In this communication:
- Background Information
- Mask Wearing Requirements on Campus Still in Effect
- Mask Wearing Survey: Please complete by 4pm on Tuesday, February 15
Background Information
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Clarkson has followed Federal, State and local regulations and executive orders keeping the health and safety of our greater community as our priority.
Clarkson is a safe place to work, live, study and visit. We have a robust vaccination requirement; policies in place for persons who are sick, including accessible COVID-19 testing for symptomatic individuals, and for persons who want optional testing; and we continue to encourage good hand hygiene and social distancing practices. Our campus’ active case count remains low and there have been no COVID-19 hospitalizations or deaths in our University community. There is a steady overall decline in our respective regional communities’ case counts as well.
As we approach the anticipated expiration of the NYS HERO Act this week, Governor Hochul and many other state’s leaders have begun to fully shift the COVID-19 response from pandemic to endemic measures citing the declining positivity rates and other data related to the Omicron variant that support moving forward. This includes lifting mask mandates — both legislated and temporary — that have been legally required up to this point in most settings that apply to our University operations. Therefore, we have both institutional and personal choices to make about caring for our community and ourselves.
Mask Wearing Requirement Still in Place
The Clarkson administration is in the process of making decisions on how institutional policies need to evolve, particularly around mask wearing. Based on discussions with faculty and staff as well as student leaders, we are continuing our existing mask requirements at this time. When around others indoors, continue to wear a mask over mouth and nose, with the exception of when interacting with your “family unit” and when eating/drinking.
Mask Survey
To inform the administration and add to the counsel we are receiving from NYS and local health representatives, we are asking all Clarkson faculty, staff and students to share their personal view on mask wearing by responding to this short survey by 4:00 pm on Tuesday, February 15.
- https://forms.gle/nstGR1YQYbS5Pr6r6 is same link to cut/paste if needed
The survey will ask you to identify which stakeholder group you are from and will solicit your personal viewpoints on mask wearing. Only persons with a clarkson.edu account can access the survey and responses are limited to one per person — all individual responses will remain anonymous for purposes of reporting or sharing.
We currently plan to update the University community on Wednesday, February 16 with next steps, inclusive of this input and review of ongoing external guidance and best practices. In the interim, please keep following the policies that are in place now as part of Clarkson’s COVID-19 response.
Thank you for your continued patience and diligence as Golden Knights caring about your community.
COVID-19 Response Leads
Anthony G. Collins, President
Robyn Hannigan, Provost
Amy McGaheran, Chief Human Resources Officer
Kelly Chezum, VP for External Relations
Brian Grant, VP for Enrollment & Student Advancement
Joshua Fiske, Chief Information Officer
Scott Smalling, Director of Athletics & Recreation
Erica Arnold, Environmental Health & Safety Manager, Emergency Response Manager