The remaining face mask requirements on University of �鶹��ý campuses and properties will be lifted after Friday, September 16. Masks are currently required in classrooms, shared laboratory spaces and confined educational spaces in order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 within our community.

“Mahalo for all you have done to elevate our collective understanding of personal safety during this devastating pandemic,” said UH President David Lassner in the September 9 email to the 10-campus system announcing the update. “You have demonstrated our capacity to look beyond ourselves and to care for others.”

The decision to lift the remaining mask requirements was based on the recommendation of UH medical and public health experts as well as the latest federal and state guidance. The rate of COVID-19 community transmission is no longer disrupting daily life. Most infections now are not life threatening, and many recover without hospitalization.

“UH will continue to remain highly vigilant, and COVID-19 restrictions may be quickly reinstated, if conditions change and warrant stronger measures,” said Lassner in the announcement.

Lassner also asked that everyone be respectful of an individual’s choice to continue to wear a face mask and abide by signs that may be posted outside individual offices requesting that masks be worn for the protection of others.

Masking is still strongly encouraged in crowded indoor spaces and required for those who have contracted the virus. More information can be found on the UH COVID-19 Guidelines.

This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of the 10-campus University of �鶹��ý system on August 3, 2022.

In anticipation of the fall 2022 semester, and after consultation with our health advisors, the University of �鶹��ý is updating the masking policy. Effective immediately:

Masking continues to be required indoors in:

• Classrooms
• Shared laboratory spaces
• Tightly confined educational spaces, such as advising offices

Masking is highly recommended in all other indoor settings on campuses.

Individual campuses may also require masking in other indoor and outdoor venues. Examples may include situations with large numbers of people in close proximity or where it is anticipated that high numbers of higher-risk persons will be attending. Masking requirements will be posted at such venues and events.

These masking guidelines will be in effect from now through the first month of classes—until September 19. We will be consulting with our health advisors throughout this time and will announce any changes by that date. Please continue to monitor your hawaii.edu email for updates.

The retention of this indoor masking requirement will help everyone safely begin the semester while all but one of our counties is at a “high” COVID-19 community level. This guidance also recognizes increasing face-to-face interaction this fall among students as well as employees who may have traveled recently from outside of the state.

As always, all members of the UH community are expected to respect the individual choices of others to wear masks even where not required.

Please refer to the UH COVID-19 Guidelines for more details on masking and other safety practices relating to protection of yourself and others from COVID-19.

Effective Wednesday, May 25, face masks are once again required indoors across the University of �鶹��ý System, except when working alone or separated from others by 6 feet or more. Restoration of this practice, consistent with current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations, was recommended by UH medical and public health experts and the State of �鶹��ý Department of Health and affirmed by UH leadership.

Reinstatement of the comprehensive indoor mask requirement will help prevent further spread of the COVID-19 virus and better protect the health of students and employees as every county in the state but one is currently assessed to have a “high” level of COVID-19 community transmission by the CDC. Only �鶹��ý County is still rated “medium.” The CDC also ranks the state as 4th highest in the nation with an average 7-day case rate of 495.9 cases per 100,000 people.

The indoor face mask requirement will remain in place and be re-evaluated when the level of COVID-19 transmission in the state decreases. All members of the UH community should continue to monitor your hawaii.edu email and UHNews.org for updates.

If you test positive for COVID-19 and have been on campus or a UH facility, immediately contact your respective COVID-19 Response Team (contact info for each UH campus). Instructors can also inform the CRT with contact information of an individual. The UH System follows the State Department of Health return-to-work guidance.

Do not report to a UH campus or facility if any of these apply:

• You tested positive for COVID-19 and are on home isolation.
• You have new or worsening symptoms that could be COVID-19 and not attributable to a pre-existing condition.
• You are immunocompromised and are a close contact of a COVID-19 positive individual.
• You are not “up to date” with your vaccines and are a close contact of a COVID-19 positive individual. “Up to date” means you have received all COVID-19 vaccine doses for which you are eligible, e.g., the initial two shots and a booster.
• You must isolate for 5 days after the date of last exposure and may return on day 6 if you have not had a fever within the past 24 hours and your symptoms have significantly improved. When you return to campus, you must wear a well-fitted mask at all times and not eat or drink around others until the full 10 days have passed.
• You are subject to government-issued or a healthcare provider’s orders to quarantine.

Please continue to follow the UH COVID-19 Guidelines except as described above regarding masking, and mahalo for your assistance in keeping our campus communities safe.

Beginning March 26, new guidelines will take effect at all University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� athletic events.

• LumiSight UH health check-in, and proof of COVID-19 vaccinations or negative tests are no longer required to enter athletic venues.
• Masks are optional in all athletic venues, however, are strongly encouraged in high capacity games.
• The UH Ticket Office and entry gates for all athletic venues will open one hour prior to game time.

and mask requirements for indoor venues are still enforced through games on Friday, March 25.

For more information, visit the .

As of March 26, the University of �鶹��ý 10-campus system is indefinitely suspending the UH COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Policies for students and employees. Regular testing for COVID-19 will no longer be required of students and employees with approved vaccine exemptions. Testing will continue in the student residence halls until the end of the semester. A March 23 mail to the 10-campus system notified students, faculty and staff of the policy updates.

“The UH Officers made the decision to suspend the policies based on guidance provided by the UH COVID-19 Health and Wellbeing Working Group, a team of UH medical and public health experts,” stated the email signed by the UH Officers, the leadership team with representation from the 10 campuses led by UH President David Lassner. “The move reflects the latest COVID-19 guidance from the state and federal government.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccines have proven to be highly effective at protecting vaccinated people against severe illness caused by the COVID-19 virus. The combination of vaccinations, boosters and exposure to the virus has built up immunity locally and nationally, resulting in fewer COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths. The CDC strongly recommends everyone to get vaccinated, and to stay up to date with their vaccination.

Updated UH COVID-19 Guidelines take effect March 26

The latest update to the UH COVID-19 Guidelines also take effect on March 26 and include the following requirements:

• Face masks indoors in classrooms, shared laboratories, other instructional spaces and tightly confined educational spaces. This includes advising offices and campus venues when the number of attendees is close to maximum capacity or if it is anticipated that high numbers of higher-risk persons will be attending (required until May 13, the end of the spring 2022 semester). Instructors or presenters may remove their masks while teaching, provided that they maintain 6 feet distance from others.
  • Campus officials may further specify areas where face masks are required to enhance safety.
• For those returning to campus after quarantine or isolation, face masks must be worn around others in all settings, for the remainder of the 10-day period.
• If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home and isolate for at least 5 days (until you are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your symptoms are improving).
• Full or Up-to-date vaccination for employees and students in specific UH programs or courses (i.e., medical, nursing, social work, dental hygiene, allied health, etc.) where they are embedded within partner institutions that require vaccination. Officers will determine which programs may require student, faculty, or patient vaccination status.

We strongly recommend that you stay home when feeling ill, whether with COVID-19 or not, to recover and prevent community spread.

No longer required

The following are no longer required as of March 26:

• The daily COVID-19 health screening via the LumiSight UH health app.
• Face masks indoors (except as identified above)
• Face masks outdoors, including outdoor campus events.
• Visitors providing proof of vaccination or negative test results to access campus events.
• Uploading of negative tests for those students and employees with approved vaccine exemptions.
• Campuswide notification of positive COVID-19 cases reported on a UH campus

“As we transition to personal responsibility for managing COVID-19 infections and exposures, individuals are strongly urged to report their cases/exposures to their designated campus official,” said the email.

UH COVID-19 Guidelines and related policies are subject to change depending on the status of the pandemic. UH will continue to monitor the conditions in �鶹��ý and implement mitigation measures, as needed. Those measures may include vaccination or testing, expanded requirements for mask wearing, etc. More information can be found on the UH COVID-19 Dashboards and the UH COVID-19 Response Based on CDC Community Level website.

Editor’s note: A new update was posted on March 23.

On March 26, 2022, the following updates to the University of �鶹��ý COVID-19 Guidelines for the 10-campus system will go into effect. The updates are based on recommendations by the UH COVID-19 Health and Wellbeing Working Group, a team of UH medical and public health experts, and reflect the latest updates of local government COVID-19 restrictions and the high vaccination rates among UH students, faculty and staff. The UH COVID-19 Guidelines are subject to change depending on the status of the pandemic.

Editor’s note: A new update was posted on March 23.

The following UH COVID-19 Guidelines are still required, at a minimum, for the remainder of the spring 2022 semester:

• Face masks must be worn indoors in classrooms, shared laboratories, other instructional spaces and tightly confined educational spaces (such as advising offices), as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and �鶹��ý Department of Health, given the increased density of people over long periods of time in these settings, and requirements for in-person attendance.
• Face masks must be worn by anyone who is positive or has symptoms of COVID-19, or who has been exposed to someone with the virus, for the duration of the isolation or quarantine period.
• Updated March 23: Students in student housing with a medical or religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement must continue to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test regularly to the LumiSight UH app.

Editor’s note: A new update was posted on March 23.

The UH COVID-19 Guidelines no longer required as of March 26 include:

• The daily COVID-19 health screening via the Lumisight UH health app.
• Face masks indoors except as identified above; face masks may be encouraged, but are not required in the following situations:
  • Common areas (hallways, stairwells, lobbies, bathrooms, etc), offices, eateries, libraries, bookstores, etc.
  • Indoor events such as commencement, athletic and performing arts events, campus tours and field trips.
    • While not required, event organizers may request continued masking if the number of attendees is close to the maximum capacity of the venue or based on anticipated high numbers of higher-risk persons attending.
  • Instructors while teaching, provided they maintain 6 feet distance from others.
• And outdoors, including outdoor campus events.
• Visitors providing proof of vaccination or negative test results to access campus events.

Editor’s note: A new update was posted on March 23.

The UH COVID-19 Health and Wellbeing Working Group and UH leadership continue to strongly encourage everyone who is not up-to-date with a COVID-19 booster to receive their free vaccination as soon as they are eligible. Please respect an individual’s personal choice to wear a face mask outdoors and indoors where face masks are no longer required. Given the availability of free testing and home tests, we would strongly encourage people traveling out of State to test prior to returning to campus.

As UH President David Lassner stated in his March 3 message, �鶹��ý is entering a new stage of the pandemic, coexisting with COVID-19. The combination of vaccinations, boosters and exposure to the virus has built up immunity locally and nationally, and COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths are dropping. This change has led to a reduction in the need for government restrictions, including at UH, but through the rest of the semester, given the uniqueness of our learning environs and our state’s hospital capacity, we will continue essential precautionary measures as identified above.

The University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� has updated its guidelines for home athletic events. Effective March 4 through March 25, all attendees (with exception of children under the age of 5) must still provide proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to entry. Negative COVID-19 test results must be from an FDA approved, or FDA EUA approved, molecular or antigen test (home kits not allowed).

Either a vaccination card and/or negative test result must be uploaded to the . Note: It may take up to 24 hours for upload to be approved. All attendees ages 4 and older must have a valid event ticket or credential to gain admission. An event ticket is not required for children ages 3 and under as long as they do not occupy a seat and sit in the lap of their guardians.

In addition, masks are optional for outdoor sporting events. Masks are required for indoor sporting events, unless actively eating or drinking.

The LumiSight UH app is the fastest way to enter the venue. Fans without the app will be required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours, present an I.D. and verbally attest to a health questionnaire before entering the facility.

For more information on specific rules for each venue, visit the links below.

For the latest COVID-19 information for the 10-campus UH System, see UH President David Lassner’s message on March 3.

This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of the 10-campus University of �鶹��ý system on January 18, 2022.

Aloha UH students, faculty and staff,

The COVID-19 Guidelines for the 10 campuses of the UH System have been updated. The updates include the latest guidance to align with current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and guidelines.

Masks: Masks are still required at all times indoors on UH campuses or facilities. KN95, KF94 or N95 masks are not required but encouraged where possible. Gaiters are not acceptable masks.

All masks should be well-fitted, which means the mask:

• Has a nose wire to crimp down on top of the nose
• Has at least 2 or more layers of washable fabric (for cloth masks)
• Covers both the nose and mouth entirely
• Fits snugly against the sides of your face without gaps

Masks are not required outdoors, but are strongly recommended when in crowded situations or where it is difficult to maintain physical distance. For more, see the Personal Safety Practices section.

Quarantine and isolation guidelines:

If you are up to date with your vaccinations, including a booster shot, you do not need to quarantine if you are identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and are asymptomatic.

If you test positive for COVID-19, you must be isolated for a minimum of 5 days, regardless of vaccination status. If you are also symptomatic, you may return on day 6 if your symptoms are improving and you have had no fever for 24 hours without using any fever-reducing medicine.

For more information, see the Personal Safety Practices section of our COVID-19 policies

Boosters strongly recommended: While vaccination rates are high among the UH community, as seen in the UH COVID-19 Dashboards, we strongly recommend that everyone receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster as soon they become eligible. Emerging evidence shows that boosters are effective in preventing serious illness and hospitalization from all circulating variants. Those who have received a booster can also avoid quarantine if identified as a close contact of someone who tests positive.

To schedule a booster dose and for more information, visit the

Mahalo for your patience and resilience,
The University of �鶹��ý Office of Communications

This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of the 10-campus University of �鶹��ý system on January 18, 2022.

Aloha,

Spring 2022 courses that were shifted online for the first two weeks of the semester will remain online for one more week and return to their originally scheduled course delivery mode (in-person or hybrid) on Monday, January 31.

On December 28, we announced that many courses were moved online because of the surge in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant. While we are cautiously optimistic that COVID-19 hospitalizations in �鶹��ý are starting to plateau, we experienced the highest case count of the pandemic today, and believe that it is prudent to allow the online shift to continue for one extra week. We do not expect to revisit the January 31 restart date, which is consistent with many other higher education institutions.

We urge you to use this additional week as an opportunity to get your booster shot if you are eligible. Booster shots are widely available at pharmacies throughout the state, and administrative leave is available for employees. Per the most recent CDC guidance, getting a booster to bring your vaccination status “up to date,” is the only way to avoid quarantine if you are exposed. The CDC has stated that you are considered to be up-to-date immediately upon receiving the booster shot, which has proven effective in reducing transmission, hospitalizations and deaths.

All classes presently meeting in-person should continue to do so. Essential programs and services for students and employees will continue to be accessible in-person as well as online. Faculty who are teaching classes online now that are scheduled to meet in person can opt to begin in-person instruction on January 24, with no formal approval required. However, these faculty need to contact their students as soon as possible to provide information about how students who cannot attend class or may have delayed their return to campus can participate.

Our COVID-19 advisory team of UH medical and public health professionals with campus leaders from across the system considered this decision very carefully. We believe that �鶹��ý is at a turning point as the COVID-19 pandemic moves toward endemicity, and we learn to live with the virus. For most of us, this change is ultimately a welcome step forward. However, this transition is also causing anxiety and requires adjustment for many in our community.

We believe that providing this clear direction of our plan for one additional week online, while urging that everyone eligible get their booster shot, will best move us all forward together.

Even as �鶹��ý sees record numbers of positive cases, the state’s hospitalization rates are thankfully remaining manageable. UH’s 10 campuses have extremely high vaccination rates among students and employees, which can now be tracked on the UH COVID-19 dashboards.

The requirements for vaccination, soon to include booster shots for future semesters, or regular testing for those with approved exemptions, along with the updated UH COVID-19 Guidelines will create a safe environment for our students, faculty and staff. Our guidelines include mandatory face masks when indoors and daily health screenings via the LumiSight UH app.

Please continue to monitor your hawaii.edu email for more information from your campus and the system. Send your questions to COVID19@hawaii.edu and please include your home campus, which will expedite the response time.

We have persevered through this unprecedented health crisis for nearly two years now. We can now foresee moving past COVID-19 as a university-wide health crisis in 2022. We have learned through this pandemic, and no doubt more lessons are ahead. But we can finally look forward to the time in our near future where we can really be together again.

E mālama pono,
David Lassner
UH President

The 10 campuses of the University of �鶹��ý will temporarily move many spring 2022 in-person courses to an online delivery for the first two weeks of the semester because of the record surge of COVID-19 cases in �鶹��ý due to the highly contagious Omicron variant. The first day of spring semester classes remains Monday, January 10 with a full return to scheduled course delivery on Monday, January 24.

UH President David Lassner made the announcement in an email to students, faculty and staff of the UH System. UH joins dozens of other colleges and universities from across the country that are temporarily moving courses online to start the spring semester.

• Read campus messages:
  • UH Hilo
  • UH ����ԴDz�
  • UH West Oʻahu
  • Kapiʻolani CC
  • Leeward CC
  • Windward CC
  • More campus messages will be added

The announcement stated that only courses that can be “effectively taught online” will be impacted. Many lab sections, clinical experiences, Career and Technical Education (CTE) shop courses and studios will continue to be taught safely in-person, which includes physical distancing, wearing masks indoors, daily health screenings and other measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Each campus will determine which courses will be moved online based on considerations including COVID-19 conditions in the area, density of student populations in classrooms, number of students who will be traveling back to campus and instructional needs to keep all students on track to graduate. Students and employees are encouraged to monitor announcements from their campus leaders for campus specific information.

“We are not changing course modalities but merely making this adjustment to maximize the safety of our campuses including those who may be returning from another island or farther,” said Lassner in the announcement. “We are disappointed to take this action but believe it is appropriate to protect the health and safety of our students and employees.”

UH campuses will remain open during the two week period, including residence halls at UH ����ԴDz� and �鶹��ýHilo, and on-campus services which will remain available during normally scheduled hours.

Lassner also urged everyone to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot as soon as they are eligible, typically six months after the final dose. He said that planning is underway to make booster shots part of the UH vaccination requirement for students and employees.

As of January 3, all �鶹��ýstudents and employees are required to be fully vaccinated OR have a university approved medical or religious exemption. Those with an approved exemption are required to regularly submit proof of a negative test to the LumiSight UH daily health check app. Students who are 100% online are the only exception to the vaccine requirements.

To be on a UH campus, you must receive an all-clear from the LumiSight UH app, which means you have verified vaccination information, or have an approved exemption and a verified negative test result when you complete the daily health screening. Everyone is also required to wear face masks when indoors and when outdoors near others.

Campus messages

Most classes to start online at UH Hilo

Aloha UH Hilo students, faculty, and staff,

I hope you have enjoyed a restful and rejuvenating break with family and friends and are excited to return to UH Hilo for the spring semester. As President Lassner shared in his recent message, we have been closely monitoring the pandemic conditions here in �鶹��ý. At UH Hilo, we are paying particular attention to the increase in COVID-19 cases on �鶹��ý Island. The UH System health and wellness team has been in contact with federal, state, and county officials, as well as our local hospitals. While it appears that the Omicron variant may produce lower levels of severe illness than other strains, we are still concerned about the capacity of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s healthcare systems, given many more active infections and the large numbers of unvaccinated individuals across the state and island.

We will begin the spring semester with two weeks of online instruction. We are making this change in part because of the continued uncertainty about the Omicron variant, but primarily because of our concern for our students as they return to campus. Those students who test positive over the holiday break will need to isolate and would miss the first week of in-person classes. Those who are returning to �鶹��ý Island for the start of the semester and test positive upon arrival would miss the first several days of in-person classes. Thus, we are making the decision now to do online instruction for the first two weeks of the spring semester in order to minimize possible disruption to student learning, and to give our employees, students and their families as much advance notice as possible. Clinical courses which have multiple COVID protocols in place may continue with face-to-face instruction, but I ask faculty to be accommodating for students who may have to miss class due to a positive test result or isolation requirement (pharmacy, teacher education [in both the School of Education or Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani], and nursing students should expect more specific information from their programs shortly). While students may opt to change their plans for travel back to Hilo, we will be ready to welcome you back for the January 10 start of the term, and the residence halls and dining service will remain open.

While instruction will move online for a period of time, in-person services for students and employees will continue with all the necessary health and safety protocols in place. We have extended the COVID-19 telework policy through the end of January, and I ask supervisors to continue with whatever rotations that they have had in place during the fall term. For this two week period, if appropriate for the position and office, supervisors may allow student employees in the state of �鶹��ý to telework as well.

In-person instruction for face-to-face and hybrid courses will resume on January 24, by which time we expect a downturn in Omicron COVID cases.

I encourage all who are eligible (6 months after second Pfizer or Moderna, 2 months after Johnson & Johnson) to get their vaccine boosters. We will continue to have testing and boosters available every Friday on campus. The UH System may very well mandate boosters before the end of the term because we want to keep our campuses as safe as possible, and vaccines remain the best way to minimize transmission and serious symptoms. Remember that we are requiring vaccines of everyone without an approved exemption.

If you have traveled over the break, please consider getting tested upon return to �鶹��ý Island and maintain your distance from others while awaiting results. (In addition to Friday campus testing, which resumes on January 7, the County of �鶹��ý also has many testing sites.)

As a campus, we have been vigilant about masking, testing, and distancing, and we will have to continue to do so in order to ensure that UH Hilo is a safe place for our ʻohana to learn and work. Please keep up the good work!

Bonnie D. Irwin
Chancellor

����ԴDz� to be online for first two weeks of spring semester

This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of UH ����ԴDz� on December 28, 2021.

Aloha UH ����ԴDz� students, faculty and staff,

I am writing to update you on our plans for the spring semester. As stated in President Lassner’s December 28 message, UH’s 10 campuses will be temporarily online for the first two weeks of the spring 2022 semester. We have been closely monitoring the pandemic conditions here in �鶹��ý, with particular attention to the increase in COVID-19 cases and the uptick in hospitalizations. Our health and wellness professionals have been in constant contact with federal, state, and city and county officials, as well as our hospital systems. While evidence continues to emerge that the Omicron variant may produce lower levels of severe illness than prior variants, we remain concerned about the potential stress on �鶹��ý’s healthcare systems, given many more active infections and the large numbers of unvaccinated individuals across the state. Our approach continues to place the health of our community as the highest priority.

Our decision to begin the spring semester with two weeks of online instruction is partially due to the continued uncertainty about the Omicron variant, but primarily motivated by our concern for our students and staff as they return to campus. Those who test positive during the holiday break will need to isolate and would miss the first week of in-person classes. Those who are returning to Oʻahu for the start of the semester and test positive upon arrival would also miss the first two weeks of in-person classes. Thus, we are making the decision now to move to online instruction for the first two weeks of the spring semester in order to minimize possible disruption to student learning and to give our employees, students and their families as much advance notice as possible.

While most instruction will shift online for a limited period of time, our campus will remain open. University operations will continue, including support services for students and employees. Students who choose to be on campus physically are welcomed. The residence halls are open, and our critical research and service activities continue, all with the necessary health and safety protocols in place. The COVID-19 telework policy has been extended through the end of January, and we expect that all high-risk employees will take advantage of this extension and remain safe as we navigate the coming month.

In summary:

1. All classes, with some exceptions, will begin in an online modality on January 10. In-person classroom instruction is scheduled to begin on January 24. Some essential in-person instruction (e.g., clinical skills, some laboratory and other hands-on instruction and training) will remain in-person. Those programs will be in contact with their students and will accommodate students who cannot join us in-person during this two-week period.
2. We strongly encourage all employees and students to get a COVID-19 booster shot if you have not already done so. Full vaccination plus a booster is your most effective defense against the Omicron variant, and it will significantly improve our chances of having a successful, healthy return to in-person instruction and campus activities.
3. While students may choose to change their travel plans, this is not required. You are welcome to return to Oʻahu and to our residence halls, if you are an on-campus resident, as long as you are healthy.
4. All other operations of the university are not affected. With the very high rate of vaccination among students and employees, coupled with our mask requirement, we consider the UH ����ԴDz� workplaces to be as safe an environment as any on Oʻahu. Supervisors should ensure that all essential face-to-face services are provided while also considering the need to accommodate requests for COVID-19 telework to the extent necessary to protect the health of our employees.
5. Please get tested 3–5 days after returning from any travel. If possible, employees should work from home while awaiting test results. Students should limit exposure to others while awaiting test results.

We will continue to get through the pandemic united in our care for each other.

Mahalo,
Michael S. Bruno, Provost

UHWO to temporarily move many spring 2022 in-person courses to online delivery

Aloha mai UH West Oʻahu ʻOhana!

The UH System COVID-19 Policies & Practices group has been closely monitoring the pandemic conditions here in �鶹��ý, with particular attention to the increase in COVID-19 cases and the uptick in hospitalizations. This group is informed by our health and wellness professionals who are in constant contact with federal, state, and city and county officials, as well as our hospital systems. While evidence continues to emerge that the Omicron variant may produce lower levels of severe illness than prior variants, we remain concerned about the potential stress on �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s healthcare systems, given many more active infections and the large numbers of unvaccinated individuals across the state. Our approach continues to place the health of our community as the highest priority.

That said, UH Officers met and on Tuesday, Dec. 28, President Lassner sent a message to all UH community members that stated:

After much discussion, we are announcing that in-person classes that can be effectively taught online will be temporarily shifted to electronic delivery for the first two weeks of the semester. We are not changing course modalities but merely making this adjustment to maximize the safety of our campuses during the expected peak… All UH campuses will remain open…

You can read that message at:
/news/2021/12/28/online-first-two-weeks-of-spring-2022-instruction/

We are making this change in part because of the continued uncertainty about the Omicron variant, but primarily because of our concern for our students as they return to campus. Those students who test positive over the holiday break will need to isolate and could miss the first week of in-person classes. Those who are returning to Oʻahu for the start of the semester and test positive upon arrival would miss the first two weeks of in-person classes. Thus, we are making the decision now to do online instruction for the first two weeks of the spring semester in order to minimize possible disruption to student learning, and to give our employees, students, and their families as much advance notice as possible.

There are courses that require in-person attendance. Fortunately we have learned how to safely offer our on-campus, in-person classes employing LumiSight verification, masking, and physical distancing. We will still be able to hold in-person courses, e.g., lab sections, clinical or hands-on learning experiences, studios, and so on, all with the necessary health and safety protocols in place. Determination of which course sections will be held on campus will be made by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

In summary:

1. All classes will begin in an online modality on Jan. 10. In-person classroom instruction is scheduled to begin on Jan. 24.
2. Students who are registered for course sections that will begin in person will be notified.
3. We strongly encourage all employees and students to get a COVID-19 booster shot if you have not already done so. That is your most effective defense against the Omicron variant, and it will significantly improve our chances of having a successful, healthy return to in-person instruction and campus activities.
4. All other operations of the university are not affected. With our very high rate of vaccination among students and employees, coupled with our mask requirement, we consider UH West Oʻahu workplaces to be as safe an environment as any on Oʻahu. Supervisors should ensure that all essential face-to-face services are provided while also considering the need to accommodate requests for COVID-19 telework to the extent necessary to protect the health of our employees.
5. Please get tested 3–5 days after returning from any travel. If possible, employees should work from home while awaiting test results. Students should limit exposure to others while awaiting test results.
6. If you are on campus and end up testing positive, please inform the UH West Oʻahu COVID-19 Response Team at covidwo@hawaii.edu or (808) 689-2525.

Within the next few days, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Jeff Moniz will provide more information to all instructional faculty and staff regarding both online and in-person instruction during the first two weeks of the spring 2022 semester. During the week of Jan. 3, 2022, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Jan Javinar will provide information regarding the start of the spring session to students and student support staff.

We look forward to seeing you very soon! Until then, we wish you and your ʻohana a safe and joy-filled New Year celebration!

E mālama pono!
Chancellor Maenette Benham

Some Leeward classes to move online for first two weeks of spring 2022

Aloha Students,

As you have probably read President Lassner’s recent message, some courses originally scheduled for in-person instruction, starting January 10, may transition to online for the first two weeks of the semester, as a result of the COVID surge we are experiencing. You will be notified by next week if your course will experience a modality shift, so please be sure to check your UH email for any updates.

Aloha,
Keala Chock
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Class modality for the first two weeks of school

Aloha mai kākou,

I hope you are all well and enjoying the winter break. To promote the health and safety of our University of �鶹��ý community, President Lassner has encouraged classes scheduled for hybrid and face-to-face modes to be delivered fully online for the first two weeks of instruction, through January 23, 2022.

Instructors have been encouraged to reach out to you regarding class plans so that you may prepare for the start of the semester. Please frequently check your hawaii.edu email and Laulima notifications to see how your instructors plan to offer the first two weeks of classes.

I hope you were able to rest and rejuvenate over this break and are ready for a great spring semester!!

Best Regards,
Jennifer Brown