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Sept. 23, 2021
Dear UAF staff and faculty,
Thank you for your continued efforts to support our students at UAF. Following are
a few important updates as well as a further discussion on COVID-19 mitigation strategies.
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Today the to return to telework to the maximum extent practical. Toward that end I have asked
vice chancellors to work with their units to evaluate and implement telework to the
extent practical starting Monday for at least the next month.听听
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At my request, the UA president and UA labor relations are working with UNAC, the
faculty union, to work out the details of a UAF full-time faculty vaccination requirement.
Once that work is done, I will discuss implementation scenarios with the president.
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I have requested that UA HR explore a vaccination mandate for all UAF staff.
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I have asked the provost to work with deans and faculty on more ways to ensure classes
are safe. This includes a consideration of more hybrid teaching options, spacing,
other mitigation efforts, and requesting vaccination requirements where appropriate.听
The Operations Support Team is working with state public health to host a community
COVID-19 testing site on the Troth Yeddha鈥� Campus. It is anticipated that the site
will have extended hours a couple of days each week, which should be helpful to anyone
needing a test in the early evening hours. This will make it easier for employees
to get tested and help to reduce congestion at the testing site on Airport Way. We
are hoping to have the UAF site open next week.
Thank you for continuing to reach out to me and sharing your perspective on our COVID-19
mitigations as we navigate this fall semester. It is my understanding that there is
some confusion surrounding what to do if someone you supervise or a student in your
class is ill or tests positive for COVID-19.听
In general, the steps are the same for everyone. If you have COVID-19 or are symptomatic
and awaiting test results:
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Don鈥檛 go to an in-person class. Don鈥檛 come to the office.听
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Fill out the student or employee .
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, if you haven鈥檛 already done so.
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Stay home until you are well or, if you tested positive for COVID-19, until 10 days
have passed, whichever is longer.听
If you test positive for COVID-19, you must isolate at home for 10 days, regardless
of vaccination status. Receiving a negative test a few days after testing positive
does not relieve you of the requirements to isolate for 10 days. Employees and students
may return to campus after 10 days as long as their symptoms have improved and they
do not have a fever and are not taking any fever-reducing medications; a negative
test is not required. If your severe symptoms persist beyond 10 days, you should seek
medical attention if you have not already done so.听
For more details, I encourage you to:
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Read the daily UAF COVID-19 self-assessment and resources email. This email outlines
all the information you need to know and links to important resources.听
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Check the UAF , which is updated regularly.听
I have asked the Operations Support Team (OST) to begin sending out short email updates as we progress through the semester. These
updates will be specific to any changes or important information related to COVID-19.
I will provide further context through my Thursday COVID column when necessary.听
Requests for vaccine requirements will be considered . Requests are evaluated based on the unique or special circumstances of the group
of people, activity or location, and whether a less-restrictive method of mitigation
could offer a comparable reduction of risk. An OST subcommittee, composed of faculty
and staff, is working to provide clear guidelines to inform these requests. Requests
must be approved by the requesting unit鈥檚 supervisor and respective vice chancellor
prior to submission to me and then to the UA president for final approval.听
In light of heightened COVID-19 Delta variant spread in many countries, as of Sept.
22, 2021, travel requests for university-sponsored travel of faculty, staff or students
to countries designated by the U.S. Department of State as 鈥淟evel 4 - Do Not Travel鈥�
will not be approved. Limited exceptions may be considered but will require justification
for why the travel is essential and must include a mitigation plan approved in advance.
This does not affect previously approved travel. No international travel requests
to Level 4 countries should be submitted through the UA Concur system unless it has
been approved by a vice chancellor as an exception.
I want to thank the OST for their continued support to keep Nanook Nation healthy
and for the university community for wearing your mask, getting vaccinated and supporting
each other. Thanks for choosing UAF.听
鈥� Dan White, chancellor
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