A Message from Chancellor Li to Students, Faculty, and Staff
Mavericks,
Welcome back! I hope that you have had a chance to rest, relax, and maybe catch up on your Netflix queue over the break.
Last year, there were so many amazing research projects, service opportunities, and great examples of our Maverick spirit in action. Every day, I am inspired by your dedication to service and the ingenuity of everyone here at UNO. The Maverick Story is always growing, and I am excited to see what this new chapter has in store.
As we move forward into the Spring 2022 semester, I want to take a moment and formally say that I am glad you are here, and I am so excited to see the amazing work that you will do this semester!
But even as we hit the ground running, remember to take care of yourself, your friends, and your families. With the COVID-19 pandemic’s omicron variant seeing an increased transmission rate, it is important to make sure that we take every precaution that we can to ensure the safety of all. If you haven’t already, be sure to visit COVIDtests.gov to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests. Free tests can also be ordered online via USPS or by calling the vaccines.gov hotline at 1.800.232.0233.
The Omicron variant has impacted communities across the state and the country, and our UNO family is no exception. Case trends on our COVID dashboard reflect the spread of Omicron throughout the city and the region and serve as a reminder that we must continue to be vigilant.
We are strongest when we show care for each other, so please review the recent changes to campus guidance and make sure that we all do our part to make sure we preserve in-person learning experiences and make this next chapter in the Maverick Story the best one yet.
- Campus Indoor Mask-Wearing Requirement Continues: Wearing a mask indoors is one small but powerful action we take to preserve our current high level of on-campus and in-person activity. In accordance with recent guidance changes, all students, faculty, staff, and guests on UNO’s campus are required to wear masks indoors – including at the H&K Building. To protect yourself and others from COVID-19, the CDC recommends that you wear the most protective mask you can that fits well and that you will wear consistently.
- No UNO-Sponsored Gatherings with More Than 25 Attendees Extended Through Feb. 15: In order to limit the spread of COVID-19 amid the Omicron variant surge, no UNO on- or off-campus and in-person gatherings of 25 people or more submitted for January (excluding classes, labs, performances, and ensembles) will be approved. Any in-person, UNO-sponsored event larger than 25 people – regardless of approval status – is no longer considered approved and should be rescheduled or moved to a virtual format. All UNO students, faculty, and staff are strongly encouraged to consider moving any in-person, non-academic gatherings, meetings, events, or activities to a virtual format where applicable. This extension will allow us to have a better picture of what is needed to best mitigate the spread while maintaining in-person opportunities for learning, teaching, and working.
- No Food at Any UNO-Sponsored Gatherings On- or Off-Campus: Food will not be allowed at any UNO-sponsored or community gatherings, regardless of size until further notice. This includes no longer offering grab-and-go or to-go food options for gatherings. Due to the highly contagious nature of the Omicron variant, by not dining with others in close quarters — including in classrooms, lobbies, and common areas — we will stem a significant source of COVID-19 transmission and greatly reduce the risk of infections on our campus.
- COVID Testing Required for Every Campus Housing Resident: All UNO campus housing residents – vaccinated and non-vaccinated – will be required to take a COVID-19 test every two weeks. Students who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the last three months or have received a booster shot are exempt from testing. Residents with questions about testing may contact unohousing@unomaha.edu.
- Get Support If You Test Positive: If you test positive for COVID-19 at any point, please report it to our Office of Health Security using the UNO COVID-19 Reporting Form. Someone from the office will then contact you with the next steps and provide support. COVID-19 testing options at the H&K Building are listed on UNO’s Maverick COVID Response website.
- University Travel Guidance Remains in Place: The Office of Health Security issued guidance for domestic and international travel on Dec. 6, 2021, which remains in place.
As you begin your semester, remember that your Maverick family has your back. It is easy to feel alone or overwhelmed, but if you could use or find that you need support, please reach out to any of the numerous teams at UNO that are here to help, or visit the employee and student resource pages for more info.
Thank you for all you do to ensure UNO remains a safe, welcoming place for all Mavericks.
Welcome back!
Sincerely,
Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA
Chancellor