Declan Langton ’22
Editor-in-Chief
A COVID-19 vaccination will be required for all faculty, staff and students at Mount Holyoke College as of July 8, 2021. This mandate extends to those who work with or regularly interact with the College and its campus, according to the Mount Holyoke College web page “Opening the Gates.” International students who are unable to receive a vaccination before returning to campus will “receive assistance from health services to do so when they arrive,” the website reads.
According to the website, incoming students were required to submit COVID-19 vaccination documentation to Health Services by July 1, 2021. Returning students have until August 1 to submit theirs and all employees have until August 13. The College will “accept all vaccinations that have received Emergency Use Authorization by the Food and Drug Administration or the World Health Organization,” according to the website.
In accordance with new Massachusetts and CDC guidelines, “students and employees who have documented their vaccinated status will no longer be required to wear a mask and maintain physical distancing indoors,” the website reads. However, the College clarified that while students can be unmasked in common spaces, eating is still not allowed in the residence hall common rooms. Additionally, Kendall Sports & Dance Complex, Williston Library and the Dining Commons will only be accessible to employees once their vaccination documentation has been submitted. In both bathrooms and elevators, occupancy limits have been eliminated as of July 6.
The College further clarified these points in an email from Residential Life to students currently residing on campus, addressing proper use of campus common spaces. Residential Life defines a common space as “any space outside of your personal room where people can gather,” including “computer rooms, kitchenettes, TV rooms, Golden Pears, bathrooms, places where furniture is placed and hallways.”
In the email, Residential Life also added that the Community Center, including the Dining Commons, will now become a space where individuals who are vaccinated will be able to umask and eat.
Those who are unvaccinated, not fully vaccinated or have not yet documented their vaccinations are still required to continue socially distancing when indoors. All students currently living on campus must continue to be tested twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays, regardless of vaccination status.
With a new blend of masked and unmasked individuals on campus, the College asked students to “respect the choices of others who each have their own unique situation.” They further added, “It is inappropriate to ask for the reason behind their choice to wear a mask.”
Students with any questions or concerns about the new campus protocol are encouraged to contact the Division of Student Life.