May 21, 2021 – Update on Face Covering Requirements on main EOU campus

Dear EOU Community, 

Within the last several days, new guidance regarding the use of face coverings has been issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA).  The OHA guidance on Masks, Face Coverings, Face Shields states that individuals no longer need to wear masks outdoors. This is true whether they are fully vaccinated or not. 

The OHA guidance for Fully Vaccinated Individuals states that they do not need to wear face coverings indoors, but employers can continue to implement stricter face covering policies. The OSHA guidance has loosened face covering standards for workers using shared work spaces.    

Based on the guidance provided by local and state health authorities, from the Centers for Disease Control, and discussions among members of the EOU community, we will update the EOU face covering policy on an interim basis for the main EOU campus in La Grande to include the following components. Effective immediately:

• Face coverings and physical distancing will continue to be required for indoor classes and activities at EOU until the end of the academic term, except as described below. 
• Small group meetings of 8 or fewer in a closed indoor environment may remove masks and are not required to observe physical distancing standards in settings in which all may show proof of vaccination status (vaccination cards or images of those cards) as needed and all are in agreement to not wear face masks. This exception is not applicable to instructional activities.  
• Employees sharing a workspace (without a door or complete wall) should contact their supervisor or Human Resources about updated face covering and physical distancing requirements indoors. 
• Face coverings and physical distancing are not required outdoors on the EOU campus, regardless of your vaccination status. You are more than welcome to continue wearing a face covering outdoors based on your personal preference. 

Employees and students who are onsite at regional centers, should continue to abide by the policies set at their host sites or community colleges. 

As we all know, this is a challenging issue with frequently changing dynamics and evolving guidance. Throughout this time we have based our efforts and decisions on the health and safety of the EOU community and ensuring our students can make academic progress. Ultimately, I want all EOU students to be successful, regardless of their modality. Moving to fall term, I also want campus-based students to have the opportunity to attend classes in-person and partake in curricular and co-curricular events and activities. 

We will continue to keep the EOU community apprised of our plans and policies related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, it’s possible!

Sincerely, 

Tom Insko

President