As students return to campus dorms, and the University of Southern Maine begins fall classes the week of August 30, university administrators are making efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in consultation with public health experts. At the same time, they are trying to maintain balance between the desire to return to a more normal campus life, while implementing necessary public health measures.

The University of Maine system put in place several enhanced COVID-19 safeguards during the summer break. University administrators made significant changes to previous mask guidance when they announced that all persons on university campuses would need to wear masks indoors, effective immediately. Previously, vaccinated persons did not have to wear masks indoors, but administrators said the change was in response to rising COVID-19 infection rates and the emergence of the Delta variant.

Chancellor Dannell Malloy clarified that this rule would be in effect at least until the end of September, at which time it will be reviewed for possible modification. Masks are not currently mandated in outdoor campus settings but are strongly encouraged in locations where large groups of people are present and social distancing is not possible.

In August, the university announced a new requirement that students who wish to be present on a university campus at any point during the semester would need to provide proof of being vaccinated against COVID-19, while still allowing for certain exemptions due to significant medical or religious factors.

Students who do not comply with the vaccination rule will be required to participate in weekly COVID-19 testing if they want to be allowed on campus. Students who take all online classes will be exempted from this rule, as long as they have no plans to be on campus. At the same time, the university is negotiating with unions for faculty members and support staff, so that their union contracts can be amended to allow for COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

Further public health measures include a requirement that all students and staff who have been exposed to an infected person will be required to get tested.

All students, vaccinated or not, who test positive will be required to isolate for ten days in specialized housing provided by USM. Faculty and staff who test positive will be required to remain off campus throughout a ten day isolation period. The university has contingency plans to increase the number of isolation beds, if increased COVID-19 case numbers require that.

Many aspects of campus life will be more like normal this semester. For instance, approximately 70% of USM classes will be in-person, compared to about half of the classes being in-person last spring.

Additionally, there will be no social distancing requirements in most locations on USM’s three campuses, at least to begin the semester, allowing higher student enrollment and classrooms to feel fuller. There will be higher capacity limits in the dining hall, student center, and student dorm lounges, which should permit students to have more normal interactions with each other.