Chancellor’s order modifies on-campus masking requirements

Editor’s note: the following information has been supplied by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. 

Thanks to the continued decline in COVID-19 cases on and off campus, the University of Wisconsin will remove mandatory face covering requirements from the Whitewater and Rock campuses except for classrooms/instruction spaces and individual units that provide health, food and childcare services.

The new Chancellor’s Order will be in effect from March 1 through March 18, when spring break begins. A decision on any COVID-19 mitigations after March 18, including masking, will be made closer to that time.

A growing number of communities and academic institutions are lifting masking requirements as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations decline and as vaccinations and booster doses continue to guard against serious illness. While this does not mean the pandemic is over, it is a sign that we can have confidence in the protection we receive from COVID-19 vaccination.

The research strongly suggests that individuals who are vaccinated, boosted, and wearing a high-quality mask have a high degree of protection, regardless of what other individuals around them may choose. That means we’re at a point where responsible behavior is up to the individual to decide, and we encourage the wearing of masks and vaccinating as a way of keeping our community safe. 

We hope all members of our community will support efforts to keep everyone safe and healthy. It is important that we continue to watch out for others in our community, being mindful that we don’t always know about others’ health concerns. Please respect everyone’s individual choices about masking.

Some campus units, including University Health and Counseling Services and the Children’s Center, will continue to require the use of masks. Faculty and staff may require that masks be worn in their individual, private offices, and should proactively communicate the need to wear a face covering to those they are scheduling in-person meetings with. If not, alternate locations or virtual options should be used.  

N95, KN95 and surgical masks will continue to be available for free on our campuses, and we urge all members of our community to stay up to date on their vaccinations.

Warhawks are encouraged to continue to plan meetings to accommodate the needs of participants, including providing virtual options when needed.

Staff will work to remove signage in public spaces where it is no longer applicable. Updated signage is available to be downloaded.

It remains important to monitor yourself daily for COVID-19 symptoms. If you develop symptoms, stay home and get tested.  

Key resources

• Get vaccinated or boosted. Visit vaccines.gov to find a location near you.
• Then let us know about it. Please submit your vaccination record.
• Can’t find the info you need? Contact the COVID-19 hotline at 262-472-1362 or covid19info@uww.edu or visit Warhawks Are Back.