03/25/2022
By Michael Rutherford
The arrival of Spring has brought with it a welcome reduction in COVID-19 cases in our community. And while weekly campus cases have dropped to just a handful we must keep up our guard to protect against spread of the virus.
Masking remains optional across UMass Lowell. Still, please keep in mind the following COVID-19 mitigation measures, which remain in effect:
Daily Symptom Checks: All members of the campus community — students, faculty and staff — are asked to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 before leaving their homes, apartments or residence halls. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you are asked to self-isolate.
Positive Test: If you test positive for COVID-19, you are asked to continue your quarantine and contact the COVID line (for students) or the COVID-19 HR Response Team (for faculty and staff.) Find detailed instructions on the COVID website.
Vaccinations: Members of our campus community are required to receive booster vaccinations. Students must post their updated vaccination cards to the Student Health Portal while staff and faculty must report their booster vaccines via these forms on the HR website.
Booster vaccines are not required of student and employees with an exemption for approved medical or religious reasons. Students may email Wellness_Center@uml.edu for information about applying for an exemption. Employees can find exemption paperwork on the HR website.
Students and employees with an approved exemption are required to submit to regular surveillance testing for COVID-19. For information about this screening, send an email to covidtesting@uml.edu.
Rapid Tests and Masks: UMass Lowell continues to make available rapid tests and masks to employees and students who request them.
Ventilation and Classroom Filters: UMass Lowell continues to maximize its ventilation systems to bring in external air paired with the highest level filters appropriate. The university maintains air purifiers with HEPA filters in classrooms as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19. Faculty who turn off or turn down air purifiers while teaching are asked to turn them back to “high” before leaving the classroom.
Finally, please remember the importance of respect and consideration, as has been the case since the start of this pandemic. Even without a masking requirement, some members of our community prefer to continue wearing masks. These are highly individualized choices influenced by many factors. UMass Lowell supports members of our community no matter their choice.
Students should not hesitate to contact the Wellness Center, and employees may contact HR, with any questions or concerns about these policies.