Category Archives: Uncategorized

To the University community,

As we enter the third week of classes for the Fall semester, I want to remind our campus community of our priorities in managing the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and clarify expectations for the personal responsibilities of each of us in making decisions that best protect our health.

While health and safety remain our top concern, it is also very important we continue to offer the full spectrum of on-campus classes and activities and to minimize disruption to our students. To that end, we have developed a multifaceted approach to reduce the contagion of COVID-19 among our students, faculty and staff.

Our plan is based upon the best advice of the Tennessee Department of Health (TDOH), current CDC guidelines, and campus and other public health professionals. Details of the campus plan for dealing with the coronavirus can be found here:  https://www.mtsu.edu/coronavirus/

Three questions continue to arise, and I want to address them directly in this message: How we are making decisions about contact tracing? What is our policy on notification of a positive case in a classroom? And can faculty/staff work from home if they are caring for a dependent with COVID-19?

First, how we make decisions about contact tracing: Our plan is based upon the best advice of the Tennessee Department of Health (TDOH), current CDC guidelines, and campus and other public health professionals. Specifically, this question seems to arise in relation to how MTSU is defining a “close contact.” The CDC continues to define a close contact as being in contact with a person who is infected for greater than 15 minutes at a distance of less than 6 feet. However, the Tennessee Department of Health has added an additional piece to the definition as related to the K-12 indoor classroom setting, specifying that the close contact definition excludes individuals if both the infected individual and the exposed individual correctly and consistently wore well-fitting masks the entire time. 

On the MTSU campus, we are taking the guidance of both the CDC and the TDOH into account as we evaluate the exposure of close contacts. We are also aware that the community environment of the state as a whole is not operating under the same restrictions as it was during the first year of the pandemic. Students, faculty and staff are making a variety of personal decisions to engage in activities both on and off campus, which may expose them to COVID-19 infection. Our plan encourages members of the campus community to test for COVID-19 when they feel ill, and for students to report positive tests to MTSU Student Health Services. That positions our medical professionals to better assess each circumstance and make effective recommendations on defining close contacts and whether quarantine is needed. Our decisions are a bit more flexible than they were a year ago, because we do not want to discourage testing and reporting. We employed highly aggressive close contact quarantine measures last spring and, as a result, experienced a decrease in student testing and a likely increase in unreported positives. 

Second, our policy on notification of a positive case in a classroom: To maintain compliance with current standards of care with respect to medical privacy, MTSU Student Health Services will not communicate directly with faculty regarding a student’s diagnosis. MTSU Student Health Services will conduct contact tracing of any student who tests positive for COVID-19 through a test at MTSU Student Health Services and for students living on campus who report a positive test from any testing source. It is also true that many students, faculty, and employees may be tested off-campus and do not report positive tests to the campus. For every student who has reported a positive test case within a specific class section, it is likely that there are others in the class who also tested positive and have not made a report. We continue to believe that the best possible protection against COVID-19 infection in a fully operating campus environment is to get the vaccination and consistently wear a well-fitting face mask. 

However, our plan does specify the responsibility of faculty to work directly with students who must isolate or quarantine. They should provide avenues to allow these students to keep up with their classes. We have advised students who must miss class because of isolation or quarantine requirements to contact their instructors directly and make arrangements to keep up with coursework while they are unable to attend. 

Finally, questions continue to surface about permission for faculty and employees to work from home or to move classes online if they are dealing with dependents who test positive for COVID-19: MTSU is committed to doing everything possible to ensure the full on-campus experience, including classes’ continuing throughout the fall term in the format noted. Students and their families, who have committed to residing locally so as to participate in the life of the campus, deserve our every effort to maintain both the classroom and out-of-classroom engagement that supports student learning and development. Faculty teaching on-ground should continue teaching on-ground unless they become ill, or are placed in quarantine, themselves.

Of course, we will continue to closely monitor the health and safety of our campus community as we move through the semester, making appropriate adjustments to our plans as required and monitoring protocols and recommendations from state and federal health officials. Specifically, we will be evaluating the following benchmarks before permitting any changes to method of instruction or delivering of campus services:

1. Recommendations from state health officials regarding closures of schools or businesses.
2. Capacity restrictions being enacted by local hospitals that would impact the ability to provide hospitalization and treatment for members of the campus community.
3. Development of a new variant that renders the current vaccinations ineffective in safeguarding against infection.  
4. Levels of illness and quarantine among students and employees that leave us unable to render campus classes and services.
5. For on-campus residential students, we will monitor our usage of available quarantine/isolation beds, and if they reach full capacity, may impose requirements that quarantine and isolation be sought at home or off campus.   

As I stressed in my address to the faculty at the start of the semester, the primary responsibility for protecting our health in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic while on campus has shifted from the institution to the individual. It is also our view that the single best step you can take to protect yourself from the coronavirus and its variants is to get vaccinated. I appreciate the efforts of MTSU Student Health Services to continue to provide free vaccination to our students, faculty and staff, as well as the total campus effort to take care of one another by the consistent wearing of masks.

Sincerely,
Sidney A. McPhee
President
[email protected]

As the first week of the fall semester concludes, I wanted to express my gratitude to each of you for your efforts in keeping our Blue Raider community safe and healthy. While it would have been unrealistic to expect we could completely manage or conquer the coronavirus, our rate of infection, to date, of students, faculty and staff remains below that of our local community. That has allowed us to manage our campus situation effectively.

Your overwhelming commitment to our masking and reporting protocols has been critical to our ability to provide a traditional on-campus experience for our students. I had the chance this week to walk around campus on a couple of occasions and visit our student facilities and classrooms to get a first-hand perspective of the situation and the manner in which we are coping. It was extremely gratifying to see that, with only a few exceptions, masks are being worn and that our activities and classes are being conducted and well attended. Continued adherence to COVID-19 protocols will help assure our campus community remains open. So again, thank you!

I remain convinced that the two most effective deterrents to the coronavirus are proper masking when indoors and being vaccinated. MTSU Student Health Services is seeing a steady stream of students and faculty getting their free vaccinations and I suspect that number will grow in the coming weeks. For those of you who have not yet been vaccinated due to personal uncertainties, I hope this week’s announcement that the FDA has fully approved the Pfizer vaccine will help ease any concerns.  

Over the next few weeks, you will see additional information on our vaccination program, which will remain voluntary. My hope is that, as you see the value in vaccination, you will choose to join your friends and classmates in protecting each other.

My best wishes to each of you as we continue to learn and grow together.

Sincerely,
Sidney A. McPhee
President

[email protected]

To the University Community,

With the beginning of classes this week, I anticipate an increase in the number of questions and concerns regarding our COVID-19 policies and campus practices. While changes in the status of the virus may not be as dynamic as they were last year, it is important that every member of our campus community continue to follow our established protocols and stay informed of our operational plans, in the event there are changes.

Throughout our state, local governments and business have chosen to address this ongoing pandemic with their own unique responses.  As a result, you may experience rules and policies off-campus that are not consistent with ours, creating further confusion.  However, on our campus, we remain committed to adhering to the best practices, as recommended by the CDC and our own campus, local and state health officials. 

For the past 18 months, we have made every effort to provide the information needed to assure the health and safety of entire campus community. At times, the situation and recommendations changed so quickly that the information we provided one day was modified 24 hours later. That has, at times, created confusion and heightened concerns. While we regret those occasions, the rapid changes we experienced made that unavoidable. Moving forward, I am asking our communications staff to explore ways to assure a clearer, more streamlined means of passing along these changes to our community.

In the meantime, there are a couple of issues I want to be sure we are all clear on. For students who have been in direct contact with a COVID positive individual, on or off campus; or who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms there is free access to COVID-19 testing through Student Health Services. Faculty and staff who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should contact their primary care provider for assessment and possible COVID-19 testing.  

Anyone, vaccinated or unvaccinated, who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or who have tested positive for COVID-19, or are in isolation or in quarantine due to pending test results must NOT come to campus, until they have been cleared by our Student Health Services or their personal health care provider. Specific information regarding quarantine and isolation may be found on the University’s COVID-19 page www.mtsu.edu/coronavirus.

While these situations are rather clear and easy to understand, others aren’t quite as black and white and we are going to have to accept some ambiguity in these cases.  An example of this involves notifications and contact tracing.  Last year, when activities were more limited, it was relatively easy to trace contacts for those who had tested positive for COVID-19.  Today, with everyone being more mobile and more activities underway, that task has become difficult and we are no longer in a position to provide full contact tracing services. This will require everyone to accept individual responsibility should they test positive.  Students should report any positive test to our Student Health Services, who will determine the need for contact tracing and the best path forward.  Faculty and staff should consult with their personal physician for advice on who to notify and how to assist with notifying any needed contacts.

As we are seeing with the Delta variant, both vaccinated and unvaccinated can become infected and transmit the virus to others. It is clear however that vaccinated individuals are far less likely to experience severe symptoms or transmit the virus to others.  That is why I continue to urge you to consider vaccination if you have not done so.  Also, mask wearing is proven to be an effective deterrent when in close proximity to others. Members of our University community and campus guests, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear masks inside University facilities. Exclusions to this include private offices, dorm rooms, and individual study rooms, as well as in dining areas, while seated and eating. 

With the continued support of our entire Blue Raider family, I am confident we will successfully navigate our way through this ongoing epidemic. Your commitment to each other is extremely gratifying and I look forward to brighter days ahead. 

Sincerely,
Sidney A. McPhee
President

To the University community,

The delta variant of the coronavirus, and the subsequent increase in the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the middle Tennessee region, makes urgent the continuing need for our University community to adhere to health and safety precautions. These precautions were developed after review of guidance from MTSU Student Health Services as well as local, state, and national public health experts. Our ability to stay on course with plans to continue in-person classes and on-campus activities for the Fall 2021 semester depend upon us working together to keep each other safe.

You can find information about our revised protocols at mtsu.edu/coronavirus. 

If we work together, we can keep our MTSU community safer, and continue to enjoy all the activities that make our campus such a great place to be. We appreciate the efforts of our students, faculty, and staff to protect one another and to keep us on track for a great fall semester.

Sincerely,
Sidney A. McPhee
President
[email protected]

To our University Community:

In less than two weeks, students will be returning to begin our Fall semester.  We look forward to welcoming our Blue Raider family back to campus, and providing everyone with a traditional on-campus experience.  However, it is important to remind everyone that in order to assure the safety of our community, preventative health practices must be observed.

Over the past few weeks, there has been a noticeable increase in the numbers of individuals testing positive with COVD-19; more specifically the Delta variant.   In response, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued new guidance to help slow the spread of the virus.  In keeping with these recommendations, effective Wednesday, August 11, we will again require all members of our campus community to wear masks at all times inside university facilities. Exclusions to this include private offices, dorm rooms and individual study rooms.

While recognizing that vaccination is a personal choice, it has been proven that this is the most effective way to combat this virus. We continue to strongly encourage everyone to be vaccinated and will continue to provide vaccinations through our student health Services. Masking and vaccination will help us keep the traditional class schedule currently in place for this fall. 

This is not how we had intended to begin the year and it is my hope that this requirement will be short-lived.  We will continue to monitor the situation on our campus and make decisions as appropriate.  Currently, required masking is the only modification to our plan to return to campus.  Any future decisions, however, will be influenced by how well our community and campus respond to this latest outbreak.

Stay safe.
Sidney A. McPhee
[email protected]

To the University community,

This weekend we will celebrate one of the most important events in the lives of students and their families – graduation!  This ceremony represents the culmination of years of hard work and dedication, and we want to assure that everyone has the opportunity to safely participate in the day’s events.  With increasing incidences of the Delta Variant in the U.S. and the most recent recommendations from the CDC suggesting that even vaccinated individuals return to wearing masks indoors, it is necessary that all attendees take personal responsibility and care as they join our celebration. As such, we strongly encourage that graduating candidates and guests attending Saturday’s Summer Commencement consider wearing a face mask while inside Murphy Center or where maintaining social distance is not possible.

While we are not, at this time, reinstating our previous mandatory campus requirement for face masks, given the current increase of young adults becoming sick and hospitalized, we continue to strongly encourage everyone in our university community to have the COVID-19 vaccination. Masks will be available to any participants and guests in need at Saturday’s Commencement. For those not yet vaccinated, using a face mask is a prudent precaution.

Now, we are all eager to return to a more “close to normal” campus experience when the 2021 Fall Semester begins Aug. 23, and hope that each of you will take the appropriate precautions to assure we have a successful fall.  As we continue to monitor the resurgence of the Delta Variant, we recognize that additional protocols may be required if conditions do not improve. For those individuals interested in getting the vaccine, we will offer the COVID vaccine all semester at MTSU Health Services.  I also want to thank our student body president, Winton Cooper, and the Student Government Association for raising awareness about campus access to the vaccine, and the importance of taking this step.

I fully recognize that many of us wish these precautions were not necessary. However, we have shown resilience and perseverance in our efforts to contain COVID-19 in the past, and I have every confidence we will continue to do so going forward.

 Sincerely,

Sidney A. McPhee
President
[email protected]

Dear Campus Community:

I am pleased to inform you that on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, the Middle Tennessee State University Board of Trustees held its quarterly meeting in the Miller Education Center.  At that meeting, the Board took formal action on my recommendation to approve a one-time bonus equivalent to six months of a 2% salary increase or $500, whichever is greater, for MTSU employees.  The one-time bonus will be distributed to all unrestricted and restricted regular full-time and part-time benefit eligible employees and participants in the post-retirement service program on the payroll as of December 31, 2020 and in an active pay status on June 1, 2021.  Calculations will be based on an employee’s annual salary as of May 31, 2021 and paid in the June 2021 payroll. 

As an illustration of the calculation, assume Employee A makes $55,000 annually. Two percent (2%) of the annual salary would equate to $1,100.00.  Six months of this annual amount would be $550.00.  Since this amount is greater than $500.00, Employee A would receive a one-time payment of $550.

The minimum payment will be prorated for part-time employees.   Increases for grant employees are part of the salary adjustments and their increases will be charged to the appropriate grant; and increases for auxiliary employees will be funded from auxiliary revenues.  Due to limited funds available, these one-time bonus payments will not apply to temporary employees, graduate assistants, or student workers.  It is my sincere hope that as resources become available, we will be in a position to address these very important groups of employees.

As you will recall, the Governor’s Budget included partial funding for recurring salary increases in the upcoming fiscal year.   I will be making recommendations to our Board of Trustees at the August 2021 Finance and Personnel Committee meeting on the distribution and funding for this salary pool.

In other business, Trustees approved the University’s final 2020-21 and upcoming 2021-22 operating budgets as well as increasing tuition and mandatory fees for the 2021-22 academic year by 1.78% percent. 

Please know how much I value each of you and appreciate your good work.  I am grateful that we are able again to give a one-time bonus to our employees for the hard work this past year.

Sincerely,
Sidney A. McPhee
President
[email protected]

To the University community,

Effective immediately, and in accordance with guidance from federal and state public health officials, I am removing campus mandates for the wearing of masks, maintaining social distancing and observing modified COVID-19 room capacities. However, masks will still be required on public transportation, such as Raider XPress, and for symptomatic patients (i.e., those with flu-like, or coronavirus-like, symptoms) in our Student Health Services facility. 

Current guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that vaccinated people do not need to wear a face mask or practice social distancing. Given the ready supply of vaccine available to the campus, as well as throughout the state and nation, we believe members of our community can make informed and individual choices about their health and safety, including appropriate actions and measures they should take to protect themselves from COVID-19. 

The CDC states that vaccines reduce the risk of people spreading COVID-19 and they also note it is effective at preventing COVID-19 disease, especially severe illness and death. The CDC defines “fully vaccinated” as 14 days past your final dose. 

However, if you are not fully vaccinated, we strongly recommend you wear a mask and practice social distancing for your protection. Also, anyone may choose to wear a mask.

Crews will begin work this week to remove or modify coronavirus-related signage on campus.

Visit the CDC’s website to learn more about ways you can protect yourself from the coronavirus: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

Also you can contact Student Health Services at this website to schedule a vaccination: https://www.mtsu.edu/healthservices/

I deeply appreciate the spirit of cooperation put forth by the University community during these difficult times to Defend True Blue. 

 Sincerely,
Sidney A. McPhee
President
[email protected]

To the University community,

As our MTSU Police continue to aggressively pursue all leads in order to apprehend those responsible for hateful graffiti found last Friday on the fringes of our campus, I wish to give you a brief update. Our Police has gleaned helpful leads from security camera footage at the Rutherford Boulevard parking lot. I will keep you posted on their progress. We already have more than 800 cameras deployed on our campus and I have directed our police and information technology teams to add more to the Rutherford lot. Installation of these new cameras began today and they will connect into the existing campus Wifi and monitoring system.

Meanwhile, I want to introduce Kevin Williams, whom I appointed in late April to serve as MTSU’s interim police chief and assistant vice president. Chief Williams, a former Los Angeles police lieutenant who led campus policing at universities in Arizona, Michigan, New Hampshire, Oregon and Washington, will run our department as we conduct a national search to replace Chief Buddy Peaster, who announced in February his plans to retire. I deeply appreciate Chief Peaster’s service to our University. 

“It is my honor to serve as the MTSU interim chief of police and it is my belief serving this institution is a privilege,” Chief Williams said. “I extend my sincere thanks for the trust and responsibility that has been placed with me and it is my intent to engage our students, faculty, and staff from the lens of a servant-guardian. As your chief, it is my commitment we will be and remain accessible and responsive.”

Chief Williams and the entire university family share my feelings of disgust over these recent actions, which Chief Williams called “repulsive and unacceptable.” Chief Williams said our department “will examine every lead and work with local investigators to solve this crime.”

I’ve also asked Professor Lynda Williams, a member of our Social Justice and Equality Task Force, to advise me on strategies to deter further acts of vandalism and enhance campus safety. Dr. Williams, an MTSU alumna, joined MTSU’s Criminal Justice Administration department after retiring from the U.S. Secret Service as an agent and deputy assistant director who protected a former U.S. president and former U.S. vice president.  She is currently serving as president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. I deeply appreciate her willingness to serve the campus in this advisory role.

Finally, ugliness, bigotry and hatred can be found throughout the nation – and our campus is not immune from such despicable acts. I, along with the MTSU family, have zero tolerance for such behavior, which most certainly stand in contrast to our True Blue values. If you have any information that would help us find those accountable for these hateful actions, call MTSU Police at 615-898-2424 at any time, 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

Sincerely,
Sidney A. McPhee
President
[email protected]

To the University community,

MTSU Police continues to review evidence from Friday from those who defaced one of our bus stops in the Rutherford Boulevard parking lot with threatening and disgusting racial hate speech.

Meanwhile, we are asking anyone with information about this matter to call MTSU Police at (615) 898-2424. It is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

I have also directed police to increase patrols of our parking lots and other areas of campus.  And we will be reaching out to our colleagues in area law enforcement to help us identify and hold those responsible for these contemptible acts. 

Sincerely,
Sidney A. McPhee
President
[email protected]