Dear Academic Affairs faculty and staff,
Today, the Chancellor’s Campus Readiness Task Force informed that “masks are now optional for the TCU campus community.” The Task Force’s email further noted that “Instructors may continue to require students to wear masks in classrooms.”
I messaged in August 2021 and again in January 2022 that if TCU lifts the mask requirement, instructors may continue to require masks in their classrooms. I asked that you clearly convey the requirement to your students and encouraged you to add the requirement to your syllabus.
If you choose to continue to require masks in your classroom…
I realize that some students may not wish to comply. Hopefully you included this language in your syllabus as suggested. When announcing to your classroom, consider including reasons for your concerns, such as a vulnerable immune system for yourself or a family member. If a student fails to comply and causes a disruption, you may refer them deanofstudents@tcu.edu. Online learning is not an option for students who refuse to wear a mask. It is only an option for students who test positive for COVID and report that test to TCU.
Masks will continue to be provided at entrances to buildings and you may also request to keep a box in your classroom space.
If you receive email complaints from parents, please forward their emails to connectedcampus@tcu.edu. You may also engage with parents if you are comfortable doing so.
To summarize:
- Student non-compliance: Refer them to deanofstudents@tcu.edu
- Parent email queries: Forward to connectedcampus@tcu.edu
I have high hopes that we have reached a turning point in the fight against this disease that has impacted every one of us. Let’s remain optimistic and courteous to each other as we head into the second half of the semester.
Best regards,
Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Texas Christian University