March 10, 2021

 

Members of the University of West Georgia Community,

I am excited to share with you that planning for the Fall 2021 semester is underway, and we anticipate our instruction and student-life experiences that are part of a holistic university education to be much closer to normal this fall.

Given the availability of vaccines – availability that is expected to expand in the coming weeks and months – and the success we have had in preventing the spread of COVID-19 on our campus, we intend to open in the fall with a full complement of in-person classes and an enhanced suite of student services, activities, and events.

Our strategy to address the pandemic – designed to keep our community’s health and safety our top concern – has proven to be successful, and I appreciate everyone’s commitment to staying healthy and protecting the health of others.

Even though we look forward to many members of our university community receiving the vaccine when they are eligible, we must not become complacent on the other methods that have been proven to be effective in slowing the spread of COVID-19: wearing masks, staying physically distant, and washing your hands thoroughly and often.

We also continue to encourage all students, faculty, and staff to self-monitor for any symptoms of COVID-19 and use the Guidance on COVID-19 Decision Tree if you have any symptoms or believe you have been exposed.

Thank you for your commitment to these and other practices that have protected our university community so effectively, with cases of COVID-19 remaining relatively low for the Spring 2021 semester. Because of the culture of mutual respect you have helped build around these protocols, I look forward to returning to a campus experience closer to normal soon.

Be well.

President Kelly's Signature

Brendan B. Kelly, Ph.D.
President
University of West Georgia