Updates from the COVID-19 Task Force

Guidance Regarding Masks

Given the recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance and in consultation with the Mississippi State University COVID-19 task force, faculty and student leadership, beginning June 2nd, employees and students are no longer required to wear a mask when indoors, including classrooms, if fully vaccinated. Anyone who is not fully vaccinated should continue to wear a mask while in classrooms, teaching laboratories, and studio settings. We encourage everyone to be supportive of those employees or students who need to or choose to continue to wear a mask.

Vaccine Requirements

Mississippi State urges all students and employees to be fully vaccinated. Vaccinations are our best defense against the spread of COVID-19 and persons who are fully vaccinated are not required to quarantine if exposed to someone with COVID-19 unless they become symptomatic. Vaccines are readily available via covidvaccine.umc.edu or covidvaccine.msstate.edu and across our community including OCH Regional Medical Center, Walmart and Kroger stores.

Mississippi law and IHL Board policies require that students obtain certain vaccinations before attending IHL institutions.  This law does not currently include the COVID-19 vaccine.  Unless and until state law and IHL Board policy is amended to reflect such a requirement, MSU does not have the legal authority to require any additional vaccinations.

Follow MSU’s COVID-19 guidance and evolving information at www.msstate.edu/covid19.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.