January 14, 2022
Temporary adjustments to campus operations due to COVID
Washington State University remains committed to a robust
in‑person experience this semester at all of our physical
locations. In order to keep our students, faculty, and staff
as safe as possible, we are making temporary adjustments to
campus operations to provide increased protection against the
highly transmissible omicron variant.
We are asking organizers of events, including sporting
events, to refrain from serving food or drink at least
through the end of January. This will allow attendees to
keep their masks on at all times.
Additionally, WSU recommends that all Cougs wear
surgical-style, KN95, KF94, or equivalent high-quality
masks rather than cloth masks if they are in high-traffic
areas. WSU has released its stockpile of KN95 masks to
campus and college liaisons for distribution.
If staffing levels are significantly impacted by
COVID‑19, campus facilities or services may need to close
early or limit operations in some isolated cases. Units
are making contingency plans now to minimize any potential
disruptions.
Throughout the pandemic, Cougs have consistently
stepped up to meet the challenges of COVID‑19. More than
90% of the WSU community is vaccinated and many have also
received their booster. WSU is closely monitoring the
situation with the omicron variant and will provide
further updates if conditions change.
In the meantime, all members of the university
community should continue to follow these important
public health precautions.
We appreciate your continued patience and
understanding as we all work through the ongoing
challenges of this pandemic.
Thank you,
Kirk
Kirk H. Schulz
President
Washington State University