The following email was sent to faculty staff and students on faculty, staff and students on March 3, 2022.
Starting on Friday, March 4, masks will no longer be required in indoor public settings at Minneapolis College. This is in accordance with recently updated guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and a new systemwide directive received this week from Minnesota State.
The latest CDC update assesses Hennepin County’s COVID-19 community level as “medium.” This CDC assessment incorporates local transmission rates, available hospital beds and the number of hospitalizations related to COVID-19. More information about COVID-19 community levels can be found on the CDC webpage. Campuses located in “low” or “medium” community level environments will stop requiring masks. Each institution’s mask policy must be applied across its entire campus. Therefore, Minneapolis College faculty members cannot make the decision to require masks in their individual classrooms.
This policy change also applies to the College’s Aircraft Maintenance Technician Program, which is housed at a Delta facility at the MSP Airport.
In clinical settings and healthcare programs, such as Boynton Student Health Clinic, the nursing program and the dental assistant program, masks may still be required per CDC guidelines. Additionally, students at internship or clinical sites must continue following the COVID-19 policies in place at their site.
Individuals may continue wearing a mask if they choose to do so. If you are at high risk for severe illness, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you should continue wearing a mask on campus. Please respect and support employees and students who choose to continue to wear masks.
For the time being, the requirement for proof of vaccination or testing for employees, contractors and vendors remains in place. Minnesota Management and Budget has indicated that they will be reviewing and updating this policy in the coming weeks.
The guideline of maintaining a physical distance of six feet whenever possible (standing in line, passing in hallways, attending meetings) and three feet of distancing in classrooms and study areas remains in place.
Updated guidelines from the CDC, Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota State System Office will be communicated to our campus community and posted on the COVID-19 webpage.