Two more New Jersey colleges announced this week that they will be dropping their mask mandates over the course of the next two weeks as COVID-19 cases drop across the region.
The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) will rescind its general mask mandate for students and employees on March 12, but anyone on any campus who wishes to wear one will be encouraged to do so, the school’s President Kathryn A. Foster said.
“Despite the removal of the campus-wide mask mandate, it may still be appropriate for a mask mandate to apply in certain circumstances,” Foster said in a statement. “Therefore, individual faculty may choose to require masks in their classrooms, laboratories, and offices, and vice presidents may authorize supervisors to require masks in particular offices. Any such mask requirement will be clearly communicated. Students and employees should continue to have a mask available for use in spaces where those local rules apply.”
Rider University will end its mask mandate on March 5, university officials announced Thursday.
After March 5, students and employees will only be required to wear masks indoors for a few special scenarios: when they are at the Student Health Center; during days six through 10 following quarantine or isolation; and for the period of 10 days following exposure for close contacts who are not required to quarantine, officials said.
Like TCNJ, any Rider University student who wishes to wear a mask will be allowed to do so.
The university also announced that proof of full COVID-19 vaccination will be required for students once again for the 2022-23 academic year, except for those who are in fully online degree programs or who are granted medical or religious exemptions.
The schools’ announcements come during the same week that officials at Princeton University and Rowan University separately announced they would end campus mask mandates in most settings.
Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.
Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.