This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa on August 24, 2021.
Aloha UH Mānoa ʻohana,
I want to welcome each and every one of you to the start of the fall semester. Last year at this time, we were nearly 100% online and hoping that the pandemic would be nearing an end by the start of this semester. While our campus is reopened, student housing is at full capacity and we have more in-person and hybrid courses available, the pandemic has taken a turn in the wrong direction in recent weeks here in Hawaiʻi.
In response, and following the guidance of our Health and Wellness team, we have taken a number of steps to protect the health of our campus community. We have developed strong guidelines to support the safe conduct of all aspects of our work. These include requiring everyone on campus (including visitors) to be either fully vaccinated or tested weekly for COVID-19 AND screened for symptoms and possible exposure. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to read the COVID-19 FAQs.
All of you—our students, faculty and staff—have shown the determination and resolve to persevere in the face of this seemingly endless health crisis. Our faculty have not stopped teaching, our students have not stopped learning and our staff have not stopped supporting both.
If you are fully vaccinated, thank you for being part of the effort to protect each other and our community. Before you come to campus, make sure you receive the “all clear” from the Lumisight UH daily health check app, and when you are on campus, remember to wear a mask indoors at all times and outdoors when safe physical distancing is not possible.
To our newly arrived students, welcome to the UH Mānoa ʻohana. You have endured a difficult couple of school years to get here. We encourage you to be safe and at the same time find opportunities to participate in activities that are either (safely) in-person or online.
There are resources available to help. For students, check out the UH Mānoa Student Basic Needs resource page where there is information on financial assistance, mental health services, food programs and housing and rental assistance. For employees who need help with the stress of this pandemic, contact the Employee Assistance Program for counseling services.
Finally, I ask you to share aloha with each other. Support one another; listen to one another. I am grateful and confident knowing that our UH Mānoa community will together rise to this challenge.
Me ke aloha,
Michael Bruno
UH Mānoa Provost
