Reminders About Face Mask Guidelines on CofC Campus

The following message regarding face mask guidelines for the spring 2022 semester was shared with the College of Charleston community on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022:

Dear Campus Community,

With the resumption of classes this week, we are receiving some reports of students not properly wearing face masks inside campus facilities, which includes all hallways, classrooms and labs.

With the Omicron variant continuing to spread in our community, the proper wearing of face masks remains one of our best defenses against virus transmission, along with vaccines, boosters, regular testing and other measures. The College is ordering a large quantity of surgical face masks for the campus community and will communicate a distribution plan to campus when that shipment arrives.

A few important reminders and tips about face masks:

Face masks are required for all members of the campus community, regardless of vaccination status, while around others indoors in all campus facilities, including classrooms and labs.
The policy of “No Mask, No Class” will be strictly enforced, and students who are referred for violations may face disciplinary action under the Code of Conduct.
Improper wearing of face masks will be viewed the same as not wearing one at all. Masks should completely cover your nose and mouth and fit snugly under your chin and along the sides of your face.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is currently advising masks with two or more layers of breathable fabric that fit snugly against the face with a nose wire to prevent leaking from the top. Mesh masks, neck gaiters or masks that allow light to come through are not adequate. Please find further mask guidance on CDC’s website.
Face masks are also required in public spaces in campus residence halls, including entrance areas, lobbies, hallways and lounges. The mask requirement does not apply in a student’s own residence hall room, a faculty or staff member’s private office (if alone) or while eating/drinking indoors on campus.
If a student has been cleared to return to campus by the CofC contact-tracing team but is in days 6-10 following their initial 5-day isolation or quarantine away from campus and remains asymptomatic, they must wear a mask around others on campus, including in private spaces.
Face masks will not be required while engaging in any physical activity within our campus recreation centers, as outlined in an earlier campus announcement.
Use this form to submit a report about members of the campus community who are not complying with our on-campus mask mandate.
Printable signage about the campus mask mandate and proper mask wearing is available for download on the Back on the Bricks website.