University Of Tennessee Lifts Mask Mandate in Compliance with Statewide Legislation

University of Tennessee President Randy Boyd announced on Monday that the college will no longer require students to wear a face mask to classes.

Boyd said UT lifted mask requirements in compliance with a new COVID-19 omnibus bill that Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed into law on Friday. The bill limits what governments and businesses can require to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has set up a webpage that allows Tennessee businesses, governmental entities, and schools to seek an exemption from the new law, and the University of Tennessee System has applied.

"The University of Tennessee System has applied for an exemption to allow each campus and institute the flexibility necessary to implement the requirements of the federal executive order as required by certain federal contracts with UT campuses and institutes," says President Boyd.