February 5, 2021
Dear Boston College Student:
I hope your semester is off to a great start. I write to you with concerns as it appears that many students have let their guard down with respect to COVID-19 health protocols and University expectations. While we can draw optimism from a successful fall semester and vaccinations on the horizon, it is vitally important that members of our community continue to take the pandemic seriously by following all public health protocols and adhering to University policies and expectations. We have a shared goal to help keep our campus and surrounding communities safe during this pandemic, while remaining in-person and on campus through the end of this academic year.
Super Bowl weekend is upon us and I am sure many of you are looking forward to the game. I strongly encourage you to enjoy the Super Bowl in a safe and healthy way as we continue to deal with COVID-19.The safest way to enjoy the game and to protect the health and safety of our community is to gather only with the people with whom you live. To encourage safe viewing in your rooms, UGBC and BC Dining Services have teamed up to bring you some Game Day food specials. Please remember that you are more likely to get or spread COVID-19 when you are in close contact with others, particularly with people who don’t live with you. In addition, those without symptoms or with a recent negative test result can still spread COVID-19 to others.
As a reminder, undergraduate and graduate students may not host or participate in social gatherings or parties, indoors or outdoors, in which physical distancing is not or cannot be maintained, or which do not comply with Massachusetts limitations on gatherings. These expectations apply to all locations, including off-campus apartments, restaurants/bars, private homes, hotels/Airbnb, other colleges and universities, and vehicles, including party buses and limos. Students hosting and/or attending such gatherings or parties will be subject to sanctions through the Student Conduct process, including but not limited to Housing Suspension and University Suspension. Generally, students who organize or host a gathering that violates University policies face University Suspension.
Students living on campus are also expected to comply with all Residential Life policies and agreements, including the Conditions for Residency–COVID-19 Addendum. Currently, for students living in traditional-style residence hall rooms (singles, doubles, triples, and quads), only one guest at a time is permitted in the entire residential unit. For students residing in suite or apartment style housing, a total of two guests at a time are permitted in the entire residential unit. Only other residential students are eligible as guests, and therefore, off-campus students, commuter students, and non-BC affiliates currently are not permitted in the residence halls.
I thank you in advance for your cooperation and for your ongoing care and consideration for our Boston College community.
Sincerely,
Tom Mogan, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President of Student Engagement and Formation