Dear Students,
As we just passed the one year anniversary of the presence of COVID-19 in the United States, I recognize many of you are feeling the effects of the restrictions in place during this pandemic. I further acknowledge that the vast majority of you have demonstrated strong commitment to the Eagles Care Pledge and I thank you for your efforts.
A colleague recently sent to me the article “What doctors wish patients knew about pandemic fatigue” that highlights important things that we should all be focusing on as we continue to fight this virus. The article highlights important actions such as seeking mental health care, maintaining hope, creating a schedule, setting boundaries for social media, and continuing to follow preventative measures. I invite you to take a few minutes to read this important piece and reflect on how you are taking care of yourself and others during this time.
With this in mind, we urge you to continue to strictly adhere to all of the required health and safety protocols and COVID policies in place. As the virus mutates and potentially becomes more contagious, it is important that we not let “COVID fatigue” lead to poor decision-making and careless behavior.
As we enter into the middle part of the semester, we want to take a moment to remind you of commitments you made as part of the Eagles Care Pledge. One of the principles of the Pledge required students to “limit travel during the semester whenever possible.” The University is deeply concerned about the prospect of students traveling in groups out of state and returning to the BC campus during the semester. Therefore, in keeping with this commitment, the University expects that students will not be engaging in traditional “spring break” travel and activities this semester. Students who engage in such travel and return to campus place the campus community at risk for a major spread of the virus.
Any student who chooses to travel out of state is required to follow Massachusetts travel orders, which include filling out and submitting a state travel form, and observing a mandatory quarantine period for 10 days or producing a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72-hours prior to your arrival or upon your return to the state. Any students traveling out of state must upload proof of a negative PCR test to the University Health Services portal prior to returning to campus--including residence halls and any other campus facility. Students traveling out of state are not permitted, unless authorized by the University, to quarantine in campus residence halls or in other BC-operated housing upon their return, as doing so presents a risk for staff, roommates, and others living in the residence halls. Students who are found to have violated the MA travel guidelines or the policy of “no post-travel quarantining in the residence halls” will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct and, if found responsible, will face sanctions up to and including University suspension.
The Eagles Care Pledge also requires you to maintain appropriate physical distancing and mask use in classrooms, dining spaces, and other areas. Hosting or participating in parties and gatherings on campus or off campus is not permitted, particularly those that do not comply with restrictions outlined by public health officials and the University. We strongly urge you to adhere to these requirements and to continue to keep your close contacts to a minimum. The number of close contacts per positive case has increased, which affects our capacity to support students in quarantine housing. Increased positive cases at the start of the spring semester, and the number of close contacts have also raised concern with the Department of Health. Please do not let your guard down. Your continued adherence to these policies and the no-gatherings policy will go a long ways towards enabling us to finish the semester on campus. Further, members of the BC community have the responsibility and obligation to do our part to help keep the greater community as safe as possible during this pandemic.
As always, I remind you to please consider the health and safety of the entire Boston College community when making your own personal choices.
Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Tom Mogan, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President for Student Engagement and Formation