Edgewood College reinstated mask mandates on Thursday for students, faculty, staff, and visitors when inside campus buildings. The updated protocol comes in response to a national trend of an increase in COVID-19 cases, attributed to the Delta variant.
“While we have heeded the specific guidance of our public health professionals from the first days of the pandemic, we have also made decisions that are best for the community of Edgewood College,” said Heather Harbach, Vice President for Student Development/Dean of Students, in a statement. “We take this step to keep all of our communities moving in the right direction to slow the spread.”
Edgewood College said in a press release that it is committed to in-person classes when the fall semester begins Aug. 18 and that while the College has not imposed a COVID-19 vaccine requirement, it is strongly encouraging students be vaccinated. Students, faculty, and staff are required to verify their vaccination status.
“This new requirement applies to everyone – those who are fully vaccinated, and those who are not,” Harbach said. “We do this for each other, because from the beginning of this pandemic, we have shown each other, and Greater Madison, that we live our values of community and compassion.
The mask requirement on campus remains in effect until it is no longer needed, Harbach added.
