AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin will require all students, faculty, and staff to wear face masks indoors while they're on campus.

In a letter from Interim President Jay Hartzel regarding fall planning, the new policy follows guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Masks are also encouraged to be worn outside, but it's not required. 

UT community members can remove masks in a campus building if they are alone in a private office or space, or if they are in their assigned residence hall room once residence halls reopen. 

The University is working to develop a mechanism for ensuring the use of face coverings in buildings and will share that plan when it is finalized. 

UT is also developing a plan to test asymptomatic individuals on a voluntary basis to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 on campus.

These new policies come on the heels of last week’s planning letter, which highlighted new decisions on a wide range of policies, including more options for online classes, and a classroom capacity limit to 40 percent to maintain social distancing. Classes will only take place between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. to reduce population density on campus.