Ann Arbor Times

The University of Michigan recently announced its 2021 winter semester plan, which includes new COVID-19-related provisions to protect the health of students, staff and the community, according to the University of Michigan's website.

The plan was created with guidance from public health officials and the campus community, and it draws on lessons learned from the preceding fall semester. Among its provisions, it expands access to remote learning, increases access to COVID-19 testing, requires undergraduate students who don’t need on-campus residence to reside at their homes to reduce traffic on campus, requires mandatory weekly COVID-19 testing for undergraduate students attending the Ann Arbor campus, strengthens asymptomatic testing for all staff members and increases measures to support mental health and well-being.

According to an email to the staff from University President Mark Schlissel, safety is the University’s top priority, and the plan addresses requests from students and staff for more access to testing and measures to protect their health as they advance their academic goals.

“We have engaged broadly across the campus to gather input from faculty, staff and students,” Schlissel wrote, according to the University's website. “Our plan for the winter term reflects the best of what we learned and what we’ve heard that you hope to achieve going forward.”

The plan also includes measures for increased accountability and more serious consequences for those who violate public health policies. COVID-19-related polices will be strictly enforced with a no-tolerance approach. 

Social gatherings of three or more in residence halls is prohibited and will result in automatic probation. Students violating public health policies in quarantine or isolation housing will have their University Housing contract terminated.

Off-campus students who violate these policies will be referred to the Office of Student Conflict Resolution, the Washtenaw County Health Department or both.

The University will also continue to maintain the COVID Concerns Reporting Line for reporting off-campus concerns, and it will continue enforcement partnerships with the Ann Arbor Police Department and Washtenaw County Health Department.