Dear Viking Students,
On Monday Governor Baker announced that virtually all COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts effective May 29, including an easing of the mask mandate. The state of emergency will be lifted on June 15. This sudden, but welcome, change in policy signals hope that with the vaccine available and case counts down, the worst of this pandemic may be behind us. We know that many are wondering what this means for our campus operations. Below please see information about our current and continued COVID-19 safety protocols.
Mask Policy
Although Massachusetts will no longer require masks in most location as of May 29, Salem State’s recently updated on-campus mask policy will remain in place. This means that:
- If you are outdoors and maintaining a distance of six feet or greater from other people, you do not need to wear a mask on our campus.
- If you are outdoors and cannot maintain a distance of at least six feet from other people, wearing a mask is still required.
- Masks are also still required in all indoor public settings, including classrooms, dining halls, the library, and the fitness center.
Summer Semester
Summer 2021 health and safety protocols are still in place for those living, working and taking classes on campus this summer: https://ask.salemstate.edu/kb/summer-2021-student-safety-requirements.
Fall Semester
At this time, we anticipate no significant changes for the fall semester. This means that:
- The fall course schedule remains in place.
- Three-feet distancing for in-class seating remains in place.
- Physical distancing remains in place, including in office settings.
- All students who are attending in-person classes, conducting research on campus, living in residence halls, or participating in campus life activities must become fully inoculated with an FDA authorized COVID-19 vaccine prior to the start of the 2021 academic year.
- Please be advised that this information is unfolding rather quickly and we will be making further safety announcements as details become available. Please continue to check your Salem State email regularly for updates.
Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Elisa Castillo, PhD, Associate Dean of Students for Wellness
Gene Labonte, Associate Vice President for Public Safety and Risk Management