Spring 2021 Move-In Health and Safety Protocols

Dec 29, 2020

Dear students and families,

We are looking forward to welcoming students to campus in February, and want to provide an update on our plans for student arrivals.

Given the increasing rates of COVID-19 across the country and the world, we are planning an extended move-in process to allow for a longer quarantine and testing regimen. We are undertaking these measures to minimize the number of positive cases upon entry so that we can enjoy a successful start to the semester.

Before coming to campus:

    • Flu vaccination: All residential students are required by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to receive the flu vaccine and will not be able to register for housing on January 4 without proof of vaccination. Please review the Health Services flu vaccination web page for information about how to provide proof of vaccination.
    • Home testing: All students traveling to campus from a U.S. location will complete an at-home COVID-19 test 72 hours before traveling to campus. This test is a self-administered, high-quality PCR test from Color, a population health testing company that works with major universities, municipalities, and companies to run large-scale COVID-19 testing programs, that students will send to a lab via FedEx. We used this process last fall and it was very successful. Wellesley will cover the cost of this test, including shipping. Details will be sent after the first of the year.
    • Positive tests: Students who test positive will remain at home and self-isolate for a total of 10 days before being cleared for travel to campus (per CDC guidance). All students must arrive by February 19 in order to be able to continue on campus for the spring terms.

Phased move in process to campus

    • Extended move-in quarantine: Students arriving to campus from U.S. locations will take an at-home test prior to travel and quarantine until they receive two additional negative tests. Students arriving to campus from outside the U.S. (who will not receive the at-home test) will quarantine until they receive three negative tests.
    • Quarantine location: Students will quarantine upon arrival at either the Verve Hotel or the residence halls on campus. Please see the schedule below for your arrival location.
    • Hotel and campus arrival procedures: Some students will first arrive at the Verve Hotel where they will quarantine for the first four days in a room with a private bath. They will be tested twice during their stay. The hotel will be reserved for Wellesley students only, and a member of our residential life staff will live at the hotel during their stay. Wellesley will provide meals at the hotel and cover the cost of the hotel. Students will be tested for COVID-19 in the hotel the morning after arrival and again two days later, traveling to campus after receipt of the second negative test result.

      Students arriving directly to campus will be tested the day of arrival and again three days later, quarantining in their rooms until the second negative test results are received. Students who did not take an at-home test will continue to quarantine on campus through one more negative test result.

    • Students testing positive: Students who test positive will isolate in designated spaces on campus. All students will be tested three times a week for the first 14 days on campus and thereafter will continue to be tested twice every week throughout the spring terms.
    • Move-in schedule with group assignment: International students who are already in the United States should follow the schedule below based on their class year. Domestic students traveling from another country should follow the schedule below for international students because at-home tests are unable to be administered outside the United States. All students will pre-register for a move-in time on their designated move-in day, which can be scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST.
    • Students must arrive on their designated arrival date: Students will not be allowed to come to campus before their designated arrival date. Late arrivals will be considered only in emergent situations (e.g. flight cancellations, visa issues). If students arrive earlier, they should plan to stay in a nearby hotel at their own cost. This time will not be counted as part of the quarantine period as defined in the move-in schedule below.

Group 1: Students who will remain on campus during the winter break

Arrival Date
N/A
Arrival Location
Wellesley College campus
Protocol
Students will move from Munger to their residence hall on February 7.
End of Quarantine
N/A

Group 2: Students arriving from international locations and seniors writing theses

Arrival Date
February 3
Arrival Location
Verve Hotel
Protocol
Tested at the hotel on February 4 and 6, with students arriving from abroad receiving a third test on campus on February 9.
End of Quarantine
After third negative test result for students arriving from abroad and after second negative test result for domestic seniors.

Group 3: HPs and RAs

Arrival Date
February 3
Arrival Location
Wellesley College campus
Protocol
Tested on campus on February 3 and 6.
End of Quarantine
After second negative test result.

Group 4: Seniors and Davis Scholars

Arrival Date
February 8
Arrival Location
Wellesley College campus
Protocol
Tested on campus on February 8 and 11.
End of Quarantine
After second negative test result.

Group 5: Juniors

Arrival Date
February 9
Arrival Location
Verve Hotel
Protocol
Tested at the hotel on February 10 and 12.
End of Quarantine
After second negative test result.

Group 6: First years and sophomores enrolled in at least one in-person class in T3

Arrival Date
February 10
Arrival Location
Wellesley College campus
Protocol
Tested on campus on February 10 and 13.
End of Quarantine
After second negative test result.

Group 7: First Years and sophomores coming to campus but enrolled in all remote classes in T3

Arrival Date
February 12
Arrival Location
Wellesley College campus
Protocol
Tested on campus on February 12 and 15.
End of Quarantine
After second negative test result.

Isolation during move-in
If students test positive during move in they will be moved to Dower Hall to isolate. Food will be delivered and staff from Health Services will check on students every day. See the student isolation and quarantine guide as well as the flowchart for students for more details.

Guidelines for family members of students
In order to take care of our students and reduce the risk of infection, we need to limit the number of people on campus during move-in. Students should plan to travel to campus unaccompanied by parents and family members if possible. Otherwise, only one parent or family member should accompany a student to campus. Only students and Wellesley staff will be allowed in the residence halls. Current state travel guidelines require anyone traveling to Massachusetts from any state, except Hawaii, to complete the Massachusetts travel form prior to arrival and to quarantine for 10 days or produce a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72-hours prior to your arrival in Massachusetts.

We plan to host a webinar in early January to answer your questions about the health and safety protocols I have shared in this email. We are looking forward to having students back on campus and wish you and your families a healthy and joyful new year.
All my best,

Paula A. Johnson
President