Mask and Social Distancing Requirements for Fall Quarter

By Devin Schug • May 29, 2021

Green River College (GRC) is waiting for Washington State Governor Jay Inslee to answer whether there will be mask and social distancing requirements for the fall.

“Green River College will follow the directives and guidelines for higher education operations for the fall issued by the Governor, as we have done since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr. Suzanne Johnson, president of GRC. Johnson has been serving as president of GRC since July 2017.

According to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), fully vaccinated people do not need to wear a mask in most situations, especially outdoors. On May 14, 2021, Governor Inslee said the same thing the DOH said here with some exceptions. One of those exceptions being at schools. Governor Inslee has not yet clarified whether higher education facilities fall under the term “schools.”

On June 10, 2021, GRC’s Phased Reopening Plan will be made available.

The College will operate in a hybrid-model for Fall 2021, with increased in-person instruction and expanded student services throughout the 2021-2022 academic year, while continuing to offer remote instruction and online student services, according to the GRC website.
The current mandate for GRC requires students, faculty, staff and community members wear masks and social distance six feet apart while on campus. Students should check the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Resources and Information page on the GRC website for more information on the subject.

“It is anticipated that the Governor will be providing revised guidelines for all colleges and universities in the state for fall operations soon, but we don’t know exactly when that will be. Once we have received these directives and guidelines, we will be providing information to all students at Green River College,” said Johnson.