05/27/2021
By Steve O’Riordan

Following the announcement from the CDC that those fully vaccinated no longer need to wear masks or socially distance, Gov. Baker announced that effective May 29, Massachusetts would lift all remaining COVID-19 restrictions on businesses and the general public.

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. Individuals not yet fully vaccinated are advised to wear face coverings in indoor settings and when they can’t socially distance, but may remove them in a private office when alone. The university will also lift all other remaining mitigation efforts and we will continue to monitor public health guidance and respond accordingly to future updates.

We are pleased that at UMass Lowell the vast majority of campus community members indicated in April that they planned to be vaccinated and students must be prior to returning for the fall semester. Employees are strongly encouraged to get the vaccine as soon as possible to protect themselves and others and can obtain it, often without an appointment, at the Lowell General vaccination site near campus or other numerous locations across the state.

The move toward normal is cause for celebration and will support our desire to restore a robust campus and student experience for the fall. We recognize that many employees have already made plans for a flexible return to campus based on the operational summer ramp-up plans submitted by managers in mid-May. UMass Lowell will maintain its existing plans to gradually open up the campus over the summer, in preparation for a return to pre-pandemic on-campus operations.

We also want to again acknowledge and appreciate all of the great work done by our dedicated faculty and staff throughout the pandemic and allow time over the next several months for everyone to gradually transition back to campus. We are already hearing from the many employees who have been working on campus during the pandemic how grateful they are to be seeing more faculty and staff return to campus. And it is important to emphasize how grateful we are to them for their efforts during the past year.

We are also happy to report that campus leaders have approved the hiring of approximately 50 positions in critical support areas. These positions will be posted soon. And throughout the pandemic, we remained committed to our ongoing faculty hiring plan.

We encourage all faculty and staff to participate in the Welcome Back Days that are scheduled throughout this summer. Participating in these days will help us all be prepared and more comfortable as we return to our offices. Doing this now will allow our teams in IT, facilities and auxiliary services to focus their attention on supporting students’ successful return to campus later in the summer and into fall.

We’re also excited to be able to once again begin to host meetings and events on campus. Over the coming months, our Facilities and Events teams will be working to prepare and rejuvenate meeting and event spaces that may have been used for storage or other purposes during the past year. By fall we will be ready to welcome the many intellectual, cultural, recreational and community events that are an essential and vibrant part of campus life.

I know many are eager to return to campus as soon as possible and I know others have questions and concerns. Please be patient as we work through these challenges. Reach out to your supervisor or HR if you have questions and also visit the Fall 2021 website to see more information and FAQs. We update this site regularly as information and processes change. Additionally, information specific to students, academics and research areas will be communicated in the next two weeks.

As we head into a long Memorial Day weekend, I once again want to express the thanks of the entire university community for everyone’s hard work during the last year. These efforts will greatly speed up our return to a fully populated, safe and inclusive working and learning environment for all.