In Case You Missed It: VCCS Chancellor Lifts Mask Mandate as of March 14

Note from NOVA’s President on the VCCS’ lifting of the mask mandate, Feb. 25, 2022:

Dear NOVA Community:  Earlier this afternoon (Friday, Feb. 25), you received an email from Virginia Community College System (VCCS) Chancellor Glenn DuBois suspending the system’s mask mandate effective Monday, March 14, 2022. This change impacts all students, faculty, staff, and visitors across every VCCS campus and facility, including NOVA.

Almost two years ago, VCCS and NOVA took immediate steps to respond to an emerging public health crisis—COVID-19, and we are now adapting to changing conditions related to the virus. Our response has always been focused on the health and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff, and that will continue.

In August 2021, based on rising case numbers and hospitalizations, VCCS implemented the current mask mandate. The decision to end that mandate as of March 14 is based on a number of factors: high vaccination rates, decreasing infection and hospitalization rates, and evolving state and federal guidance—which has shifted from responding to COVID-19 as a pandemic to recognizing it as an endemic.

As the mask mandate ends, some members of our community will choose to continue to wear face coverings, and these decisions should be honored and respected. NOVA will continue to provide free KN95 masks on our campuses for employees and students. And, as the Chancellor noted, VCCS may reinstate the masking policy if COVID cases increase across the Commonwealth.

I want to take this opportunity to—once more—strongly encourage COVID-19 vaccination and booster shots, and to remind everyone to test and take leave when experiencing COVID symptoms. Employees who wish to pursue ADA accommodations, should reach out to HR at ada@nvcc.edu. Students seeking accommodations can learn more about NOVA’s Accommodations and Accessibility Services Office here.

Your commitment to your health and to the health of others at NOVA and beyond has made it possible for VCCS to rescind the mask mandate. I thank you for your care for and dedication to our community.

Sincerely,
Anne

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Chancellor’s Note, Feb. 25, 2022

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff of Virginia’s Community Colleges:  We are encouraged by indications we see, and evolving guidance from federal and state health officials, that the Omicron wave of the COVID-19 virus is receding in Virginia. As vaccination rates across the commonwealth increase and infection rates decrease, we believe the virus is transitioning from being a pandemic to being an endemic.

Just as we took steps in response to the virus’s outbreak, we must be willing to adapt to changing conditions and ensure that our policies aimed at protecting the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff are calibrated appropriately to current conditions, and balanced with other community needs and considerations.

Accordingly, I am suspending the mask mandate currently being observed by all students, faculty, staff, and visitors across every campus and facility of Virginia’s Community Colleges, effective Monday, March 14, 2022.

To be clear: the decision to wear a mask on campus will still be welcomed, just no longer required. I urge everyone across our campus communities to take the necessary steps to protect themselves and others, including wearing a mask voluntarily; obtaining COVID-19 vaccination and booster shots; and testing and staying home when experiencing symptoms of illness.

Indications are that the virus poses a low risk to healthy people who are fully vaccinated and boosted. However, some people in your college community remain vulnerable to the virus and will take additional steps to protect themselves. Some will continue to be more comfortable wearing a mask. Such a decision should be met with consideration, kindness, and respect.

Our goal in responding to COVID-19 has been to impose as few restrictions as needed to protect the public health of our community colleges. That goal will guide our decision-making as we move forward too. Accordingly, should we encounter another wave of infections sweeping across Virginia, or the rise of a threatening new variant, I will consider reinstating this masking policy, or others, if needed.

Meanwhile, please know how grateful I am for your hard work, along with the patience and flexibility that you have displayed throughout our encounter with COVID-19. You have made it possible for us to continue our pursuit of the community college mission at a time when it is needed by so many. Thank you for all that you do on behalf of Virginia’s Community Colleges.

Sincerely,

Glenn DuBois
Chancellor, VCCS