Pulse Check for Sept. 30, 2021

Get caught up on COVID-19 guidance and events at University of Maryland, Baltimore. Updates include Academy of Lifelong Learning Parenting Forum (0:46), KN95 Mask Requirement (1:31), Flu Shot Clinic (2:06), and Etta Kitt answers Curious Colleague's question about asking about a coworker's vaccination status (2:57).

Listen to The UMB Pulse on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, and wherever you like to listen. The UMB Pulse is also now on YouTube.

Visit our website at umaryland.edu/pulse or email us at umbpulse@umaryland.edu.

Transcript

Jena Frick: 0:04

You're listening to the heartbeat of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, the UMB Pulse.

Charles Schelle: 0:08

Welcome to the UMB Pulse Check for September 30. I'm Charles Schelle. This is another bonus episode to get you caught up on COVID-19 guidance at UMB and other upcoming events. After the pulse check you will hear from Etta Kitt from the Decorum Forum on tips navigating the office in the new environment. For the latest update to any guidance for UMB please visit umaryland.edu/ Coronavirus and this is your Pulse Check for September 30. The University of Maryland Baltimore Academy of Lifelong Learning is inviting all of the moms and dads out there to join its new parenting forum. The forum is the destination for parents and caregivers to interact and learn from University of Maryland Baltimore experts. The forum covers all phases of development, infancy, toddler elementary school age, adolescence and young adult. The experts will provide insights and answer questions about children's physical and behavioral health, psychology and social wellbeing. The forum features frequently asked questions, a Medical Library for parents videos, webinars from the University of Maryland School of Medicine's National Center for School Mental Health and so much more. For a link to the forum visit umaryland.edu/pulse and click on the chapter markers for this episode. KN95 masks are now required for fully vaccinated faculty staff and students when participating in classroom and training activities at the University of Maryland Baltimore. Fully vaccinated faculty or staff delivering in person lectures or presentations may have removed the K N95 while speaking as long as at least six feet of physical distance can be maintained between the faculty member presenter and the students or audience. Faculty or staff who are not vaccinated must wear a KN95 while presenting. For more information and care instructions and frequently asked questions about KN95s visit umaryland.edu/coronavrius. A new clinic for flu shots and COVID-19 boosters is now open at University of Maryland Caltimore for students at UMB and employees of UMB Faculty Physicians Inc and University of Maryland Medical System campus members. The clinic is located at the SMC Campus Center in Room 349. And it is open from 9 am to noon Wednesdays and 1:30 pm to 4pm Thursdays until the end of November and as needed through December. Vaccination is by appointment only. No walk-ins are accepted. Students and employees must bring their insurance card and their UMB, medical system or FPI ID badge. COVID-19 booster doses will only be administered to qualifying individuals for current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. To schedule an appointment and to learn more visit umarlyand.edu/flu. We're happy to have Etta Kitt join us on the podcast today from the Decorum Forum where Etta will give us tips and pointers on how to gracefully and politely navigate the landscape related to return to campus. And let's hear what's on the answering machine for Etta.

Dana Rampolla: 3:12

I know some of my co workers have been vaccinated because they've told me so. Etta, how do I find out the vaccination status of the rest of my coworkers? Signed, Curious Colleague.

Etta Kitt: 3:23

Dear Curious Colleague, also known as Nosey Body, Please do not ask a colleague outright about this. You can be assured that over 94% of UMB employees are already fully vaccinated. Among those who are not vaccinated, there may be a very private medical or religious reason that are none of your business. UMB supervisors know who has and who has not been vaccinated and know the necessary protocols which they must follow. Put your detective skills to use elsewhere like finding that match to that one lone sock you pulled from your dryer. Stay Sweet! Etta Kitt. Do you have a question for me, for Etta Kitt? Send me your return to campus questions at umaryland.edu/ettakitt that's E T T A K I T T. I'll answer them right here. All submissions are completely anonymous, that between you and me and the four walls. Stay safe and be kind to everyone.

Charles Schelle: 4:29

Thank you Etta Kitt for the advice. Our next full episode of the UMB Pulse will be dropped on October 7. That's the second part of our conversation with Diane Forbes Berthoud who is the chief equity diversity and inclusion officer and vice president for the University of Maryland Baltimore. The second part will detail more of her plans here at UMB. The first part of the interview is available now and you will hear Forbes Berthoud talk about her growing up and her journey to becoming an expert on EDI. If you have a question for the podcast or an idea visit umaryland.edu/pulse and make sure you subscribe to the UMB pulse on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Google, or wherever you'd like to listen and thank you for listening to the UMB Pulse.

Jena Frick: 5:17

The UMB Pulse with Charles Schelle, Dana Rampolla and Jena Frick is a UMB Office o Communications and Public A fairs production. Edited by C arles Schelle, sound ngineering by Jena Frick, arketing by Dana Rampolla. Music by No Vibe. Recorded in th University of Maryland Baltimor Community Engagement Center