Sinclair Community College will be lifting its mask mandate for any person who has received the Covid-19 vaccination, effective June 8, 2021. Sinclair will also be lifting other restrictions brought upon by the pandemic.
According to Sinclair’s Chief of Public Information, Catherine Petersen, the past year has been full of hurdles trying to overcome the pandemic. “For the past year, we have conquered tremendous challenges to ensure we provide a safe teaching and learning environment for students, faculty, and staff during the COVID19 global pandemic,” said Petersen.
The mandate states any person who has received a Covid-19 vaccination are no longer required to wear masks, nor are they required to maintain a safe social distance from others. While the lifting of the mandate is a step in the right direction moving forward, Sinclair is still keeping other safety measures in place.
Facilities will still be cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis, and hand-washing and sanitizing stations will be more accessible. If anyone is experiencing symptoms or feeling unwell, they are expected to stay home to reduce the risk of exposure.
While Sinclair is encouraging students and faculty to get their vaccination, it is not mandatory. However, anyone who will not receive a vaccination will still be required to wear a face mask and maintain a safe social distance. Sinclair will also be fluid in its policies as they relate to CDC guidelines. They will continue to monitor the COVID19 situation very closely. “We will revisit this policy should there be changes at the federal, state, and local levels,” says Petersen.
Sinclair is relying on the honor system to determine who is vaccinated and who is not. According to Petersen, “Sinclair College will not ask students, faculty, staff, and guests to provide proof of vaccination.”
Sinclair is also taking extra steps to ensure the safety of its students and faculty. Beginning in the Fall 2020, Sinclair has offered 85% of its classes either online or as a hybrid-learning class. This is the highest percentage of hybrid and/or online classes being offered in Sinclair’s history. Currently, they offer 70% of their college courses either as an online course or hybrid-learning course.
Overall, Sinclair is feeling hopeful about the future regarding the Covid-19 virus and the steps being taken. They have received feedback from everyone from students to Sinclair leadership. The goal is to ensure the good health and safety of its students, faculty, and staff, and Sinclair plans on doing whatever it takes to reach that goal.
Kris Johnson
Intern