In-person instruction resumes Monday, February 7
February 3, 2022
To: FAS Faculty and instructors in Yale College and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Cc: FAS Steering, FAS Dean’s Office, Yale College Dean’s Office, GSAS Dean’s Office, Poorvu Center, Registrar’s Office, President’s Office, Provost’s Office, FAS Chairs Assistants, FAS Operations Managers, FAS Lead Administrators
[Summary: This is a reminder that in-person, on-campus instruction will resume on Monday, February 7.]
Dear colleagues,
Over the past three weeks, our campus has been quietly busy: students gradually returned, instructors administered dozens of make-up exams, and Spring courses began in a virtual format. The university’s models for predicting the trajectory of the Omicron wave proved prescient: local and national infection numbers peaked prior to the delayed start of classes and continue to decline. Here at Yale, the staged return of students has enabled us to manage infection levels. Residential College dining halls opened for in-person dining on January 31 and Commons will be re-opening for lunch service on February 7.
Given these encouraging trends, we are excited to confirm that in-person instruction will resume on February 7, as Provost Scott Strobel wrote in his January 24 message to faculty. All faculty who do not have a medical accommodation should plan to teach on campus beginning on Monday.
As explained in Provost Strobel’s message, evidence suggests that transmission in classrooms is low. Nearly all members of the Yale community are vaccinated, and students, faculty, and managerial and professional staff are required to have a booster. Students are tested regularly and faculty and staff are encouraged to make use of the campus COVID-19 testing sites.
In addition, campus mask rules remain in effect. Students are not permitted to remove their masks in class. Fully vaccinated and boosted instructors are permitted to remove their masks while teaching only if they maintain a 12-foot distance from all others in the classroom while unmasked. The university now recommends high-quality three-ply or ASTM masks, which are available across campus. The FAS and GSAS have purchased a limited number of masks which will be made available to instructors and TFs who are teaching in the classroom.
Instructors who are or have household members at high risk from COVID-19 may request accommodations, following the steps outlined in the Provost’s January 24 message. In addition, FAS faculty who may need to temporarily move a course online may follow the guidance outlined in the message that we sent to you on January 14.
We are thrilled to welcome our students back to their classrooms and to work alongside you on campus this semester.
With best wishes,
Tamar, Marvin, and Lynn
Tamar Szabó Gendler
Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Marvin Chun
Dean of Yale College
Lynn Cooley
Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences