Mask requirement extended


A masked professor hands out papers to masked students on the first day of classes

At the beginning of the fall semester, Lenoir-Rhyne implemented a mask mandate for August 18 through September. With the rise of positive local COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, LR has extended the mandate until further notice.

All students, staff, faculty and visitors to campus – regardless of vaccine status – must wear masks indoors in public areas, including academic buildings, classrooms, offices and the library. The indoor mask requirement does not apply to those eating or drinking, those alone in their office, apartment or residence hall or those with their fully vaccinated roommates.

Anyone not fully vaccinated, including individuals who received an approved vaccine exemption, is required to wear a mask at all times in public settings both indoors and outdoors and participate in COVID-19 testing a minimum of twice each week.

A comprehensive list of protocols and results of weekly surveillance testing is available at lr.edu/coronavirus.

In an email to campus, University President Fred Whitt shared his appreciation of the campus and local community for following guidelines and hopes for relaxed masking conditions soon.

“We continue to be thankful for the LR community supporting and embracing the requirement to become fully vaccinated so our campus can remain as safe as possible,” Whitt said.

View the latest university updates and information on COVID-19
Book cover of A Fever in the Heartland and Tim Egan author photo

Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist Tim Egan will visit Lenoir-Rhyne in March 2027 to deliver the inaugural Huffman Lecture on Social Justice, focused on democracy and civic responsibility.

View More
Agnes Park Hacawa page and graduation photo

After immigrating from Korea to Hawaii, Agnes Park crossed a continent to attend Lenoir-Rhyne. She graduated in 1924, and in 2025, her granddaughter traced the journey of one of the first international Bears.

View More