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This file photo shows a view of the UNLV campus.
Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020 | 10:21 a.m.
UNLV students failing to wear a face covering on campus as required by the university’s COVID-19 safety protocols could be referred to the Office of Student Conduct, officials announced this week in a letter to students.
The university has moved 80% of its courses online in response to the pandemic. Those traveling to campus for instruction must wear a mask, indoors and out. Masks will also be mandated when around others in personal spaces, such as on-campus living quarters.
“The ongoing pandemic has required us to make significant changes to our operations and develop new procedures for promoting the safety and wellbeing of our entire campus community,” the university said in a note to students.
One of those changes is prohibiting on-campus smoking, vaping and chewing tobacco, which would require removing face coverings.
The university is also advising students to follow social distancing standards of staying 6 feet, or two arms length, apart. Students are also asked to monitor their health daily through temperature checks and complete a COVID-19 self-assessment. The self-assessment can be found on the RebelSAFE app.
Officials remind students to stay away from campus if they are ill. If a student tests positive for the virus, they should complete an online voluntary reporting form.
Officials stress that courses could begin with in-person instruction but finish online as warranted by the spread of the virus. Course start times have been adjusted to limit the number of people walking around campus.
The university has also produced a “Returning to Campus” safety video that details best practices, such as thorough hand-washing.
“We encourage you to persevere through this challenging time. The pandemic will end; the economy will recover; and when those things happen, we all hope that you will have progressed in building the educational foundation for the future you desire,” the letter states.
Officials previously said 30,000 students are expected to be enrolled for the fall semester, which begins later this month.
Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21
