As the winter quarter comes to a close, I know many are looking ahead to the spring term. Before I share important spring updates, I want to thank you—the students, faculty, and staff of Green River College—for your dedication and commitment to education throughout the fall and winter quarters. Your efforts have helped provide a safe working and learning environment and have been critical to our ability to keep COVID cases low, return to in-person instruction, and increase our on-campus student support services and activities.
Winter Quarter & Spring Break
On March 10, we announced that Green River College would continue to require masks across all GRC locations through the end of the winter quarter. We will maintain this requirement across all GRC locations for the rest of the winter quarter, as well as the break between terms.
Spring Quarter
In accordance with the state’s revised guidelines and Reopening Committee’s recommendations, GRC will make the following changes for the spring quarter:
- GRC will no longer require masking while on campus, effective April 4. The College continues to encourage mask wearing and will require masks in certain situations or locations (as permitted under the current higher education guidelines). This may include small, enclosed offices, non-rostered or non-instructional spaces (e.g., Counseling, Tutoring, Writing Reading Center, Math Learning Center, Public Speaking Center, Language Center, Library, and other support service locations) where physical distancing may not be reasonable. Faculty may require masking for their individual classes and will notify their students if masks will be required prior to the first day of their in-person class. As such, all students, faculty, staff, and community members should continue to bring a mask when visiting a GRC location. Areas requiring masks will be clearly marked with new signage, and masks will continue to be provided at the entrances of each building.
- Proof of vaccination, or approved exemption, will still be required for all on campus classes, activities, work, or services. As a fully vaccinated college (defined by Proclamation 12.5, which remains in effect), individuals who have received an approved medical or religious exemption must continue to wear a mask while on campus.
- The health attestation process will be retired. Beginning April 4, students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors will no longer be required to submit a daily health attestation.
- Free, voluntary COVID-19 testing for GRC students and employees will continue to be available on campus Mondays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The testing site is located at the Fitness Center (FC), located in the southeast corner of campus. (NOTE: The testing site is not in the Recreation and Athletics Center (RAC) in the Student Union). Registration is required before testing is done: Register for free.
The College’s success in avoiding serious Covid outbreaks rests in our high vaccination rates, willingness to wear PPE to avoid transmitting Covid, access to testing, and your cooperation. The College will continue to employ multiple strategies to ensure the safety of our students, staff, and faculty. Thank you for doing your part to ensure the safety of our campus community as we transition back to in-person services and instruction.