Change in Stevens’ campus masking policy

The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 initiated a necessary policy requiring masks on Stevens’ campus. These masks helped Stevens maintain some degree of normalcy as students started returning back to their classes and reuniting with their friends and teachers. According to Sara Klein, the Vice President for Student Affairs, prior to November 2022, masks had to be worn at all times during classes, in the Stevens Shuttle, and at Student Health Services (although instructors or presenters in class were allowed to take off their mask to speak clearly, given that there was a reasonable distance between them and the masked students). 

Starting in November 2022, masking became optional (though strongly encouraged) in most places on campus sans Student Health Services. That being said, masking is still required for anyone that has tested positive for COVID-19 or has come into some form of exposure to the virus according to guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and the Student Health Services. However, anyone that wants to wear a mask for extra safety is welcome to do so. In addition, no one should make assumptions about anyone choosing to wear or not wear a mask, nor should anyone wearing a mask be pressured to remove theirs.

What prompted this change? Klein explains that Stevens’ leadership carefully monitors the local and national positivity rates and recommended practices from public health experts as well as our own health advisors. The low positivity and death rates, as well as the availability of vaccines and treatments, prompted Stevens to revise its policy on wearing a mask. Stevens now places the responsibility and decision on wearing a mask on you, as an individual. To combat COVID-19, you should stay up-to-date on vaccines and booster shots, such as getting your bivalent COVID dose as soon as it becomes available.

The most recent campus COVID update, sent on Novemebr 30, states that “7 students and 2 employees reported cases of COVID-19 in our on-campus community of 9,779 students, faculty, and staff members.”