College Council Votes to End Mask Mandate Effective Monday, February 28, 2022

TO: CMC Community
FROM: Matt Gianneschi, Chief Operating Officer & Chief of Staff CC: Carrie Besnette Hauser, President
DATE: February 15, 2022
RE: CMC Mask Mandate to Expire on Monday, February 28, 2022

Earlier this afternoon, CMC’s College Council met to discuss the college’s directions concerning mandatory masking in CMC buildings. After considering the self-reported immunity rates among CMC faculty and staff; rapidly declining COVID transmission/positivity rates in our communities; the stable and improving capacities of health care facilities in CMC’s region; and public health plans at the county, city, and school district levels, the College Council voted unanimously to end CMC’s mask mandate on Monday, February 28, 2022.

While most governments and school districts in our region have already ended mandatory mask requirements or plan to do so in the coming weeks, CMC’s College Council chose February 28 as an implementation date in order to provide CMC faculty, staff, and students additional time to prepare for the change and, if necessary, manage individual situations where a medical condition may need to be addressed in workplace or classroom environments.

New guidance for the college will be issued no later than Monday, February 21, 2022.

As we prepare to make this transition over the coming weeks, we implore all of our friends, co- workers, and students to be especially patient with one another, as not everyone shares the same perspective regarding the college’s plan regarding masks. Consequently, we request that all exhibit a little additional grace over the coming weeks and months. The past two years have been trying for us all, so please be charitable with kindness.

Our decision to end the use of masks doesn’t mean that all risks associated with COVID have been eliminated. On the contrary, COVID will likely continue to be present in our communities indefinitely. Nonetheless, we are optimistic that the rapidly improving public health trends coupled with CMC’s very high “immunity” rates and employees’ continued adherence to good judgment will allow the college to avoid further disruptions and finish the academic year strongly.