Western’s Board of Trustees Amend Face Covering Mandate

Masked Western Wyoming Community College Horses in Circle Drive

Western Wyoming Community College’s (Western) Board of Trustees voted to relax the temporary face covering mandate at the Board meeting yesterday evening, effective today, October 20, 2021. This mandate will continue through the rest of the Fall semester and be reevaluated by the Board prior to the start of the Spring semester in January 2022. 

Face coverings are required in the following spaces where social distancing cannot occur:  

  • Classrooms, including laboratories and clinicals 
  • College vehicles 
  • Small office spaces 
  • Theatre events and performances 
  • The Children’s Center where staff is not fully vaccinated. 

Face coverings are strongly recommended for all other areas. Western continues to support vaccination, regular and ongoing testing, and isolation when symptoms or exposure occur. 

The temporary mandate was put in place on August 25 and extended on September 21.  

The Board of Trustees weighed a number of factors when considering relaxing the mandate. Western’s campus COVID cases remain low. The Board empowered the institution to reinstate regular COVID testing for student-athletes and students living in the residence halls. The case data collected from these tests will help inform decision-making regarding COVID-19 in the future.  

Western offered several vaccination clinics on campus to ensure that students and employees could conveniently become vaccinated. Over 38 people were vaccinated at those clinics, and the demand for on-campus vaccination has dwindled drastically. The Board of Trustees requested a voluntary, anonymous, survey be distributed to both students and faculty. The survey responses showed that 80% of surveyed employees are vaccinated.  

“I trust that our Western Family will continue to make good decisions regarding health and safety. Our low campus COVID-19 cases demonstrate that we are willing to do what it takes. I look forward to seeing our students’ and colleagues’ smiles in the halls again,” stated Dr. Kim Dale, President of Western Wyoming Community College.  

Western’s Administration is committed to regular and ongoing review of the active number of COVID-19 cases on campus and conditions outlined in the COVID-19 decision matrix and will recommend additional changes to the Board of Trustees should conditions warrant.  

To contact the Board of Trustees, email Kandy Frink at kfrink@westernwyoming.edu.   

Want to learn more about us?

Western is an award-winning college in both our on-campus and distance learning programs. We believe our students come first, and your success is our #1 priority. Our motto says it best: “Enter with passion, leave with purpose”. Let us help you on your path to success!