UW Trustees Extend Mask Policy

The Board of Trustees for the University of Wyoming on Wednesday decided to extend the mask policy for the start of the spring semester. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

Following the decision by the board of trustees, the University of Wyoming will begin the spring 2022 semester with the same policy regarding masks that has been in place this fall semester. According to a release from UW, the policy will be revisited at the board’s February 16 meeting, when more information is expected to be available regarding the prevalence of COVID-19 on campus and in the local community, including the new omicron variant.

UW President Ed Seidel said there’s just no way right now to tell what the conditions will be like when classes resume January 18, so they believe it’s prudent to continue with the policies that have allowed them to have a successful in-person fall semester. He said the university is committed to continue delivering the in-person experience their students deserve, and this approach puts them in the best position to do so.

Masks are required in UW buildings where six-foot social distancing is not possible. Exceptions to the indoor mask requirement are voluntary public events such as athletics and music, theater and dance performances; voluntary social events; and private, by-invitation events that involve rental and/or use of UW spaces on campus. Employees and students who have legitimate medical reasons to not wear masks can seek exceptions. As was the case for the fall semester, UW will conduct mandatory COVID-19 testing for all employees and students who will spend any time on campus during the spring semester the week before classes begin — Wednesday, January 12, through Sunday, January 16, with additional testing as necessary the first week of classes for those who are unable to be tested earlier. The university will also continue its random-sample testing of three percent of the UW weekly when the spring semester begins.