The University of Chicago will distribute two school-branded masks and a reusable oral thermometer to all students in Chicago at the start of Fall Quarter, according to an email by Dean of Students in the College Jay Ellison. The wellness packages, part of the UChicago Forward reopening initiative, will be distributed by Campus and Student Life as part of the effort to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the University.

On-campus residents will have the package placed in their dorm rooms. Off-campus residents, however, will need to report to Mandel Hall to pick up their masks in-person. To preserve social distancing, administrators have separated the student body into three groups for distribution.

For students with last names that start with letters ranging from A – G, distribution will take place outside Mandel Hall on October 5, 2020 between 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Students with last names beginning from H – P will have their distribution on October 6th between 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., and students with last names Q – Z will receive their package on October 7th between 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., both outside Mandel Hall.

Students are required to wear masks while in line for package distribution, and are limited to one package per person. Students must bring their UCID to receive a package.

In his email, Ellison also re-iterated the need of University students to wear face masks saying, “Face coverings and temperature checks are important to help limit the spread of COVID-19, and are part of the University’s health and safety requirements.”