AMHERST — Masks and face coverings will be optional in most indoor places at the University of Massachusetts campus as the fall semester begins, but Hampshire County’s four private colleges will be requiring them inside their buildings, at least through a portion of September.
“Masks are welcome on campus and masking is strongly encouraged during the first few weeks of the fall semester, particularly in crowded settings, or for individuals who are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19,” UMass Public Health Director Ann Becker and Environmental Health and Safety Executive Director Jeffrey Hescock, who co-direct the UMass Public Health Promotion Center, wrote in a letter to the campus community.
Their message, which also outlines various protocols including pre-arrival COVID-19 testing, and the need to isolate in case of a positive test, notes that mask requirements will remain in place at University Health Services, the Public Health Promotion Center, the Center for Counseling and Psychological Health, the Center for Women and Community, and the Center for Language, Speech and Hearing. That aligns with federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mandates.
The private colleges, though, are taking a different approach as they welcome back students.
At Smith College, a message from President Kathleen McCartney, David DeSwert, executive vice president for Finance and Administration, Alexandra Keller, vice president for Campus Life, and Michael Thurston, provost and dean of the faculty, states that face coverings will be necessary.
“Masks will be required during classes held indoors; presenters and lecturers will be exempt from this requirement. Masks will also be required at indoor gatherings of 30 or more,” they wrote.
This rule is set to end on Sept. 16, though will be subject to the region’s health conditions at the time.
Smith’s policy will be similar to Amherst College’s, where a requirement for masks to be worn in all indoor locations resumed this week. That will remain in effect through Sept. 12, with the lone exceptions to this rule being inside residence halls and when an individual is alone in a private office with the door closed.
“We fully anticipate moving to a more relaxed masking protocol once we are past the first few weeks of the semester,” wrote Catherine Epstein, provost and dean of the faculty, Liz Agosto, chief student affairs officer and dean of students, and Kate Harrington, chief human resources officer. “That decision will be made based on the prevalence of the virus on campus at that time and communicated prior to Sept. 12.”
At Mount Holyoke College, Beverly Daniel Tatum, interim president, sent a letter to the community about its rules.
“Masks will be required inside all campus buildings from Aug. 21 through Sept. 16 while the campus quickly densifies. Students need not wear a mask in their residence hall room,” Tatum wrote.
Masks will not be required outdoors in most cases, but should cases on campus or in the county change, they might be necessary.
Of the private instutitions, only Hampshire College is committed to keeping masks as a prevention strategy all fall, with President Ed Wingenbach and the COVID Response Team writing that this could be relaxed a bit after Sept. 10, depending on falling case counts.
“Masks will be required in all classes, labs, and other mandatory indoor academic activities, throughout the fall semester,” Wingenbach wrote. “Masks must be worn by everyone at indoor campus events open to the public, throughout the fall semester.”