Mask Mandate Rescinded

March 1, 2022

All Employees and Students,

We are happy to report that effective Wednesday, March 2, Bay Path University will rescind its mandatory mask mandate for all vaccinated and boosted employees and students in all indoor public places and replace it with a mask optional provision. Individuals who are not fully vaccinated are still required to wear a face-covering indoors to minimize the spread of COVID-19 within the Bay Path community.

This decision was based on the following:

1. The Boards of Health in both Longmeadow and East Longmeadow recently unanimously voted to rescind the mask mandate in each of their respective communities;
2. Bay Path University’s extraordinarily high vaccination rates: 96 percent of our employees and 91 percent of students are vaccinated. This is a notable milestone since the COVID-19 vaccination is the most effective barrier against COVID-19 hospitalization from the Delta and Omicron variants;
3. As of February 15, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has lifted masking in public places noting “a fully vaccinated person should wear a mask or face covering indoors if you have a weakened immune system, if you are at increased risk for severe disease because of your age or underlying medical condition, or if someone in your household has a weakened immune system and at increased risk for severe disease or is unvaccinated”;
4. And on February 25, The Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced it was relaxing its mask guidance for communities where hospitals have lower levels of COVID-19 cases. Under this new guidance, Hampden County is considered to be “low risk” and residents are advised that they can go indoors without masks.

As we move to this new phase of our mask policy, it is crucial that we continue to respect the decisions of those who have different perspectives and comfort levels when it comes to COVID-19. We ask that you be mindful of those in our community who are most vulnerable as you reflect on one of Bay Path University’s core values which is “Treat Others with Respect and Compassion,” and that you continue to be thoughtful and supportive of others.

Bay Path University will continue to follow the CDC guidelines and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health advisory which recommends that all unvaccinated individuals continue to wear masks indoors.

Unvaccinated individuals are required to wear masks:

• During in-person meetings or group activities in conference rooms, or other indoor spaces
• In the classroom to include instructors and students
• When using the University shuttle
• When visiting Health Services
• When outdoors if social distancing cannot be guaranteed.

Unvaccinated individuals are not required to wear masks in these situations:

• When actively eating in Blake Dining Commons, the Carpe Diem Cafe’, kitchenettes, and other public or shared spaces on campus
• In residence halls, resident students may be unmasked in their room with their roommate(s) or on their specific floor. At all other times, students should be masked
• Working alone in a private office
• Working in a shared space more than six feet from a colleague
• Working in a cubicle with a barrier between people and when not providing services to anyone

Vaccinated individuals are required to wear masks:

• In Health services department
• When using the campus shuttle

Large Gatherings:

All large-scale indoor events hosted on campus that are open to the public will require additional safety protocols. The sponsoring organization or department may contact John Stankiewicz, Director of Public Safety at jstankiewicz@baypath.edu or 565-1217 for more specific details or to answer any questions.