Waubonsee Community College updates mask policy, incentivizes student vaccines, and hosts community vaccine clinics

Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove has reinstated its mask policy after a recommended mask update was released on July 27 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as concerns rise over the Delta variant of COVID-19.

Effective Aug. 2, 2021, all Waubonsee employees, students, and guests, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to resume wearing masks indoors in common areas while on campus.

This is a change from the college's announcement that vaccinated individuals do not need to wear masks in public spaces on campus. Waubonsee continues to follow recommended protocols and procedures by the CDC, including those for masks and physical distancing.

While the college will not require vaccinations of employees, students, or guests, it strongly urges everyone to get vaccinated. Getting vaccinated remains the safest and proven way to prevent severe illness, hospitalizations, and death from COVID-19. With the highly transmissible Delta variant, this is more urgent than ever.

Effective immediately, the college also will incentivize students to get vaccinated.

All students registered for fall classes who have received their final vaccination on or after July 1, 2021, will be eligible to receive a $100 credit at the Waubonsee Bookstore on the Sugar Grove or Aurora Downtown campuses.

Proof of registration, an official COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card, and a photo ID will be required. Limit one per person.

Additionally, the college will be offering two drop-in, community-wide, COVID-19 vaccination clinics at its Registration Rally events during the week of Aug. 2.

The clinics will offer both the Pfizer and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Everyone is invited to attend. No identification or insurance is required. The time and date for the clinics are:

• Monday, Aug. 2, from noon to 6 p.m at the Sugar Grove campus in the Student Center Formal Dining Room.

• Wednesday, Aug. 4, from noon to 6 p.m. at the Aurora Downtown campus in the conference room.

To learn about all the health and safety measures Waubonsee has instituted to keep the campus community safe and healthy, visit www.waubonsee.edu/covid19.