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MassBay On-Campus Expectations

NOTE: As of November 14, 2023, the college has reverted to the typical practices of pre-pandemic life. If Coronavirus once again becomes widespread and deadly, we will again follow the measures detailed on this page, to ensure safety.

Effective January 2022, all Massachusetts community college students, faculty, staff, and guests coming to campus for classes, activities, or work must be in compliance with the COVID Vaccination Policy (Student COVID Vaccination Policy; Employee Vaccination Policy) and submit verification of their fully vaccinated status to the College absent an approved reasonable accommodation. In accordance with the CDC definition, MassBay defines “fully vaccinated” as two weeks after someone takes the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or after taking their second Pfizer or Moderna dose.

Please review our Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about how we define fully vaccinated and other COVID-related practices and protocols in place for spring 2022.

In-person courses at MassBay began on Tuesday, January 25, 2022, and here are the protective measures in place:

COVID Requirements + Protocols

Precautions being taken include:

  • Restricted Access The campuses are closed to the public, and only previously cleared MassBay students, faculty, staff, or vendors will be allowed on campus. Individuals coming to campus are required to be fully vaccinated.
  • Face coverings are required at all times in our buildings. The only time face coverings can be temporarily removed is to take sips from a beverage or when actively eating.
  • Three feet of social distance is required wherever possible. Signage and floor clings will be prominent to facilitate distancing; classrooms will spread chairs three feet apart; common areas will be oriented to prevent gatherings in close proximity.
  • Cap on the number of students in each classroom. MassBay is limiting the number of enrolled students in classes to ensure all students and faculty can maintain three feet of distance in all our in-use classrooms.
  • Voluntary Testing. Students, faculty, or staff may request a test kit once a week. More information on how to obtain a test kit will be available early in the semester.
  • COVID-19 testing. Testing is not currently required for the spring 2022 semester however, students, faculty, and staff may request a test kit.

For more information, please visit the MassBay COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions: MassBay and COVID-19 | FAQs →.

Accessing Campus

Any student who is planning to come to any MassBay campus and/or affiliated clinical sites will need to provide proof of the vaccine. This includes the following:

  • Students with any on-campus component to their schedule;
  • Students who seek to access any on-campus services; and
  • Students who are required by program or activity to be vaccinated as a condition of participation (e.g. athletics, clinical placements).

There is a two-step process to gain access to the MassBay campus for the spring 2022 semester:

STEP 1: Download the MassBayGo, our mobile app. Search MassBay Community College in your App Store to find it. You will use the My Campus Pass title to enter MassBay buildings. If you have the old MyMassBay app on your phone, please delete it.

STEP 2: Upload your proof of COVID vacination document. Students, follow the instructions here: www.massbay.edu/immunization.

Short how-to-video for Students

Faculty and staff, visit BayNavigator, click on the MassBay Forms/My Forms/Fill out a new form, select, COVID_Vaccination.

Short how-to-video for Faculty and Staff

Individuals who are clear to be on-campus will find a green checkmark in their “campus pass“ tile in the MassBay app. You must show the green checkmark to the officer at the door when entering the building.

On the Wellesley HIlls campus, students, faculty and staff wtih the green checkmarks may use the main entrance by the circle driveway and flagpole, the door near the Carey building elevator, or the breezeway doors. Individuals without a green checkmark, or those without smartphones, must use the service window adjacent to the main entrance. Inidviduals using special accommodation parking should enter via the breezeway doors. Currently the North Door, across from the RWC is exit only.

 

Classrooms

MassBay will only be using classrooms that meet proper ventilation standards, and they are designed to enable everyone to maintain three feet of social distance. The number of students allowed in our labs and classrooms has been reduced to provide adequate social distance between students.

Food + Beverages

  • Individuals may consume food and beverages while on-campus. Food may not be consumed in classrooms when a class is in session, computer labs, or in the library.
  • Very limited food service options are available on the Wellesley Hills and Framingham campuses. There will be no full-service kitchen/cafeteria services available. The Ashland campus will continue to offer vending services.
  • Individuals may bring their own food and beverages. Microwaves are available for use.
  • Face masks may be removed momentarily while in the act of eating or drinking.
  • Individuals must continue to maintain three feet social distancing while consuming food or beverages.

Visitors + Guests

Anyone who does not have a MassBay.edu email address and is coming to one of our campuses will be considered a Guest.

Guests must take the following steps at least 48 hours before they intend to come to campus:

1. Download MassBayGo, the College’s mobile app, to your phone. (Search for “MassBay Community College” in your app store)

2. Click “Get Started.”

3. Click “Guest” (not Student), and “Next.”

4. Click on the “Request a Guest Pass” tile.

5. Fill out the Campus Visitation Form, which involves uploading a photo of one's vaccination card.

Once these steps are completed, the College will verify the submitted documents and information. Until these materials are verified, Guests will be in Pending Review status on the app. Once verified, Guests will automatically receive a green check in the app and will be cleared to come to campus. Note, Guests will be required to show their green check to come into the building.

Anyone from the MassBay community who intends to invite a guest to campus is asked to share this policy with their guest. Again, 48 hours’ notice is required to clear a guest to come to campus.

  • Individuals under the age of 5 are not permitted on-campus.
  • Guests may not accompany students into the classrooms unless approved in advance by Accessibility Resources.

Computer Labs + Technology Resources

Computer labs will be open during the spring semester. Please visit the MassBay Help Desk for computer lab hours.

Students may continue to borrow chromebooks for the semester. If you are interested in borrowing a chromebook, please visit: www.massbay.edu/chromebook

Study Spaces

  • MassBay libraries will be open Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Check hours: Library
  • Remote library reference services are available Monday to Friday, 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
  • Please visit: www.massbay.edu/library
  • Designated space will be available for students who need to attend remote classes while on-campus.
  • Due to social distancing, quiet study space in the library and computer labs will be available at a reduced capacity and on a first-come-first service basis.
  • Group study space will be very limited in the library.

Transportation

For information regarding the MassBay shuttle and Uber services, please visit: www.massbay.edu/shuttle.

Campus Services

Offices at MassBay Community College will be open Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on the Wellesley Hills campus, and Monday to Thursday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on the Framingham campus.

Students will also be able to access services remotely by visiting: www.massbay.edu/studentresources.

Student Life + Clubs

The College will continue to offer virtual events for all students as well as some in-person events for vaccinated students who are authorized to be on campus. These events will follow all the appropriate safety guidelines such as wearing masks, keeping 3 feet distance between all participants, and limiting the number of people in spaces/rooms, etc.

Student clubs will have the option to either meet in person while following all the safety guidelines, continue to meet virtually, or have hybrid meetings/events.

Recreation + Wellness Center

The RWC will remain open to team practices through the month of January. A limited opening for students, faculty, and staff is expected by the end of February.

External Special Events

Aside from a handful of pre-approved exceptions, there are no external in-person events scheduled for the spring 2022 semester. The College will continue to monitor the evolving COVID-19 situation to determine if a limited number of on-campus special events can safely be held as the semester progresses.

Who is not required to provide proof of vaccination

Students who are only taking online courses, whether full or part-time, credit or non-credit, and who will not access campus for any reason, such as instruction, advising, and/or other purposes, are not required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

 

Updated November 14, 2023

Registered students should monitor this landing page and their massbay.edu email regularly for important health and safety information.