Additional Information about Mount Holyoke's COVID-19 Response

Based on the rapidly developing situation, the College has made several important decisions to take effect immediately and continue until at least May 5.

Travel 

• All College-sponsored international travel is suspended, regardless of the destination. 
• All College-sponsored nonessential domestic travel to destinations more than 100 miles from campus is also suspended. Essential activities are, generally, those that are critical to business continuation. Nonessential business activities may include, but are not limited to, travel for professional conferences and meetings, research presentations and curricular or cocurricular activities. 
• No College-sponsored group travel outside of a 100-mile radius of campus is permitted. For this purpose, groups are defined as five people or more. Athletics competitions with special permission are currently exempt from this travel restriction. 
• Given the rapidly evolving spread of the virus, we strongly encourage members of our community to cancel personal trips to any Level 2 or Level 3 region. Should you travel, please be sure you follow all local and national travel rules and regulations and monitor entry restrictions, quarantines and isolation protocols for your destination. Please note, should you travel to any of these countries, you will be required to quarantine for 14 days prior to returning to campus. Please keep apprised of U.S. restrictions, quarantines and isolation protocols that may be in place on your return.
• Further, we strongly discourage students from traveling during spring break. As is our usual practice, all residence halls and the dining commons will be open to residential students. Students must register by March 12 to remain on campus via my.mtholyoke.edu.
• The College now requires all faculty, students and staff to notify us of all travel outside of a 100-mile radius of campus, both College-sponsored and personal, through this form (requires a Mount Holyoke College login). This mandatory registration is necessary to create a record of where members of our community have been, should there be a public health need. 
• Community members who travel for any reason should be aware that the College will restrict individuals from returning to campus if they have traveled to a country with a CDC level 2 or level 3 warning in the past 14 days or if new travel restrictions are imposed in any areas of travel. In those instances, the College will require a 14-day quarantine before returning to campus. 

Events

All events held on campus that are open to the public are limited to 50 participants or fewer. This does not include academic classes or events that are solely for Mount Holyoke College campus community members. Additional guidance on large internal community events will be provided to on-campus event planners. If you are planning on-campus gatherings that are open to the public, with an expected attendance of more than 50 people, you should postpone, cancel or, if possible, use online delivery methods. This includes events sponsored by the College, departments, offices, or units, as well as student-sponsored events. Decisions about events scheduled after May 5 will be made at a later date.

• Please note: When planning an event, speakers and attendees will not be allowed on campus if they have traveled to a country with a CDC level 2 or level 3 warning in the past 14 days.
• Campus-based admitted student events, including the Admission events MHC Showcase and MHC Preview Weekend, are cancelled. Tours and information sessions will be limited. Virtual visit opportunities are being explored.
• We will notify the campus community as soon as possible about campus events such as Commencement, Reunion, Mount Holyoke College summer research activities and internship programming.
• Non-College events hosted at the Willits-Hallowell Conference Center are not included in this restriction and will be subject to separate review.
• If you have questions about how to handle your event, please discuss with your supervisor or division head.
• Guidance on residence hall events will be forthcoming to residential students. If you have immediate questions, please contact Rachel Alldis, Associate Dean of Students & Director of Residential Life.

Academic Continuity

A working group of faculty from all three divisions, and staff is consulting with academic department and program chairs to plan for scenarios, should COVID-19 affect our on-campus community directly.

Individuals at High Risk

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued guidance for individuals considered to be at risk for serious illness from COVID-19. We know that members of our community fall into some of these categories. Should you have questions or concerns, please reach out to your primary health care provider, your supervisor and the Office of Human Resources for guidance on how the College can help protect your wellbeing.