UT Arlington to require everyone to wear face coverings on campus due to coronavirus
As UT Arlington plans to have students back on campus in the fall, it will require anyone on campus to wear a face covering to minimize the risk of COVID-19, according to a university email sent Monday.
This protocol will go into effect at 8 a.m. Wednesday and be in place until further notice, the message stated. It will apply to students, staff, faculty, contractors, vendors, suppliers and visitors.
Wearing a mask or other face covering will be required inside UTA campus buildings and where social distancing is difficult to maintain, such as student shuttle buses or crowded outdoor events. It will not be required for people inside private offices, in residence hall rooms or apartments, or alone in labs.
Reusable, washable face masks will be available at the university’s Central Library and University Center.
The university announced its plan to return to campus on May 8 after much of the spring semester was held online due to the coronavirus pandemic. In the message, the university said it will have a mixture of in-person and online learning and will aim to finish the semester without students on campus after Thanksgiving break.
“We will remain nimble and adjust as necessary while following the recommendations of experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the State of Texas, and The University of Texas System,” interim president Teik Lim said in the message.
This story was originally published June 8, 2020 at 5:10 PM.
