Masks Now Required Inside University System Of GA Institutions

GEORGIA — Starting next week, a face covering will be required to enter any University System of Georgia building.

Effective July 15, University System of Georgia institutions will require all faculty, staff, students and visitors to wear an appropriate face covering while inside campus facilities/buildings where 6-feet social distancing may not always be possible. Face covering use will be in addition to and is not a substitute for social distancing.

Face coverings are not required in one’s own dorm room or suite, when alone in an enclosed office or study room, or in campus outdoor settings where social distancing requirements are met.

Anyone not wearing a face covering when required will be asked to wear one or must leave the area. Repeated refusal to comply with the requirement may result in discipline through the applicable conduct code for faculty, staff or students.

Reasonable accommodations may be made for those who are unable to wear a face covering for documented health reasons.

This update comes after an online petition garnered nearly 9,000 signatures by students, staff, faculty, family members and University System of Georgia communities asking the Board of Regents to "set policies that allow a safer and more equitable return to campus during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic."

The requests included:

• Masks to be provided and required for all the campus community. Faculty, staff and students will collaborate on COVID-19 prevention enforcement procedures without involvement of the campus police.
• No staff, student, or faculty member will be compelled to be face-to-face. There will be no penalty, either subtle or overt, for requesting online-only engagement in the fall.
• Free, frequent and accurate COVID-19 testing will be available for the entire campus community.