Vaccinated members of the UP community will not be required to wear masks on campus.
Students and employees who have not submitted proof of vaccination to the University will still have to don a face covering indoors and in crowded outdoor areas.
Approximately 84% of full-time faculty and staff and 80% of students have provided proof of being fully vaccinated, according to the email sent by the Office of Public Affairs on July 9.
The email included the following mask guidelines in effect for the summer:
- Face coverings are no longer required inside or outside for individuals who have provided proof of full vaccination to the University.
- Face coverings are still required both indoors and in crowded outdoor areas for individuals who have not provided proof of full vaccination to the University.
- Individuals who have not provided proof of full vaccination to the University may remove their face covering when outdoors if appropriate distancing from others is maintained.
- All individuals (vaccinated and unvaccinated) must continue to wear a face covering in the Health and Counseling Center.
- Wearing a face covering indoors is still recommended for any individual who has a compromised immune system or other health concern.
UP still encourages those who would feel more comfortable wearing a mask to do so. UP has requested that community members not ask about the vaccination status of others, or speculate as to why someone is wearing a mask, to support those who choose to wear them.
The University has not released details as to how mask policies will be enforced for unvaccinated individuals.
The face covering policy will be reassessed on Aug. 16 based on the number of students who have submitted proof of vaccination, the spread of COVID-19 variants and any other change in guidance from the Oregon Health Authority, CDC or other authorities, according to the email.
Austin De Dios is the Editor-in-Chief of The Beacon. He can be reached at dedios22@up.edu.
