Tulane University launches the public health ambassador program to promote COVID-19 safety guidelines at the start of fall semester

Tulane University will reach an important milestone on Monday, Aug. 10, as students begin returning to campus for the first time in nearly five months. As the nation continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, the university has made the health and safety of its students, faculty and staff the top priority in the planned return to on-campus learning, living and working. This includes adding a vital, additional resource during the first part of the fall semester to promote a culture of masking and expected social behaviors across campus.

The university has employed Allied Universal Security personnel as Tulane Public Health Ambassadors. These ambassadors will be trained to promote COVID-19 safety protocols that are required of both Tulane community members and visitors on campus.

The Tulane Public Health Ambassadors will serve as an additional information resource about campus safety protocols and promote the university’s expectations for re-opening during COVID-19. The group will encourage the use of proper face mask/covering usage and social distancing. The ambassadors will provide and distribute face masks upon request, as well as COVID-19 information cards, directions to the nearest hand sanitizer stations or sinks and assist with other community service issues in assigned areas.

“The success of this program will require a community-wide effort with everyone taking an active role in encouraging others to practice these safety measures.”

- Patrick Norton, Tulane’s Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

“The Tulane Public Health Ambassadors is a program that was developed with the objective to educate the Tulane community and visitors regarding our public health expectations as we return to campus, including wearing face coverings, practicing social distancing, washing hands and maintaining proper classroom and office hygiene,” said Patrick Norton, Tulane’s Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “The success of this program will require a community-wide effort with everyone taking an active role in encouraging others to practice these safety measures.”

Ambassadors will be present for public health safety support on campus, Monday through Friday, Aug. 10 to Sept. 18, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They will wear highly visible green shirts, which clearly identify them in this capacity.

The group will be available throughout campus and assigned to numerous locations around campus, including the Academic Quad, the intersection of Freret Street and McAlister Drive near Percival Stern Hall, the intersection of Willow Street and McAlister Drive, the Berger Family Lawn and Lavin-Bernick Center for University Life, the Newcomb Quad and Zimple Street.

Tulane will return to on-ground university operations and academics with a full campus reopening on Aug. 19. All planning for the return to campus has been done in close consultation with CDC/WHO, state and local governmental guidelines, industrial hygienists and medical and public health experts. The overriding goal is to promote the safety of the academic community and to mitigate the risks associated with COVID-19. To help keep the community informed, Tulane has created this Return to Campus website. 

While the ambassadors will help educate and distribute masks upon engagement with persons who are determined to be in non-compliance, members of the Tulane community are encouraged to report any COVID-19 compliance issues here.