UNM-LA resumes operations Monday with a mask mandate. Photo by Sarah Jimenez/UNM-LA
UNM-LA NEWS
The University of New Mexico-Los Alamos (UNM-LA), consistent with UNM campuses across the state, will be returning to on-campus operations on Aug. 2. UNM-LA operations have been primarily remote since March 17, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
UNM-LA has taken into consideration Los Alamos’s high vaccination percentage of 84.7% in planning to “Bring Back the Pack” and return to full operations, as well as other measures to ensure a safe return.
UNM-LA will be following the lead of main campus and require masks be worn indoors by all individuals, regardless of vaccination status. Although the statistics for Los Alamos County are strong, and the UNM-Los Alamos campus was initially exempted from the UNM system wide mask mandate, the decision was made by the local campus to adopt the mask mandate based on the recognition that the campus community includes individuals from many areas of northern New Mexico. The policy will apply to all individuals on campus, including visitors.
Vaccinations for students, faculty, and staff continue to be strongly encouraged and are the best way to bring the community transmission down. UNM is still providing incentives to students and employees to be fully vaccinated. Learn more at bringbackthepack.unm.edu/protecting-the-pack/vax-the-pack.html.
UNM continues to keep a close eye on the evolving public health recommendations and moves forward according to the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the New Mexico Department for Health (NMDOH).
“During this pandemic, I have been so impressed with the flexibility, strength, and creativity demonstrated by our students, staff, and faculty. I have a tremendous amount of gratitude for the way they have responded in the face of a difficult circumstance,” said Chancellor Cindy Rooney. “Like others, we are now looking for ways to implement some of the positive things that we have discovered as we operated primarily remotely for the past seventeen months. We are ready to move forward, serving our students and community, in-person, online, and in hybrid modalities.”
Registration is open for Fall semester classes which will begin on August 23. View UNM-LA classes at losalamos.unm.edu/catalog/unm-la-catalog-2020-2021.pdf. Beginning Aug. 2, the campus will be open for face-to-face operation during the following hours: Student Services, M-F 8am-5pm; Cashier, M-Th 8am-4pm; and the Library, M-Th 10am-2pm. Library hours will increase when classes begin on Aug. 23.
UNM-Los Alamos is an innovative, rigorous, and affordable comprehensive branch community college that provides foundations for transfer, leading-edge career programs, and lifelong learning opportunities. More information about UNM-Los Alamos is available at losalamos.unm.edu.