September 10, 2021—With the Fall 2021 semester currently underway, we want to congratulate you on a successful start to the semester and for complying with all current campus health and safety policies. We want to take a moment to applaud the students, faculty, and staff for their hard work and dedication to get to this point. 

In true Red Fox fashion, our students have hit the ground running. The Marist campus is buzzing with activity and a robust event schedule.  A few highlights to point out include the following:

• Our beautiful riverfront campus and the wonderful fall weather provide a stunning setting for our many outdoor events and activities, including Division I athletics, club sports, and intramural activities.
• Indoor activities in our fully operational fitness centers and student center spaces have been modified to align with current protocols, including a temporary mask requirement for all individuals regardless of their vaccination status. 
• In-person dining has resumed in the dining hall and all retail dining locations. And we have increased the number of food trucks on campus this term. For dining options, log on to maristdining.sodexomyway.com. 
• Outdoor tents for dining and other activities are available throughout the campus for community use, along with Adirondack chairs and fire pits for outdoor gathering.

As we look forward to Family Weekend and Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, we want to remind you that all campus guests must complete a health attestation, which is mandatory for indoor sporting events and other campus activities.

We know that even with the extensive measures we have taken to keep the campus safe, COVID-19 infections will still occur, and to help you understand and manage those situations as they might arise here are a few important points:

• The Marist community is highly vaccinated, and any exempted individuals must adhere to our mandatory surveillance testing program.  As you know the best way to prevent serious illness is through vaccination, which why it is the foundation of our approach.
• Our medical experts are working closely with the Dutchess County Department of Health to ensure we are making the best decisions for your health and safety.
• The College has comprehensive measures in place for anyone needing to isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19, but a few items to highlight here include:
  • If you feel sick, be sure to contact Health Services at (845) 575-3270 or health.services@marist.edu.
  • If you need to quarantine or isolate, Advising & Academic Services (845) 575-3500 or advising@marist.edu will assist you and your professors to keep you on track for your academic requirements.
• A helpful overview and flowchart for these processes is available HERE.
• The College has published its Fall 2021 COVID-19 Dashboard, which is available HERE.

We know that this semester will be a dynamic and fulfilling one as we live with what we hope is the trailing edge of the COVID-19 pandemic. You can rest assured that the Marist community is doing everything we can to provide our students and families with the complete Marist College experience while prioritizing health and safety. For details on policy questions and procedures, please visit, marist.edu/reopen.

Sincerely,

Geoff Brackett, Executive Vice President
Thom Wermuth, Vice President for Academic Affairs
Deb DiCaprio, Vice President for Student Affairs