KU’s message on masks is broadening.

While the University of Kansas earlier this month instituted a mask mandate for all indoor spaces on the KU campus, the university’s top emergency management official specifically asked students and staff members to wear their masks off campus as well.

KU has no ability to mandate members of the KU community to wear masks when not on university property, but KU’s emergency management coordinator said he thought much of the upcoming COVID battle would hinge on how well the virus is contained outside of the KU campus.

“The in-class environment for both teaching and learning should be a pretty safe place,” Andrew Foster, KU’s emergency management coordinator, said as part of a video message Tuesday with Chancellor Douglas Girod. “I’m fairly comfortable, and I wouldn’t say that unless I was actually comfortable with it.”

“The place that is going to be concerning, I think everyone knows, is what happens off campus,” Foster continued. “I would encourage everybody — students, faculty and staff alike — wear your masks when you aren’t teaching or when you aren’t in the classroom. When you go out, when go to the store, when you go to any kind of gathering, keep wearing the masks.

“I know they are not fun, but let’s wear them and see if we can make a safer environment off campus too.”

In his comments, Girod also made a point to emphasize that KU is “strongly recommending” masks for “large outdoor gatherings,” although KU’s mask mandate does not cover outdoor events. Girod didn’t provide any comments about whether KU would be taking steps to encourage fans at upcoming football games, for instance, to wear masks, or about why the university has not taken the step of mandating masks for football games and other such events.

Girod also did not mention a recent petition that his office received from more than 250 faculty members who are calling for stricter COVID protocols. One of the ideas put forth by the faculty group is that individuals would be denied entrance to some events — such as games or concerts — if they can’t show proof of vaccination or provide a recent negative COVID test result.

A spokeswoman for KU last week said KU was open to requiring proof of vaccination or a negative test result for admittance to certain events, but the university has not announced any plans for such a program. Girod did not address the idea in his video remarks to the campus on Tuesday.

Town Peterson, a professor in the department of ecology and evolutionary biology and an organizer of the petition drive, said he did receive a formal response from the provost’s office after the petition was delivered last week.

“It did not respond in any way with a change in plan of action,” he said.

Since the petition was delivered, KU did announce its program of incentives that will be offered to students to get vaccinated. That program includes a $40 gift card to the KU Bookstores for anybody who gets vaccinated on campus, plus numerous drawings for larger prizes, including a semester of paid tuition, $5,000 cash prizes along with technology, tickets and parking prize packages.

Peterson said he believes KU’s incentive program is lacking.

“Offering a $40 gift certificate isn’t going to change anyone’s mind,” Peterson said. “If people need a financial incentive, give them something serious.”

Two state universities are offering several hundred dollars to every student who shows proof of vaccination. Pittsburg State is offering a $500 scholarship to every student who shows proof of vaccination by Sept. 17. In addition, Pitt State is holding two drawings, each for $8,500. Fort Hays State is offering $400 to both students and staff who show proof of vaccination, according to a report by the Tiger Media Network.

“Knocking $400 or $500 off the cost of tuition is pretty cheap compared to what would happen if we have a full lockdown, not to mention the threat of someone passing away,” Peterson said.

As reported, KU’s program features a number of prize drawings, including:

• three prizes of $5,091, which is equivalent to one semester of in-state tuition at KU;

• three cash prizes of $5,000;

• four $1,000 prizes for KU Dining Dollars that can be spent at food locations throughout campus;

• Apple product packages including iPads, AirPods, and Apple Watches;

• Gift cards to a variety of retailers and restaurants;

• Various athletic department tickets.

In total, the incentives program is expected to provide prizes worth about $235,000 or more. The program is being funded through federal funds that KU received to administer vaccines. The federal funding specifically included a provision that allowed it to be used for incentive programs, Foster said.

During Tuesday’s video message, Girod and Foster both urged students to not only take advantage of the incentives, but to reach out to KU for information about the vaccine. Foster said there will be vaccine events throughout campus, often set up in the lobbies of many schools. He said those clinics will be staffed by either nurses or doctors who can answer questions.

“Stop by and talk to a nurse or doctor if you are on the fence about getting a vaccine,” Foster said. “That is one of the reasons we want to be out there. Ask them about it and see if we can clear up any questions you have.”

Students can become automatically entered for the prizes by uploading their proof of vaccination at studenthealth.ku.edu or they become registered by participating in one of the vaccine clinics on campus.

“It is a great myriad of prizes out there,” Girod said. “Students, please take full advantage of it. It is definitely the next step for us to get through this. It is the best thing you can do to protect yourself, your family and your friends.”