Dear Mars Hill campus members, 

As we look forward to rejoining each other and enjoying all the things our campus has to offer this fall, we must take time to address how we will proceed with keeping each other safe in the light of the continued threat of COVID-19. 

While we are encouraged to hear that many of you have already received the COVID-19 vaccine, we still have a ways to go to reach our goal of at least 75% of all students and employees vaccinated by the first day of classes. We are reaching out to you today to encourage you to take the time to stop by your local pharmacy, grocery store, doctor’s office, health department, or wherever else you will find the vaccine being offered, and go ahead and get the vaccine. If you live in North Carolina, you can find available vaccines at this site. You also can text your zip code to 438829 to find a vaccination location, no matter where you live in the U.S. 

Once you’ve been vaccinated, please let us know via this form, which is helping us keep track of how many of our community members are vaccinated so we can make decisions about our activities this fall. If you have been vaccinated and have not submitted your documentation, please do so. 

We’ve set this 75% goal because we believe it will allow us to have the kind of open, vibrant, and engaging campus experience this fall that we’re all looking forward to. We need the help of everyone who is able to be vaccinated to keep one another healthy and to protect those who cannot be vaccinated. 

At this time, Mars Hill University will not require masks for fully vaccinated students, employees, and campus guests during the fall 2021 semester, as long as local conditions and public health guidance allows. Non-vaccinated students, employees, and campus guests will be asked to comply with CDC guidance on face coverings. As of June 29, 2021, the CDC guidance for unvaccinated people includes the following:

“If you are not fully vaccinated and aged 2 or over, you should wear a mask in indoor public spaces.”

“In general, you do not need to wear a mask in outdoor settings.”

We will continue weekly surveillance testing in the fall, but vaccinated students and employees will be exempted from this recruitment. Guidance for health and safety measures will continue to be updated by the CDC and the NC Department of Health and Human Services. We will review and follow their recommendations accordingly. 

All residential students who do not have a vaccination on record will need to pre-register their plans in the event that they are required to enter quarantine or isolation. We are asking that all students, to the extent possible, return to their home or off-campus location if they test positive or are identified as a contact. Please pre-register here. (Additional information regarding residential living will be released by Residence Life later this month.)

We will be offering vaccination clinics on campus, for those who are unable to start or complete the process while away from campus. The tentative dates of the return-to-campus clinics will be:

• August 16
• August 25
• August 30

We can’t wait to have you all back here this fall, experiencing all the vibrancy of a full residential campus with a thriving academic community and athletic excellence. 

Dr. Tracy Parkinson, Provost

Dr. Dave Rozeboom, Vice President for Student Life