Monique Pillow Gnanaratnam, Dean of Students, and Shelby Harris, Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement and Campus Life, sent out an email to students to remind them of the Brandeis COVID-19 Policies that are enforced on campus.
“As colder weather approaches and we begin spending more time indoors, it is more important than ever that we all do our part to keep our campus community healthy. Healthy best practices including hand washing, masking and staying home when sick help to protect the community from a variety of communicable illnesses,” said the email.
All people on campus are required to have a mask with them at all times, according to the email. All individuals are required to put on a mask when asked to, regardless of circumstances.
One of the specific policies that was highlighted in the email was the testing frequency, which for students and unvaccinated faculty or staff is twice per week, or every 96 hours. Vaccinated faculty and staff should get tested every week, or every 168 hours.
The email also reminded students about the masking policy on campus, which requires masks to be worn at all times except in “private offices or residence hall lounges, [with] no more than 4 persons,” according to the policy. Masks are also required at all times on all Brandeis shuttles and vans.
They also reminded students that those who have been asked to quarantine or self-isolate are “required to follow the specific instructions given to them by the Health Center’s Brandeis Community Tracing Program,” according to the email.
Other COVID-19 policies include limits on international travel, such as students having to register their personal travel with the Dean of Students Office if they are going to a country that is level four (or unknown). Faculty and staff do not have to get permission for personal travel, but are required to follow protocols upon their return. The policies for returning from a level four country are submitting a sample for testing, being in travel quarantine for seven days and submitting a second sample 72-96 hours after the submission of their first sample. Only after two negative test results and the seven days can individuals return to campus.
Unvaccinated individuals are required to keep six feet of distance from others and are not allowed to travel outside of the six New England states. Permission to travel outside of them will be given on an emergency basis only.
The email also reminded students that they are all expected to follow the expectations that are outlined in the Rights & Responsibilities, which now includes the COVID-19 policies. ”Noncompliance with these policies may result in a student conduct process,” explained the email.
