Campus COVID Information

Students experiencing symptoms of COVID should test and follow isolation guidelines if positive. They may also call WSU Health Services at 413-572-5415 to schedule an appointment or call their own healthcare provider if they need to be evaluated medically. The University is not able to provide separate isolation housing for the 2023-2024 academic year. Students who test positive are encouraged to isolate off campus. If they are not able to leave campus to isolate, they may isolate in place following MADPH isolation guidelines. Students may contact WSU Health Services for more information about isolating in place on campus.

Faculty, librarians, and staff do not need to report positive test results. If you believe you have been exposed to COVID or are feeling unwell, please follow CDC guidelines to care for yourself and those around you.

If you have been exposed to someone with COVID, please wear a mask around others for 10 days regardless of your vaccination status. If you remain asymptomatic, you are not required to isolate. If you develop symptoms, please isolate and test. 

If you develop symptoms and your test result is negative, you may end your isolation upon the improvement of your symptoms. 

If you are asymptomatic and your test result is positive, please isolate from others for a minimum of 5 days following your test result. You may return to work on Day 6. Please wear a mask around others through Day 10. 

If you develop mild symptoms (e.g., dry cough, headache, fever < 100.4) and your test result is positive, please isolate for a minimum of 5 days following the onset of your symptoms. You may return to work on Day 6 following the resolution of your symptoms. Please wear a mask around others through Day 10. 

If you develop moderate symptoms (e.g., deep cough, fever > 100.4, shortness of breath) and your test result is positive, please isolate for a minimum of 5 days following the onset of your symptoms. Please wear a mask around others through Day 10. You may return to work on Day 11 following the resolution of your symptoms.

Dear Westfield State Students:

Acknowledging Governor Healey’s announcement of the end of the COVID public health emergency effective May 11, Westfield State University is updating our COVID vaccination and mitigation policies to more accurately reflect the current COVID situation.

Effective immediately, COVID vaccination is not required for students. However, in order to provide the safest learning environment for all members of the Westfield State community, we strongly recommend everyone continue to stay up to date with their COVID vaccinations and follow all recommendations set forth by the CDC and MA DPH.

Westfield State will no longer maintain a campus dashboard regarding COVID nor will we provide separate isolation or quarantine housing on campus. Community members should continue to follow CDC recommendations for self-isolating as appropriate for the safety of others but no test results need to be reported.

We continue to be a mask-friendly campus and respect all individual choices regarding masks.

We encourage every member of the Westfield State community to remember that our own personal choices often impact people around us, including those who may be more vulnerable than ourselves. If you believe you have been exposed to COVID or are feeling unwell, please follow CDC guidelines to care for yourself and those around you. Owls protect Owls.

Should campus or local conditions warrant a change to any COVID-related policies, you will be notified by email.

Sincerely,

Maggie Balch

Dear Westfield State Faculty, Librarians, and Staff:

Acknowledging Governor Healey’s announcement of the end of the COVID public health emergency effective May 11, Westfield State University is updating our COVID vaccination and mitigation policies to more accurately reflect the current COVID situation.

Effective immediately, the University will no longer require that students, AFSCME, APA and MSCA unit members, non-unit professionals (NUP), and campus visitors provide evidence of completion of their primary vaccination series. However, in order to provide the safest learning environment for all members of the Westfield State community, we strongly recommend everyone continue to stay up to date with their COVID vaccinations and follow all recommendations set forth by the CDC and MA DPH.

Westfield State University will no longer maintain a campus dashboard regarding COVID nor will we provide any separate isolation or quarantine housing on campus. Community members should continue to follow CDC recommendations for self-isolating as appropriate for the safety of others.

Effective immediately, AFSCME, APA, and MSCA unit members and NUPs do not need to report positive test results.

We continue to be a mask-friendly campus and respect all individual choices regarding masks.

We encourage every member of the Westfield State community to remember that our own personal choices often impact people around us, including those who may be more vulnerable than ourselves. If you believe you have been exposed to COVID or are feeling unwell, please follow CDC guidelines to care for yourself and those around you. Owls protect Owls.

Should campus or local conditions warrant a change to any COVID-related policies, you will be notified by email.

Sincerely,

Trish Bonica

Dear Campus Community,

After review of the current public health conditions and an assessment of our campus conditions, we will be extending all Fall 2022 COVID-related policies to reflect that we remain a mask-friendly campus for Spring 2023. You may find these policies at westfield.ma.edu/covid or by the “COVID” link posted in the “Trending” section at the top of the University’s home page.

Should conditions warrant any changes to our policies, you will be notified via email.

As in Fall 2022, should you need any testing kits or masks, please contact Tiffany Fangman, COVID Coordinator, at tfangman@westfield.ma.edu to make arrangements to receive these materials.

Sincerely,

Linda

Dear Westfield State University Community,

As we all share in our concerns for the safety and well-being of our community, I am writing to remind everyone of our Fall 2022 public health protocols. These protocols were distributed to the Westfield State University community on August 17, 2022 and will remain in place until further notice. These protocols have been developed after reviewing current COVID-19 transmission data and are consistent with the practices of other public universities in Massachusetts.    

This notice is especially timely as today, September 1, 2022, may be the last day to order your free at-home COVID-19 tests from the federal government. While we have a sufficient supply of self-test kits available at Westfield State University, I encourage all of you to request tests for your household if you have not already done so.

Masking   

• Westfield State University will continue to be mask optional throughout most of campus. As a mask friendly campus, however, we encourage mask wearing as an effective tool in reducing the spread of COVID-19.   
• Masks will be required in all classrooms and instructional spaces during scheduled class times for the Fall 2022 semester. However, to provide more flexibility, faculty have the option of NOT requiring mask wearing in their classes.   
• Students and employees do NOT need to wear a mask while on Westfield State transit or in public spaces of the Ely Library (unless in a classroom during class time).   
• Masks will continue to be required in Health Services and the Counseling Center, as they are in all healthcare settings in Massachusetts.   
• Employees have the option of requiring that a mask be worn in their individual single-occupancy offices.   
• Free medical procedure masks will be available at designated locations throughout the academic year to all members of the Westfield State community. Masks will be available in the SAIL office on the lower level of the Ely Campus Center, at Health Services, and in many departmental offices. Students are encouraged to visit SAIL while employees should speak with their supervisors to request masks, if needed. 

Vaccination   

• All individuals who will have any on-campus presence are required to complete an initial series of COVID vaccination (2 doses of Pfizer/Moderna or 1 dose of J&J) prior to coming to campus. Initial booster doses are strongly encouraged for everyone who is eligible. Individuals are eligible to receive the first booster dose 5 months after receiving the second dose of Pfizer/Moderna or 2 months after J&J dose.    
• If you are a current employee who has already provided proof of your vaccination status or previously requested and received an exemption from the vaccination mandate, you do NOT need to take any further action for the Fall semester. New employees will be asked to provide proof of vaccination by Human Resources prior to onboarding.   
• Students who have not submitted proof of vaccination should do so at www.westfield.ma.edu/healthservices      

• Students who require a medical or religious exemption should email Health Services at healthservices@westfield.ma.edu. Employees who require a medical or religious exemption should email Tina Bones, Benefits Manager in Human Resources, at lbones@westfield.ma.edu.

Testing   

• Anyone who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should seek testing. Students and employees may request a rapid self-test kit at Health Services by contacting healthservices@westfield.ma.edu or (413) 572-5415. You may also seek testing at an off-campus location or through an at-home test.    
• Westfield State strongly encourages exempted unvaccinated students to test weekly.   
• Exempt unvaccinated employees will continue to be expected to test weekly and report any positive test results.   
• Students and employees who are COVID-positive should contact Tiffany Fangman at tfangman@westfield.ma.edu. Employees should also contact their supervisor.   

COVID-19 Page/Dashboard   

• Westfield State University will continue to operate its COVID-19 page where the community can find the most recent communications regarding the University's response to COVID-19.   
• Westfield State University will not post a weekly dashboard to the COVID-19 page as the University will not be conducting mandatory testing.

Thank you once again for your cooperation as we work to keep our campus healthy and safe.

Warmly,

Linda

Dear Westfield State University Community,  

As we prepare to welcome everyone at the start of the 2022-2023 academic year, I am writing to update you on our Fall 2022 public health protocols. These protocols have been developed after reviewing current COVID-19 transmission data and are consistent with the practices of other public universities in Massachusetts.   

These protocols will remain in place until further notice.  

Masking  

• Westfield State University will continue to be mask optional throughout most of campus. As a mask friendly campus, however, we encourage mask wearing as an effective tool in reducing the spread of COVID-19.  
• Masks will be required in all classrooms and instructional spaces during scheduled class times for the Fall 2022 semester. However, to provide more flexibility, faculty have the option of NOT requiring mask wearing in their classes.  
• Students and employees do NOT need to wear a mask while on Westfield State transit or in public spaces of the Ely Library (unless in a classroom during class time).  
• Masks will continue to be required in Health Services and the Counseling Center, as they are in all healthcare settings in Massachusetts.  
• Employees have the option of requiring that a mask be worn in their individual single-occupancy offices.  
• Free medical procedure masks will be available at designated locations throughout the academic year to all members of the Westfield State community.  

Vaccination  

• All individuals who will have any on-campus presence are required to complete an initial series of COVID vaccination (2 doses of Pfizer/Moderna or 1 dose of J&J) prior to coming to campus. Initial booster doses are strongly encouraged for everyone who is eligible. Individuals are eligible to receive the first booster dose 5 months after receiving the second dose of Pfizer/Moderna or 2 months after J&J dose.   
• If you are a current employee who has already provided proof of your vaccination status or previously requested and received an exemption from the vaccination mandate, you do NOT need to take any further action for the Fall semester. New employees will be asked to provide proof of vaccination by Human Resources prior to onboarding.  
• Students who have not submitted proof of vaccination should do so at www.westfield.ma.edu/healthservices     
• Students who require a medical or religious exemption should email Health Services at healthservices@westfield.ma.edu. Employees who require a medical or religious exemption should email Tiffany Fangman, COVID coordinator, at tfangman@westfield.ma.edu.  

Testing  

• Anyone who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should seek testing. Students and employees may request a rapid self-test kit at Health Services by contacting healthservices@westfield.ma.edu or (413) 572-5415. You may also seek testing at an off-campus location or through an at-home test.   
• Westfield State strongly encourages exempted unvaccinated students to test weekly.  
• Exempt unvaccinated employees will continue to be expected to test weekly and report any positive test results.  
• Students and employees who are COVID-positive should contact Tiffany Fangman at tfangman@westfield.ma.edu. Employees should also contact their supervisor.  

COVID-19 Page/Dashboard  

• Westfield State University will continue to operate its COVID-19 page where the community can find the most recent communications regarding the University's response to COVID-19.  
• Westfield State University will not post a weekly dashboard to the COVID-19 page as the University will not be conducting mandatory testing.

All Fall 2022 semester protocols are subject to change as public health conditions evolve.  

Thank you once again for your cooperation as we work to keep our campus healthy and safe.   

Warmly,   

Linda