With the start of the semester around the corner, the university would like to remind students, faculty and staff of current guidance from state and federal public health organizations that are an important part of our strategy to keep our campus healthy and safe.

UMass Lowell updates its mask and vaccine protocols for Fall 2021.

At UMass Lowell, while face coverings will remain an option for any individual, they will no longer be mandatory indoors or outdoors beginning May 29 except on university transportation vehicles, consistent with updated public health guidance.

Thanks to increased COVID-19 vaccine supply and the growing numbers of individuals vaccinated in Massachusetts, UMass Lowell’s partnership with Lowell General Hospital to vaccinate campus community members has been streamlined.

UMass Lowell will require all residential and commuter students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to the beginning of the fall semester to live, learn or visit any UMass Lowell campus or property.

Biology Prof. Matthew Nugent, who is an expert in disease biology, biochemistry and biotechnology, recently answered questions about the Delta variant and how best to protect against it.

Solomont School of Nursing faculty will soon assist with clinical trials on rapid COVID-19 tests that are being developed as part of a massive federal effort. Assoc. Prof. Ainat Koren is leading the initiative, which will deploy nurses and nursing students to existing testing sites to gather patient samples and data.

A team of workforce scholars from the Manning School of Business is researching how the shift to remote work during the pandemic has changed the landscape of the labor market, and what it means for job seekers in the future.

University Dining Operations Director Jirair Derkrikorian, whose team worked to create special dining experiences for students during the pandemic, was recognized as a “College Foodservice Hero” by the industry website Food Management.

Global Studies doctoral student Shawn Driscoll helped create, edit and write "The Grip," which examines the affect the 1918 pandemic had on Worcester. When the project began, he had no idea what was around the corner. We caught up with him with a few questions.

Starting April 19, anyone 16 years and older living in Massachusetts can get vaccinated against COVID-19. Campus health experts and researchers recommend vaccination for everyone who can safely get the shot -- so that we can protect ourselves and others in our campus community.