Good news: all Mines students, faculty, and staff are now eligible for the vaccine. I encourage everyone to sign up as soon as possible. The CDC points out that vaccination is an important tool to help stop the pandemic. Even if you are not in a high-risk category, vaccination protects your family and the Hardrocker community, and will help us return to normal operations in the coming months.
Vaccinations are available through Monument Health, and you can schedule your appointment directly online. You can also schedule through MyChart if you already have that set up through Monument Health. Many local pharmacies also offer the vaccine – find one near you. Need a ride to a vaccine site? Free Lyft rides are available through the Helpline Center.
The month of April is a time when clubs and organizations have their year-end celebrations. This year those celebrations will be a mixture of virtual or in-person while following CDC and BOR guidelines. We’re also in the final planning stages for our first in-person commencement ceremony in more than a year. Masks and social distancing will be required. Having a high percentage of vaccinated individuals in the audience will also help ensure safety of our community.
As we near the end of this spring semester, we are all very excited to be planning for a normal fall semester with in-person classes and labs, club and athletic activities, and more social interaction. We’re starting the slow transition back to normal, but the number of active cases of COVID-19 in the state have shown a slight increase in the last month, so please continue to practice COVID-19 safety measures. Masks continue to be required in all indoor public spaces on campus.
