Dr. Mo Dehghani, chancellor of Missouri S&T, sent the following message to staff and faculty on April 28:

Dear Faculty and Staff,

As we near the conclusion of this semester, I want to again thank you for your diligence in adhering to the COVID-19 protocols that have kept our campus safe. Now, with COVID-19 vaccines available to every Missouri resident age 16 and older, and with very few active cases on campus and in our region, we are preparing to move into a new phase of operations at Missouri S&T – one that more closely aligns with our pre-pandemic operations.

The most important step toward resuming operations involves returning to our pre-pandemic work activities. Toward that end, I am asking all faculty and staff who have not yet returned to in-person work to do so by Monday, May 17, at the latest. Faculty on nine-month appointments without duties over the summer should plan to return in August. Supervisors should work with their staff to ensure a smooth transition on the return to campus.

As we have throughout the pandemic, we remain committed to sustaining a safe community. We will continue to require social distancing and face coverings for the remainder of the semester in accordance with our current practices. We realize that in some cases, social distancing is not possible with a full in-person return, and that factor should be considered in any transition plan. Supervisors should ensure work settings meet office safety expectations and should consult with physical facilities staff if workspaces need modification.

We know our incoming students are looking forward to a more typical university experience in the fall. As we prepare for their return, we will continue to adhere to the advice of our medical experts, local public health officials, and CDC guidance. Our COVID-19 website will remain the hub for information and will continue to be updated throughout the coming weeks as we prepare for the fall 2021 semester. Please check that site often for the latest information.

I encourage all of you who have not yet received the COVID-19 vaccine to take advantage of the many opportunities for vaccination and to do so as quickly as possible. Vaccinations are the safest and fastest way for us to return to in-person, on-campus operations. We will host a walk-up vaccine clinic 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, May 4, in the Shamrock Room of the Havener Center. Please see this eConnection article for details. For a list of other vaccine sites and upcoming clinics, please visit our vaccination webpage.

Again, thank you all for your phenomenal efforts over the past year to keep our university community safe.

Sincerely,

Mo Dehghani
Missouri S&T Chancellor