Office of the Registrar

Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President

Dear OSU Community Members,

I write to provide you with information on Oregon State University’s updated policy regarding face coverings, which aims to slow the rapid increase in COVID-19 due to the Delta variant.

Our policy requires faculty, staff, students, volunteers, visitors and contractors in all university locations and programs to wear a face covering in all OSU indoor spaces. Indoor spaces is defined by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) as anywhere indoors, including but not limited to public and private workplaces, businesses, indoor areas open to the public, building lobbies, common or shared spaces, classrooms, elevators, bathrooms, transportation services and other indoor space where people may gather for any purpose.

OSU’s policy is in keeping with Gov. Kate Brown’s statewide requirement for the use of masks in public indoor spaces. This statewide mandate is in response to nearly every county in the state of Oregon being classified as “high” for levels of transmission of COVID-19 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Meanwhile, transmission is forecasted to increase dramatically in the coming weeks without public health interventions, such as increased face covering use.

In response to Gov. Brown’s action, OSU’s COVID-19 Safety & Success Policy has been revised. For additional guidance, see relevant FAQ’s.

The upward trend in COVID-19 cases underscores how critical it is that as many people as possible in Oregon, the nation and the world get vaccinated. Thus far at OSU, data from the university’s vaccination program indicate that 95% of students are choosing to be vaccinated rather than submit an exemption. We are proud of the commitment OSU students have toward contributing to the health of the university community and the communities in which we operate. We will continue to update you on vaccination rates among students and employees as we near the Sept. 15 deadline for employees and students to comply with OSU’s vaccination program.

With our vaccine requirement in place and the policy regarding the use of face coverings as conditions warrant, the university remains on its Pathway to Fall and offering a primarily in-person campus experience for students.

Sincerely,

Dan Larson

OSU Coronavirus Response Coordinator

Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Oregon State University

Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President

624 Kerr Administration Building, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331

leadership.oregonstate.edu/provost