New Mexico State University is committed to creating and maintaining a respectful, inclusive, and responsible learning and working environment.
New Mexico State University is committed to creating and maintaining a respectful, inclusive, and responsible learning and working environment.
In the nearly three years since our university system went into stay-at-home operations as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have continually relied on the latest scientific data, guidance from key experts within our NMSU community and around the globe, and input from all kinds of stakeholders to make our decisions about how to respond to this public health threat. We pivoted our learning and operations largely online for a time, and we implemented thoughtful and nimble policies regarding mask-wearing, health and safety practices, and vaccination against this disease – all with expert guidance.
According to most experts, the COVID-19 pandemic has now reached an endemic stage, meaning the disease spreads in a community at a normal and expected pace and is more stable and manageable. As a result, federal and state emergency orders will soon be ending. The Biden administration recently announced that the federal public health emergency will expire May 11, signaling a new phase in the nation’s response to COVID-19, and New Mexico’s Higher Education Department no longer requires us to report cases of this disease.
Our requirement that all students and employees in the NMSU system be fully vaccinated with a primary series of an approved vaccine has served us well. It has been an important tool for protecting our people and the communities where we live. However, the effectiveness of the primary series on its own waned significantly in the last year due to the evolution of new viral variants. We strongly encourage everyone to stay up to date with the latest COVID-19 boosters, which are effective in reducing the severity of the disease, but our requirement of the primary series of vaccines as a condition of employment or enrollment in the NMSU system is no longer suitable.
As a result, I’m announcing the following changes to our COVID-19 related policies, effective today:
We are working to update the guidance on our websites and in our handbooks and policy manuals to reflect the end of the vaccine and reporting requirements. This will take some time, and we appreciate your patience. If you have questions about information you find online, please send them to covid19@nmsu.edu.