Beginning in the fall semester, the university is requiring students, faculty and staff to wear face masks, and will be providing masks to those who don’t have one.

The university bought 50,000 Bammie face masks to provide to students in order to follow a new rule being implemented on campus. The new rule requires students to wear a face mask while inside enclosed spaces, but allows them to take the mask off once outside. 

Dean of Students Kelly Owens said the regulation of the mask requirement will be regulated as any other policy on campus. “Persons not complying will be asked to comply,” she said. “In rare cases when students refuse to comply, it may become a student discipline issue. But we are confident that our students understand the importance of the face coverings and the important role coverings play in preventing the spread of COVID-19.”

“At UCA, our students’ health and safety are top priorities,” Owens said, explaining the motivation behind supplying the Bammies to students. “We are doing everything we can to ensure that our campus community stays healthy as we come back to campus. We know that wearing face coverings dramatically reduces the spread of COVID-19, so we are requiring that they be worn and we are happy to be able to provide them.”

For students looking to acquire a mask when arriving on campus, Owens said that “distribution will be a joint effort between Residence Life and Student Life. For students who live on campus, we want to make sure they have access to the face coverings as they arrive on campus. A distribution plan for commuting students will be solidified and sent out soon…Students living in University housing will get one during the move-in process.”

Owens said the time frame for the face mask requirement is unsure as of now.