July 27: Update on COVID-19 and Return to Campus

Dear Members of the Stonehill Community,

We write to provide an update on the opening of the academic year. Throughout the summer, we have continued to monitor state and national trends regarding current best practices in preventing the spread of COVID-19. We are extremely grateful for the diligence our faculty and staff have demonstrated by submitting their vaccination documentation ahead of schedule.

As a reminder, the College requires all community members to be vaccinated against COVID-19. We strongly urge students, faculty and staff who have not yet completed this process to do so as quickly as possible, as the deadline for submitting vaccination documentation is August 1. Specific information on the documentation process can be found on the COVID-19 Vaccine Information website. As we have seen in recent days, the impact of the Delta variant has provided a poignant reminder of the continued need for a combination of vigilance and vaccinations. As such, it has become increasingly imperative for us to ensure that our community-wide vaccine rate is at the highest level possible, in order to “protect the nest.” Students who have only completed the first dose of a two-dose vaccine by August 1 should upload a record of their current status by the August 1 deadline.

Working in concert with our medical consultants, we have developed several approaches to managing Coronavirus mitigation for the fall. This approach includes multiple scenarios regarding masking requirements, social gatherings, campus visitors, and testing. The level of implementation of these virus mitigation protocols, as well as any potential restrictions, will depend on our ability to meet our vaccination targets, along with careful adherence to public health guidance. Unvaccinated community members will be required to submit the results of a negative onboard test prior to arriving on campus for the start of the fall semester, as well as potentially be subject to weekly surveillance testing.

We are optimistic that our shared desire to learn, collaborate, and celebrate with one another under the least restrictive conditions possible will prevail. Starting in early August, after the vaccination documentation deadline has passed, we will begin providing detailed updates on our community vaccination rates. This information, as well as specifics on the level of additional protective measures that will be necessary as we prepare to return to campus will be shared via email and our COVID-19 website. As we approach the start of the year and throughout the semester, we will continue to use the website to inform you of our response to any shifts in guidance from public health officials.

Sincerely,

Pauline Dobrowski
Vice President for Student Affairs
Office of Student Affairs
studentaffairs@stonehill.edu
(508) 565-1363

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

Lily Krentzman
Director of Human Resources
Office of Human Resources
hr-office@stonehill.edu
(508) 565-1105