Dear Students,
You have probably seen the news that the omicron variant of COVID-19 is spreading rapidly across the country. The leadership team at PSU has been paying close attention to this development, and I’m writing today to let you know how we are responding to it.
First, I want you to know that we will return in person on January 3, the first day of winter term. We will continue to monitor local public health conditions and adjust to them as needed. If we need to make a change in our plans for winter term, I will let you know as soon as possible.
Students told us loud and clear last year that remote instruction didn’t meet your academic needs or offer you the kind of support and sense of community that is vital to your success. We took that feedback to heart. About two-thirds of our class offerings are in person, with another third of classes offered in one of our remote formats.
If you registered for in-person classes, they will be offered in person this term. In a few rare cases, we have allowed an in-person class to switch to a remote format. If you are one of the small number of students affected by a switch in modality, you will be notified by the instructor or the registrar’s office.
Omicron is a highly contagious variant of COVID-19, and our partners at Oregon Health & Science University anticipate that it will lead to another surge in infections and hospitalizations. However, with vaccines and boosters now available, and with outstanding vaccination rates on our campus, we’re in a much better position to weather this surge than we were in March 2020 or in January 2021.
If you are eligible for a booster shot and have not yet received one, I strongly encourage you to get one. Multnomah County and Washington County have opened vaccination sites that offer COVID-19 vaccines, boosters and pediatric doses. No appointment is necessary, and the vaccines are free. Please check the Multnomah County and Washington County websites for more information, including hours of operation. Booster shots are also available on campus at the Center for Student Health & Counseling vaccination clinics every Friday.
During fall term, several safety measures allowed us to deliver a face-to-face experience with a limited number of COVID-19 infections. These safety measures will continue to be in place when you return in January:
It is increasingly clear that COVID-19 will be part of our lives for the foreseeable future. It has caused us countless hardships, but we have persevered. Your educational opportunities and success matter to me, personally. I am committed to supporting you, and so is PSU. We’re here for you — always. I’ll see you on the first day of class.
Sincerely,
Stephen Percy
President