On March 2, 2021, Governor Greg Abbott issued Executive Order GA-34, to take effect March 10, 2021. This Executive Order lifts the face covering mandate previously issued in Executive Order GA-29.

In response, Texas A&M University issued a statement on March 2, 2021 stating that Texas A&M's current face covering policies would remain in place through March 10, 2021, and additional guidance will be issued before that date. Given the current case data in Texas, Brazos county COVID-19 cases and hospital strain, and the CDC's guidance on mask wearing and safely attending school, this petition asks that Texas A&M continue to issue and enforce the existing face covering policy as previously laid out. We ask that the mask policy remain in place even after GA-34 takes effect on March 10, 2021. 

As students and members of the Texas A&M University and Bryan/College Station communities, we believe we have a responsibility to lead by example in protecting and serving our student, faculty, staff, and city communities. Per CDC guidance, a widespread face covering use is a vital tool in slowing the spread of SARS-CoV-2. We ask that Texas A&M University College Station and the Texas A&M University Office of the Provost keep the current face covering guidelines in effect after March 10, 2021.