News and Notes

With Monday’s news that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, Ohio State will now require every student, faculty and staff member to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Student life is returning to The Ohio State University as Move-In week gets underway on the Columbus and regional campuses. - via Ohio State News

Ohio State University President Kristina M. Johnson celebrated the return of an in-person Pelotonia at the official opening ceremony Friday night at the new Columbus Crew stadium, Lower.com Field. - via Ohio State News

Effective immediately, students, faculty, staff and visitors to all Ohio State campuses and medical facilities are required to wear masks indoors, regardless of their vaccination status. Masks continue to be required outdoors for unvaccinated individuals when they cannot maintain physical distancing. Vaccinated people are not required to mask outdoors.

In about a month, we’ll be together for the start of the academic year, and I’m thrilled just thinking about the Buckeye traditions that we all love.

I am excited to share with you today that Dr. Jeff Risinger will serve as Ohio State’s next senior vice president of talent, culture and human resources, effective Monday, August 16.

More than 60,000 Buckeyes are already fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and I’m excited to announce thousands of additional reasons to get your shots.

I hope you had an enjoyable Fourth of July weekend celebrating our Declaration of Independence. This year’s glorious Fourth allowed us to return to some of the in-person celebrations and traditions that we love. These moments were made possible by steadfast adherence to safety protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic and significant scientific advancements to rapidly develop and deploy highly effective vaccines.

A once-in-a-century global health crisis has challenged Ohio State University’s new president. Columbus leaders say she’s passing the test.