Respiratory Illness, Including COVID

The College follows the CDC guidance for respiratory viruses, including COVID.

Return to campus:

We encourage all students to test or monitor themselves for any symptoms before coming to campus. If you are sick with any respiratory illness, including COVID, prior to arrival on campus, please delay your arrival date until your symptoms are improving and you have not had a fever for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication). Following that, you should wear a mask in public for the next 5 days.

If you need to delay your arrival to campus and you will not be here for the first day of classes, reach out directly to your Academic Dean and Residential Life to notify them. All students should be back on campus and attending classes by September 9.

We encourage you to bring your own supply of masks and self tests along with any medication, cleaning supplies, or other items you may need.

Once on campus:

If you are sick with a respiratory illness once you are on-campus, wear a mask to pick up to-go food and avoid others outside of your room. Do not attend classes or other activities until your symptoms are improving and you have not had a fever for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication). Following that, you should wear a mask in public for the next 5 days.

Classes, Dining, and Mail


Classes: Students who require academic support during their illness can contact their Academic Dean (academic-deans@mtholyoke.edu).

Dining: Get to-go food from the Dining Commons to bring to a private space while you are ill and for the first five days following your return to activities. For information about Useful To-Go containers, please review Dining's website.

Mail and Packages: You can pick up your mail from the Mail Services as your health permits, but you must wear a KN95 mask to do so while you are ill and for 5 days following your return to activities.

Accommodations


Students who are immunocompromised and/or have other long-term or chronic disabilities should contact Disability Services to submit the necessary documentation for disability-related accommodations.

Students specifically approved by Disability Services to move to temporary housing if their roommate contracts COVID-19 can contact the Office of Residential Life for temporary alternate housing placements if their roommate has tested positive for COVID.

Questions & Support


If at any time you have questions or want nonurgent health support, please contact Health Services. Reach out by calling 413-538-2121 during business hours; you can ask for a nurse call back. The after hours contracted answering service/on call health support is reserved for students with urgent medical concerns; please do not call them for public health questions or more routine medical questions.

For general questions, email dean-students@mtholyoke.edu. We also encourage you to review our Care & Support resources.