KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Masks will be required on the University of Kansas campuses in Lawrence and Overland Park.
That isn’t new, but details of the enforcement strategy — including a website to report individuals who are non-compliant — were announced Wednesday in KU Chancellor Doug Girod’s weekly COVID-19 update video.
“We’re capturing anybody who wants to report someone not wearing a mask at the same website, which is unmasked.ku.edu,” Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Barbara Bichelmeyer said, appearing with Girod in the video.
Depending on who the complaint is about and where on campus it occurred, there will be different mechanisms to investigate — and potentially punish — those who refuse to wear masks.
Human resources will handle complaints against staff, while faculty oversight groups will handle complaints against professors.
Depending on whether students were in class or out of class, student affairs or KU’s academic misconduct policies may apply.
“The biggest change is the recognition that we need to be wearing a mask indoors and outdoors — not just outdoors if you’re not socially distanced, but outdoors, period, if you’re on campus,” Girod said.
He said Dr. Deborah Birx, who visited the Kansas City area last weekend, emphasized the need for masks indoors and outdoors to stem the COVID-19 pandemic.
KU plans to add signs at campus entrances and other places around campus to remind students, faculty, staff and visitors of the policy.
All students, faculty and staff also must undergo a test for coronavirus before returning Sept. 7 unless that individual has tested positive since June 7 under principles of the Protect KU reopening plan. Saliva-based testing is already underway and appointments can be made online.
Ongoing surveillance testing may take place during the semester and KU is asking people to stay home when they feel ill.
The university will allow events on campus as long as they are registered with the Office of Event Management and Protocol. Most event requests for fewer than 45 people will be approved, but others may require additional approval.
“We so want to make sure that our students are on campus and active and engaged — not only in their classes, but co-curricularly,” Bichelmeyer said. “These are the kinds of programs that support their intellectual development and help them network and find leadership opportunities across the university.”
Girod said no determination has been made yet about whether fans will be allowed at Jayhawks athletics events, including football, or what capacity limits might be in place if fans are allowed.
“There’s more to be determined there, but as of last week we are moving forward in the Big 12 with our fall (sports) season,” he said.
KU leadership expects enrollment to be down, but it’s unclear how much lower it will be with a week to go before the enrollment deadline. The university also is making plans to have some staff available at campus offices — with reduced staff and reduced hours in some cases.
