Last week education leaders in the Springfield community met with the Springfield Greene County Health Department (SGCHD) about strategies and responses related to COVID-19. Following that meeting we held a press briefing to encourage students and young adults in our community to get vaccinated. I highlighted the steps we are taking to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

At the meeting, all area higher education institutions committed to work together with SGCHD as we manage the pandemic in our community. All area higher education institutions also indicated they will follow the same model as we prepare for the fall semester together.

Enter now to participate in Missouri’s vaccination incentive program

Vaccination encouraged

For people aged 12 and older, we are continuing to aggressively encourage vaccination. Masking and other protocols that were mandated a year ago were intended to bridge the gap until a vaccine was developed. The vaccine is now available, and we must commit our efforts toward vaccinating students, faculty, staff and the Springfield community.

Children under the age of 12 are in a different category. They are not yet able to be vaccinated. Accordingly, Greenwood Laboratory School and the Child Development Center will soon be announcing masking rules that will go into effect no later than the beginning of the fall semester.

Monitoring and communicating

The fall semester will begin in less than four weeks. We will use this time to continue to monitor relevant data and research, remain in constant communication with health and hospital officials as well as city, county and state leaders, and evaluate options for changes to our plans and protocols.

In lieu of our traditional state of the university address, we will host a series of virtual town hall meetings throughout the year to update you on the status of COVID-19 and inform you of our plans, strategies and responses.

The first such town hall meeting has been scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Aug. 18. I will summarize university accomplishments during 2020-21, update you on COVID-19 data, and discuss our plans and policies as we begin the fall semester. As in prior town hall meetings, you will have the opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions.

We will schedule other town hall meetings as needed and inform you about them through Inside Missouri State.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!