Mask use greatly reduced on campus as local mandate ends

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is no longer broadly requiring the use of face masks while inside campus buildings.

Announced in a Feb. 18 email to campus, the change mirrors the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department ending its community-wide directed health measures. The reduction in mask use and event guidelines on campus reflect local declines in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

“It’s great news to see cases of COVID-19 decline and our campus positivity rate return to a low level,” Chancellor Ronnie Green said. “This positive trend is thanks to your efforts, and I continue to be so incredibly proud of how our UNL community has pulled together during this pandemic.”

The change is effective Feb. 19. The university continues to encourage students, faculty and staff to wear masks when indoors, especially if social distancing is not possible. And there are exceptions for specific classes with a designated need for mask use.

Those exceptions:

• Face coverings must be required in classes or academic activities where it is necessary for students to work in close proximity to each other for an extended period of time; and
• Face coverings may also be required in a class where the instructor, student or immediate family members have documented health-related issues to the vaccines.

Students should be able to review course syllabi to learn if masks continue to be required in classes.

Individual instructors leading courses outside of the exceptions may ask students to wear masks, but their use is not required.

The university will continue its random mitigation testing. Students, faculty and staff selected will receive an email on Thursdays to test the following week.

Learn more about the university’s ongoing response to COVID-19.