Dear Colleagues,
Happy New Year! I hope you all enjoyed the Winter Recess and found some time to engage in self-care and mindful practices. We are happy to have you back!
I am writing to provide you with information and updates about the campus reopening for Spring 2022 as we navigate this ongoing pandemic and the Covid-19 Omicron variant. General information on MICA’s approach to reopening can be found in Recap Issue 20. MICA will continue in Operational Mode 4 as announced on January 4 with a continued commitment to in-person teaching and learning for faculty and students.
MICA is OPEN and all departments are responsible for appropriate planning of on-campus staffing that serve and support MICAs mission of providing an excellent educational experience for our students and the College's essential activities. All departments, specifically those providing direct student service/support, should have adequate in-person staff to ensure continuity of services during MICA’s standard business hours of 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
As the realities of the pandemic include current or possible staffing shortages, we encourage all managers to engage in planning with their teams and leadership to adjust in-person staffing levels to assess the number of people present in departments to maintain direct student service/support as needed.
Possible scheduling options could include telework for staff employees with eligible positions and agreements in place, hybrid work schedules with staff alternating the days they work in the office and from home or some other arrangement that is agreed upon with the VP, manager and in partnership with People, Belonging & Culture.
*Not all positions are or will be eligible for telework agreements. Determination will be made on a case-by-case basis to ensure fairness and equity, to the extent possible, across the College.
For those staff members who have a concern, please email humanresources@mica.edu and a partner will be in touch to work with you directly.
MICA is committed to the safety and well-being of every member of our community. The first week of classes, January 18th – 21st, will be held virtually to allow for:
- Staggered student arrival on campus,
- PCR testing protocol implementation, and
- To limit larger gatherings until test results are confirmed.
REQUIRED TESTING
As previously announced in the December 14 memo, MICA will be requiring all employees to be tested in January 2022.
EXCEPTIONS: Any faculty who are on sabbatical or other approved leave can apply for an exemption to the Spring 2022 PCR testing requirement here, but please know that your ID will be deactivated for the Spring 2022 semester.
Staff employees with telework agreements but who do not have a set return-to-campus date must test within the first two weeks of January 2022.
All employees have the option to be tested either on campus in BBOX, or to receive a PCR test from an external site, such as a pharmacy or a state, county, or city-run testing center.
REMINDER: home tests, rapid tests, or antigen tests are not acceptable.
Tests taken on-campus must be taken no more than 72 hours after returning to campus. Tests taken off-site must be taken no longer than 72 hours ahead of returning to campus and test results must be uploaded into Workday immediately.
On-campus testing will be held in the Gateway Building in BBOX from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Week of January 3
Wednesday, January 5
Thursday, January 6
Week of January 10
Monday, January 10
Tuesday, January 11
Wednesday, January 12
Thursday, January 13
Week of January 17
Tuesday, January 18
Wednesday, January 19
Thursday, January 20
Week of January 24
Monday, January 24
Tuesday, January 25
Wednesday, January 26
Thursday, January 27
REQUIRED MASKS
MICA indoor mask mandate remains in place with eating only in designated indoor/outdoor areas. MICA will be distributing two KN95 masks, which are very strongly encouraged to be worn while on campus, to all students, faculty and staff. Distribution details are forthcoming.
ILLNESS AND EXPOSURE
Please refer to and follow the guidance listed in this campus memo if you become ill, have been exposed to COVID or notified of such exposure and to learn what type of leave and or pay coverage may be available to you.
DINING
All dining facilities will be grab-n-go only through at least Saturday, January 23rd. All meals can be consumed in any designated campus dining location.
GATHERINGS
Due to the spread of Omicron, community members should refrain from gathering on or off-campus at events that may include unmasked activities. Until February 1, if a gathering is necessary to complete work, it must be limited to no more than 10 people who are appropriately socially distanced and cannot include food.
TOWN HALL
We understand that there is a great deal of uncertainty and anxiety about returning to campus and the potential impact Covid-19 and the Omicron variant might cause. We expect that you will have questions and concerns that need attention. MICA will host a Town Hall for faculty and staff with our consulting epidemiologists, Dr. Harris and Dr. Baghdadi, on Friday, January 14, 2022 from 12-1pm. Zoom link is forthcoming.
I appreciate your time and careful reading of this and other communications that have been shared. Thank you for your support and commitment to MICA as we support our students, each other, our return to campus and in our collective effort navigating these uncertain times.
Respectfully,
Shanna