As of Feb. 28, 2022, Otterbein has adopted the newly released masking guidance from the Ohio Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Based on this new guidance, Otterbein is ending its mask requirement for students, employees, and visitors to campus. This decision has been made in consultation with our partners at Franklin County Public Health (FCPH). This will take effect immediately and includes public events and performances. 

This means masks are now optional for all individuals on campus, regardless of vaccination status. According to FCPH, while unvaccinated individuals have a higher risk of serious illness or hospitalization due to the virus, they transmit the virus at the same rate as vaccinated people.  

We still require all unvaccinated but exempted students and employees to be tested weekly through May 1, when we will reassess this policy. Only 3% of our campus community is unvaccinated with medical or religious exemptions. 

While individuals are no longer required to wear masks on campus, they are welcome to wear one if they choose. Otterbein is a mask-friendly campus. We support those who choose to continue to wear a mask or need to wear a mask due to health concerns.