First, the Faculty Senate Leadership is aware that there are many concerns related to campus policies and the pandemic that are still in flux. The relevant formal communications with the campus administration are posted on the Senate President's site at http://lgross.utk.edu/facpres2021.html under the Covid response section. In that section is a formal request from the Senate leadership to the Chancellor regarding several matters connected to Covid - her response is included.

        Second, the University Faculty Council met with the Office of General Counsel with many questions raised by all campuses. Although the minutes from that meeting are not yet complete (it was held on July 12), there are several items discussed that pertain to your remarks. Any mask requirement will be decided upon by the leadership of each campus - there is not an expectation that the System will dictate policies. There is an exception in the state law that allows UT to require vaccination of students under very limited circumstances related to their curricular requirements to participate in a program in a health care setting. This exemption is mostly not applicable to the general UTK student population but may be applicable to some students in health care areas. The OGC was clear that it is not illegal to ask students (and others) if they have been vaccinated, though there is of course no requirement that they respond. There was much discussion about the utility of asking about vaccination status and what would be done with the data. 

       Third, you can read my formal request to the General Counsel regarding a plan to encourage faculty to require masks in classes this Fall. It is posted on the website. There has not been a response on this yet. Given the fluidity of the situation, it is certainly possible that the campus may require masks indoors overall, but not decision has been made. 

       I encourage all faculty with concerns on these issues to relay them to their Faculty Senators who are being specifically asked to pass on items of concern to the Senate Leadership prior to our next meeting with the Chancellor and Provost on July 29. 

    Stay well,
                   Lou