May 9, 2023

Beginning Thursday, May 11, the University of Rhode Island will, based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance and best practices, no longer require community members to wear masks indoors on our campuses.  

This change in policy is based on continued low transmission rates across our state and to align our masking policy with CDC Community Risk Levels, which continue to remain low in all Rhode Island counties. The University will continue to follow CDC Community Risk Levels weekly and monitor COVID-19 transmission rates on our campuses and across the state and will keep the community informed should a need arise to reinstate mandatory masking based on those risk levels.  

While wearing masks in indoor areas is now optional, there are people in our community who will continue to wear them. We encourage people to respect their choice. Please also stay home from work or class if you are sick. When people stay home, they help prevent the spread of illness on campus and allow themselves the opportunity to recover.  

As a reminder, the University strongly recommends that all students, faculty, and staff stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations, including primary series doses and boosters. The vaccines have been proven to be safe and extremely effective in averting serious illness or death.  

The University would like to thank our faculty, staff, students, and all those who continue to work so hard to safeguard the health and well-being of our community.  

#RhodyTogether