After careful consideration, UTSA to disband Public Health Task Force

MAY 31, 2022 — Editor’s note: The following message was sent today via email from President Taylor Eighmy to all faculty and staff:

Over the last two years, the many ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic presented extraordinary challenges for our Roadrunner community. Our ability to navigate UTSA through these difficult times is due in large part to the expert guidance we received from our Public Health Task Force, led by co-chairs Dr. Bernard Arulanandam and Dr. Lynne Cossman.

I’m writing today to share that, after careful consideration, we will disband the Task Force and move to a new, shared governance structure to guide UTSA’s future pandemic-related protocols and procedures. The Task Force’s incredible expertise will always remain available to us should new situations arise.

I am immensely grateful for Bernard and Lynne’s leadership and for the outstanding service and commitment on the part of all Task Force members to keeping our community healthy and safe.

In the coming days, you will hear from Recovery Operations with information on how we plan to move forward with pandemic protocols, including updates to our testing and reporting policies. We will continue to carefully monitor COVID-19 cases and trends locally and nationally, and will remain prepared to adjust our operations should the situation change.  

As always, the health and safety of our Roadrunner community remains our highest priority. We look forward to continuing to work alongside each of you as we move ahead into the summer and fall semesters. Thank you for trusting our process and helping us chart the path forward for our Roadrunners.