Dear Students,

I hope that you’re having a good summer, whether that be spending time catching up with friends and family, working, or simply relaxing. We hope that by the time fall semester begins, you’ll feel refreshed and ready for an amazing school year. In looking ahead, I’d like to share with you some big changes regarding Southern's COVID-19 protocols.

Through a recent campus vaccination survey, many students and employees have indicated that they are vaccinated or intend to be vaccinated for COVID-19. That, combined with the wide availability of options that individuals have to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 and the low case count in Hamilton County, has led to the decision that most COVID-19 restrictions will be removed starting July 12, including the end of daily health screenings, mask mandates, and distancing requirements.

Items of Note

You should still be mindful of practicing healthy behaviors and considerate of the safety of others.
If you are not vaccinated, Southern encourages you to continue to wear masks and distance from others, based on the CDC’s recommendations.
If you are feeling sick, do not go to class or the workplace, and call the University Health Center for instructions (423.236.2713).
Contact tracing, quarantine, and isolation protocols will still be in place.
For the safety of campus, certain requirements may be reinstated should a COVID-19 outbreak occur.

Recommendations for Returning to Campus
While we are not requiring these steps, we strongly recommend that every student complete one of the following before returning to campus to help ensure students arrive COVID-19 free:

Take a PCR COVID-19 test and obtain the results before arriving on campus. If your test result is positive, contact the University Health Center for instructions (423.236.2713).
Get fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Students who are fully vaccinated will not need to quarantine if they come in contact with a COVID-19 positive individual and remain symptom free.

As we approach a return to a much more normal campus experience, I want to take a moment to thank you for your cooperation with the protocols to this point and your patience as we’ve wrestled with safety protocols going forward. Most importantly, we must acknowledge God’s hand in bringing Southern through the challenges we have faced so far and ask for His continued presence on our campus.

Please continue to keep the health of our campus in your prayers, and I look forward to seeing you soon!

Dennis Negrón, PhD
Vice President for Student Development
Southern Adventist University
423-236-2813"