Today I share long-awaited and exciting news for everyone at Indiana University!

Beginning August 1, 2021 alumni events with attendance fewer than 50 can be held both on- and off-campus with no university approval process, contact tracing guidelines, liability waivers, or social distancing measures required. Masks are required for all attendees at indoor events and optional for all attendees at outdoor events.

Larger events, those with 50 or more guests, are possible but additional steps will be necessary. Those activities must be approved by the University Event Request Committee via an online form. That process is currently being reviewed to ensure it is streamlined and efficient.

This is a wonderful step towards normalcy, back to fulfilling our mission of connecting alumni to one another and to their alma mater. Staff and volunteers should not feel pressured to gather in-person — virtual activities and outdoor events are welcome and preferred until the threat of COVID-19 transmission is eliminated. This announcement serves as notification of another option available to IU staff and volunteers available beginning August 1.

IUAA will follow IU guidelines and protocols. Read IU’s full guidance. Additionally, follow local public health directives even when they are more conservative than general university guidance.

We are working closely with the University Events Request Committee to create guidance for staff and volunteers so they are supported when hosting in-person gatherings with COVID-19 protocols in place. Specific guidance is forthcoming and will be shared as soon as it is developed and approved. Additionally, on June 30 from 1-2 p.m., there is a Virtually Cream & Crimson Summer Series session titled “Volunteer Planning and Guidelines for Events.” We welcome all alumni volunteers to register for the June 30 webcast. In this session to hear up-to-date information on university event and conference guidelines. If you have questions before that time, please reach out to your liaison. We will work to get answers as soon as we can.

We appreciate your patience this year as we worked together to protect the health and safety of our students, staff, and alumni. Thank you once more for your adaptability, resilience, and understanding as we worked through this very uncertain and unusual time. We look forward to sharing more event guidance soon and are thrilled to begin to make plans to gather once again.