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February 10, 2022

Dear Wolf Pack Family,

Earlier today, Gov. Steve Sisolak announced that he was rescinding the state’s mask mandate, effective immediately.

Based upon , our University is lifting our campus mask mandate effective immediately. Pursuant to Nevada law, NSHE employees, students and members of the public are no longer required to wear face coverings while inside NSHE buildings irrespective of vaccination status.

NSHE legal counsel has determined that although the  [External PDF], released today, contained language suggesting that NSHE institutions “may adopt a mask requirement for their students staff and visitors to campus,” individual NSHE institutions do not currently retain the authority to unilaterally impose more stringent face covering requirements beyond Nevada law. Stricter face covering requirements, according to NSHE’s legal determination, involve systemwide policy decisions that fall outside of an individual institution’s discretion.

In addition, NSHE has determined that, based on medical evidence and the new directive, NSHE employees who have received a religious or medical condition waiver from the Emergency COVID-19 Employee Vaccination Policy as set forth in Title 2, Chapter 12 of the Code are also no longer required to wear a face covering as a condition of their waiver approval.

Unvaccinated NSHE employees, as all State of Nevada employees, will still be required to complete weekly COVID-19 testing pursuant to directions from the State of Nevada that remain in effect. Additional information on this testing requirement will be provided in the coming weeks.

While the face covering mandate has been removed, all NSHE employees, students, and members of the public retain the individual discretion to continue wearing a face covering on NSHE property, including inside classrooms and workspaces. Individuals who choose to continue wearing a face covering or who choose not to wear a face covering on our campus, should be permitted to do so free of any criticism, judgment, or retaliation.

The University is encouraging everyone to continue to wash their hands frequently, get vaccinated or boosted if you haven’t already, get tested if you are showing COVID-19 symptoms, and make sure that, if needed, the proper isolation or quarantine guidelines are followed.

Today’s news will require some patience as we work through the details. Please continue to show empathy, patience and understanding toward one another. As we learn more about the policy ramifications of today’s news, we will share the developments and any further adjustments that will be required. Thank you for all that you are doing to make this a successful semester.

Sincere regards,

Brian Sandoval
President