Throughout this pandemic, Lasell University’s COVID-19 Task Force has been working to keep our campus as safe as possible. As we begin to look toward the beginning of the spring semester, the following COVID-19 guidelines will be in place:

Return-to-Campus Testing

Upon arrival to campus the week of January 17, students should go directly to de Witt Hall for an on-campus rapid antigen test. Students should arrive at de Witt between 8am and 5pm on January 18 and 9a-4p January 19-21. 

• If a student tests positive upon arrival to campus, we ask that they immediately return home to isolate. If that is not possible, we will provide isolation accomodations on campus as we have for the last three semesters. Please note that with the Omicron variant's high rate of transmissibility, we anticipate a high percentage of positive cases and have limited isolation housing on campus.
  
  
• If at all possible, we strongly encourage students to take a rapid home antigen test the day they plan to leave to travel to campus. If you test positive, please stay home and contact Lasell Health Services. This will save the University already-limited isolation space and will save students the time it takes to travel to/from campus.
  
  
• If a student tests positive, academic accomodations will be made for students in isolation. More information will be forthcoming on those accomodations.
  
  
• If a student tests negative, they may visit de Witt Hall on January 18th to meet with staff from the Registrar’s Office, Student Accounts, and Financial Aid to assist with any enrollment related issues.
  
  
• If a student tests negative, they will receive a wristband to wear through January 25. All members of the community who test negative will be required to wear the wristbands and will not be allowed to attend class or enter any building on campus, including the dining hall or library, without the wristband.
  
  
• During the week beginning January 17, all faculty and staff are also required to complete a rapid antigen test on their first day on campus. These tests will be administered in de Witt Hall from January 18-21 from 9 AM - 4 PM. Faculty and staff will also be required to follow wristband protocol indicated above. 

Ongoing Surveillance Testing

From January 24-February 4, all students, faculty, and staff will follow the following testing protocol:

• Community members on campus three or more days a week are required to test twice a week.
  
  
• Community members on campus two days or fewer a week are required to test once a week. 

We will re-evaluate our surveillance testing protocols in the second week of February.

Masking

From January 17-February 4, masks will be required in all University buildings except for the Dining Hall (masks may be removed only when eating or drinking) and residence halls. Employees may remove masks only if alone in their closed office spaces. The masking policy will be re-evaluated in the second week of February.

Booster Shots

A reminder that all members of our community are required to receive a COVID-19 booster shot by February 2.

• Lasell will host an on-campus booster clinic on February 2 for those who are unable to receive the booster shot before that date. Details on the booster clinic will be forthcoming later this month.
  
  
• If you are eligible now, we encourage you to seek out the booster shot before returning to campus. You are eligible for a booster shot five months after your second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine and two months after the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
  
  
• For those who will not yet be eligible to receive the booster shot by February 2, a temporary exemption will be granted, and you will be expected to receive the booster shot within one week of eligibility.
  
  
• Students are required to upload their updated booster information to Medicat in the same manner in which they previously uploaded vaccination information.
  
  
• Employees are required to upload their booster information to Paycom under the checklist item “Booster Vaccine Upload.” Students and employees can begin uploading their information now. Both links are available through MyLasell.