Together Again: What to Expect Upon Arrival
The long-awaited fall semester is here. Babson College is ready.
“We spent the spring and summer months preparing for this very moment, taking every essential precaution necessary to bring, and do our best to keep, our campus community together,” said President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD. “We’re eager to get Babson back in action, to convene our community on campus and around the world, and to continue our steadfast innovation and entrepreneurial leadership—neither of which was slowed or interrupted by the pandemic.”
As students arrive on campus or prepare for the fall semester, the College is sharing and reiterating its community safeguard measures and plan for testing, reporting, and tracing—all key to help mitigate the risks and spread of COVID-19 on campus.
“We need you to take care of yourselves and each other. To be successful in maintaining an in-person campus experience, we must be steadfast in prioritizing our health and safety by complying with new protocols and policies,” said Vice President of Learner Success and Dean of Campus Life Lawrence P. Ward in an email to students.
“I fully expect that our community will adhere to established rules and protocols; that we will demonstrate personal responsibility, respect one another; and be part of a collective effort to keep our community well,” he wrote.
Quarantining and Initial Testing
Babson community members physically on campus must adhere to new testing and quarantine policies, which include a two-test process for both students and employees before in-person classes commence.
Residential Students
In addition to a 14-day quarantine prior to arrival, students must undergo two preliminary on-campus COVID-19 tests. The first test must be completed within 24 hours of returning to campus, and students will receive their results within 24-48 hours.
Until they receive their first negative result, students must quarantine on campus in their assigned residence room, use only their assigned household bathroom, and leave only to get grab n’ go food or attend to approved on-campus errands, including laptop and course material pickup.
Anyone accompanying students and assisting with move-in must complete Babson’s visitor registration form prior to arrival. Individuals from Massachusetts, any state identified as lower risk, or those who plan to immediately leave the state following the drop-off (no overnight stay) are exempt from the Massachusetts Travel Order. All others must meet state requirements.
Off-campus Students
Students residing off campus must schedule two Babson-administered COVID-19 tests the week of August 24. Both tests must be completed at least three days before their first in-person class.
Students must quarantine at their off-campus residence while awaiting their first result and remain off campus until classes begin.
The first week of undergraduate classes (August 24–28) will take place online to allow for community-wide testing. Hybrid undergraduate and graduate classes will begin the week of August 31.
Daily Symptom Reporting
Employees working on campus are required to complete daily symptom reporting. All students, regardless of whether they plan to come to campus, will be required to also report their symptoms daily.
In all instances, instant feedback is given on symptom reporting. Individuals’ status for the day is either determined to be “clear/green” or “restricted/red.” If declared “restricted,” students will be instructed on next steps.
Using these tools, students and employees also can schedule COVID-19 tests, obtain test results, input contact tracing information, and receive contact tracing notifications.
Contact Tracing
Babson community members who test positive must participate in contact tracing efforts. Babson’s contact tracing team has completed the Johns Hopkins Contact Tracing Course and will assist local boards of health in notifying students who test positive, and their identified close contacts.
Under the guidance of public health experts, a “close-contact individual” is defined as anyone (including a person wearing a mask) who has been within 6 feet of a COVID-19 positive individual for more than 15 minutes within two days prior to a positive test result or symptom onset.
Students identified as a close-contact individual will be contacted by Babson Health Services, a nurse practitioner, or their local Board of Health. Employees will be notified by a nurse practitioner, or a local board of health.
Similar efforts to promote safety are being applied at Babson’s Boston and Miami campuses in accordance with local and building regulations, and public health guidelines. We will continue to update the Babson Together website with information specific to our Hubs.
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