The University of Wyoming Board of Trustees voted to impose an indoor mask mandate until at least September 20. At that point, trustees will determine whether it should continue. The mandate could start as soon as Monday.
During the meeting, university officials expressed their concern about the current surge in Delta variant cases. Provost Kevin Carman told the trustees he wanted UW to join other schools in requiring vaccines.
"A vaccine is the obvious solution, if that doesn't happen the next obvious solution is a face covering or masks on campus. Particularly indoors and particularly in classrooms," said Carman.
The initial plan was to be prepared for a possible outbreak, but others like Faculty Senate President Adrienne Freng said it's better to take a proactive approach.
"It might be pertinent for us to think of some higher thresholds that we could then back off of if the crisis doesn’t come to fruition instead of the other way around," added Freng.
President Ed Seidel also will require COVID-19 testing for employees and students before the start of the semester. He also plans mandatory training regarding the benefits of vaccinations and a vaccination public information campaign. A UW committee will also be formed to determine ways to react throughout the semester to the ongoing pandemic.