The information on the COVID-19 dashboard encompasses PCR testing of Lasell students, faculty, and staff as well as Lasell Village residents and staff. Lasell is partnering with The Broad Institute for all tests. Testing began on Aug. 20, 2020, and will continue throughout the spring semester. The University has instituted health and safety protocols to keep members of our community as safe as possible.

Whether your student is a residential, commuter, or online student, we are committed to the health and safety of our community. Learn more about our safety protocols and behavioral standards. 

Health officials don’t know for certain if vaccinated individuals can still be infected (i.e. variants) or pass the virus to others. Assuming most of our students will not be vaccinated before they are eligible later this month (April 19 for students who live in Massachusetts), Lasell does not anticipate changing our test protocols for the remainder of this semester.

We do not know whether we will be provided COVID-19 vaccine doses for students. If and when we receive supplies, we will offer the COVID-19 vaccine to those eligible under the Massachusetts guidelines. If a current online student registers for in-person fall 2021 classes, we will offer vaccination if available. If a student lives on campus or commutes, they can be vaccinated if eligible and if we have vaccine. Lasell will notify all eligible students if and when we have vaccine available.

Health Services has advised that students who wish to get the vaccine should do so under the guidelines of their home state and not wait for Lasell to offer vaccines. 

It was announced on April 14, 2021 by President Michael B. Alexander that 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. In addition, Lasell is strongly encouraging all faculty, staff and contract employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. A formal decision on mandatory vaccinations for employees will be announced in the coming weeks.

As we do with all other vaccines, Lasell will evaluate and grant requests for appropriate medical and religious exemptions. Once your student is fully vaccinated, they will need to upload proof of vaccination to the Health Services portal. Further guidance regarding this process will be forthcoming.

Lasell has begun the process of resuming intercollegiate competition in baseball, softball, men’s lacrosse, and women’s lacrosse. Limited competition will also be held in men’s and women’s track and field, and men’s volleyball. Strict coronavirus protocols will be in place and schedules for each sport will be released as they become available. Unfortunately, spectators will not be allowed to attend, but 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. 

Learn more >> 

2021 Senior Week, Torchlight Parade, and Senior Soiree will not occur this year. Due to current state and local regulations, Lasell is unable to safely host these events and traditions.
 
However, due to special state approvals given to colleges and universities based on current COVID-19 regulations, the institution is excited to be moving forward and focused on an in-person Commencement ceremony for the Class of 2021 and the Class of 2020.
 

Based on the survey results for members of the Classes of 2020 and 2021 and the most current federal and state-wide safety practices and protocols, we plan to move forward with in-person, on-campus graduation ceremonies on Friday, May 14 and Saturday, May 15 on Taylor Field right here on the Lasell University campus. All three of these events will be held outside, rain or shine.

The State’s Commencement guidelines mandate that we maintain physical distancing and that students must register their attendance in advance of the ceremonies. As part of this registration process, each graduating student will also be able to register two guests to accompany them on the day. Further details on this process will be announced soon.

In addition, so that friends and family can take part in the celebration, we will live stream each of the three commencement programs in their entirety.

Learn more >> 

Lasell will not sponsor Study Abroad or Shoulder to Shoulder programs for the Fall 2021 semester. We will determine at a later date whether to offer both international programs for the Spring 2022 semester. (A determination about the trip to Antigua during the winter break also will be made at a later date). In coming months, we will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation internationally and work with our partners and vendors.

We plan to continue the Domestic Study Away Programs (Semester In The City; The Washington Semester In D.C; and the Disney College Program) in the Fall 2021 semester. 

Please Note: If your student was planning to study abroad for the upcoming fall semester, they should contact their academic advisor immediately to begin discussing a new academic plan. 

Resident Student Meal Plans

All meal plans accommodate a variety of types of needs based on a student’s busy schedule. Convenience, value, and flexibility are the three important features meals plans offer. Meal plans consist of swipes, Dining Dollars, and extra meals. 

The Laser 19 consists of 19 meal swipes to be used at Valentine Dining Hall, 100 Dining Dollars to be used just like cash on a debit card at any on-campus dining location, and two extra meals for use at Valentine.

The Laser 14 consists of 14 meal swipes to be used at Valentine Dining Hall, 150 Dining Dollars to be used just like cash on a debit card at any on-campus dining location, and two extra meals for use at Valentine.

The Laser 10 consists of 10 meal swipes to be used at Valentine Dining Hall, 200 Dining Dollars to be used just like cash on a debit card at any on-campus dining location, and two extra meals for use at Valentine. The Laser 10 is only available to students in their second college year or later.

Commuter Student Meal Plans

Block Plans give commuter students the ability to eat at Valentine Dining Hall over the course of the year. Block plans are available as 20, 25, 40, 50, 60, or 75 blocks. Select block plans come with Dining Dollars to be used at on-campus locations.

If your student lives on campus, they will automatically be enrolled in the Laser 19 meal plan and will have two weeks after the start of the semester to change the meal plan. If your student is a commuter student, they will need to purchase a meal plan separately. 

Your student can only change their meal plan during the first two weeks of the beginning of each semester (fall and spring). If your student is looking to change their meal plan during the first two weeks of the semester, they can visit the Dine On Campus at Lasell University website (go to Meal Plans, and select Change Meal Plan). 

It's also important to note that changing a meal plan does not affect the cost. Each of the meal plans varies by the number of swipes available for Valentine and the Dining Dollars to be used at other locations, but opting for one over the other does not change the price.

Please Note: All students are required to be enrolled in a meal plan. 

Meal swipes are designed to be affordable and convenient and are loaded onto your student's Lasell ID card. When visiting a dining location that accepts meal swipes, your student presents their ID to the cashier to redeem. Any unused swipes at the end of the semester will be forfeited.

Dining Dollars are designed to offer flexibility. When checking out at any dining location, your student must present their ID card to the cashier and the amount of their purchase will be deducted from their balance. 

Laser Loot is a term used to describe discretionary funds that may be used like cash in various venues on campus. Any student may sign up for a Laser Loot account and can deposit any amount into their account at any time. Their ID card is also their Laser Loot card. When using Laser Loot, your student can simply present their ID to the cashier and their account will be debited for the appropriate amount. The money added to their Laser Loot account will roll over each semester and year to year as long as they are active. Some deposits to Laser Loot are non-refundable and non-transferable if your student leaves Lasell for any reason. 

To purchase Laser Loot, your student can visit MyLasell, go to the College Resources tab, and then click Pay$online. If you would like to purchase LaserLoot for your student, go to the Make a One-Time Payment drop down and select Lasell Pay$Online. Please allow up to 2-5 business days for availability of Laser Loot funds.

Your student must login to MyLasell, click University Resources, and then My Torch Balance.

Due to COVID-19, Lasell is offering the following dining options to students: 

• Valentine Dining Hall in the Edwards Student Center
• 1851 in the Arnow Campus Center
• Starbucks in the Science and Technology Center

Please refer to the Dining at Lasell University website to see complete offerings for each location. 

Valentine Dining Hall is closed to meal plans during Thanksgiving break, the December-January break, and March break. Similarly, meal plans are not in operation during the summer months. The dining hall is open during part of the December-January break, but meal cards are not valid. Your student may use Laser Loot to purchase meals during these times. However, Dining Dollars may not be used during break times.    

In addition to receiving emails from Dining Services before and after breaks, your student can also check the Dine on Campus at Lasell University website for the dining options available during breaks.

Your student can contact a representative of the Student Government Association (SGA), the SGA Food Committee, or Diane Parker, assistant vice president of administration and operations, at dparker@lasell.edu. Diane meets weekly with SGA and bi-weekly with the SGA Food Committee to discuss dining ideas, and answer questions and concerns. 

There is free parking located in the Central Parking Lot. You do not need a guest pass. When visiting your student, you may park anywhere within the parking lot, as long as there is no sign indicating it's designated for faculty, staff, or commuters. Some areas around campus do have street parking available, but you must pay attention to nearby street signs for any restrictions. 

Due to COVID-19, parents must not enter the residence buildings when picking up or visiting their student. Lasell asks parents to call or text their student to notify them of their arrival, and then have the student meet them outside. 

The most convenient option to get to campus is to use the T. The closest stations are Woodland and Riverside, both of which are located on the Green Line (D) and are about a 10- to 15-minute walk to campus. The closest Commuter Rail station is Auburndale, which is in Zone 2 of the Framingham/Worcester Line, and is also about a 10- to 15-minute walk to campus. There are no longer any bus routes that run near Lasell.

Additional public transportation options: 

• Commuter Rail to all points north (Fitchburg, Lowell, Haverhill, Newburyport, and Rockport) and Amtrak Downeaster (New Hampshire and Maine) are accessible via North Station. Lasell students can take the T from Lasell into Boston. 
• Commuter Rail west to Worcester is accessible via the Auburndale station, close to campus.
• Commuter Rail to all points south and west (Franklin, Providence, Middleborough/Lakeville, Kingston/Plymouth, and Greenbush), Amtrak Acela, Lake Shore Limited, and Northeast Regional (Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and beyond) are accessible via South Station. Lasell students can take the T from Lasell to the Park Street station, then transfer to the Red Line and travel two stops south to South Station.
• The South Station Bus Terminal is the regional bus terminal and hosts many carriers, including Peter Pan, Megabus, C&J, Greyhound, Bolt, and others, and offers routes all over the Northeast.
•  Some Amtrak/Commuter Rail routes heading south, including the Commuter Rail to Providence and the Amtrak Acela and Northeast Regional, pass through the Route 128/University Park station, which is 13 miles south of Lasell in Westwood. There is no public transit to get there easily from Lasell, but it is approximately a 20-minute drive via Uber/Lyft (times may be greater during rush hour). Many visitors find that this station is more convenient to use than South Station.
• Boston Logan International Airport is 13 miles from Lasell. It is accessible via public transit (taking the T from Lasell, transferring to the Red Line at the Park Street station, travelling two stops south to South Station, then transferring one more time to the Silver Line 1 route), but most students find that it is more convenient to use Uber/Lyft. Travel times vary widely depending on the time of the day, so plan this trip well in advance.

Although there is no face-to-face counseling because of the pandemic, the Counseling Center offers telehealth support by telephone or Zoom, virtual group support, and workshops on stress management. Usually, the Counseling Center can see a student the day that the center is contacted. If your student is struggling and is not comfortable reaching out, you may contact the Counseling Center on behalf of your student.

Lasell also encourages students who are feeling down or are lonely to speak with their residential assistant (RA). 

Yes, but due to COVID-19, some fitness/intramural opportunities are being offered differently. Please have your student visit the Lasell University Intramurals and Recreation page for more information on what is available and to make a reservation. 

Newton-Wellesely Hospital is located less than a mile from campus at at 2014 Washington St.. For medical emergencies, students should call Campus Police (617-243-2279) or proceed immediately to the hospital. 

Newton-Wellesely Urgent Care is a 10-minute drive from campus and is located at 9 Hope Ave. in Waltham. For urgent, non-emergency medical issues (sore throat, cough, work-related injury, and other minor illnesses) students can seek care at the walk-in clinic. 

Pharmacies - Lasell Health Services has a partnership with Keyes Drug, a local pharmacy that delivers medications daily to Health Services. Keyes Drug is located at 2090 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton and is a 10-minute walk from campus. There are also several nearby CVS locations in Newton, Waltham, and neighboring communities. 

Your student can view the Student Handbook by visiting MyLasell, clicking Student Life, and then clicking on Student Handbook. The Student Handbook is more than just a policy manual. It includes information about campus resources (academic and otherwise), policies and procedures, social events, safety information, and more. The handbook also lists offices and contact information.

Please Note: All students are responsible for reading and knowing the contents of the handbook.

Area Coordinators (ACs) are professional staff members who live on campus in residential buildings. The ACs are responsible for supervising the RAs, and working with them to create a healthy, supportive, and educational environment in the residential communities. 

Resident Assistants (RAs) are student staff members with at least sophomore standing. Every resident student will have an RA on their floor, wing, or house who is assigned to them. Each year, the Office of Residential Life hires 50 students who live in the residence halls and serveas community developers, supporters of the academic and departmental mission statements, community standards educators, peer advisors, role models, and housing and facilities liaisons.

Resident Assistant Responsiblities:

• Check residence hall rooms and suites for infractions or safety issues, and submit reports on any violations of university codes.
• Attend staff meetings and occasional RA trainings.
• Enforce University rules and regulations while acting as a bridge between students and the administration.
• Assist with move-in day activities.
• Assist students with specific needs and making referrals when they are beyond the RA's ability to take care of directly.
• Provide information about on-campus or local activities via bulletin boards, flyers, or in person.
• Organize floor meetings with residents on a regular basis.
• Moderate disagreements between students, residents, and fellow resident assistants.

Lost Keys: If your student loses their room, suite, exterior door key, or access card, they will be responsible for the replacement of each new key ($50 cost per key/access card).   

Stolen Keys: If your student's room or suite key is stolen, they must meet with their area coordinator, who will determine if the door lock should be changed. The student will be responsible for the expense of the new lock and keys for themselves and any roommate(s).            

Keys Found: After paying for a replacement key and if your student finds the original key within two weeks, a credit for the replacement cost will be posted to their account with the Office of Student Accounts.

Full-time resident students are assigned a mailbox on the first floor of the Edwards Student Center. Mailbox numbers and combinations can be found under the Housing link in MyLasell. Mailboxes should be checked daily, since important notices and information are sent through the mail. A resident student's mailbox is another means of communication between the University (faculty, staff, administration, etc.) and the student.

Students are notified via email when a package has been received by the Lasell Post Office. Students can pick up packages at the service window in the mailroom from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on weekdays. The mailroom is closed on weekends, but any packages set to be delivered on a weekend will come with the couriers on Mondays. The Post Office can mail packages with pre-paid postage affixed to them and has stamps available for purchase.

If you would like to send your student a letter, please use this address format:

Student Name
Lasell University
Box #________
1844 Commonwealth Ave.
Newton, MA 02466

If you would like to send your student a package, please use this address format: 

Student Name
Lasell University
1844 Commonwealth Ave.
Newton, MA 02466

Amazon lockers have been installed at Lasell to provide a 24/7 package delivery and return option for students who wish to retrieve their items when the campus mailroom is closed. The lockers are located outside of Campus Police at 80 Maple St. The locker location can be selected as a shipping location during the check-out process for purchases made through Amazon. Lockers can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For your student to use this service, when prompted to select a shipping address, they will look for an Amazon pickup location by searching with zip code 02466. They can then click the Ship to Address button and select this locker name:

Amazon Hub Locker – Venue
80 Maple St., at Lasell University
Newton, MA 02466

Once delivered, Amazon will email your student a six-digit pin number to retrieve their item. Student have three days to pick up the item. They may also use the lockers to make returns to Amazon.

Please Note: If your student experiences any issues with the lockers, they should call Amazon (877-346-6244).

All residential buildings come equipped with washing machines and dryers. The number of units in each building is determined by the maximum resident occupancy of the building. The cost for each laundry cycle is $2.00 and is paid using the CSCPay Mobile App. Your student can download and install the app by searching for CSCPay Mobile on their device. Once installed, your student will be instructed to create an account and can add and manage funds within the app.

Laundry services on campus are managed by CSC ServiceWorks. If your student experiences issues with a machine malfunction or maintenance of their CSCPay Mobile app, they can contact CSC ServiceWorks customer support in the following ways:

• Report issues, request refunds, or share feedback directly through the CSCPay Mobile App
• Contact Customer Support at 855-662-4685
• E-mail Customer Care at customerservice@cscserviceworks.com

When reporting an equipment problem, it is important for your student to specifically identify the problem machine to help facilitate a prompt repair by the CSC technician. 

Please Note: Students using the washing machines should only use high-efficiency detergents, and be careful about overloading a washing machine or dryer.

Yes! Lasell's shuttle service provides students with access to several locations off campus seven days a week (excluding break periods) throughout the academic year. Your student can view the shuttle schedule at any time. 

Lasell regulates access to and release of a student's records in accordance with the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 as amended (PL 93-380, Section 438, The General Education Provisions Act). The purpose of the act is to protect the privacy of students regarding:

• the release of records, and
• access to records maintained by the institution.

In compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (the Buckley Amendment), Lasell has committed itself to protecting the privacy rights of its students and to maintaining the confidentiality of its records. A copy of the law is available in the Registrar's Office.

Learn more about the rights of students under FERPA >> 

Lasell Works is a unique career preparation program designed to launch students into their professional futures. Over the course of four years, students who participate in the Lasell Works program receive tuition reduction and instruction from expert faculty, which helps them develop into marketable and successful employees in their fields. 

A distinction of the Lasell Works program is that during sophomore year, students live off campus, take their classes online, and work in their professional field of study. Students accepted into the Lasell Works program pay less in tuition each year they are enrolled in the program. Lasell Works students complete a variety of seminars emphasizing leadership, financial literacy, and professional and career development.

Learn more about Lasell Works >> 

Your student must log in to MyLasell and under University Resources click Pay MyBill. Then, on the summary page, click on Manage Account Access and add the authorized user(s).  

Lasell offers several payment options, which you may combine as needed. For a complete list of all payment options and important dates, please visit Payment Information.

Please Note: Tuition and fees are due by the beginning of the semester. 

Your student can check the status of their award and required documents by visiting MyLasell, clicking on Self Service, selecting the Finances tab, and then clicking the Financial Aid tab.

Any amount of a scholarship, fellowship, or grant that exceeds the costs of tuition, mandatory fees, books, and required supplies or equipment will be considered taxable income and is subject to federal tax. This may also be subject to state taxes. See IRS publication 970 for information on tax credits for both students and parents at IRS.gov.