Face masks

Policy

Effective Monday, Aug. 2, everyone must wear face masks over their mouths and noses in all indoor spaces on university property unless alone in their own private offices or workspaces.

Unvaccinated students, faculty and staff who can receive the COVID-19 vaccine are strongly encouraged to do so.

The guidance is based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Frequently asked questions

General questions

What information is available regarding the care and use of face masks?

Are face masks required while riding a campus shuttle or bus?

Where can I find a face mask on a K-State campus?

Individuals who choose to wear a face mask are encouraged to bring their own. Should you forget to bring your own, face masks are available for purchase at the K-State Student Union Bookstore in Manhattan and the bookstore at the Polytechnic campus. At the Olathe campus, individuals may inquire at the reception desk.

University departments that wish to maintain a supply of face masks are encouraged to do so. The Division of Facilities storeroom is a centralized location for departments to order face masks and other cleaning and disinfectant supplies.

Do I still need to wear a face mask if I have had COVID-19 or been vaccinated?

Are face shields an acceptable alternative to wearing a cloth face mask?

CDC guidance does not recommend the use of face shields for normal everyday activities as a substitute for cloth face masks. It is not known if face shields provide any benefit to protect others from the spray of respiratory particles.

Face shields are not a replacement for face masks, except in approved instances such as:

Instructors or speakers while lecturing or speaking to a group to support the ability to project audibly better or to provide an accommodation for a student who may rely on seeing the instructor’s mouth to understand content clearly. The instructor or speaker must be able to maintain at least 6-feet physical distance from all members of the class/group.
Students who have received permission from the Student Access Center to wear a face shield as part of a reasonable accommodation in those rare instances when the student cannot be accommodated with online teaching/learning.
Employees who have received permission from the ADA Coordinator to wear a face shield as part of a reasonable accommodation when it is not possible for the employee to perform their job duties remotely.

Face shields must wrap around the sides of the wearer’s face and extend below the chin. Disposable face shields should only be worn for a single use, reusable face shields should be cleaned after each use.

Should face masks be worn during in-person classes?

All students must wear a face mask while attending classes in person. Instructors may wear a face shield if they maintain 6-feet physical distance from all persons in the room, but they must wear a mask when entering and exiting the classroom. The primary accommodation for students who are unable to wear a cloth face mask due to documented medical reasons is online teaching/learning. In rare cases, when a student is unable to be accommodated with online teaching, the student may be permitted to wear a face shield. The Student Access Center will contact instructors regarding any students who require an accommodation.

Student and campus life

Am I required to wear a face mask while in my on-campus room or apartment?

Face masks are not required when students are in their personal on-campus residence hall rooms/suites or apartments (including private and suite-style bathrooms). You should apply the same thought process that you used while living at home with your family. When you and your roommate first come together at the start of the semester, you should have a discussion around face mask expectations. However, if one of you were to develop COVID-19-related symptoms, then face masks should be worn until a health care professional can been consulted. 

Faculty and staff guidance

I am teaching in person this fall. How do I accommodate students in my class who may rely on seeing my mouth to understand content clearly?

Many students rely on seeing a speaker's mouth to understand content clearly.  This affects students who are hard of hearing, students who speak English as a second language or students who have other difficulties processing verbal language. If a faculty member is teaching a student who requires a reasonable accommodation for a documented disability that has been approved by the Student Access Center, the faculty member will receive an email from the SAC and a clear shield or mask must be used in order to provide appropriate access.  

Enforcement

How will the face mask guidance be enforced?

We expect everyone who comes to campuses to observe our health and wellness protocols. We must all work together to help stop the spread of the virus. Failure to comply with face mask requirements may result in denial of access to designated areas or participation in programs or activities, and/or discipline in accordance with applicable university policies. 

In classrooms, faculty have the right to deny a student entry into the room if the student is not wearing a face mask.

Can individuals be directed to vacate university property if they refuse to wear a face mask?

Yes, unless they have received an exemption from the face mask policy from the appropriate university staff. If individuals are not wearing a face mask in a public space, the first response should be a collegial reminder and an offer of a clean face mask, if one is available. If the individual refuses to wear a face mask, a supervisor may direct the individual to leave. For students this could be a faculty member or a staff member overseeing the area. For example, a faculty member could direct a student to attend a class remotely rather than in person. As a last resort, if the person refuses to leave, inform the person you are calling the campus police for assistance.

Manhattan campus police: 785-532-6412
Olathe campus security guard: 913-307-7318
Kansas State Polytechnic security officer: 785-826-2909

At no point should an individual put themselves into an unsafe situation while attempting to enforce the face mask policy.

How should I raise a concern about someone not adhering to the face mask requirement?

Employees should visit with your immediate supervisor and express your concern. Your supervisor will follow appropriate protocols. Your supervisor will be in a position to ascertain whether the person has an exemption and, if not, to request the person wear a face mask or vacate the space. If the supervisor is uncertain of the exemption status of the employee, the supervisor should engage with Employee Relations & Engagement about further guidance.

Students and visitors should contact the faculty or staff member who is supervising the person or the space where the infraction occurred (for example, the instructor or department head). The instructor or department head will be in a position to ascertain whether the person has an exemption and, if not, politely direct the person to wear a face mask or vacate the space.

As a supervisor, how do I handle employees who do not comply with the face mask policy?

Employees are expected to comply with the face mask requirement as a condition of employment, as well as for the health and safety of themselves, their colleagues and the K-State community.

Employees who do not comply should be reminded of the policy by their supervisor and provided additional education and training as needed. Employees may require accommodation, and if this is the case, please direct employees to the ADA coordinator in HCS. If the employee does not have an exemption, and if after additional education and training, an employee refuses to comply, you may direct the individual to leave the space. As a last resort, if the employee refuses to leave, inform the employee you are calling the campus police for assistance.

If the employee leaves without issue, proceed with disciplinary action in accordance with university policies. Employee Relations & Engagement in HCS is available to assist with guidance around disciplinary action.

If the employee refuses to leave, call campus police to assist in removing the employee. At no point should the supervisor or other employees put themselves into an unsafe situation while attempting to enforce the face mask policy.

Manhattan campus police: 785-532-6412
Olathe campus security guard: 913-307-7318
Kansas State Polytechnic security officer: 785-826-2909

Following the removal of the employee, proceed with disciplinary action in accordance with university policies.

As an instructor or advisor, how do I enforce wearing face masks in my office, classroom or other learning space?

If a student is not wearing a face mask, the first response should be a collegial reminder and an offer of a clean face mask, if one is available. If the individual refuses to wear a face mask, you may direct the individual to leave the space, and if available, join the class remotely or participate in virtual office hours or advising sessions. As a last resort, if the student refuses to leave, inform the student you are calling the campus police for assistance.

If the student leaves without issue, the instructor has the option of completing the Code of Conduct form to ensure consistency in policy application. This information will be used to track frequency of requests for compliance.

If the student refuses to leave, call campus police to assist in removing the student. At no point should the professor or other students put themselves into an unsafe situation while attempting to enforce the face mask policy.

Manhattan campus police: 785-532-6412
Olathe campus security guard: 913-307-7318
Kansas State Polytechnic security officer: 785-826-2909

Complete the Code of Conduct form. The Office of Student Life will look further into the issue and take the non-compliance with the request to leave into consideration of further accountability measures.

What are the steps after the Office of Student Life receives a Code of Conduct violation report?

The Office of Student Life follows a defined procedure in the event of a violation of the face mask policy.

1st offense: Warning letter sent to the student with information regarding the policy and potential next steps.
2nd offense: Administrative hearing with OSL Dean to discuss the policy and any concerns being raised.
3rd offense: Student Review Board hearing where student could face sanctions up to removal from the classroom, university property, or temporary loss of student status.

Elevated concerns could allow for skipping of steps or addressing the behavior through the Threat Management Policy.

As a supervisor, I have been notified that a visitor, contractor or vendor is not adhering to the face mask requirement. What are my next steps?

Please contact the K-State employee who is supervising the person or the space where the infraction occurred. The K-State employee who is supervising the project or space will be in a position to ascertain whether the person has an exemption and, if not, politely direct the person to wear a face mask or vacate the space.

The first response should be a collegial reminder and an offer of a clean face mask, if one is available. If the individual refuses to wear a face mask, you may direct the individual to leave the space. As a last resort, if the individual refuses to leave, inform the person you are calling the campus police for assistance.

If the individual refuses to leave, call campus police to assist in removing the individual. At no point should the supervisor or other employees put themselves into an unsafe situation while attempting to enforce the face mask policy.

Manhattan campus police: 785-532-6412
Olathe campus security guard: 913-307-7318
Kansas State Polytechnic security officer: 785-826-2909

The K-State employee who is supervising the project or space will look further into the issue and take the non-compliance with the request to leave into consideration for further accountability measures.