Masks will be optional on campus starting March 7

President Marcia White sent the following email to students and employees today (March 2, 2022):

Dear students/colleagues,

Over the last two years, our Saint Rose community has shown incredible care for the dear neighbor and each other through COVID-19 transmission prevention measures, including wearing masks.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and New York Governor Kathy Hochul have recently stated that we may be turning an important page in the pandemic. The CDC has said wearing a mask is not necessary for the general population when community levels of COVID-19 are classified as low or medium. Governor Hochul has announced both the lifting of the statewide mask mandate in public spaces and this week, the state’s P-12 public school system.

As a result, we’ve looked at our own indoor mask requirement and our COVID-19 rates on campus, which remain low, and have made the decision to lift the College’s mask mandate starting next week. 

• Effective March 7, masks will no longer be required to be worn indoors in Saint Rose buildings. This means that when students and faculty begin classes after mid-winter break, masks will no longer be required in classes, events, or meetings.
• Of course, you may still wear a mask in classrooms or anywhere on campus if that is your preference.
• Wearing a mask continues to be a required part of the quarantine process should you become infected or are exposed to COVID-19.
• If employees or students have medical issues that would necessitate others wearing a mask in a classroom or other setting, employees should contact Human Resources and students should contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities.
• The CDC recommends that indoor masking be reinstated should community levels of COVID-19 reach high levels. We will notify you should the Albany County designation change (currently medium) and appreciate your cooperation if the College needs to revisit the mask policy.
• Please note that vaccination is still an important measure of protection against COVID-19. The College’s booster requirement remains in effect.

We know this relaxing of mask requirements may be difficult for some members of our community as we have been living with masks for the last couple of years. As is the Saint Rose way, please be kind to each other and yourself as we undergo this significant transition.

Sincerely,

Marcia White
President
The College of Saint Rose