TCU to Require Masks Indoors, Defying Gov. Abbott

Texas Christian University, located in Fort Worth, will require all students, professors, visitors, and staff to wear masks indoors. As cases continue to climb in Tarrant County and the public health crisis continues to aggravate every day, officials from TCU implemented a new face mask policy.

Under Greg Abbott’s governance, the last few months have been hard for Texans. As COVID cases continue to rise, hospitalizations are overwhelming nurses and doctors, endangering people that get sick. Mr. Abbott has refused to impose a mask mandate and has continued to ban local authorities from imposing their own measures, but some private institutions, such as TCU, still hold some power over their own campus. 

TCU requires masks to be worn indoors in public spaces, such as:

• Classrooms
• Common meeting space, break rooms or lounge areas
• Dining facilities, except when eating or drinking
• Unions and public event space
• University Rec Center
• Elevators and hallways
• Public Restrooms

As the new mask policy starts to apply in TCU, some exceptions are considered: face coverings may be removed when eating or drinking, and face masks are optional in private places such as private offices or residential rooms, according to officials.
The University continues to encourage vaccinations among students, and they are offering free vaccines from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, with no appointment required.