COVID-19 Information Q&A
**COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement** |
Lasell University will require a COVID-19 vaccination for all students who take classes or reside on campus by the start of the Fall semester. This policy includes residential and commuter students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. As we do with all other vaccines, Lasell will evaluate and grant requests for appropriate medical and religious exemptions. Beginning April 19, all students who attend school in Massachusetts will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Once you are fully vaccinated, you will need to upload proof of vaccination to the Health Services portal. Further guidance regarding this process will be forthcoming |
Academics
If I am living on campus or commuting to campus, why will some of my classes be online?
There are several reasons. (1) Some faculty have underlying medical conditions or relatives at home who are at risk, and therefore cannot take the risk of coming on campus each day and being exposed to dozens or hundreds of other people. (2) Some upper level courses in which we only offer one section may have people learning from home and attending in person. If a majority, or even a large plurality, of students are online, then it will make sense to teach that course online for everyone. (3) Some courses are offered simultaneously to students at Lasell and at other colleges; these courses are necessarily taught online (our Certified Financial Planning courses are an example).
If I am a resident or commuter student and one or more of my classes are online, will I receive a discount?
No, you will not receive a discount. As a residential or commuter student, you have the opportunity to interact with other students across campus, learning from each other and from those who are different than you. You can attend faculty members' office hours and develop mentor relationships. You can take part in the informal interactions in the dining hall. You can participate in clubs, student organizations, recreational activities, and athletics. And you will have personal access to health and counseling staff, advisors, and the Academic Achievement Center.
Athletics
What is the status of intercollegiate athletics?
We are excited to officially announce that after a year of no intercollegiate competition, the Lasers will begin playing actual games this week. Over the next month, all of our spring student-athletes will have the opportunity to put on their uniforms and do what they love to do…compete with their teammates.
The presidents of the GNAC voted to move forward with a modified conference schedule and the institution approved limited non-conference competition as well. Baseball, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s track and field, softball, and men’s volleyball will all be back in action this spring.
The health and safety of the entire Lasell community remain our top priory as we plan our return to competition. We have worked with the Director of Health Services, Rich Arnold, the COVID-19 Task Force, and our sports medical staff to develop standards and protocols that will allow our athletes to return safely to competition this spring.
These guidelines include increased testing for student-athletes, masking at all times, no access to locker rooms, limited travel, and no spectators in attendance.
We understand that not being able to attend these games in person is disappointing for the Lasell Community. Please understand that this decision is both a GNAC policy as well as an institutional one. This policy will be in effect at all of our competitor’s venues as well. We will revisit this policy throughout the season and will amend it if conditions allow.
We are planning to live stream all of our home games and our opponents are planning to do the same. The link for the live stream will be on our website and on each team’s schedule page.
Let’s Go Lasers!
Dining
What are the dining hall hours?
Visit Lasell Dining Services for hours, menus, nutritional information, and more.
Valentine Dining Hall
Mon. - Fri. | 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. |
4:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. | |
Sat. & Sun | 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. |
4:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. |
Boomer's Grill (inside Valentine)
Mon. - Sun | 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
1851
Mon. - Fri. | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
Sat. & Sun. | Closed |
Starbucks
Mon. - Thur. | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. |
Can we cancel our meal plan but still live on campus? Or will there be reductions to meal plan prices with the change in format?
No. Room and board are one combined fee.
Will the dining hall offer a charge-per-meal option?
Residents will continue to use their meal plan. Staff, faculty, and commuter students may continue to pay for meals on a consumption basis.
Will late-night food options still be offered?
Valentine dining hall will be open until 9 p.m. daily. The 1851 is currently open for late-night to-go orders as well.
Facilities
How will the library operate?
The following changes have been made to the library to ensure access to the space and resources of the library while, at the same time, providing for everyone's safe use.
Borrowing Resources
You can once again borrow books, DVDs, and other resources from the library and the rest of the Minuteman Library Network. However, you will not be allowed to browse any of the library's bookshelves until further notice. You can browse the collection virtually, using the Minuteman Library catalog.
To place holds on books, please login to your account through the Minuteman Library catalog. Once the book comes in, you will use our Contactless Pickup form to select a date to pick up your books. On that date, the books will be on the Contactless Pickup Bookshelf in the Glow lounge, near the blue library return drop box, from 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM.
You will then return all materials to the library return drop box, instead of at the library desk. Any resources that are delivered or returned to the library will be quarantined for four days, so please expect some delays when requesting or returning materials.
Due to this long turnaround time, the library will not be loaning out any reserves, including textbooks.
Library Space
The library will be open for studying the following hours:
- Monday-Thursday: 8:30 AM - MIDNIGHT
- Friday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
- Saturday: NOON - 5:00 PM
- Sunday: NOON - MIDNIGHT
The library has socially distanced, but limited, seating. We ask that you do not move the furniture; it has been specifically arranged to maintain proper physical distancing. If no seats are open, then the library is at capacity, and you will need to leave and return at a different time. Please wipe down your study space with available disinfectant wipes before and after use.
Computers and Printing
The library will have a limited number of computers, both Macs and PCs, available for student use. Please wipe down your computer station with available disinfectant wipes before and after use. Printing, copying, and scanning will still be available.
Reserve Study Rooms
You can reserve study rooms as individual study space this semester.
Virtual Services
All library help, including research help, will be virtual this year. You can chat, call, text, or email us during the hours that we are open. The librarians are available for Zoom meetings Sunday-Friday, as well.
More Information
You can find out more information about the changes to the library here: https://lasell.libguides.com/covid/home
When are the athletic fields, fitness centers, and athletic center open for use?
Grellier/Taylor Field Use
- All users must wear a face covering and maintain 6 ft distancing
- Total users must not exceed 25 people
- For group reservations, please contact agallatta@lasell.edu
- Individuals and small groups may shoot around/train while maintaining physical distance
- No pick-up games or scrimmaging allowed
- All groups must bring their own equipment
- All users must complete daily symptom check and weekly testing protocol
- No dogs/pets permitted
Athletic Center/Edwards
Fall Semester Hours (subject to change)
Monday-Thursday: 7:00 a.m. – midnight
Friday: 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Saturday: 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sunday: 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
- Reservations must be made for all use. Make a reservation.
- All users must have a Green Coverified badge to enter facilities.
- Masks must be worn at all times.
Athletic Center
- Cardio equipment is available in the Athletic Center. Cardio includes three treadmills, two spin bikes, one stationary bike and three elliptical machines. Make a reservation.
- The basketball court will be open for two people per basket. Shooting only, no scrimmaging and you must bring your own ball. Make a reservation.
Edwards
- There are two platforms available, one squat rack/lat pull down station and two bench press stations. Make a reservation.
- All reservations are for 45 minutes with a 15 minute cleaning time in between.
McClelland Fitness Center
Fall Semester Hours (subject to change)
Monday-Thursday: 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Friday: 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday: 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday: 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
- Reservations must be made for all use. Make a reservation.
- All users must have a Green Coverified badge to enter facilities.
- Masks must be worn at all times.
- There are two multipurpose/bench press stations, two treadmill or elliptical stations, one circuit station and one stationary bike available. Make a reservation.
- All reservations are for 45 minutes with a 15 minute cleaning time in between.
Will there be tents sent up around campus to allow students to socialize responsibly with each other?
There are currently four tents on campus, two of which have hours reserved for dining. Tables and chairs are set up to allow for physical distancing and disinfecting stations are located in each.
Health & Safety
What are the health and safety protocols for returning for Spring semester?
- COVID-19 Testing: Appointments for COVID-19 tests must be made no later than January 20, 2021. Test & Go is available for returning students who live within a reasonable distance from campus. Test & Stay is available for new residents and students who live farther away from campus.
- Resident Spring Pledge | Commuter Spring Pledge: New students and students returning to campus from being online-only in Fall must complete the COVID-19 Course on Canvas and sign the Spring Pledge. Returning Fall resident and commuter students must also sign the Spring Pledge.
- Residential Life and Spring Semester Move-In: First-year and transfer students enrolling at Lasell for the first time will receive their housing assignments from the Office of Residential Life.
What is the testing protocol for students?
Lasell University has partnered with the Broad Institute in Cambridge to develop our testing protocols and implementation plan. We are using the CoVerified app to schedule testing, share test results with community members, and verify compliance with testing and symptom monitoring requirements.
Residential students will be tested 2 times per week. Commuting students will generally be tested once per week, although some with extensive campus participation may be tested twice per week. Online students will not be tested. Faculty, staff, and campus partners will also be tested on schedules in accord with their campus participation.
Those who are exhibiting symptoms or may have been exposed to an individual with COVID-19 within 14 days of coming to campus need to contact their health care provider and remain in quarantine at home until tested and cleared to come to campus.
Although, due to our testing program, a 14-day quarantine is not a requirement under current state guidelines, prior to campus arrival, we ask that students adhere to the same expectations that will be in place at the University - maintaining proper physical distance in public areas, wearing masks and face coverings, and practicing good hygiene including regular hand washing. Most importantly, we require that students use good judgment in terms of being in high-risk situations such as large public gatherings, parties, and other activities in which physical distancing is not possible.
What safety precautions are in place?
Everyone on campus - students, employees, vendors - must follow our established safety protocols. These protocols include: wearing masks at all times you are outside of your dorm room or office; maintaining a safe physical distance of a least six feet; being tested for COVID-19 once or twice a week depending on the amount of time spent on campus; never congregating in groups larger than a specified number; not receiving guests on campus; and monitoring each others' adherence to the protocols. It is vital that everyone follow these protocols to guard the health and safety of everyone on campus and of family members at home.
Who is responsible for paying for COVID-19 testing administered by the University?
Lasell University will conduct and pay for COVID-19 testing and administration on campus
Who will administer on-campus testing? What are their qualifications?
All COVID-19 tests are self-administered under the supervision of a member of the Health Services team.
What happens if someone tests positive for Coronavirus?
Students would need to be isolated for minimum of 10 days and until cleared to return by Local Board of Health or Lasell Health Services. We would prefer that they isolate at home if possible. If a student has a valid reason for not returning home because of high family risk or home is too far away, Lasell will provide the appropriate accommodations on campus.
What happens if a student is exposed to someone who tests positive for Coronavirus?
That student will need to be quarantine for two weeks. We would prefer that the student quarantine at home if possible. If a student has a valid reason for not returning home because of high family risk or home is too far away, Lasell will provide the appropriate accommodations on campus.
Housing
What protocols will be in place for cleaning shared bathrooms in suites and other connected rooms?
In terms of cleaning, students will continue to be responsible for non-public restrooms in suites and contemporary dorms. In public residential hall bathrooms, housekeeping staff will clean the bathrooms 7 days/week instead of the current 5 days/week.
If I live off campus but want to stay with a friend on campus for the evening, will that be allowed?
No guests, regardless of student status, will be allowed in residence halls.
How often will family members be able to visit?
We are working on a plan for scheduled family visits; otherwise, no guests will be allowed.
Lasell Works
Will students in Lasell Works participating in their sophomore year online still be able to come to campus regularly to participate in activities?
Lasell Works students on Sophomore Year Experience have the same access to campus facilities, events, and organizations as any commuter student, and will need to stay continually abreast of and follow any and all campus protocols and procedures put in place by the University to maintain the health and safety of the campus community.
Tuition & Aid
Why do I lose some of my merit scholarship if I choose the online option?
Both merit and need-based financial aid are institutional grants provided by Lasell University. When we lower tuition, we need to adjust all the institutional aid to make the adjustment equitable for students from a variety of family circumstances. We have endeavored to keep the proportion of total institutional aid to tuition approximately the same. If we did not adjust merit aid, we could not have reduced the tuition rate as much as we did.
We hope you will recognize that, as far as we have been able to determine, we are the first and perhaps the only college or university to lower the rate of tuition for students studying online or remotely.
Why is Lasell offering to lower tuition for the online option?
Despite what some people think, it is not less expensive or less work to deliver online courses to students. However, we recognize that studying online is not the same as the on-campus experience. Academically online courses can be just as effective as in person classes. But the opportunities for personal and informal growth are not the same.
As a residential or commuting student, you have the opportunity to interact with other students in class and across campus, learning from each other and from those who are different than you. You can attend faculty members' office hours and develop mentor relationships. You enjoy the informal interactions in the dining hall. You can participate in clubs, student organizations, recreational activities, and athletics. You will have personal access to health and counseling staff, advisors, and the Academic Achievement Center.
These types of enriching opportunities account for the difference in tuition levels.
Will government and state awards be adjusted?
No. As long as the student is full time for the semester they will receive the full award for the PELL grant, Direct loans and State grants.
What if we start the semester in person and on campus and the state requires us to close sometime during the semester?
If this situation arises we will immediately switch to online classes. Residential students will receive a prorated room and board charge. Tuition costs will not be prorated.
General
How is the shuttle service working on campus?
Please be assured that VPNE, our shuttle partner, has instituted measures to ensure that your ride is as safe as possible.
- They have put into place capacity limits. The shuttles will be limited to seven (7) passengers per shuttle to allow for physical distancing between passengers.
- The drivers are cleaning the vehicles before and after every shift and sanitizing frequently touched services between every run.
- On top of these measures they are also bringing in a professional cleaning crew to deep clean the shuttles on a regular basis.
- In conjunction with these efforts they have purchased electrostatic sprayers that they will plug-in and spray all the shuttles down with a botanical solution that kills all viruses. This is the same unit that the MBTA uses.
What services are available for students this year?
All students will have full access to all the academic support, advising, counseling and other services that Lasell provides. (Online students can take advantage of these services via phone, email, and digital platforms.)
Residential and commuting students will have the opportunity to participate in clubs, organizations, and athletics, and to meet in person with some faculty and staff members. Health and Counseling Centers, along with other student resources, are open and conducting appointments online. Some students will be able to have jobs on campus or at Lasell Village.
All students will progress toward the same Lasell University diploma, whether they choose to study on campus or remotely.
If I am an online student, will I be allowed on campus?
Online students will not come to campus, except under pre-approved circumstances. They will not be able to participate in on-campus activities or athletics or visit other students on campus. There will be a limited number of virtual activities and club meetings, but for the most part, the life of an online Lasell student will be concentrated on academic responsibilities. Because the experience of online students will not be the same as students in residence, we are reducing tuition and the comprehensive fee substantially.
What is the status of clubs and organizations for resident, commuters and online students?
If you are a residential or commuter student, you will be able to participate fully in campus activities and student organizations both on-campus following all guidelines set by the University and government, and virtually. Meaning, the Office of Student Activities & Orientation will be working to provide events both on campus and virtually. We have been and will continue to work with all student organizations to provide options on how to function both in person and virtually and we will aid in creating a plan that will work best for that student organization.
If you are exclusively online in a given semester, you will be able to participate in all VIRTUAL campus activities and student organizations. As you will not be permitted to come to campus without special permission, you will not be able to participate in on-campus programming or student organizations. The Office of Student Activities & Orientation is working to make as many events and student organizations as possible a hybrid of in-person and virtual. If you are heavily involved in a student club/organization (i.e. on the executive board) we highly suggest you begin conversations on what your regular meetings will look like. We have been and will continue to work with all student organizations to provide options on how to function both in person and virtually and we will aid in creating a plan that will work best for that organization.
If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out. The Office of Student Activities and Orientation are still working remote but are answering emails at studentactivities@lasell.edu and/or phone calls at 617-243-2475.
Will students be able to go home on the weekends? If so, will they have to quarantine when they return to campus?
Students will be allowed to go home as they wish. Upon returning to campus they will not have to quarantine. We encourage students to be safe whenever traveling away from campus and that includes, wearing a mask, washing hands and maintaining proper social distancing guidelines. If they feel ill or are aware of any ill close contacts while traveling, they need to notify Health Services immediately upon their return to campus.