Lewis-Clark State College President Cynthia Pemberton says the school will move to a mask-optional protocol in classrooms, office and interior building spaces beginning Jan. 3rd.
The college’s testing strategy will remain in place through January to help monitor the success of the move.
Pemberton said the modification in COVID-19 prevention strategy partly results from a campus-wide survey that indicated 77 percent were comfortable implementing the protocol immediately; 80 percent as of Jan. 3rd; and 89 pending a successful spring semester.
According to the president, 71 percent of employees have been vaccinated and student vaccination rates run between 40 and 60 percent.
Mask-optional means faculty and staff members can direct whether masks will be worn in classrooms and individual or share office spaces. The college recommends people exercise mask-optional judgment as part of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.