fbpx

4-1-22: Campus Community Message

Dear Wooster Students, Colleagues and Families,

I hope that you are well and have had a good first week back from break. I’m writing with an update on our COVID protocols. As promised when we wrote on March 18, we have carefully reviewed campus and local COVID prevalence, as well as public health guidance, over the last several weeks. I am happy to say that our situation is good (see dashboard link and Wayne County data), so we are proceeding with the plan we shared on March 18. Below are the details, which you can also find here.

Mask Optional Policies – Starting Sunday, April 3

These policies apply to all students, staff, faculty and campus visitors.

Masks are optional in all spaces on campus, with the following exceptions.

Masks may be required in specific, bounded private spaces (see details below). The requirement should be made clear through signage. Door tags that say “Masks required beyond this point” are available upon request by emailing wooster-covid-19@wooster.edu with your name and campus address. Because there will continue to be some spaces on campus that require masks, everyone should carry a mask with them when moving about campus in case it is needed. 

  • Masks will continue to be required at the Longbrake Wellness Center (as is the case at health care facilities around Ohio.)
  • Masks may be required in classrooms, studios, and laboratories, at the discretion of the instructor.  (Faculty are encouraged to let their students know whether their classrooms will be mask-optional before April 4.)
  • Masks may be required in individual offices and conference rooms, at the discretion of the occupant, supervisor, or host. (Those hosting meetings after April 3 are encouraged to be in contact with the participants.)
  • Masks may be required in private student residential spaces, with consensus from all occupants. (So, for example, if all students in a house wish for masks to be required at their house, they may do so.)

As we move to this new phase in campus public health policy, we know that there will be many different questions and concerns. The principles of our community of care and respect for one another continue to be crucial, and the College will continue to carefully monitor campus, local and regional health conditions, as well as public health guidance. Wooster will:

  • Continue to encourage respect for all members in our community. People have a wide variety of needs, experiences and concerns.  Anyone who wishes to mask will be supported in doing so – at any place and time.  If a classroom, office or other space is labelled “mask required”, those entering it must wear a mask.
  • Continue to monitor the health of campus through waste-water and individual testing, as well as local and national data, with readiness to return to more universal masking at any time. Unvaccinated students and employees are still required to test weekly.
  • Continue to provide high-quality masks that protect the wearer (N95 and KN95), to ensure that individuals have the tools to protect themselves. As has been the case throughout the year, masks can be obtained at Libraries, Wellness, Residence Halls, Lowry, Kitt, and academic coordinator offices in each of the academic buildings.
  • Continue the vaccine and booster requirement for students. In addition, all prospective students who visit classes, eat in the dining hall, or participate in evening activities during admissions-sponsored events have shown proof of vaccination.

My deepest thanks to all of you for your incredible work throughout this year to keep our campus running so well through all the phases of the COVID pandemic. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to wooster-covid-19@wooster.edu .

With gratitude,

Sarah Bolton
President

Posted in Community Message on April 1, 2022.