Masks Required In Classrooms At Rhode Island College Again

PROVIDENCE, RI — Masking requirements will be back in effect at Rhode Island College to start the spring semester, school officials said Wednesday night.

Under the policy, masks will be required in classrooms, faculty offices, labs and student service staff offices unless the professor, staff member or tutor waives that requirement. Masks will also be encouraged, but not required, in all college buildings and at school events.

They will also be required for those not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including those with religious and medical exemptions. Regular testing will also be required for those groups.

"We believe this adjusted policy achieves the appropriate balance of safeguarding the health and wellbeing of our community while remaining practical and consistent," college officials said in a letter to students and faculty. "With the majority of the public vaccinated, effective treatments readily available, and life outside of campus largely returned to pre-pandemic norms, the necessity of more stringent mitigation measures has been significantly reduced. Furthermore, with most students, faculty and staff traveling to and from places without mask mandates on a daily basis, continuing to require masks in all situations on campus will be less effective and more difficult to enforce."

The decision comes with the CDC designating Providence County as having a high transmission risk for COVID-19.

School officials said they will continue monitoring COVID-19. If conditions worsen or if there are outbreaks on campus, a stricter mask mandate is on the table.