Research Under Lifted Restrictions

July 6, 2021

Dear Colleagues:

As communicated in the June 28 memo from President Stanley, MSU has lifted most COVID-19 mandates, with the exception of some restrictions in health care settings.

To reiterate, the primary changes impacting the research community, effective June 28, include:

• Face coverings are no longer required indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
• Employees, students, and others coming to campus no longer have to fill out the daily health screening form.
• The COVID-19 Early Detection Program is no longer mandatory for undergraduate students. Medical professional students should contact their college about their requirements due to activities in health care settings. Please note that the Early Detection Program is still operational and welcome for all staff and students to utilize on a volunteer basis.

MSU buildings, venues, and services can operate without limitations. Buildings will return to normal public access building hours effective Aug. 1. If non-employee access is required earlier than Aug. 1, please contact Facilities Planning and Space Management.

Please be aware that our colleagues in IPF are working through the reopening of buildings and public spaces within buildings such as break rooms and water fountains. Please DO NOT remove any type of building signage as IPF will remove signs as they work through their process.

A few additional points for research (note: this does not apply to health care settings where COVID rules remain in place):

• With the elimination of previous restrictions, the MAU framework safety plans are no longer required. If your research team is working remotely, please work with your MAU before returning to in-person work.
• COVID-19 safety training is no longer required.
• Research spaces should be following standard (pre-pandemic) daily cleaning/sanitization procedures. If there is suspected or confirmed illness, enhanced cleaning and disinfection of the space must take place before work can resume.
• Given the latest updates, guidelines for research with human subjects are under review. Research teams with active projects will receive a detailed email.
• Transportation in university or private vehicles (carpooling) is no longer limited to two people and may expand to the allowable seating capacity of the vehicle. Masks are not required, but we should be sensitive to those who are more comfortable wearing a face covering in a closed setting. Reminder: Federal rules still mandate face masks when traveling by mass transit (plane, train, and bus) and this includes CATA buses on campus.
• Registration of undergraduates working in research spaces will remain in place. This will allow for a reporting mechanism in the future if conditions should change due to new variants or outbreaks. 

Please refer to the Research Reactivation page for links to specific guidance and contact information.

Whether coronavirus or the seasonal flu, maintaining proper hygiene (frequent hand washing, routinely cleaning your living space or workspace) is always the best practice. Getting a vaccination is the most important thing you can do to protect yourself, your family, friends, and fellow Spartans from COVID-19. Please visit the vaccine page on the Together We Will website to learn more and find vaccine availability near you.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Research and Innovation at 517-355-0306.

My very best wishes for the remainder of your summer. Our team looks forward to seeing you this fall.

Doug Gage
Vice President for Research and Innovation