June 3, 2021
Dear Campus Community:
When most WSU Health Sciences Spokane students, staff and faculty shifted to a remote work and learning environment last March, we began a new way of conducting business. More than a year later, it’s time to transition back to campus.
As President Schulz shared recently, we will begin a phased reopening process no later than July 12. It’s important to remember that a sizable portion of our campus community continued to work on campus, ensuring the campus was still functional. I’m thankful for their work and commend them for persevering during a unique time.
Each college and department on campus will likely have differing transition plans based on the various needs of each college and department. Please contact your direct supervisors with any questions about your departments’ specific plans for returning to campus. The colleges of Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences will communicate their respective return-to-campus plans to their audiences.
Please know that guidelines will likely change in the coming months. We will be sure to communicate those changes accordingly.
As a reminder, the university has
discontinued its mask mandate for fully vaccinated individuals on campus. If you are fully vaccinated and declare your vaccinations status in Workday, you do not have to wear masks or socially distance on campus. If you cannot declare that you are fully vaccinated, you are still required to wear a mask and socially distance on campus. Please reference the university’s
COVID-19 website for more information, including the steps to
declare your vaccination status in Workday.
Masks are still required in health facilities, and that includes the Spokane Teaching Health Clinic, the University Hearing and Speech Clinic, the NEP clinic, Range Community Clinic, and EWU’s dental hygiene clinic.
It is recommended campus personnel carry a mask with them in case they enter an area on campus that still requires masking and social distancing, regardless of vaccination status.
WSU facilities such as dining facilities, recreation centers, and libraries may require those not wearing masks to provide proof of vaccination prior to entering the facility. Due to the public-facing nature of these facilities, those entering not on official work assignment fall under the state’s “customer guidance,” which states, “…businesses may choose to implement an honor system and assume that a customer who is not wearing a face covering is fully vaccinated. However, a business may also choose to engage with customers to determine if they are fully vaccinated or are otherwise exempt from the face covering requirement and may also ask customers for proof of vaccination.”
As you return to campus according to your department’s plans, please keep these things in mind:
- During the summer, you will still need your Cougar Card to access buildings and elevators on campus. Once the academic year begins, buildings and elevators will be open and operating as normal.
- Personnel coming to campus in the summer will still be required to complete required attestation in myWSU until notified otherwise.
- WSU Health Sciences Spokane is not planning on providing COVID-19 testing this summer or in the fall. If circumstances change, the campus is prepared to adjust.
- WSU Health Sciences Spokane is currently exploring the need to provide COVID-19 vaccines for campus personnel.
- Room capacities on campus have been determined for full capacity, as well as six- and three-feet social distancing guidelines. Please keep this document handy when planning classroom activities and meetings. Room capacity guidelines are expected to be updated in the coming weeks.
- Campus personnel who wish to host external individuals or entities on campus during the summer months must continue to use this application. Once the academic year begins, that application will no longer be necessary.
- After using a conference room or classroom, you may choose to clean it. Cleaning supplies are always in all conference rooms and classrooms.
- Employees are welcome to clean their offices. Please know that the nightly cleaning routine for offices will continue as normal.
- Elevators can have more than one person inside, though you must comply with the three-foot social distancing guidelines.
- Parking rates still apply and can be found here. Permits for the 2021-2022 year will go on sale July 1 and will be used beginning Aug. 1, 2021. Please remember that Spokane Falls Blvd. is closed from Pine Street to Sherman Street until approximately July 19. In addition, the Green 5 parking lot entrance and exit is now along Sherman Street.
Your safety on campus is a priority. To that end, Facilities Operations has upgraded its air filters in campus buildings with central air systems (SAC, HSB, PBS, HERB and the Nursing Building). In addition, Facilities Operations has increased the amount of outside air into ventilation systems that use a mixture of re-circulated and outside air to provide additional fresh air into the buildings when possible.
Facilities Operations also has a limited supply of hand sanitizer available upon request.
Thank you for your perseverance in the past 15 months. I look forward to seeing you on campus!
Sincerely,
