transmission.

  • WSU employees are not permitted to request that vaccinated individuals wear masks. 

  • Masks are still required in clinical settings on campus, which include the Spokane Teaching Health Clinic, the University Hearing and Speech Clinic, the NEP clinic, Range Community Clinic and EWU’s dental hygiene clinic, regardless of vaccination status.

  • Facilities Operations has upgraded air filters in campus buildings with central air systems (SAC, HSB, PBS, HERB and the Nursing Building).

  • Cleaning supplies are provided in all conference rooms and classrooms. Attendees can choose to clean after each use.
Ensuring a Smooth Transition

Lastly, I want to reiterate that it is crucial for everybody on campus to do their part to ensure a smooth transition back to normal operations. Campus personnel can still wear masks if they choose to. It is still recommended that personnel on campus keep one or more masks nearby in case the need to mask up arises. WSU Spokane also has a limited supply of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), but please take it upon yourselves to procure your own masks.

Thank you again for your tenacity during this pandemic. I look forward to seeing you all on campus very soon.

Sincerely,
Daryll DeWald
Vice President for Health Sciences, Chancellor
WSU Health Sciences Spokane