<div dir="ltr"><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;line-height:13.91px"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Dear Campus,</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Effective today, March 7, 2022, <i>masks will now be optional</i> for all students, faculty, staff and visitors with the following specific exceptions:</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"></p><ul><li style="margin-left:15px"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Masks <b><i>WILL still be required</i> </b>in the following areas:</font></li><ul><li style="margin-left:15px"><font face="arial, sans-serif">All classrooms, labs and instructional spaces</font></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Student Health Center</font></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Student Association Shuttle</font></li></ul></ul><ul><li style="margin-left:15px"><font face="arial, sans-serif"> Masks <b><i>MAY still be required</i></b> in the following areas:</font></li><ul><li style="margin-left:15px"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Faculty offices, as required by individual faculty at their discretion</font></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Staff offices, as required by individual staff members at their discretion</font></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Internship sites, in accordance with individual site masking policy</font></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Specific on-campus events, at the college's discretion</font></li></ul></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Those who are not fully vaccinated or boosted are still strongly encouraged to wear a mask, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/social-media/mm7106e1_MaskingEffectiveness_IMAGE_04Feb22_1200x675_1.jpg" target="_blank">per CDC data</a> confirming the effectiveness of one-way masking in protecting the mask-wearer.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><br></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font color="#000000" face="arial, sans-serif"><b>Vaccinations and Testing</b></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><br></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="arial, sans-serif">There are NO CHANGES to the campus vaccination and testing requirements at this time. </font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"></p><ul><li style="margin-left:15px"><font face="arial, sans-serif">All students who access any campus facilities in person are required to<a href="https://machform.plattsburgh.edu/view.php?id=366894" target="_blank"> provide evidence</a> of being fully vaccinated and have a booster (if eligible) or <a href="http://www.plattsburgh.edu/covidexemptions" target="_blank">apply for an exemption</a> </font></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><a href="https://www.plattsburgh.edu/covid-19/covid-19-testing.html" target="_blank">Mandatory weekly testing </a>will continue for anyone on campus who is not fully vaccinated, does not have a booster and is eligible, or has a campus approved exemption.</font></li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="arial, sans-serif">The updated masking policy was developed in consultation with the Clinton County Department of Health and in alignment with current <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html" target="_blank">CDC guidelines</a>. The College will continue to evaluate and inform of updates or changes as data indicates.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="arial, sans-serif"> </font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Although the campus-wide survey of students, faculty and staff indicated that 85% of respondents support lifting our mask mandate, it is important to recognize and respect that some on campus are not comfortable with this change and will struggle to be in an unmasked environment. It is necessary - and expected - that we respect everyone’s personal choice to continue masking when and where they choose. That means that all on campus will refrain from criticizing, questioning, mocking and otherwise interfering with every individual’s right and freedom to make personal decisions about their health and safety.<br></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="arial, sans-serif"> </font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;line-height:13.91px"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Thank you.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><b><font face="arial, sans-serif">Alexander Enyedi, Ph.D.</font></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="arial, sans-serif">President, SUNY Plattsburgh</font></p></div></div></div></blockquote></div>