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Spring 2022 Instructional Changes: Masks now Optional

by · March 22, 2022

From: Speller, Trevor <spellert@evergreen.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2022 1:31 PM
To: All Faculty <allfaculty@evergreen.edu>
Cc: All Staff <allstaff@evergreen.edu>
Subject: Spring 2022 Instructional Changes: Masks now Optional

In-Person-Checklist-Spring-20222Download

Dear faculty friends and colleagues –  

I hope that spring break finds you well, and that you are finding time to relax amid a busy academic year.  

We recently received a message from Inside Evergreen (attached) indicating that Evergreen will be suspending its mask mandate for spring quarter. 

Evergreen continues to follow advice and regulations given to us by federal, state, and county officials. They have indicated that due to a significant reduction in case levels, mask wearing can now become optional starting Monday, March 28.  

What does this mean for our classes? Though not required, mask-wearing is optional and encouraged. Faculty, staff, and students may not require each other to wear masks, or not wear masks. Surgical and KN-95-style masks will still be provided to those who wish to use them. Students, staff, and faculty will have different levels of comfort in wearing masks, and we encourage you to foster an ethic of care, consideration, and acceptance in your learning community. The deans are here to support you in the case that conflict may arise in your class.  

Masks are part of a suite of safety precautions the college has adopted over the course of the pandemic. We have mandated vaccines for students and employees, instituted a health verification and case response system, increased ventilation in buildings, and provided PCR testing for our community.  

Attached is a checklist for spring in-person instruction, which many of you found helpful in fall and winter. It offers language for syllabi, response procedures, testing information, and more. Many of us have questions about the state of COVID on campus. Please check Evergreen’s COVID site for updates, including statistics, which are updated regularly.  

We continue to monitor local conditions carefully. If conditions warrant a change in approach, we will let you know as soon as possible. If you have questions about the college’s response, you can always email COVID@evergreen.edu. 

Thanks as always for your patience and flexibility in this year of change. 

Sincerely – 

Trevor

Trevor Speller, PhD –- he/him 
Interim Vice-Provost
Academic Dean and Member of the Faculty
The Evergreen State College 
Mobile: 360-628-6401
Office: 360-867-6063
Zoom ID: 886-621-3404
Library 3801
2700 Evergreen Parkway NW – Olympia, WA 98505

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