Providence College changes mask policy – notes 97% vaccination success

Photo: Provdience College President Rev. Kenneth R. Sicard, O.P. ’78 & ’82G 

Providence College President Fr. Kenneth R. Sicard, O.P. announced that, effective 5:00 p.m. today (Wednesday, February 16, 2022) masks will be optional inside Providence College buildings, with two exceptions.

Those exceptions will be in classrooms, where instructors may continue to require masks if they wish, and medical/clinical settings, where masks are required according to public health guidelines. 

Other protocols, e.g., those related to vaccinations, testing, and outside visitors attending events, remain in effect.

In his message to the campus, Fr. Sicard noted the importance of the word “optional.” He said there are people in our community who – for good reasons – will choose to continue wearing masks, or faculty who will require them in their classrooms, and he asked the campus community to respect these decisions. 

Fr. Sicard said he was making these changes because conditions are improving re: COVID-19; because the case rate among faculty, staff, and students has declined significantly; and because we have extra safeguards in place here at PC:

·         Ninety-seven percent of the people in our community received the original course of an authorized vaccine. Approximately 78% of those eligible have received a booster shot, and that number grows by the day. 

·         We continue to provide ready access to free, high-quality testing, and weekly testing will continue to be required of unvaccinated persons. Testing of symptomatic students will continue to be available in the Student Health Center.