Dear University Community,

With the fall semester almost here, I write to reiterate our goal to maintain a safe and healthy campus community. University leadership will continue to monitor state and county infection rates in addition to guidelines from the CDC (especially its recommendation on Tuesday, July 27, 2021, re: updated guidance regarding masking) and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. We will revise COVID-19 operational procedures accordingly. 

Acknowledging the war has changed as we fight the coronavirus with its new variants, University leadership will continue to monitor available data and provide updated policy guidance during the week of August 9, 2021.

For now, I restate what I have shared in previous communications: We continue to support the vaccine as a proven safe and effective defense against the COVID-19 virus. To protect your health and the health of our community, we strongly encourage University community members to be vaccinated.  As a Catholic, Salesian university, we are grateful for the encouragement of Pope Francis on this global issue; he has called receiving the vaccination a “moral obligation.”    

As stated above, we need data to inform our updated policy guidance to assure that a significant number of our community are vaccinated:

Students: We ask that you voluntarily disclose your vaccination status using this secure form. 

Faculty and staff: We ask that you voluntarily disclose your vaccination status using this secure form.

We thank you for your support and cooperation, and we will be in touch with you during the week of August 9, 2021.

Gerard J. Joyce Ph.D.
Executive Vice President
COVID-19 Liaison