West Chester University Announces Indoor Mask Mandate For Fall

WEST CHESTER, PA — West Chester University announced on Tuesday it will require masks be worn indoors on campus during the Fall 2021 semester, and it requested students submit an updated vaccination record by Aug. 24 to be eligible for a scholarship drawing.

The announcement of a mask requirement indoors went out to faculty, staff, and students from Jeffery L. Osgood, Jr. Ph.D., Deputy Provost and Vice President for Academic Operations, and William J. Helzlsouer, Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer.

"Since the beginning of the pandemic, West Chester University has closely monitored national, state, and local guidance on public health and safety precautions. We continue to do so, especially as COVID-19 transmission rates fluctuate," said the statement from Osgood and Helzlsouer.

"As we prepare for the fall term, we will begin to see more faculty, staff, students, and visitors on campus and in our buildings. While vaccination is the most effective step we can take to minimize the spread of COVID-19, masking provides an extra level of protection and helps keep our community safe for our return to on-campus actives and in-person learning," the statement continued.

West Chester University said it is implementing orders regarding mask-wearing that all faculty, staff, students, and visitors are required to wear a mask covering their nose and mouth when indoors, regardless of their vaccination status.

The order said masks may be removed "to eat while in appropriate dining locations." It said face masks can be removed in a private or semi-private office, and people at workstations in shared spaces can remove their masks if there are barriers, like plexiglass, at their station.

Guidance issued said faculty may remove masks while teaching if they can maintain three feet of distance and if "in the opinion of the faculty member the mask will unduly hamper classroom instruction." The University offered suggestions for other situations and made clear that faculty have room for their own judgment based on the course or program they teach.

The University suggested carrying two masks at all times and said it will provide masks at locations around campus to help everyone comply.

The University said it may issue specific instructions for university functions and activities, especially related to athletics and student housing.

"We as a community of educators and learners should work together to create a culture that protects our most precious resource: each other. As such, it is the expectation of all members of the University community to continue to do their part to protect the health and safety of others," the statement said.

Vaccination Cards Can Win Scholarships

Students are being asked to submit a record of their COVID-19 immunization as part of the University's COVID-19 pandemic mitigation strategies. Residential and non-residential students who provide proof of vaccination will be exempted from randomized screening testing, the University said in an announcement.

Non-residential or commuter students who do not submit COVID-19 immunization documentation will be requested to complete random campus COVID-19 testing, the University said.

Students are being asked to upload their updated vaccination cards and when they do, their vaccination records will be entered in a random scholarship drawing to be held in September. Two $2,500 scholarships and one $5,000 scholarship will be awarded, the University announced. The deadline to respond is Aug. 24

For the not-yet-vaccinated, the University said students receiving their first vaccine dose between now and Aug. 30 will be entered into a second $5,000 random scholarship drawing. Instructions are on the WCU website portal for students.

Information on how to acquire the vaccine from the Chester County Health Department can be found here.

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