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As COVID-19 infections increase in our region, especially the prevalence of the Delta variant, effective immediately, our university again will require all individuals on our campus to wear masks indoors, including classrooms and laboratories, regardless of vaccination status.

Beginning this fall, �鶹��Ƶ’s Department of Modern and Classical Languages in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) will offer a new graduate certificate in Spanish Heritage Language Education. The 15-credit program was approved in April and can be completed fully online.

Since the COVID-19 shutdowns, thousands of students, faculty and staff are heading back to universities to resume an on-campus experience. To safely return, vaccines have been an essential part of many institutions’ strategies.

After a landmark virtual 2020 festival with more than 15,000 viewers, Fall for the Book is pushing the envelope with a new hybrid format for its 23rd festival, which runs from October 14-31.

Earning a degree from �鶹��Ƶ is a wise investment. U.S. News & World Report, Forbes and Kiplinger’s all have recognized �鶹��Ƶ as a “best value” in higher education.

This fall, �鶹��Ƶ students will be eligible to apply for Greater Washington Partnership’s Capital CoLAB Digital Tech Credential Scholarships for Minorities and Women. The scholarships are part of an effort to encourage underrepresented students to gain digital skills.

The installation of the first Bigbelly zero waste station on �鶹��Ƶ’s Fairfax Campus aligns with the university’s waste reduction commitment and draws attention to how single-use consumption and disposal is connected to negative environmental outcomes.

�鶹��Ƶ President Gregory Washington last week outlined his goals for the coming academic year, including the establishment of the �鶹��Ƶ Virginia Promise to “be the institution for all Virginians” and implementing a five-year plan for �鶹��Ƶ to climb more than 40 spots in the U.S. News & World Report rankings.

Gov. Ralph Northam’s recent commitment to increase funding for Virginia’s behavioral health system is an important step in addressing the state’s mental health inequities that have been exacerbated by the pandemic, said Keith Renshaw, psychology professor at �鶹��Ƶ.

�鶹��Ƶ 4,000 of our students have a military affiliation through dependency, service or a spouse.

�鶹��Ƶ's Michael Buschmann and his team have developed technology that could help make COVID-19 vaccines less costly, with fewer side-effects and more available.