• Idaho State will remain at Level White on all campuses. However, the modifications outlined below will be adopted for the next two weeks, through Friday, October 22. Guidance will be updated thereafter as needed and based on the data.

• There are no changes in the Level White operational guidance for the Housing and Dining, Community Health, Research, Travel, and Screening Program categories.

• Face coverings continue to be required indoors at all campus locations. Additionally, the requirement now extends to outdoor events of all sizes when physical distancing is not possible. Exemptions from the outdoor face covering requirement are approved through either enhanced screening protocols (i.e. athletics practices) or the health exception process. Face coverings are still required on commuter buses, and riders should distance from one another as much as possible.

• In-person instruction should be maintained as much as possible. To enhance the safety of our instructional environments, faculty should develop seating charts for classrooms to effectively support contact tracing if positive cases are identified. Faculty should also develop or continue to offer online, hy-flex, or supportive options for students who are ill or in quarantine.

• In consultation with their leadership, departments should develop plans to offer services using a combination of virtual, remote, and face-to-face formats. It is not expected that all employees will transition to remote operations, but decisions should be made in close consultation with leadership during this two-week modified operational period. In areas where physical distancing is not possible, offices may consider rotating the on-campus presence of their employees. Remote work agreements are not needed for temporary telework due to our modified operational level. Meetings should be hosted virtually whenever possible. 

• If possible, all events that operated under our health exception process last year should implement their previously approved plans. Every effort should be made to increase physical distancing or move events outdoors. Event organizers and their leadership are currently reviewing all upcoming in-person events to make near-term decisions and recommendations. Next Wednesday afternoon, updated event guidance and health protocols will be posted online and shared with event organizers. 

• Our on-campus COVID-19 Screening Program continues to randomly test faculty, staff, and students with an on-campus presence. The University will send a weekly email to 1,000 randomly selected individuals to set up a mandatory screening appointment. If selected, you are required to participate unless you meet one of the valid exemptions. Individuals who are fully vaccinated will be exempted from the screening requirement.

• Contact tracing is an important part of Idaho State’s response to the pandemic. If a member of the University Health Committee contacts you, I expect you to follow their instructions and guidance. It is also absolutely critical that you use the University's Self Report Form if you have COVID-19 symptoms, exposure, or a confirmed case. Mitigation strategies help us maintain in-person instruction.

• Please be aware that emails to and from the University Health Committee may look different than our regular campus communications. These emails are sent through a separate, encrypted email system to ensure the privacy of your health information.