CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) INFORMATION

INFORMATION ABOUT MCLA’S RESPONSE TO COVID-19

Given the significantly improved public health environment of our community and recent guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, MCLA has transitioned to a mask optional campus and asymptomatic testing will no longer be required for students who are fully vaccinated and boosted.

MCLA will continue to implement best practices to make the campus experience as safe and successful as possible for the entire community. To that end, we will continue to require all enrolled students to be vaccinated and to receive a booster shot in order to attend classes or participate in activities on campus. See the FAQ regarding vaccination requirements here.

As MCLA lifts its current indoor mask mandate beginning on Wednesday, March 30, masks will be optional around campus and individuals should decide to wear or not wear a mask based on their personal choice. There are notable exceptions:

Masks will be required in the MountainOne Wellness Center (Health and Counseling Services, and our COVID-19 testing site), as required by MA state law.
Faculty have the option of requiring masks in their classrooms. Students must comply with individual faculty requests.
In designated offices as posted.
The college reserves the right to require mask-wearing at any time in the future, if COVID-19 related data necessitates it.
Unvaccinated individuals are required to continue to wear masks in all indoor spaces.
Mask wearing is still a successful tool in preventing the spread of germs. As we transition to a mask optional environment, please be respectful of each other’s choices. We encourage people to wear masks, if they choose, and to always have one with them.

As we have throughout the course of the pandemic, MCLA will continue to monitor campus, local, regional, and national data surrounding COVID-19 and be prepared to respond to changes as necessary. If our safety protocols need modification, or the conditions change, we will be responsive and continue to keep the campus informed.

An archive of campus messages regarding COVID-19 can be found below. You can also find answers to frequently asked questions and links to helpful information from the Commonwealth.

MCLA has set up a hotline phone number for questions related to COVID-19 at 413-662-5550. The hotline is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday. You can also leave a message outside of these hours.

Jump to information:

COVID Dashboard

Latest Updates

FAQ: Vaccine Requirement

FAQ: General

FAQ: For Students

FAQ: For Prospective Students

Archived Communications

Informative Websites

MCLA COVID DASHBOARD

Testing Period	Total Test	Total Cases	% Positive Test
Last 7 Days	—	—	—
Total Test	4,018	61	1.52%

Data as of 5/24/2022

MCLA is not running an on-campus testing program for the Summer 2022 semester.

The above dashboard reflects all tests conducted through MCLA's on-campus testing program in partnership with the Broad Institute, beginning in January 2022 and ending May 2022 for the Spring 2022 semester.

The community category tracks cases reported as of January 16, 2022 in the MCLA community through outside testing sources.

Total positive cases reported from health agencies or other sources	Current Positive Cases in Isolation
129	2

A COVID-19 vaccination requirement is now in place for all students, all three collective bargaining units (AFSCME, APA, MSCA Contract), and our non-unit employees.

Group	Vaccination Rate
Employees	98%
Students	97%

Comparative Statistics

MCLA (7-Day Positive Test Average)	—
Massachusetts (7-Day Positive Test)*	8.05%
Pittsfield (Percent Positivity - Last 14 Days) *	8.63%
North Adams (Percent Positivity - Last 14 Days) *	7.28%

*Source: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-response-reporting

Latest Updates

Fall 2022 Semester COVID-19 Information

COVID-19 Masking and Testing Update (3/24/22)

Spring Break Information for Resident Students (3/9/22)

Spring Break Information for Commuter Students (3/9/22)

Employee Updates - Testing, KN95 Masks (1/14/22)

Student Updates - Booster Requirement Extension, Move-in, Start Date and more (1/13/22)

Student Updates (1/6/22)

Employee Updates (12/31/21)

Student Spring 2022 COVID-19 Update- Booster Requirement

Employee Spring 2022 COVID-19 Update- Booster Requirement

COVID-19 Updates (9/24/21)

Flu Vaccine Clinic Information (9/22/21)

Update for AFSCME Unit Members on Agreement for COVID-19 preventative measures (9/7/21)

Update for APA Unit Members on Agreement for COVID-19 preventative measures (8/30/21)

Employee COVID-19 testing this week (8/30/21)

Update for Day Contract MSCA Unit Members on Agreement for COVID-19 preventative measures (8/27/21)

Fall 2021 Student Update (8/18/21)

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for all Non-Union Employees (8/17/21)

Information for Students - Fall 2021 (6/23/21)

Employee Updates (6/3/21)

Vaccinations (4/26/21)

Vaccine Requirements

Will waivers be granted to students for religious or medical reasons?

Religious and medical exemptions will be reviewed and granted following the same exemption procedures MCLA utilizes for other vaccination exemptions as is consistent with Massachusetts state law.

What is the process for students seeking a medical or religious vaccination waiver?

Students seeking a medical or religious exception will need to complete and submit the Health Services Vaccine Declination Form, which can be obtained by contacting HealthServices@mcla.edu.

Medical exceptions will be approved by Health Services and require a letter from a medical provider documenting the condition that prevents the administration of the vaccine. Religious exceptions will be approved by the Equal Opportunity and Title IX Office.

For questions, please contact the COVID Hotline at 413-662-5550

Will unvaccinated students be permitted on campus?

MCLA will work with unvaccinated students to meet their needs and enable them to continue their education in pursuit of their degree. MCLA requires all students attending in-person classes, living in campus housing, participating in on-campus activities, or accessing on-campus facilities to be fully vaccinated before coming to campus regardless of age or credit load, unless they have obtained an approved religious or medical exemption.

Will MCLA offer opportunities or assist students with getting a vaccine?

Due to the length of time it takes to become fully vaccinated, students are encouraged to schedule vaccine appointments as soon as possible. It is recommended students get their first dose of a two-dose vaccine by July 1st to be prepared for returning to campus in the fall.

Resources for doing so include:

Mass.gov (you can pre-register for your appointment here)
https://getvaccinatedberkshires.org/
https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/
Check with your local pharmacy for additional vaccine availability.

How will MCLA enforce the vaccine requirement?

Students will be unenrolled for spring 2022 classes and will be unable to move into residence halls without presenting a copy of their official COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card showing that they have received a booster shot, (or when eligible and no later than six months after a second shot) or have an existing medical or religious exemption to Health Services by January 14, 2022. Please email a copy of your vaccination card along with your name, date of birth, and MCLA A# to Health Services at healthservices@mcla.edu.

Employees must submit a photo image copy of their COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card showing that they have received a booster shot to Human Resources at hr@mcla.edu, or a hard copy in person to Human Resources by April 15, 2022. Human Resources is currently located in the Garden Level of Eldridge Hall.

Adjuncts working solely in the Division of Graduate and Continuing Education were required to be vaccinated by November 29, 2021. DGCE adjuncts will need to submit copies of vaccination cards by May 29, 2022, to receive contracts to teach beyond Spring 2022.

Will visitors to campus be required to be vaccinated?

All visitors are welcome to campus and will be required to comply with all COVID health and safety protocols. Visitor policies will be updated based on public health guidelines.

Will vendors/contracted employees be required to be vaccinated?

Yes, all vendors and contracted employees working on campus will be required to be vaccinated.

What is the definition of "Fully Vaccinated"?

MCLA requires COVID-19 vaccines, including a booster shot of an FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccination.

According to the CDC, people are considered fully vaccinated:

2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or

2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.

Will non-matriculating students, dual enrollment/early college students or students auditing classes be required to be vaccinated?

All students engaging in on-campus life or activities must be vaccinated.

Do students still need to be vaccinated if they have had COVID?

Yes, in accordance with current CDC guidelines students need to be fully vaccinated.

Will vaccinated students still need to be tested weekly?

We will evaluate the need for surveillance testing in the fall and adapt the testing protocols according to the data and recommendations by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

If a student is vaccinated and tests positive for the virus but they do not have symptoms, do they have to quarantine?

Yes. All individuals who test positive for the virus are treated as active cases and will need to isolate immediately and regular contact tracing protocol will occur.

General

What is the COVID-19 Testing Plan?

Mandatory weekly testing for all students (resident students and commuters) will begin the first week of classes. Testing will be robust and more frequent, and like last year, employees are eligible for a weekly, free COVID-19 test. Voluntary asymptomatic testing for employees will continue to be available in the Spring 2022 semester, as well as required asymptomatic weekly testing for employees with approved exemptions.

Revised Quarantine and Isolation Protocols

The protocols below were developed in consultation with our local DPH contacts and MCLA’s Health Services staff, in alignment with the latest state and federal guidance.

Vaccinated Individuals

If a vaccinated individual tests positive for COVID-19, they will need to isolate for 10 days.
If a vaccinated individual has had close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, the below applies:
No initial test or quarantine needed
Self-monitor for symptoms and test if symptoms develop.
Testing should occur on the 5th day from the initial contact due to COVID-19 Delta variant incubation period
If there are no symptoms, the individual can be cleared but must monitor for symptoms until day 14.

Unvaccinated Individuals

If an unvaccinated individual has close contact with any person who tests positive for COVID-19, they will need to do the following:

Day 1- take a test
Day 5- take a test
Day 8 - If both tests have returned negative results, and the student is still showing no symptoms, they are deemed cleared.
Days 9-14- Continue to self-monitor for symptoms
If an unvaccinated student has close contact with any person who tests positive for COVID-19 and develops symptoms, they need to do the following:
Test on any day symptoms start and then again on day 5.
If symptoms have resolved and the day 5 test is negative, they will continue to quarantine until day 8 as long no further symptoms occur. They would need to continue to monitor for 14 days for symptoms.
If symptoms are unresolved by day 8, and the student has had negative test results, they are to be tested one more time before they are cleared.

MCLA is holding isolation space in the residence areas for COVID-19 positive cases.

What can I do to help?

You can help by minimizing the spread of the disease through taking steps to protect yourself and others. Learn more about these steps via the Centers for Disease Control.

Is there a fund set up for students in crisis?

Yes. Students may fill out a form here to access emergency funds from the Charlotte Degen Student Aid Fund. This fund helps ease immediate needs for our students, including food insecurity, technology needs, and other unforeseen challenges.

Who can help me get set up for remote learning?

The Center for Academic Technology has set up a resource for academic continuity at www.mcla.edu/remoteready. If you need a specific resource you don’t see listed there, please contact Ian Bergeron at ian.bergeron@mcla.edu.

What about the Help Desk? Are they still offering tech help?

MCLA's Help Desk is here for you. The IT staff and students who run the Help Desk are now using Teams, a live chat tool, as well as their usual ticketing system, to help students, faculty, and staff work remotely. Learn more about that here.

What if I am worried about getting or keeping Internet connectivity during this time?

Check out MCLA IT Help Center's handy list of ISPs who have pledged to help.

What about Public Safety and Campus Police?

As a reminder, MCLA’s Public Safety department remains open and staffed 24/7 to ensure the safety of the campus and our community as we move to remote instruction. Campus Police officers will continue to do regular rounds and respond to emergency situations. In an emergency, dial 413-662-5100 (911 from a campus phone); for non-emergency situations, call 413-662-5283 or 5284 (5283 or 5284 from a campus phone).

Are student Counseling Services still available?

Counseling Services will reopen for in-person counseling sessions at the start of the fall 2021 semester. Counseling Services staff is eager to support students and will primarily be offering in-person services to vaccinated students, with teletherapy services continuing to be offered by special request. Unvaccinated students will be offered teletherapy only. To schedule an appointment, students are invited to call Counseling Services at (413) 662-5331 between the hours of 8:30 am-4:30 pm, Monday-Friday, or email Counseling Services at Marissa.Parker@mcla.edu. More information can be found here.

Are student Health Services still available?

Health Services will be open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Students who would like to be evaluated are encouraged to call 413-662-5421 during hours of operation to be triaged and provided an appointment either through the tele-medicine platform Doxy.me or in person as appropriate. This includes any complaint that a student would seek medical attention for, as well as COVID related complaints. Students experiencing a medical emergency, or when Health Services is closed, should contact MCLA Campus Police at 413-662-5100 or 911. For complete information on services, please visit Health Services on the MCLA website.

What about Freel Library services?

Freel Library's fall semester hours begin on Wednesday, September 1:

Sunday: noon - midnight
Monday-Thursday: 7:30 a.m. - midnight
Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: noon - 4 p.m.

Visitors to the library are required to follow current campus COVID safety guidelines. For the latest information on library services and operations, please visit the library website.

Will the bookstore be open?

The MCLA Bookstore is open 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Walk-in visits are welcome! However, ordering your Fall textbooks online is highly recommended. Email communications from the store manager (krystal.bartley@mcla.edu) went out with directions for purchasing required course materials at MCLASHOP.com as well as important information about text rental and order pick-up.

To avoid long lines, online orders are to be picked-up at the mailroom.

Questions? The preferred method of contact is emailing 0185mgr@follett.com. If your issue requires immediate attention feel free to call the store during normal business hours at 413-662-5240.

Is the Writing Studio available?

MCLA’s Writing Studio will be offering both face-to-face and asynchronous appointments this semester. For a face-to-face appointment, come to Murdock 120 with your written work and please wear your masks; if you’d prefer an asynchronous appointment, you can upload your essay through our scheduling software, WCOnline, and you’ll receive written feedback within 24 hours. Our hours are Sunday, from 5:00 pm-6:00 pm, and Monday through Thursday, from 12:00 pm-1:00 pm and 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are encouraged during midterms and finals. For more information and to make an appointment, go to the Writing Studio website at www.mcla.edu/writingstudio.

Is the Math Help Drop-In Center available?

The Math Help Drop-In Center is now open virtually as the Math Help Drop-In Channel on Microsoft Teams! To get online help with any math question from any course, please sign into Portal and follow this link: From 4 – 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, there will be student Tutors live on the Channel, ready to help you with math. You can even post questions to the Channel after-hours, and the Tutoring team will try to get back to you as they are able.

Where are additional hand sanitizer locations on campus?

This link will give you locations of hand sanitizer on campus.

Do I have to wear a mask on campus?

All members of our community are encouraged to wear masks while on campus, especially inside College buildings. All students, regardless of vaccination status, are required to be masked in all indoor spaces, including classrooms, common spaces, and residence areas outside of their own rooms. This policy is necessary to begin the semester based on the latest data and information surrounding the Delta variant. As with all our COVID-19 protocols, this is subject to change, based on prevailing public health data and best practices. COVID-19 can be spread by vaccinated individuals, and a mask is the best tool available to help stop any potential spread of the virus.

For Students

Can I play a sport?

Athletics is planning on competing in full schedules for this year. We are following NCAA and MASCAC guidelines related to COVID. At this time fans are welcome to attend both indoor and outdoor sporting events and must follow the campus masking policies that are in place. If you are interested in participating in a sport please reach out to the coach via email https://athletics.mcla.edu/information/directory/index.

Will the Trailblazer Fitness Center be open this spring?

The Trailblazer Fitness Center will be open once classes begin and will follow any campus masking policies in place. All updates can be found here: https://athletics.mcla.edu/information/facilities/TFC

Do I have to have a meal plan?

All students, including those who have completed their on-campus residency requirement, will be required to have a meal plan in the coming year. These are the meal plans:

The first, required for all those with a residency requirement, is the Every Meal plan, which provides a meal during all 19 scheduled meals per week, plus $100 in declining balance and $25 in Blazer bucks. This plan will cost $2,140 for the fall.
The second plan, required for all those who have fulfilled their residency requirement but opt to live in campus residence this fall, includes 65 meals, $100 in declining balance and $25 in Blazer bucks. This plan will cost $700 for the fall. If you have fulfilled your residency requirement, you may opt up to the Every Meal plan.

Dining plans are still being developed, but there will be two dining areas with limited seating to meet state guidelines. Students will be required to reserve a spot in either the Centennial Room or Venable Gym during meal times, and there will be several seating times per meal. Most items will be prepackaged and take out will also be available. The retail dining operations will likely provide a limited choice meal at lunch and dinner on the meal plan to help ensure adequate availability of meals.

Will the bookstore be open?

The bookstore is open 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. However, if you can’t make it to campus, you can still return your rentals and sell your books back online.

You can ship your rentals to the store, using the shipping carrier of your choice. Follow the steps below to process your rental return. Due date reminders will be sent to the email you used for setting up your account.

Sign in to your account using the same email address you provided at the register in-store or entered when you rented online. Note: If you don’t know your password, that’s OK – just click “Forgot Password” to reset.
Once you’ve signed in, you’ll be navigated to the Rentals page to view your Rental Account Information and Rental History.
Click “Return all Rentals by Mail” and follow the steps to print your packing slip.
Print your packing slip and include in your rental shipment. It is crucial to include the packing slip in your box – it identifies you, what you’re returning, and where to send your rentals.

Note: Shipping is at your expense.

If the store is closed you can sell your books online at Valore Books on our website Sell Your books here. The process is easy

Simply find your ISBN to get started
Enter your info and send in your book(s) within 14 days of receiving your sell back quote
Score FREE shipping and receive payment via check or PayPal

As always, questions can be directed to 0185mgr@follett.com or you can call the store at 413-662-5240 during normal business hours.

Can I still contact Student Financial Services?

Yes! Please see this page for information about Student Financial Services and COVID-19.

How do you request tutorial support?

The Office of Academic Advising & Support remains committed to providing academic support to MCLA students. For students seeking tutorial support, please submit requests online through the MCLA portal as follows: Portal > Student Academics > Request a Tutorial

For Prospective Students

Can I visit campus?

View our tour page for more details.

You can also explore our virtual tour!

Are there virtual tours and information sessions I can attend?

Yes! The Office of Admission is hosting virtual tours and information sessions Monday through Friday. Visit the tour page for more information and the registration link.

You can also view the following information sessions:

Abbreviated Information Session (6 minutes) - Learn about the Admission & Financial Aid process.

Full Information Session (24 minutes) - Learn about the Admission & Financial Aid process, academics, and life on and off-campus.

How can I talk to current MCLA students?

You can connect with a current Trailblazer through the Office of Admission.

Also be on the lookout for virtual events where you will have the opportunity to speak with current students.

Is MCLA requiring SAT or ACTs?

MCLA is waiving the SAT/ACT testing requirement for applicants for fall 2022, and we will be piloting a test-blind (test-free) policy for fall 2022 applicants. National and institutional data point to high school work being indicative of student success in college and a more equitable means of assessment. Additionally, as an institution we have a staunch commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and the use of SAT/ACT scores in admission decisions is posing a significant barrier in carrying out that tenet of our mission

Due to covid-19, my grades are pass/fail or credit/no credit, how will this affect my application?

Changes to your grades due to COVID-19 will not affect your application negatively. MCLA evaluates first year applicants based on high school academic performance, strength of curriculum, letters of recommendation, and a personal essay in accordance with guidelines established by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE). E-mail your admission counselor if you have additional questions.

What will residential life be like in the fall?

At a residential liberal arts campus like MCLA, a highlight is the interaction we have with one another in spaces where we live and learn. We expect to be able to return to fuller capacity, back to offering double rooms occupancy. Information about the housing process for students is forthcoming.