COVID Update: Boosters and Winter Planning

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

We are writing today with important updates related to the College’s continued efforts to ensure the health and safety of members of our community on our campuses after winter break.

As we continue to monitor public health conditions locally and across the U.S., and follow changes to public health policy nationally that may impact our campus operations for the winter session and spring semester, we are instituting the following new requirements:

COVID-19 Vaccinations and Boosters:

• Emerson will require a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot for all students, faculty, staff, and vendors who live, work, or study on the Boston, Los Angeles, and Netherlands campuses one day a week or more, prior to their return to campus following the winter break or as soon as they become eligible.
  • Eligible individuals are defined as those who received their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccination at least six months ago, or 
  • Those who received the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccination at least two months ago.
  • Students will be required to upload their booster documentation to the student health portal prior to their arrival.
  • Faculty, staff and vendors will be required to upload their booster documentation in Workday (more information will be provided). 
• If you are unable to get a booster shot while away from campus for the winter break, students must contact the Center for Health and Wellness and staff and faculty must contact covid19@emerson.edu. to request an extension to this requirement.
  

Preparing for Your Return from Winter Break:

• Testing protocols following winter break will require all members of our community to:
  • Test two times within their first seven days on campus, at least three days apart
  • All testing must be completed at the TMC site, located at 116 Harrison Ave.

The Test Center will be open December 20-22, 8:00 am – 6:00 pm, and December 23, 8:00 – 10:00 am. It will reopen on Monday, January 3, 2022.  

For Students: 

• We strongly recommend that students take a COVID test (rapid or PCR) prior to traveling back to Boston, but you will NOT need to provide the result to Emerson. If you are symptomatic or test positive, do not travel to campus, seek the guidance of your primary care provider and alert the Center for Health and Wellness. If you test positive during the winter break, please contact your primary care provider and notify the Center for Health and Wellness. 

For Faculty and Staff: 

• The College will require all faculty and staff to upload a copy of their vaccination card into Workday, as proof of vaccination/booster status in order to return to campus in 2022. (More information will follow with instructions.). If you test positive during the winter break, or become symptomatic when you are scheduled to return to campus, please contact your primary care provider and notify covid19@emerson.edu. Do not come to campus if you are symptomatic.
• Any member of the faculty or staff who received a vaccination exemption for the fall semester will need to request a new vaccine exemption and/or a booster exemption if they do not receive the booster.

We will continue to update you over the coming weeks and during winter break to ensure our community is prepared for a safe, healthy and seamless return to campus.

We wish you and your loved ones a happy, healthy, and peaceful holiday season.

Sincerely,
Erik Muurisepp
COVID Lead