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INTRODUCTION

The work of this group is an integral component of the University of Southern Mississippi’s comprehensive efforts to plan keep students and faculty safe while also offering learning and social opportunities to keep students engaged. We know that individual responsibility and commitment to abide by health guidelines is key to the success of our institutional efforts. Institutional controls are only as effective as the willingness of individuals to carry them out. It will be imperative for everyone—faculty, staff, and students—to take responsibility for their actions and adhere to the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), as well as the guidelines issued by USM to protect themselves and others while helping to contain the spread of COVID-19.

A successful semester will depend on robust testing, adroit contact tracing, and the timely isolation or quarantine of ill and exposed campus community members. USM is monitoring developments related to COVID-19 and receiving counsel from state public health officials.

PURPOSE

This document provides guidance specific to the University of Southern Mississippi that will allow departments to manage operations in a safer and more effective manner throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective is not to eliminate all potential risks, but to provide a systematic and feasible path for operation within the pandemic environment.

The guidance in this document is subject to change, even after these plans are put into place. The University community will need to remain flexible, patient, and empathetic as we move.

COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Prior to returning to campus, all campus community members must acknowledge:

The serious nature of COVID-19

The importance of each individual’s knowledge of the risks presented by the virus

The need to monitor their own health

The need to notify appropriate personnel if they are symptomatic and/or exposed and be tested if necessary

Everyone has a personal responsibility to practice social distancing, frequent handwashing, cough/sneeze etiquette, proper tissue usage and disposal, avoidance of touching their face, and respecting others.