Dear Colleagues,

Malcolm and I have received many questions about the face coverings policy, specifically involving exceptions to this policy. For faculty, the idea of having a student in your classroom not wearing a face covering has raised concerns about your own health and risk of exposure, as well as the wellbeing of other students in your class. For staff, you have raised concerns about having to meet with a student or colleague who is not wearing a face covering.

The evidence about COVID-19 transmission continues to underscore the importance of face covering as a critical strategy for preventing the transmission of the virus. With this in mind, the college’s ability to accommodate exceptions to the universal face covering policy, which requires face coverings in all shared spaces on campus, including congested outdoor pathways, and in private workspaces when multiple people are present, is extremely limited.  For students, it is not possible. For faculty, the only accommodation is to teach remotely.  For staff, working from home may be possible, and there may be individual situations where an on-campus accommodation is possible. We expect that these will be extremely rare and will not involve exposing others to any increased risk.

Malcolm and I wanted to get this clarification to our policy to the campus so that faculty may know that all students will be required to wear a face covering for in-person classes.

Thank you for your patience while we have evaluated this situation in detail to make an informed policy decision.

With thanks,

Geoff Swift, Vice President for Finance & Administration, and Treasurer
Malcolm Hill, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty