Pictured Above: Increased signage promoting the use of face masks on campus is one of USF’s latest COVID-19 mitigation efforts.
Annalise Anderson | The Crow’s Nest
By Annalise Anderson
Despite new COVID-19 cases reaching an all-time high in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, USF will not require students, faculty or staff to be fully vaccinated against the virus or wear face coverings on campus this fall.
In an announcement to the USF community on Monday, the university outlined its latest COVID-19 safety guidelines for the fall semester. Though not required, the Florida Board of Governors and USF “strongly urge” all students, faculty and staff be fully vaccinated and “expect” everyone to wear a face covering while on campus, vaccinated or unvaccinated.
“The University of South Florida cares deeply about the safety and well-being of all members of our community as we work hard to provide a full college experience for our students,” the announcement read. “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, USF leadership has made evidence-based decisions prioritizing public health, within guidance issued by our state leaders at the Board of Governors.”
The university’s latest mitigation efforts include increased virus-related signage on campuses, accommodations for those who are immunocompromised or who have underlying health concerns, and collaboration with student leaders to promote and incentivize student vaccinations.
Due to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signing an executive order last month prohibiting schools from establishing mask mandates, the administration says it is unable to enforce face coverings on its campuses. However, professors are permitted to ask students to wear masks in classrooms.
According to Provost Ralph Wilcox, USF has no reliable data on how many of its students are fully vaccinated. During Wednesday’s Faculty Senate Executive Committee Meeting, Wilcox recalled the general data for vaccinated college-aged students as “barely north of 50 percent.”
In Wednesday’s meeting, Interim President Rhea Law suggested that “peer pressure” will encourage students to wear face coverings and get the vaccine.
Though the safety of the university’s campuses is a growing concern among faculty, USF administration insists that all decisions must come from the Board of Governors.
During the meeting, Philosophy Professor Richard Manning said the university’s reliance on student integrity for COVID-19 safety is “obviously not a wise policy.”
“We are, after all, an institution of learning with a medical school. I mean, what are we doing not requiring masks and vaccinations?” Manning said.
School of Information Professor Steven Walczak said that the university is clearly no longer adhering to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“We’re portraying a false front to the public saying, ‘oh, we’re an education institution. We’re doing all this stuff scientifically,’ when in reality, we’re handcuffed. We are required to do whatever the [Board of Governors] tells us to.” Walczak said. “If we’re going to put out statements about what we’re doing, encouraging vaccines and mask wearing, we need to stop saying we’re following science and the CDC, because we’re not.”
During its meeting, the committee voted to endorse the Advisory Council of Faculty Senate (ACFS) resolution, which states that Florida’s individual universities should decide their own COVID-19 policies, opposing DeSantis’s executive order.
According to Business Professor Robert Welker, USF members of the United Faculty of Florida union will discuss a bargaining proposal with university administrators on Aug. 20 that asks for stronger face mask and vaccine requirements.
In Tuesday’s Board of Trustees meeting, Law emphasized that the university’s response to COVID-19 is “a fluid circumstance” and that the conversation is ongoing.
The university will return to in-person classes and activities later this month. Any decision to pivot to online instruction must come from the Board of Governors.
Free COVID-19 testing and vaccines continue to be available on all three campuses for students, faculty and staff. The university currently offers the Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
Face masks and hand sanitizer will also be available in high-traffic areas around campuses.
