Throughout the pandemic, Sonoma State University has relied on public health guidelines to establish protocols that have helped provide a safe environment to learn, live, and work.
Cases in our region have continued to decline, and most of our campus community is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. And, as of March 11, the State of California, Cal-OSHA, and Sonoma County public health no longer require masks in most indoor public settings.
Sonoma State will make these changes to our practices:
- Masks will continue to be required in indoor instructional settings through May 20.
- Masks will not be required in most other indoor settings beginning Monday, March 21. However, wearing a mask indoors will continue to be recommended.
These changes to our campus mask requirement will apply to both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. Instructional settings are any classroom, laboratory, or other space that is actively being used for the delivery of scheduled or university organized academic activities where students and faculty are present.
In accordance with CDPH requirements, individuals working and/or receiving services inside any campus medical facility and/or clinic are required to wear masks. At SSU, this means masks are required inside the Student Health Center, Counseling and Psychological Services, and Athletics treatment facilities.
Although the mask requirement is being eased, some may feel more comfortable continuing to wear a mask indoors. We fully support and respect those who wish to continue to wear masks in any setting. However, divisions, departments, faculty, and staff are not permitted to require masks unless the activity warrants additional safety measures and is approved by SSU’s Office of Risk Management and Safety Services. This applies to all department offices, suites, and on-campus and off-campus operations and events.
We will continue to provide masks to all members of the community. Masks can be picked up near the Seawolf Service Center, the Student Center information desk, and the University Library circulation desk (2nd floor).
Masks remain an important tool to protect individuals who cannot be vaccinated or who are immunocompromised. I encourage all Seawolves to carry a mask with them at all times and be actively conscious of others’ preferences. SSU encourages you to mask up when in crowded spaces, when appropriate and comfortable.
SSU’s Office of Risk Management and Safety Services and Strategic Communications are working on additional resources for the Seawolf community on COVID-specific items, including mask wearing and suggestions for how to communicate mask preferences in academic and business settings. They will also be updating online and printed materials regarding mask rules. We appreciate your patience as these materials are updated and posted.
Our campus continues to monitor COVID-19 conditions at the local, state, and federal levels. We will maintain a ready posture, and should circumstances change, SSU will evaluate all protocols, including mask requirements, and communicate as appropriate. For questions about this update, please contact covid.monitoring@sonoma.edu.
Note: Additional masking requirements may apply to individuals who have been recently exposed or recently tested positive for COVID. Such requirements will be communicated to the individuals by the Student Health Center or COVID Monitoring Team.