Students, staff and faculty at Western University will keep their masks on for the remainder of the semester.
In a release issued late Monday afternoon, Western announced that after “careful consideration”, it will keep its current masking requirement in place until the end of the fall term. Classes for the term conclude on December 8, 2022, while fall term examinations run from December 10-22.
“We’ve had a strong start to the academic year, thanks to our collective commitment to keeping everyone healthy and safe,” read a statement from the university. “This decision is driven by our desire to protect the in-person learning environment. We also want individuals who are at a greater risk to remain safe in class.”
At the end of August, Western released a revised back-to-school plan which included details that required students, staff and faculty to wear medical-grade masks indoors and inside instructional spaces, labs and seminar rooms. In addition to the masking requirements, the school community and some visitors must also have at least one COVID-19 booster shot [three doses minimum, any combination], with proof submitted by January 9, 2023.
The university said it would reassess the need for masking and make any necessary changes further into the fall term. The only change noted by Western is that leaders of research labs may make their own decisions about masking based on their specific lab environments.
Western said it selected several safety ambassadors who will monitor classrooms to ensure the protocols are being followed. Masks are available at all campus libraries. Mask dispensers have also been installed outside of some large classrooms.
