Be Sure to Cover Your Beak

Mike Rounds, Vice Provost of Human Resources, Public Safety & Operations
Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, 9 a.m.
All KU Lawrence and Edwards Students KU Lawrence Faculty, Staff and Affiliates

Jayhawks,

The spring 2021 semester is underway, and I want to thank all who are protecting themselves and our campus community by following campus health and safety protocols.

Wearing a mask covering your nose and mouth is the most important thing you can do to protect yourself and others. For this reason, everyone is required to wear a mask — indoors and outdoors — everywhere on campus. The only exceptions are when you are alone in a private room with the door closed, students who are in their own residence hall room with their roommates, and when briefly removing your mask to eat or drink while socially distanced.

Everyone Means Everyone

Our Protect KU Call Center is receiving calls asking whether individuals are required to wear a mask if they have been vaccinated or have had and recovered from COVID-19. The definitive answer is “Yes!” Everyone is required to wear a mask on campus, regardless of their vaccination or COVID status.

How to Report

We all have a responsibility to keep our community safe and hold our fellow Jayhawks accountable. And, we share the goal of completing the spring 2021 semester without an interruption of in-person classes. If you see someone who isn’t following our community health and safety standards, please let us know at unmasked.ku.edu.

Take Care of Yourself

Our in-person social interactions are admittedly less engaging and fulfilling when we are wearing masks, which can make us feel disconnected and more isolated. If you’re struggling with isolation, anxiety, stress or other challenges, there are resources at the end of this email that can help.

Additional Health and Safety Reminders

  • Use the CVKey mobile app every time you enter a building. View CVKey kiosk locations on our Smart Campus map by selecting “Building Features” then “CVKey Kiosk.”
  • Maintain social distancing everywhere you go.
  • Follow signage in buildings for proper traffic flow in hallways and stairways.
  • Wash and/or sanitize your hands frequently.
  • And, wear a mask at all times on campus — indoors and outdoors.

We’re Here to Help

The Protect KU website is the main source of pandemic-related information. Contact the KU COVID Call Center staff at 785-864-9000 or protect@ku.edu for specific questions or assistance.

Please take care of yourself, your family, friends and others in our community.  And, thank you for following campus health and safety protocols.

Respectfully,

Mike Rounds
Vice Provost for Human Resources, Public Safety & Operations

 

Personal Resources

For students

Your psychological and emotional well-being are just as important as your physical health. All students are encouraged to reach out to the university for personal help if it’s needed. If you encounter other students who may be struggling to adjust, reach out to them. Jayhawks have resources they can turn to:

For staff and faculty

KU employees are encouraged to reach out for personal help if it’s needed. Benefits-eligible employees and their dependents can receive mental health and other assistance through the state’s Employee Assistance Program, which offers short-term counseling services, legal advice, money management assistance, and more. Employees may also be eligible for the Rosalie Lanier Gray KU Staff Assistance Fund, which assists those who are experiencing financial hardship due to natural or personal disaster.