Jan: 7: Urgent Actions Needed for Spring Semester

Graduate and Certificate Students,

As we prepare for the start of the spring semester, we write to share some important information with you, as the steps you take over the next two weeks to minimize risk and complete required tasks will be vital to ensuring a smooth and productive start to the semester. As such, please review this information carefully and direct any questions to the director of your graduate program.

As a reminder, all graduate and certificate students attending in-person courses as well as ALL Graduate Education students enrolled in practicums and/or teacher residency are required to participate in onboarding testing and receive a negative PCR COVID-19 test before coming to campus. This onboard test is required of all graduate students, even if they will only be on campus once during the semester.

Students may either produce documentation of a negative PCR COVID-19 test (taken no earlier than January 19th for MA residents or within 72 hours of arrival to campus for out of state students), or students may test on campus. Our Testing Center will be available once again to assist students with this process, and onboard testing for graduate and certificate students will be held the weeks of January 11th and 19th. To view the Testing Center Onboarding Schedule, please refer to the Spring Return to Campus page. Please remember that the onboard test must be a PCR test.

If a graduate or certificate student plans to be on campus for any reason during the semester (even if just once), they must get an onboard test.
 

Onboard Testing Requirements

• If onboarding using the Stonehill Testing Center on campus, students who live within a reasonable driving distance (three hours) will be required to test between January 19th-22nd and then return home to await their negative results before returning to campus.
• MPS in Data Analytics students MUST test at least 48 hours before the first day of residency on January 21st. Additional onboard testing hours will be available the week of January 11th.
• Graduate Inclusive Education students in residencies, practica, or classes that will meet in person are required to complete onboard testing.
• Current guidance from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is that all students coming from out of state must receive a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of coming to campus. As such, out of state students must plan accordingly.
• Students that are attending classes completely online and are not part of any Inclusive Education practica or residencies are exempt from onboarding testing.

Students who have already recovered from COVID-19 do not need to complete the onboard COVID-19 testing process, yet they may be required to submit additional documentation. More information regarding this process can be found here.

Surveillance Testing Requirements

The following are the requirements for surveillance testing (testing throughout the semester):

• Students enrolled in the IMC program in online courses only are not required to undergo surveillance testing unless they plan on visiting the campus for any reason (using the Library, etc.).
• Students enrolled in the MPS in Data Analytics program are required to get tested every week they have an on-campus residency. It is recommended that these students test on Monday or Tuesday of the residency week.
• Graduate Inclusive Education students in the Stonehill Teacher Residency or practica are required to be tested weekly. Please note, a signed waiver is required for participation in Residency or practica.
• Students enrolled in the Photonic certificate program are required to get tested weekly.

As we all know, state guidance is continually evolving, and recent changes were made to quarantine guidelines. We ask that you review the College’s updated isolation/quarantine and contact tracing protocols so that you are aware of expectations in the event of an exposure.

Lastly, please be reminded that the Massachusetts Department of Health is requiring all students to receive a flu vaccine. In order to confirm compliance with the State, students are asked to submit verification of your vaccine to Health Services as soon as possible. Additional information regarding flu vaccines can be found on our Health Services website. Students who have not demonstrated proof of receiving a flu vaccine will be required to engage remotely until documentation has been verified.

As was the case in the fall semester, we all need to work together as a community to ensure we are diligent in our decision making, limit any exposure two weeks prior to our arrival to campus, and complete all necessary onboarding steps. We thank you in advance for your ongoing support in “protecting the nest.”

Sincerely,

Pauline Dobrowski, Ed.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs


Kevin Piskadlo, Ph. D.
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students