August 10: COVID-19 Return to Campus Update to Students

 

Dear Students,

As we continue to prepare for a successful start to the fall semester, we write to provide an update on two specific initiatives, masking protocols and pre-arrival testing, which are central to our ability to best monitor and mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19.

We encourage all students to register for the Return to Campus Town Hall Meeting, to be held Thursday, August 12 at 4:00 PM. This meeting, which is being co-hosted by the Student Government Association along with College President, Fr. John Denning, C.S.C., Pauline Dobrowski, Vice President for Student Affairs, and DeBrenna Agbenyiga, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, is intended to provide an opportunity to further discuss all health and safety measures anticipated for the fall.

Masking Protocols

We will continue to follow the Massachusetts guidelines with the following additional protocols for college campuses that will take effect at Stonehill on Wednesday, August 11: masks will be required for all students and employees, vaccinated and unvaccinated, indoors, in public-facing areas.

Public-facing areas are defined as follows:

• all classrooms, library-space, meeting rooms, and conference rooms;
• all gymnasiums, dance studios, workout spaces, and locker rooms, including the Sports Complex;
• all cafeterias and serveries (except when actively eating);
• all hallways, restrooms, and other common areas in academic and administrative buildings;
• all health-related facilities and worship spaces; and
• any other space designated as public-facing.

Masking in Residence Halls

Masks are encouraged but not required in residence halls for vaccinated individuals. Masks are required for unvaccinated individuals in residence halls. Certain areas in residence halls may be designated as Mask Required spaces. If this is the case, the area will be clearly marked with signs. However, in general, the residence halls are not designated as public facing.

Pre-Arrival Testing

All students are required to submit a negative COVID-19 test within 7 days prior to arriving on campus. Students will not be permitted on campus without this documentation. There are two ways to secure your pre-arrival test:

Method #1: Obtain a Test on Your Own

Obtain a test on your own up to seven days before your move in date and upload it to our Health Services Portal.

Approved tests include:

• A PCR test administered by your medical provider, a pharmacy, or other health care professional.
• A rapid-antigen test administered by your medical provider, a pharmacy, or other health care professional.
• A self-administered rapid-antigen test.
  1. These tests are available at most retail pharmacies like Rite Aid, CVS, and Walgreens, and large retailers like Target, Amazon, and Walmart. In store and online availability can vary so please plan ahead.
  2. Many of these tests have very specific instructions about how to take the test, and some require that you take two tests within a 36-hour period, so while they are rapid tests (usually giving results within 15 minutes) you still need to plan ahead.
  3. These tests usually require you to register with the company and/or download an app to your phone in order to properly report results. Stonehill is requiring that you now submit results using the method provided for in the tests instructions.
  4. Stonehill strongly recommends that you verify that the test you use has received, minimally, FDA approval for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).

Method #2: Test on Campus

Come to the Testing Center in Alumni Hall on Campus up to seven days before your move-in date or first day on campus, test, and go home, to await your results.

• Please note that individuals who have tested positive for COVID in the last 90-days should submit a copy of their positive results instead of re-testing. You do not have to submit a pre-arrival test or participate in weekly testing as current public health guidance does not require testing for 90 days after a positive result).

As a reminder, the Testing Center is open in Alumni Hall. All students must test weekly once they have arrived on campus. Unlike last year, you may test whenever the Center is open, and you do not need to sign up for a “COVID Class.” New students should complete the Broad Consent Form prior to their first test. You will also register for testing during your first visit to the Center.

Thank you for your kind attention to these protocols, as we look forward to welcoming all our community members back to campus in these coming weeks.

Sincerely,

Monique Avila, M.S.N., FNP-C
Director of the COVID Testing Center
covidtestingcenter@stonehill.edu
(508) 565-1363

Maria Sullivan, M.M.Sc., PA-C
Director of Health Services
health-services@stonehill.edu
(508) 565-1307