Penn State will update its guidance for hosting events and large gatherings on and off campus beginning Tuesday, June 29, until the return to on-campus work on Monday, August 16.

The time between June 29 and the fall will serve as a transition period as Penn State leadership will continue to update existing policies and protocols before the start of the semester.

The university will follow Governor Tom Wolf’s administration and lift most masking requirements for fully vaccinated people on Monday, June 28. Non-vaccinated individuals will need to continue masking inside campus buildings after June 28.

Before June 28, student-organized events, Penn State-sponsored events, and on-campus events sponsored by outside entities must receive approval from their unit executive to host gatherings. Unit leaders may authorize greater capacity than the current limits indicate in outdoor venues.

Beginning on June 29, the approval process will return to the individuals that held approval authority before the pandemic.

Guidelines for events and gatherings are as follows:

• Communicate to participants what is expected at the event
• Communicate before the event and on signage at the venue that unvaccinated attendees must wear masks when indoors
• Identify cleaning protocols for the space in use (hand-washing, masking, encourage vaccines)
• Acknowledgment of risk forms are no longer required, but signatures may be required for events with participants below the age of 18
• Provide visible acknowledgment of risk signs at the venue and indicate that COVID-19 is still present in our community and that attendees assume the risk of possibly contracting the virus 
• Planners should use digital tickets, cashless concessions, and digital program and handouts
• Planners should compile a list of attendees and contact information in the event of contact tracing

The updated event and gatherings guidance emphasizes that organizers must follow existing COVID-19 safety procedures as outlined by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Penn State’s COVID-19 website, and Penn State’s Return to Work website.