Welcome back to spring 2022 from Dean Spangler

Dear members of the MFE COE community,

Happy New Year and welcome back to spring semester 2022. As we begin yet another semester with a spike in COVID cases, I want to thank each of you for the extraordinary work you have done over the last two years to maintain our operations, reinvent instruction, pivot research, and provide service—all with attention to quality and sensitivity to the needs of others. I want to offer special thanks to Andy Garber, Ralph Knapp and the OIT team, and the custodial teams in all three buildings for their exceptional work.

A few reminders to help us take care of ourselves and one another:

• The best protection against COVID and particularly the Omicron variant is to be fully vaccinated, including a booster shot.
• Wearing high-quality masks (not cloth) helps to contain the spread of the virus. We have KN95 masks on hand and can order more as needed.
• Please do not come to work if you are experiencing symptoms. Communicate with your supervisor about working from home or taking sick leave as appropriate.
• Updates are available on the UGA coronavirus website, including wellbeing resources for employees and students.
• Please continue to check in with students and contact Student Care and Outreach with any concerns you notice as they are best positioned to help students get the resources they need.

The HVAC system in Aderhold has recently been upgraded with UV light arrays on both air handlers, which covers the entire building. Ramsey already has this system in place. River’s Crossing has the system in place on the first floor, and other floors have increased filtration levels. Additional details, including an interactive map, are available on the FMD website.

Please make an effort to reconnect with colleagues at the start of the semester, find out how they are really doing, and offer your encouragement and support. We will get through this together.

Denise