Dawning of a new day

Dear Texas Woman’s University Community,

I hope this message finds you well.

This morning at our regular coronavirus debriefing, we reached a new milestone: zero cases of students or employees testing positive for COVID-19 and zero cases of students or employees in quarantine due to contact with someone with COVID-19. Today was the first time in well over a year that we have had such reassuring stats.

Today, we also had the chance to exercise my fluidity motto. We began to pivot our planning based on last week’s new CDC guidelines for those who are fully vaccinated. Later, Governor Abbott issued a new executive order prohibiting government entities from mandating mask wearing—except in clinical settings such as Student Health Services or Dental Hygiene—starting the end of the day on Friday, May 21st.

So, we keep flowing ahead like water, following the recommendations of the CDC and the governor's orders. I encourage you to get vaccinated as soon as possible if you have not already. You can find information on where vaccines are available on the Texas Department of State Health Services website.

There are those who, for various reasons, will not be fully vaccinated by the end of Friday. Anyone is welcome to continue wearing a mask, including the so-called N95 masks—the standard in personal protection. That may be the right choice for some in our community.

Starting Saturday, though, Texas Woman's University will begin to look much like it did before the arrival of the novel coronavirus last year. Many of us have hoped and prayed for this day, and it will finally arrive this weekend. Let us boldly go while also being respectful of those who might not be in the same boat.

With a pioneering spirit,

Carine M. Feyten, Ph.D.
Chancellor and President

Page last updated 1:01 PM, March 13, 2024