Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information

April 11, 2023

The statewide emergency order regarding COVID protocols expired on March 31, 2023. I would like to thank Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham for her leadership through this difficult time and I am proud of all the work the Emergency Operations Committee and the COVID Response Team have done on our campus to make the community safe.

Highlands has been constantly guided by the statewide emergency health order from the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH), as informed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). With the official expiration of the order, Highlands will also sunset its COVID-19 emergency protocols. UNM and NMSU have previously announced they will be doing the same. This means, effective March 31, NMHU will:

• Open up capacity to 100% in all classrooms and campus venues
• No longer require vaccination status to be reported to the university
• Positive cases should still be reported to the university at EOC@nmhu.edu, and the university will maintain isolation rooms for use by any member of the campus community, including students in the residence halls.
• Anyone positive with COVID-19 should isolate for at least 5 days, but medical clearance will no longer be required to return to work.
• Masks will remain recommended but not required.

The Athletics department and student-athletes may have other COVID protocols based on RMAC and NCAA standards. Please contact the Athletics department for student-athlete guidelines.

NMHU continues to strongly recommend that members of our university community remain up to date with vaccinations, stay at home if sick, and follow CDC guidelines for all COVID-19 matters.

During this crisis, I have always been guided by three principles:

• The safety of our students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors;
• The continuation of our core mission: teaching our students;
• Strive for the least impact on our students and employees; to the maximum degree possible, no furloughs and no layoffs. I am very proud that we collectively have achieved those goals.

Despite the many challenges we have faced during COVID, I believe we have achieved each of these three goals. I am looking forward to a return to a more normal campus environment where we can continue our core mission of education.

Best,

President Sam Minner

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