Campus briefing Aug. 27, 2021
On Aug. 27, 2021, President Steve Bahls and Dean of Students Wes Brooks discussed the FDA-approved vaccine and new Illinois COVID-19 guidelines and the impact on Augustana during a campus briefing.
President Steve Bahls
We learned early in the week that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first COVID-19 vaccine for regular use. The Pfizer vaccine is fully approved by the FDA.
This was an incredible milestone for public health and welcome news to so many who were waiting to vaccinate after the emergency use authorization was lifted. The most common reason expressed by members of the Augustana community not to get vaccinated was the provisional approval limitation. We can be glad that is lifted.
I read that acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said, “While millions of people have already safely received COVID-19 vaccines, we recognize that for some, the FDA approval of a vaccine may now instill additional confidence to get vaccinated. Monday’s milestone puts us one step closer to altering the course of this pandemic in the U.S.”
I agree with Dr. Woodstock, and I hope the FDA’s stamp of approval also encourages some of those on our campus to take the next step in being vaccinated.
The Governor of Illinois J.B. Pritzker announced statewide mandates regarding COVID-19 masking and vaccinations for higher education.
Thankfully, the governor's announcement aligns well with plans Augustana College announced earlier this summer. As planned at Augustana, masks are mandated for everyone in Illinois in all indoor settings.
The governor also issued a vaccine mandate for all higher education employees and students. Employees and students who are unable or unwilling to receive the vaccine will be required to be tested for COVID-19 at least once a week starting Sept. 5.
Augustana leaders are making plans for testing and will share all details in the days ahead. At this time we are considering how we offer affordable, convenient testing options.
With this news, it is very important that all students and employees who have not submitted their forms to share their vaccination status do so right away. Simply put, this is a requirement. For those employees and students who completed the vaccination form and said they were not vaccinated but would be by the time classes started, it is important to upload your vaccination card.
We anticipate the number of students who haven’t completed the form to go down substantially as sophomore and junior students return to campus over the next couple of days.
And employees who haven’t completed the form are asked to do so today. Supervisors will be following up with any employees who have not uploaded their status next week.
We need to know everyone’s vaccination status, so we can arrange and communicate the next steps and to help keep COVID spread on our campus low. It is on Augustana College to comply with the governor’s mandate, and we need to have a firm sense of the number of unvaccinated people who will need to submit to weekly testing.
It takes just a couple of minutes to complete the form, and you can:
Share your vaccination card.
Or tell us you’ve been vaccinated but misplaced your card.
Or tell us you are in the process of being vaccinated.
Or let us know that you aren’t vaccinated and that you don’t plan to be.
I feel compelled to remind everyone who is unvaccinated to get vaccinated.
This is no longer something that is encouraged by the college. With the governor’s announcement yesterday, getting vaccinated became a state mandate for colleges and universities.
The data certainly supports this mandate, and I would like to remind you that getting vaccinated is a smart choice.
Vaccines continue to reduce a person’s risk of contracting the virus that causes COVID-19, including this Delta variant.
Vaccines continue to be highly effective at preventing hospitalization and death, including against this variant.
Fully vaccinated people with breakthrough infections from this variant appear to be infectious for a shorter period.
Vaccinated members of our community will not have to go through the hassle and weekly testing and stricter quarantine requirements if they are exposed to the virus
Students and parents, faculty and staff, I feel for all of you. I realize this isn’t how you’d hoped this academic year would start.
But, with all the knowledge, with the data, with the resources and the intelligent, caring people on this campus, we can do this.
We must work together. Individuals must protect themselves, and by doing so they will also protect our community.
Dean of Students Wes Brooks
I’m glad to be here, and I do echo how important completing the vaccine survey form is today. We want to ensure the college is in full compliance with the mandate, but we cannot do that unless students and employees complete the form.
I’d like to remind employees and students that you can make an appointment at the health clinic on campus to receive a shot. The campus clinic is regularly open weekdays from 10 to 5 and that will be the case right away as of the first day of school next Monday.
If you are ready to get vaccinated this weekend, there are options for you, too. The CVS and Walgreens that are within walking distance of campus have open appointments. And both of these locations show that they have the Pfizer vaccine.
There are 27 locations within the Quad Cities scheduling vaccination appointments, as of this morning.
Also, we will host our second COVID vaccination clinic sometime next week.
On a couple other topics:
Masks. Remember that masks are required on campus, when inside.
Everyone — vaccinated or not — must mask indoors in all public spaces, including hallways and when visiting campus offices. The only exceptions are roommates in their residence hall rooms and employees alone in their offices.
If you find yourself wondering if you should be masked in a particular setting, asking that question of yourself... that’s an indication that you should mask up. Whenever in doubt, MASK up.
And, we need to hold one another accountable to these expectations. Everyone on campus should feel compelled and comfortable to ask others to mask up indoors. It’s totally appropriate to remind folks who aren’t masked indoors.
In classrooms, lab spaces, music lessons and other indoor academic locations, the college has done its best to allow 3 feet between people. However, we know in rare cases this may not be possible. In campus spaces where you must be close, please work together. Talk to those nearest you to understand their concerns and comfort.
Starting next week we will begin sharing COVID-related data on the website. We will update our dashboard regularly, and we will continue to share communication through email, the website and additional campus briefings, if needed.
One more important topic. I want to let you know our year has gotten off to a good start. Athletes and other students started returning to campus in early August, and the number of COVID cases has been very low. I have a reported count of three positive cases among students since Aug. 3.
This good start is because of masking compliance. And it’s because a high percentage of people here are vaccinated.
Please keep doing what you’re doing. And please, if you haven’t, complete that form — please do so right away. And get vaccinated.
We have been and will continue to be Augustana Strong. I really look forward to starting a great year where we will BE WELL. Together.