Health and Safety Update for Faculty and Staff: Winter Break Testing Plans

To: Wellesley College Faculty and Staff
From: Piper Orton, Vice President for Finance and Administration, and Karen Petrulakis, General Counsel
Re: Health and Safety Update: Winter Break Testing Plans
Date: December 15, 2021

We hope the end of the fall semester is going well. As we approach the winter break, we want to let you know the COVID-19 testing schedule as well as remind you of some important information regarding staying safe and healthy.

The rising COVID rates in Massachusetts, as well as the increased number of cases on campus, remind us that it is critical that we continue to take steps to reduce the risk of infection. We must remain diligent about wearing masks, which reduce the spread of infection, as much as possible. Most importantly, please obtain your booster shot (if eligible) as soon as possible, and no later than January 15. If you are not yet eligible for a booster, please upload proof within 30 days of becoming eligible.

These are the testing protocols for winter break:

• If you will not be on campus during a given week, you do not need to test.
• If you will be on campus at least one day a week, you are expected to test once a week. You can test any day or time the testing center is open without an appointment. You will not receive an email with a testing schedule.
• Because of the limited volume of testing between the end of exams and the start of the spring semester, we will be conducting individual PCR testing from Monday, December 27, through Tuesday, January 18. All testing will be at the College Club. Pooled testing will resume on Thursday, January 20, at both sites.
• Faculty and staff who have traveled out of state or internationally must obtain one negative test result in Massachusetts prior to returning to work on campus and before entering the classroom. Off-campus PCR tests will be accepted if you are unable to test on campus. Please send the off-campus PCR test result to campuskey@wellesley.edu. We understand that due to the limited number of testing days on campus, it could be difficult to test on both days one and four following travel, per our usual travel guidance. Therefore, you may return to work on campus or the classroom after getting just one negative test. Unvaccinated faculty and staff are required to quarantine for seven days following out-of-state and international travel and before returning to campus. Please fill out the travel tracker for international travel.
• Students who remain on campus in January will continue to test twice a week at the College Club.
• Students will arrive on campus for spring semester between Thursday, January 20, and Sunday, January 23, so you may want to plan your testing schedule accordingly. Mornings at the College Club are lighter times for student testing. Students are required to provide proof of their booster shots, complete in-room restrictions, and obtain a negative test before returning to the classroom.

Testing center hours

The testing schedule is below. It will also be posted online in the Toolbox and will be posted on campus for our dining and facilities staff.

We hope you enjoy a wonderful, safe winter break.