As of Feb. 24, the commonwealth of Massachusetts has begun COVID-19 vaccination for select groups of “priority” individuals, according to the Massachusetts Department of Health. The state will not begin vaccinating college students and employees until Phase 3 of vaccine rollout, slated to begin in April 2021.
In late January, the South Hadley School Committee approved a phased-in learning process set to begin on Feb. 22. On this date, high needs students, or middle and high school students whose parents are essential workers or need critical child care, will start to return to school for four days a week.
After a rise in community and student COVID-19 cases, with 393 active positive cases as of Feb. 18, the University of Massachusetts Amherst has declared a “high risk” operational level, implementing the most restrictive measures outlined in the university’s virus safety protocols. At the Feb. 8 Amherst Town Council meeting, representatives of the administration announced that the university would implement measures to control the spread of COVID-19, including transitioning to entirely online classes, canceling athletic practices and competitions and instituting a self-isolation order for the student body.
While the majority of course offerings this spring remain entirely online, Mount Holyoke began some in-person teaching this past week. According to Elizabeth Markovits, associate dean of faculty, the College is offering 17 hybrid courses, four courses with in-person meetings outside of normal hours and 29 that “occasionally” meet in person. Physical education classes, laboratory courses and independent studies also may offer in-person components depending on individual situations.
Mount Holyoke College’s varsity and club sports began in-person practices on Feb. 1. Only student-athletes currently on campus can attend in-person practices run by the coaches. To stay within the guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the NCAA, several changes have been made to usual team practice protocol.
This year, the Mount Holyoke Posse community held its annual PossePlus Retreat virtually. The Posse Foundation “identifies, recruits and trains individuals with extraordinary leadership potential.” Posse Scholars from various chapters throughout the country receive full-tuition scholarships from Posse’s partner colleges and universities, including Mount Holyoke.
After a number of students tested positive for COVID-19 in North Rockefeller Hall, the College placed one floor — and then the entire building — under temporary quarantine lockdown.
According to several students, one floor of North Rockefeller was put under modified quarantine last week. When further test results showed cases on a different floor of the residence hall, the entire building was locked down — though students were still permitted to leave for normal to-go meals at the Dining Commons. During the quarantine period, Health Services visited the dorm to administer COVID-19 test swabs to students each day. The initial full-building quarantine period, which began on Jan. 31, was extended twice, once on Feb. 2 and again on Feb. 4.
After an initial two-week quarantine period, Mount Holyoke College has officially marked a shift into Operating Level 2: Modified Normal COVID-19 Operations with Heightened Awareness. Residential students received a series of communications from the Office of Residential Life alerting them of the new restrictions and guidelines beginning on Feb. 1.
