Safe Return to Campus

Our guiding principle:

We pledge to support the health, safety, and well-being of the Mason community while fulfilling the university’s mission.

Vaccinations and Boosters

Mason is strongly encouraging students, faculty and staff to be fully vaccinated and obtain a booster shot as soon as they are able. You can get a vaccine and booster at Mason.

For more information, read our Vaccine Requirements page.

Virginia Vaccination Program

Learn how to get your shot at Vaccinate.Virginia.gov or call 1-877-VAX-IN VA. Language translation and TTY services available
Infórmese de cómo obtener su vacuna visitando Vaccinate.Virginia.gov o llamando 1-877-829-4682. Servicios de traducción y teléfonos de texto (TTY) están disponibles.

Mason COVID Safety Plan

The COVID Safety Plan (PDF) has been updated as of March 7, 2022.

If You Have Questions

If you want more information about Mason's immunization policies, go to our Vaccine website or send an email with your vaccine question.

View Current Campus COVID-19 Data

Although masks are optional at Mason, except in classrooms and class labs during scheduled classes and/or lab activity, if you feel more comfortable wearing a mask, feel free to continue. We still encourage you to wear a mask indoors.

Mask, Testing Updates

Mason will require all students, faculty, staff, and guests in attendance at EagleBank Arena and all indoor degree celebrations to wear masks to create as safe an environment as possible. We will have additional supplies on hand for those who arrive without a mask.

We will also require all summer students living on campus to be regularly tested, and we will re-evaluate if necessary. We'll share more details about our summer plans shortly.

While the number of cases at Mason in recent weeks remains well below the high we experienced this winter, recent increases in COVID-19 cases have prompted concerns. We are following current CDC and local public health guidance on how to respond to COVID conditions.

Policy Status May 23 to August 15

	Students	Faculty and Staff
Vaccinations and Boosters	Strongly Encouraged	Strongly Encouraged
Testing	Only required for residential students: Weeks of May 23, July 4, and August 15 All strongly encouraged; open to all	All strongly encouraged; open to all
Mason COVID Health Check	Required when testing; available for use by event managers, instructors, etc.	Required when testing; available for use by event managers, instructors, etc.
Masks (Indoor) Status: Blue	Mask Optional Exceptions* Health care and medical facilities; those working with minors ages 2 to 5 years; when instructed by a health care professional due to illness or close contact with someone with COVID. * Masks required at event manager's discretion	Mask Optional Exceptions* Health care and medical facilities; those working with minors ages 2 to 5 years; when instructed by a health care professional due to illness or close contact with someone with COVID. * Masks required at event manager's discretion
Dashboard	Pause on May 21 over summer; re-evaluation needed in fall

Note: Subject to change based on public health guidance

Health and Safety Protocols
Find face covering guidelines.
Follow hygiene guidelines.
Take COVID safety training.
Complete your daily status check with Mason COVID Health Check
Tell us if you have COVID-19, test positive for the illness, or are self-isolating while awaiting test results.

Log Your Symptoms Daily with Mason COVID Health Check

Read the FAQs for a Safe Return

Follow Public Health and Safety Guidelines

No one wants to endanger community health or disrupt research and instruction. For your health and safety, as well as that of our community, failure to follow these guidelines and precautions means you’ll be asked to leave your work area, classroom, or building.

Faculty have the authority to enforce compliance with public health and safety precautions in the classroom in the same way they enforce other community norms. While faculty should never ask a student about their vaccination status, students can be asked to show their COVID Health check status email while on campus.

If a student refuses to wear a mask or wears it improperly, faculty members should first remind the class of the mask requirement. If there are repeat violations or if the behavior is egregious, faculty can ask students to leave the class and refer them to the Office of Student Conduct.

Students who violate precautions will be in violation of the Student Code of Conduct. Noncompliance can be referred to the Office of Student Conduct through their online reporting portal.
Employee noncompliance concerns can be reported anonymously to Human Resources and Payroll at 703-993-2600.

Repeated non-compliance may result in disciplinary action.