Face Coverings Required on Campus Effective July 20

Dear Campus Community:

I am writing today to update you on an issue that I know is very important to all of you. As the President’s Cabinet has addressed questions of COVID-19 safety, we considered how best to implement a face mask policy that would work for our campus. We offered and implemented on July 6, 2020, interim guidance to “strongly recommend” masks as part of our evolving COVID-19 Preparedness Plan that was first published two weeks ago. This matched guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health and Office of Higher Education.

Today, after hearing from many of you and further reviewing the broader research, Minnesota State system guidance, and regional conditions, we are adapting our approach on this issue:

Beginning July 20, 2020, all Minnesota State University, Mankato faculty, staff, students, and visitors will be required to wear a face covering over both the nose and mouth at all times when indoors on campus or in other university facilities, with the following exceptions:

When alone in a private office.
When working in an office setting, cubicle, or workstation where physical distancing can be maintained.
When in an assigned residence hall room or apartment.
When eating or drinking.
When alone in a motor vehicle.
Individuals exercising, training, or practicing in Campus Recreation and Intercollegiate Athletic facilities (both indoor and outdoor) may remove the cloth face covering while under physical exertion or in other situations where wearing a mask compromises their safety and welfare.
Children 12 and under or anyone unable to remove a face covering without assistance.
When another accommodation is necessary as indicated by a medical expert and granted written permission of the university.
When an exception for a non-medical reason has been granted by university administration.

As a reminder, we will be providing two branded cloth masks to everyone in our campus community. Those masks will be distributed soon. You can see more details of this directive, including information about compliance here.

It is our duty to do everything we can to make our campus safer as we welcome students, faculty, and staff back in the fall. I believe this is the right decision for the safety and security of our campus community.

Sincerely,

Richard Davenport
President