51茶馆

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August 10, 2022

Dear Members of the Boston College Community:

The 2022-2023 academic year at Boston College will begin soon, and we write to provide information about the University鈥檚 plans and protocols regarding COVID-19 for the fall semester.听 The University will remain guided by its commitment to听protect the health and well-being of the 51茶馆 community and nearby neighborhoods, and provide as normal a campus experience as possible for our students, faculty, and staff.

The protocols below are subject to revision, based on changing conditions, as well as guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local departments of public health.

Vaccination/Booster Policy

As stated in our May 10, 2022, letter to the 51茶馆 community, Boston College will require all students, faculty, and staff who will be on campus for the fall semester to be fully vaccinated and have received a booster shot against COVID-19.听 Individuals are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their second Moderna/Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination, or two weeks after a Johnson & Johnson or second Novavax COVID-19 vaccination, and deemed booster-eligible after four months of initial Moderna/Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination and two months after a Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccination.

Consistent with Human Resources COVID-19 requirements, all new faculty and staff who will be on campus must be fully vaccinated and boosted, and upload their vaccination card via the Agora Portal before starting at 51茶馆.听 Those not eligible for their first booster by their start date should review their situation with Human Resources.

Students must upload proof of vaccination and booster to University Health Services by August 15. 听Those not eligible for their first booster by that date should contact UHS immediately to discuss the timetable for their booster.

University Health Services and Human Resources will continue to assist international students and faculty who may have difficulty in meeting these vaccination/booster requirements.

The University strongly recommends that current and returning students, faculty, and staff obtain additional听boosters according to CDC and state and local departments of public health guidance. 听Those with University-granted vaccination/booster exemptions will continue to be required to mask and be tested as mandated听by UHS and Human Resources.

Pre-Arrival COVID-19 Testing

The University will require all community members to take an antigen or PCR test no more than 72 hours before their arrival on campus. 听Individuals who test positive should isolate at home for five days after the onset of symptoms, and contact their primary care provider for additional instructions. 听Students testing positive should alert University Health Services, and faculty and staff should contact Human Resources.

During the academic year, the University will not conduct asymptomatic surveillance testing.听 Students who experience COVID-19 symptoms should immediately contact University Health Services (617-552-3225) for guidance and testing. 听Faculty and staff who exhibit symptoms should use at-home antigen self-tests, and if positive, remain at home to isolate, and also consult with their primary care provider.

For assistance concerning COVID-19 testing or vaccination/booster matters, students may contact UHS at听covidtesting@bc.edu,听and faculty/staff can get in touch with Human Resources at听HR@bc.edu.

Vaccination and Booster Clinics & Card Uploading Instructions

Boston College will offer COVID-19 vaccination/booster clinics during the 2022-2023 academic year, and follow CDC guidelines for eligibility.听 At this time, those 50 years and older and all individuals over 12 who are moderately or severely immunocompromised are eligible for a second booster.

A vaccination/booster clinic will be offered on August 24, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., in the Wet Classroom in the Margot Connell Recreation Center.

During the fall semester, vaccination/booster and flu clinics will be available on Mondays (full day) and Wednesdays (half day) in the Connell Center Wet Classroom beginning on August 29.听 For those interested, flu shots will be administered in mid-September or earlier if available.

University community members who have not already done so should upload proof of their vaccination via the Agora Portal by August 15, following the directions below.

Students听should upload COVID-19 Vaccination Record Cards (initial vaccination series and all subsequent boosters) to the Agora Health Services Portal as follows:

Go to Agora Portal - Other Services - Health Services听

1. Select the 鈥淚mmunization鈥� icon in the Agora Health Services Portal. Choose via the drop-down menu the 鈥淐OVID-19 Vaccination Booster鈥� icon, and record the vaccination booster date. Click 鈥淪ubmit鈥� to save;

2. Take a picture of the vaccination card or document and save it on your computer or phone to upload into the Portal (), found under 鈥淥ther Services鈥�;

3. Choose the 鈥淯pload鈥� icon and upload the picture under the COVID-19 vaccination booster in the drop-down menu (Note: the drop-down menu is below the list of "documents available to upload"). Click 鈥淪elect File,鈥� choose the file that you are uploading, and hit the 鈥淯pload鈥� button.

Faculty and staff听should upload their Vaccination Record Cards (initial vaccination series and all subsequent boosters) via the听:

1. Click the "PeopleSoft Human Resources Services" link located in the "My Services" section;
2. Confirm your identity through 51茶馆's 2-Step Verification process;
3. To log in to PeopleSoft Human Resources while off campus, you will need to connect to a听51茶馆 VPN听and confirm your identity through听51茶馆's 2-Step Verification;
4. From the 鈥淢ain Menu鈥� select 鈥淪elf Service鈥� then 鈥淧ersonal Information鈥� and select 鈥淯pdate COVID-19 Record鈥�;
5. To upload your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card, follow the instructions on the page and click 鈥淪ave";
6. If you have tested positive for COVID-19, please include your positive test date under the 鈥淐OVID-19 Testing Record鈥� tab;
7. If you have any questions, please reach out to听HR@bc.edu.

Isolation: On-Campus Student Residents

As the United States and the world transition from a COVID-19 pandemic to an endemic, the University will continue to treat the virus as a manageable illness.听 Hence, on-campus student residents who test positive and live within driving distance should travel by private/personal car to isolate at their permanent residence.听 Those who cannot do so will isolate in place in their residence hall, exercising proper mask use and precautions.听 Students who receive word of a positive symptomatic test result should discuss these two isolation options and their individual plan with University Health Services.

As a reminder, the University will follow CDC guidelines for isolation.听 Those who test positive for COVID-19 regardless of vaccination/booster status:

• Must remain in isolation for five days, whether having symptoms or not (with the day of positive test counting as day zero for asymptomatic cases OR with the day of symptom onset counting as day zero for symptomatic cases);

• Are eligible to leave isolation after five days if they have decreasing symptoms and no fever; individuals with fever must remain in isolation until fever-free

• Must wear a mask indoors and outdoors for five days after release from isolation when unable to maintain appropriate physical distancing. Symptomatic students whose day zero is five or more days prior to testing must mask when they cannot physically distance for the remainder of a 10-day period since symptom onset.

Masks

The University will not require masks or face coverings for students, faculty, and staff while on campus in the fall听semester, but encourages those who prefer to wear masks to do so.听 Students isolating in place in residence halls will be required to wear a mask at all times, and continue doing so for five days following the end of their isolation.

Reminder: Symptom Vigilance & Daily Symptom Checker

We remind all members of our community to stay vigilant in recognizing possible COVID-19 symptoms. 听Sore throat, fatigue, and headache鈥攅ven if mild鈥攃an be indicators of the coronavirus. 听Please continue to utilize the 51茶馆 Daily Symptom Checker (the听) every day before coming to campus, as it is an important asset in our community-wide effort to limit the spread of COVID-19.

We thank you for your continued cooperation as we embark on another semester.

Sincerely,