MSU President Stanley's March 5, 2021 Letter to Spartan Nation

<p>Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,</p><p> </p><p>Like many of you, I am eager to get back to working and learning together on campus later this year. While we continue to prioritize the health and safety of our community, we also realize the need to plan for summer and fall on and off MSU’s campus. </p><p> </p><p>Making decisions now about the future of our university is not an easy task, as the pandemic has shown us. However, with vaccinations continuing to progress, we are optimistic that we can begin to safely transition during the summer and move toward more in-person experiences in the fall — all while continuing to prioritize the health and well-being of our students, faculty and staff.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Fall 2021 semester</strong></p><p><strong>I am pleased to share that the university is planning for a more typical fall semester, with 75% of undergraduate classes offered in person. </strong>Classes will be offered in multiple scenarios — in person, hybrid and some still online, especially those that would traditionally fill large lecture halls. We expect that routine mitigation testing and other public health policies will continue at some level in the fall, and all of us will need to adhere to these policies and engage in the actions and behaviors that have kept us safe and healthy.</p><p> </p><p>·       We will offer a residence hall experience to first-year students and as many other students as possible while still providing a safe living space.  </p><p>·       MSU Athletics is planning for fall events with spectators again, although we’ll be following state requirements and guidelines that will be in place at that time regarding attendance.</p><p>·       The Wharton Center and Broad Art Museum are planning events this fall. </p><p>·       Community-based activities will be permitted in alignment with local and state requirements and guidelines.</p><p>·       Our current university-related travel restrictions will be adapted to location-based guidance.</p><p>·       As we prepare for mo