Some university departments that sponsor student meetings or activities may now host in-person student events and activities with more than 25 attendees starting on Oct. 12, Student Affairs said in an email Thursday.

Attendance may not exceed the Common Good Capacity of the room in which the event is being held, up to a maximum attendance of 75, and the maximum capacity for outdoor events is 150 and social distancing must be maintained.

Student clubs and organizations are not included in the change, and Campus Life is working “to gradually provide more in-person opportunities while maintaining virtual participation opportunities as well,” the email said. Those clubs and organizations must continue to cap attendance at the Common Good Capacity or 25 people, whichever is fewer.

“We know that students want to see more of each other, and we have been reviewing ways to safely incorporate more in-person activities for students,” the email said. “Based on the results we have seen from contact tracing, which has not shown any transmission in classrooms or structured activities where social distancing was maintained, St. Thomas plans to increase the maximum size of certain well-structured and well-monitored student events.”

Social distancing, face coverings and other health protocols must be followed, attendance must be taken for contact tracing, organizers must have a plan to comply with protocols and a faculty or staff member must be present to monitor social distancing and other health protocols, with more staff needed for events with 50 or more attendees.

“We are hopeful that this change will allow for meaningful connections and opportunities for students while minimizing virus transmission risks,” the email said. “We know students want to be together, and we want to provide safe ways for that interaction to take place.”

Faculty and staff meetings are also not included, and those must continue to be held remotely whenever possible, the email said. If an in-person meeting is required for those groups, they must also cap attendance at 25 or the Common Good Capacity, whichever is fewer.

Non-university sponsored social gatherings are still limited to 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors, under Gov. Tim Walz’s executive order.

“While this change opens up certain well-monitored events, we remain flexible and can scale back if necessary based on health and safety needs,” the email said. “This change requires that community members continue to adhere to distancing, face covering and other health and safety protocols.”

Joey Swanson and Justin Amaker contributed to this report.