UMS Community,
With the final day of this spring semester's classes upon us, we're readying for exams and commencement, and we're all looking forward to the semester being over. You've all worked incredibly hard, and our successes this semester are all thanks to you.
We all desperately want COVID to be behind us now, too, but the simple reality is that it's still with us. And our COVID testing tells us that cases are increasing at nearly all of our universities. We must take our commitment to the public health and safety of our campus communities seriously, and respond to the current rise in COVID cases.
To be sure that we can get to our planned commencement ceremonies as safely as possible, I'm asking that all UMS universities and the Law School enforce face covering requirements through the end of our exam period for all required indoor in-person academic activities, including classroom activities, lab work, performances, and course examinations.
We will not at present change our plans for commencement. But we should all understand together that we may have to strengthen our face covering requirements for graduation, too, if the COVID situation worsens. I'll be in close contact with your presidents and the Law School dean through next week to ensure we can make our commencement exercises as safe and celebratory as possible.
Thank you for your continued commitment to the health and safety of our university communities, and good luck on exams.
Regards,
