This message was sent to the Bryn Mawr College community on Thursday, May 20, 2021.
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,
We are writing with some updates about the summer and fall. We expect to resume a normal level of activity on campus on or before Aug. 16, the week that the first residential students return to campus for the fall. For staff, we expect to ramp up to a normal level of in-person work in June and July, even as other activities this summer may be restricted. We hope that the information below will be useful as our community navigates that transition period.
Given the changes to CDC guidance, we are adjusting expectations for students living or working on campus during the summer. Students who are fully vaccinated may engage in travel and indoor local activities that are non-essential. All students (whether vaccinated or not) must continue to comply with all restrictions in the residence halls (e.g., masks and physical distance wherever possible in all common spaces and with other students). All students must also comply with all restrictions and safety requirements in their on-campus work settings (see below).
In the next few weeks, we will provide a new campus guide on the COVID-19 portion of the website with information about the fall, but we are highlighting a few key pieces of summer information here. As always, these policies may change in light of evolving information about the virus and its spread.
Outdoor Restrictions on Campus
- Until June 1: Masks will continue to be required outdoors, except when eating. The campus will continue to be closed to visitors, except those invited guests attending graduation.
- After June 1: No masking will be required outdoors. The campus will be open to visitors in outdoor spaces, and you may see local neighbors again walking or running through campus. Given that it reduces risk, however, it is recommended that you maintain some physical distance when interacting with others for extended periods of time.
Indoor Restrictions on Campus
Through Aug. 15, we are assuming that some portion of the campus population will not be vaccinated. After Aug. 15, we expect that all students, faculty, and staff will be vaccinated, unless they have applied and been approved for an exemption (more details on how to do this will follow in the next few weeks).
- Until June 1: We will follow our current guidelines, with masking and physical distancing required unless working alone in a closed space.
- June 1 to Aug. 15: Office occupancies and masking and physical distancing practices will continue unless employees (including student employees) are all fully vaccinated (meaning at least two weeks after the final vaccine dose). The College will not be recording anyone’s vaccination status for the summer. If the employees in a work area/office are aware that they are all fully vaccinated, they can mutually agree to forego masks and work at distances less than 6 feet when sharing the same space. When employees or students leave their workspaces, they will wear a mask and remain masked when entering any other indoor space. Please note that visitors on Admissions tours may enter buildings, following all masking and physical distance protocols.
- After Aug. 15: Assuming faculty, staff, and students are fully vaccinated, masks will not be required for community members indoors in any space, and normal occupancy of spaces can resume. Larger events (inside or outside) may require additional precautions or limits. We expect that the campus will be open indoors and outdoors to visitors in the fall, although masks will be required of visitors.*
We will continue to provide additional information about the fall semester in the next few weeks. In the meantime, we hope that all of you remain safe and healthy.
Signed,
Bryn Mawr College Operations Planning Group
Kim Cassidy, President, Bryn Mawr College
Don Abramowitz, COVID-19 Officer, Environmental Health and Safety Officer
Nina Bisbee, Director, Facilities Services
Kari Fazio, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer
Reggie Jones, Associate Dean of Health and Wellness
Beth Kotarski, Medical Services Director
Angie Sheets, Director of Residential Life
Jennifer Walters, Dean of the Undergraduate College
* Please note: These guidelines have been updated; only unvaccinated visitors will be required to wear masks indoors after August 15.