Ball State, Valparaiso U Take Steps To Reduce COVID-19

MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) — Two more Indiana universities have announced steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19 on their campuses.

Ball State University President Geoffrey Mearns announced in a message to faculty that masks would be required in all university buildings beginning Monday. And Valparaiso University is requiring all students, faculty and staff to receive the COVID-19 vaccine before the start of the fall semester.

The Ball State mandate requires all employees, students and campus visitors, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a mask inside any university building, with very few exceptions.

In his message to faculty Wednesday, Mearns said the mandate could be lifted, depending on vaccination rates on the Muncie campus.

“If that number increases substantially over the next few weeks, that fact may also expedite our ability to roll back this enhanced mask protocol safely,” Mearns said.

Valparaiso’s website says all students, faculty and staff should be vaccinated already. It says the university plans to lift its mask mandate for fully vaccinated students and staff Friday.

Other public and private universities throughout the state, including Notre Dame and Indiana University, are requiring students to receive the vaccine.

Indiana University says nearly 85% of its students have reported receiving at least one dose of the vaccine. Purdue isn’t requiring vaccinations but is telling students who don’t submit documentation of vaccinations that they could face weekly COVID-19 tests. Purdue says at least 60% of students are vaccinated.