Penn State has launched a new public health campaign to encourage students, faculty, staff, and community members to take personal action to limit coronavirus spread on campus this fall.

The new initiative, titled “Mask Up Or Pack Up,” is a research-based campaign that hopes to remind folks to wear their face masks and follow proper public health guidelines at all times to make sure they don’t need to “pack up” and head home prematurely. To do this, Penn State will share the campaign’s messaging inside and outside campus buildings, on social media, and “around local establishments” within the community.

The campaign aims to reinforce state and university health and safety guidelines, shift attitudes and behaviors of the “hard-to-persuade,” and increase the practice of essential behaviors, like wearing masks. Penn State used the results of countless surveys to develop the campaign’s messaging.

“Everyone is making adjustments to what normal looks like as we return to campus, and it’s imperative to remind ourselves that these steps will help protect our communities and maintain on campus learning,” President Eric Barron said. “Our top priority continues to be the health and safety of everyone in and around our campuses.”

Citing peer influences as an important factor to the campaign’s success, Penn State has partnered with a few prominent alumni, including retired NFL star John Urschel and actor Patrick Fabian. Penn State said alumni input is “an important component of reaching a larger audience.”

“As part of the greater Penn State/Centre County community, it is critical that we collaborate in our best efforts to address the needs of citizens, students, and visitors to our community,” Vern Squier, president and CEO of Centre County’s Chamber of Business & Industry, said. “We must rally together to deal with this situation.”

Students, faculty, and staff are required to wear face masks in all classrooms and buildings, when walking around campus, and within the surrounding community. Those who fail to comply could be met with disciplinary action, potentially including suspension or expulsion.

Penn State plans to provide two reusable masks for each Penn Stater upon their return to campus but advises everyone to bring their own supply, too.

Students and Penn State fans are invited to share their mask pictures on social media and to tag the picture #MaskUpOrPackUp.