Madison Kwiecinski 

News Editor

Mvk5945@psu.edu 

Penn State University has officially changed the masking requirements on-campus for all Penn State campuses once again. During spring break, it was announced that masks would become optional on-campus inside all buildings, except for when a student is actively in class for educational purposes. Beginning Wednesday, March 23, PSU has made face masks optional in all indoor settings, classrooms included. 

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, has currently rated most of Pennsylvania, as well as most of the nation, as having low community levels of COVID-19. PSU has held throughout the pandemic that its masking regulations and testing requirements were a reflection of COVID-19 levels and a means of pandemic mitigation, so loosening restrictions as case levels remain stable and low is consistent with the way the university has handled pandemic mitigation measures so far. 

As of March 26, testing for the vaccinated and non-vaccinated will also no longer be a requirement for Penn State campuses, though on-campus testing will remain available for those who wish to utilize it. COVID-19 testing is paying for students, faculty and staff. 

At University Park, Penn State has been utilizing wastewater testing as a method to determine when COVID-19 cases rise on-campus. This is a process they plan to continue to monitor the changing pandemic conditions. The University is also continuing to monitor guidance from the CDC, and adjusting plans accordingly.

“With transmission levels low in much of the commonwealth and the high vaccination rates of our campus communities, we believe we can safely alter our masking and testing requirements at this time,” said Penn State President Eric J. Barron. “We will continue to provide voluntary testing to students, as well as contact tracing and quarantine and isolation space as needed; and any individual who wishes to continue wearing a mask indoors is encouraged to do so.”

Face masks are still required in all healthcare facilities and in places they are required by law, such as in forms of public transportation. The PSU College of Medicine is continuing its mask mandate alongside Penn State Health as a means of supporting patient care. 

Those who are uncomfortable with the new mask mandate are encouraged to do whatever makes them feel comfortable, such as continuing to wear a mask. Employees at Penn State who have their own offices are able to request visitors in their office to continue to wear a mask. Professors may request students still wear a mask while in classes as well. Though the mandate is no longer in place, the university asks that members of the campus community cooperate respectfully with requests regarding these changes.