Sept 23: Weekly Update from President Nowaczyk

Sep 23, 2020 5:00 PM

Today’s update contains follow-up information on several items.  

Travel Guidance: We have received numerous questions about permitted travel, especially that required for research. All out-of-state travel on University business must be approved by the division’s vice president or college’s dean. Only single-day trips for essential purposes will be approved. For state vehicles, the established occupancy for COVID prevention must be followed. More information can be found at this link.   

Universal Testing:  Thank you to all for participating this week in our universal testing.  Our continued monitoring, both through testing and symptom reporting, is crucial to our continued safe environment. 

CDC Recommendations on Masks: In the virtual coffees with the president, we have received a number of questions about what kind of face coverings are best. Here are CDC recommendations. Key recommended elements are at least two layers of fabric that fit snugly over your nose and mouth without leaving gaps. The CDC discourages the use of masks with exhalation valves, and it says that the effectiveness of gaiters and face shields (not paired with a mask) is still unknown. If you haven’t picked up your free FSU mask, they are still available at the Lane Center Information Desk. And you can build your mask “wardrobe” with more available from the University Store.  

Virtual Coffees Archived: Speaking of the virtual coffees, all are always available to watch after the fact on the Fall 2020 website. They will be posted within two days of the event. The next Virtual Coffee for faculty and staff is this Friday at 10:30. 

Finally: I want to apologize again to the University community for my participation in a large group photo of people who were unmasked. It was an error by all of us, but as the president of this University, it was particularly a failure of leadership on my part. We all are working hard to comply with the efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19, which is requiring us to be vigilant and often change what we would normally do. In this case, at an otherwise outdoor, distanced event, we briefly gathered for a photo as we have done every year. I fell short, and I pledge to do better.