July 29, 2021 - [OFFICIAL-L] Looking forward to Fall Semester

turning point sculpture on campus

Dear Wright State Community,

I hope you are having an enjoyable and rejuvenating summer! It is certainly deserved, as I am sure we would all agree the past year has been one for the ages!

I want to thank each and every one of you for all your effort and support that enabled us to navigate through this global pandemic. It has truly required a universal effort. 

As we look ahead, the start of the Fall Semester is now less than four weeks away! We are so excited to welcome students, staff, and faculty back to campus. We have heard from our students and our employees that there is simply no substitute for being together, whether through on-campus instruction or other campus activities.

The return to campus will follow the safety precautions as recommended by state and federal public health officials. We are taking this opportunity to provide you with a high-level summary of some of what you can expect:

Vaccines 

Vaccination remains our most effective and important tool to fight the spread of COVID-19. We encourage all members of the Wright State community to get vaccinated. Vaccines are available through campus resources and through our community partners. Learn more about vaccine availability on campus

Testing

We will conduct regular testing of our campus communities. This will include campus testing for all students living in Wright State residential housing. Dayton and Lake residential students will receive an email in the next week about COVID-19 testing protocol prior to moving into campus housing.

Testing will also be available for students, faculty, and staff who demonstrate COVID-19 symptoms or asymptomatic employees and students with known or suspected exposure to COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status.

Testing on the Dayton Campus for symptomatic students and those with close contact exposure will be provided by Student Health Services at the Wright State Physicians Health Center, 725 University Boulevard. All testing will be free of charge to students. Students and employees may call 937-560-2223 with questions or to schedule an appointment.

Lake Campus students and employees can get tested through the Grand Lake Health Systems and Mercer Health.

The university also plans regular and strategic testing of residential students and off-campus student populations, when COVID-19 clusters are identified.

Face Masks and Physical Distancing

The CDC and public health officials recommend that you wear face masks indoors and practice physical distancing. To that end, individuals are encouraged to wear masks when inside and around other people in an environment where six feet of distance cannot be maintained.

Doing so is consistent with current CDC protocols and is a courteous way of demonstrating respect for the concerns of colleagues and friends who may not have the same comfort level with a mask-less environment.

As state and federal guidance, conditions, and scientific recommendations continue to evolve, campus restrictions and recommendations are subject to change. Learn more.

Course Delivery

Classroom capacity has returned to 100 percent. Many synchronous (real-time) online courses have reverted to in-person offerings, while asynchronous (on-demand) online classes will continue as planned to maintain maximum flexibility and convenience for students. Offerings will vary by course and by faculty members, so please pay careful attention to course syllabi. View course delivery options.

Student Life

We are planning for the return of in-person events, activities, and recreation on our campuses. Organizers should follow our normal, pre-pandemic process when planning on-campus events.

Housing

We are pleased to announce the return of social, recreation, visitor, and roommate options with the lifting of previous COVID restrictions in residential housing. Guests will be permitted, gatherings will be allowed, and lounges and recreational areas reopened. Please view the full housing updates that will go into effect beginning Fall Semester.

Interested Dayton Campus residential students can get vaccinated during Operation Move-In. Lake Campus residents interested in information about vaccines and testing on Move-in Day should visit lake.wright.edu/campus-life/housing-move-in. Residents will participate in periodic testing, beginning at the time of move-in.

Campus Operations

Unless they have an approved flexible work arrangement, staff who customarily work on campus are expected to resume working on campus by August 2. It has been great to see a growing number of faces as many employees have already started returning. Please contact your supervisor, advisor, or department chair for specifics that pertain to each unique situation.

As we return to campus, all faculty, staff, students, and visitors are asked to comply with all safety policies, protocols, and guidelines to keep our Wright State family safe. The last several months have taught us that the pandemic can change in a moment’s notice so please visit the university’s coronavirus website frequently to stay informed.

We are all in this together, and we can count on each other. I am looking forward to a vibrant Fall Semester and cannot wait to see students and colleagues!

Best wishes,

Sue