Full vaccination is in. Masks and other protocols may soon be discarded as a requirement for attending college in person.
With the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lifting coronavirus restrictions, Western Massachusetts colleges and universities are easing back — however cautiously — toward pre-pandemic practices.
Local institutions have the advantage of Massachusetts ranking among the best states in the nation regarding vaccination. In fact, recent statistics gave the six New England states the top six spots in vaccination percentage.
In all cases, “full vaccination” has been defined to mean not just the shots themselves, but the two-week waiting period following the final dose of a vaccine.
As of June 22, the institutions listed below had either posted definitive fall policies on their websites or responded to a request by The Republican to document not just vaccination requirement but also policies on masks, social distancing and other protocols for the fall semester.
Students and employees are encouraged to check their institution’s websites for the most updated information and details. Other four-year colleges and universities not listed below are requiring full vaccinations but have not defined or prioritized other protocols.
Citing disproportionate availability of the COVID-19 vaccine to underserved municipalities, Massachusetts community college presidents voted in April to strongly encourage, but not require, full vaccination by their students.
American International College: Full vaccination required for all students and staff. Masks and social distancing will not be required.
Amherst College: Full vaccination required of students, faculty and staff. In-person schedule restored to pre-pandemic levels. Staff and faculty are required to wear masks indoors at all times (unless alone in a private office) and outdoors when unable to keep a distance of 6 feet. Students are expected to wear a mask or face covering over the mouth and nose at all times while indoors and outdoors when unable to maintain 6-foot distance. Exceptions include while actively engaged in eating or drinking, while washing and while in a bedroom alone with door closed.
Bay Path University: Full vaccination by students and employees is required. In-person classes will be restored. Masks and social distancing are no longer required of vaccinated individuals, which means these protocols would not apply to the fall since all individuals on campus would be vaccinated.
Elms College: All in-person students, residential students, faculty and staff are required to be fully vaccinated. Students whose coursework is entirely online and are not required to be on campus are exempt. In-person schedule returns to pre-pandemic levels. Mask/distancing protocols are under review.
Mount Holyoke College: Full vaccination required of students and staff. Traditional in-person learning schedule restored. According to the college website, “there will likely still be face covering and some physical distancing requirements for indoor events, gatherings and classes,” but those policies are evolving.
Smith College: Full vaccination required of all students and on-campus staff or both. In-person schedule at pre-pandemic levels. Some level of mask use and social distancing is expected.
Springfield College: Full vaccination required of all students studying on the main campus. In-person classes will be offered at pre-pandemic levels. Unvaccinated persons are asked to wear masks and socially distance.
Western New England University: Full vaccination by students is required. The WNEU website does not make reference to faculty or staff. In-person classes will be fully restored. Masks are acceptable but not required. On March 30, WNEU announced it would not implement social distancing.
Westfield State University: Full vaccination required of students with an on-campus presence. Faculty and staff are with an on-campus presence have an “expectation” to be fully vaccinated, according to the university website. Vaccinated individuals will be allowed but not required to wear masks. Nonvaccinated individuals (due to documented medical or religious exemptions) will be required to wear masks indoors and when they cannot socially distance, among other requirements.
University of Massachusetts Amherst: Full vaccination is required before the fall semester of all students who wish to live, learn or conduct research on campus or access campus resources. Masks are allowed but not required, and physically distancing on campus, both outdoors and indoors, will not be required of vaccinated individuals. According to summer guidelines, individuals not yet fully vaccinated will be required to wear face coverings in indoor settings and when they can’t socially distance. Such individuals may remove their face covering only in a private office when alone. Face coverings remain mandatory in some settings, including public transportation and health care facilities.
Community colleges: Vaccination “strongly encouraged” but not required. Fall mask and social distancing policies have not been announced.
