Colleges and Universities change their COVID-19 guidelines for the fall semester
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Interim President of Columbia College Dr. David Russell has issued a mask mandate while in campus buildings to start on Monday.
An email to the Columbia College community said regardless of vaccination status, a mask mandate will go into effect on Aug. 9 for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The only exceptions are when individuals are alone or in a residence hall with roommates.
Columbia College will continue to have in-person classes with COVID-19 precautions, which include allowing six feet between students and instructors, providing three feet of distance between students, and providing air purifiers for each classroom.
Columbia College states that if officials do decide to transition to a virtual setting, they will not follow last year's model. The plan is for students to have access to advisors and instructors for additional help.
In addition, all students living on campus must do one of three things: upload their student vaccination cards to their health portal, provide proof of a negative test, or take a rapid test on campus.
Columbia College says that these are temporary measures that will continue to be monitored based on CDC and local guidelines.
University of Missouri required masks on Monday
The University of Missouri temporarily reinstated some indoor masking requirements on Monday for all students, faculty, staff and visitors, regardless of vaccination status in classrooms as well as meeting spaces where social distancing is not possible. The temporary requirement will be reviewed by Sept. 15.
In an email sent to students and faculty, university leaders requested staff, faculty and students voluntarily upload vaccination documents through their secure system, with chances to win exciting incentives.
"Providing your vaccine information will help us have a measure of vaccination rates within our campus community and guide how we might adjust our policies to promote a safe working and learning environment. For example, if you are exposed to someone infected by COVID-19, and you are fully vaccinated and not showing symptoms, you may not have to quarantine or be tested. Having your confidential vaccine information on hand will assist our case investigators and contact tracers in this effort. Your vaccine information will be kept confidential."
Students who upload their information will be entered in drawings to win prizes like tuition discounts, dinners with head coaches or free parking for a year.
"We cannot stress enough the importance of being fully vaccinated, which is defined as two weeks after receiving two doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Even if you have had COVID-19, you should still get vaccinated, as the vaccine strengthens immunity after natural infection."
The university also requested staff and students get vaccinated before returning to campus.
MU will have several walk-in vaccination events on campus starting Thursday.
Lincoln University encourages mask wearing and social distancing indoors
Lincoln University re-implemented its mask protocol for all indoor spaces Monday, based on the new guidance from the CDC. The University will review the local, state and regional trends on a weekly basis to determine the need for change in the protocol.
LU strongly encourages all faculty, staff and students to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
