The university has implemented the COVID Amnesty Policy at the beginning of the spring 2021 semester, which protects students who are proactively seeking help after violating the university’s policies relating to COVID-19. In order to ensure that students give the Brandeis Community Tracing Program (BCTP) accurate information, the COVID Amnesty Policy will prevent any conduct action for violations, according to the policy.
“As we continue to navigate COVID-19 and all of its implication[s], it is important for the University to consider ways to support the community and clarify expectations on an ongoing basis,” Assistant Dean of Student Rights and Community Standards, Alexandra Rossett, wrote to The Brandeis Hoot in an email.
According to Rossett, the COVID Amnesty Policy was created with the intention of addressing four main points. The first is to reiterate the importance of BCTP in limiting the spread of COVID-19 in our community. It also provides transparency to students on how the BCTP operates and collects information; this would also serve as an incentive to have students cooperate with the BCTP. The policy also reemphasizes that if a student reports a violation which could also fall under a separate university policy, then students are protected by that policy’s own amnesty descriptions, according to Rossett. The fourth point is to make community members feel comfortable using resources available on campus, without having to worry about potential consequences for violating policy with formal conduct processes.
According to the policy, it aims to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 within the Brandeis community by encouraging students to report any violations of the university COVID-19 policies. Student reports would then be followed up with proper assistance from the university or public resources where students are expected to cooperate with responding persons and with the Dean of Student Office for follow-up questions, according to the policy.
Students will not be penalized for violating policies relating to COVID-19, however according to the policy, it does not protect students from disciplinary action if they also violated the university’s Rights and Responsibilities code. Students will then receive conduct action for those violations.
The BCTP has expanded since the fall semester, according to Rossett, with the increase of students living on campus the university has consequently also increased its contact tracing program. According to Rossett, the program is under constant renovation as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) releases new information in regards to the virus, and as Massachusetts state guidelines change.
“As members and residents of the wider community, Brandeis impacts and is impacted by community case rates. We monitor community transmission rates regularly as we make decisions about campus policies,” wrote Rossett.
According to Rossett, after the fall 2020 semester the university decided to implement the COVID Amnesty Policy to formally encourage students to comply with the requests of the BCTP as well as use additional resources provided if necessary. In the fall semester, the university used the medical amnesty policy in the Rights and Responsibilities code in regards to violations that related to COVID-19.
