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5/4/2021

TO: Fayette Campus students, faculty and staff
SUBJECT: President’s Message to Fayette Campus Students, Faculty, and Staff

Dear Fayette Campus Students, Faculty, and Staff,

I commend each of you for doing your part in creating a safe and healthy Fayette Campus during the past year. We have been faced with a very significant challenge; however, we continue to demonstrate what it is to be #peacockstrong in making the necessary adjustments to curb the spread of the virus and tend to those who fall ill. Together, we made the very best of a situation unlike anything UIU has faced in recent history, and now that vaccines are widely available in our area, I am even more optimistic about our future.

As Session 4 winds to a close, we are looking ahead to the start of Session 1 this fall. Our planning teams continue to collaborate closely with Fayette County Public Health and monitor COVID-19 in our area. Session 1 classes, which start August 30, will be in person and, if things continue to trend as they have the last few months, your classes should be close to what you experienced prior to the pandemic. Offices, academic services, residential living, student activities, food service, athletics, and all other aspects of Campus life should have the familiar feel of our vibrant Peacock Campus community. After all, the UIU experience is maximized through hands-on learning, small class settings, engaging curriculum, working in–person with faculty and staff, and a dynamic Campus experience. Faculty and staff are mentors, advisors, and enthusiastic supporters of student success, and each of these roles is most helpful and comforting when we can safely do so in person.

With all this in mind, UIU has recently and safely conducted in-person activities to recognize our employees and students. In addition, we have been carefully planning for many internal and external events on campus which includes, but are not limited to, the following: banquets and luncheons, UIU’s upcoming Commencement ceremonies, OAR and Visit Days (prospective student group visits), ACT testing, summer athletic camps, weddings, and Northeast Iowa Community College’s Commencement ceremony! Throughout all the activities, UIU will continue to work with public health agencies to receive guidance on best practices for hosting these events safely.

Health and safety remain a top priority here at UIU, and our planning teams will make adjustments and advise precautions as needed to safeguard the health of all Fayette Campus students, faculty, staff, and guests. UIU has been a leader in Fayette County in the fight against COVID-19, and more recently, a destination for a number of COVID-19 vaccination clinics. While we have made great progress against COVID-19, the battle is not over. Please continue to take all precautions advised by public health, and consider a COVID-19 vaccination if it is safe for you to do so.

We will continue to look after those among us who are most vulnerable to COVID-19, and we will continue to create a process to assess requests and provide accommodations whenever necessary. As Session 1 nears, we will provide all students, faculty and staff with additional guidance on what to expect, as needed. In addition, while we are continuing to ensure the safety of our Peacock Family, our students will also continue to get a quality education and an engaging university experience unlike any other in Iowa!

Thank you, and GO PEACOCKS!

William R. Duffy II, Ed.D., Ed.S.
President