Nichols College COVID-19 Policy
Nichols College COVID-19 Policy
Effective Date: August 1, 2020
Date Last Revised: New Policy
 A safe and healthy campus is the utmost concern for Nichols College during this unprecedented time. Each member of the Campus Community must understand their role and responsibilities pertaining to the guidelines outlined throughout this policy. Individuals who do not comply with COVID-19 Policy guidelines will be referred to the Office of Community Standards for policy violations and will be subject to sanctions.
I. The Healthy Herd Pledge
We are asking that all members of our community adopt and embrace the Healthy Herd Pledge; agreeing collectively to act in the best interest of the Herd, and to look out for every other member of our respected community.
As a valued member of the Nichols College and Dudley communities, we are asking you to protect yourself and others by pledging to:
1. Protect Myself
a. Monitor for the symptoms of COVID-19 and report to a medical professional if I experience fever of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher, dry cough, difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat or loss of taste or smell
b. Wash my hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer
c. Take additional precautions, including flu vaccination this fall. Seriously consider getting vaccinated for the flu this fall
2. Protect Others
a. Maintain appropriate social distancing, especially when indoors and in the presence of vulnerable members of the community
b. Stay home if I feel ill or after exposure to someone who is ill or has tested positive for COVID-19
c. Wear an appropriate face mask and other protective gear as directed by the College
d. Be positive, attentive and helpful to anyone who may need support
3. Protect Our Nichols Community
a. Keep my clothing, belongings, personal spaces and shared common spaces clean
b. Participate in testing and contact tracing
c. Carefully observe instructional signs and follow directions
d. Respectfully encourage others to adhere to this pledge and report any concerning activities.
II. Masks
For everyone’s protection, all students, faculty, and staff are required to wear facial coverings in all common areas, including classrooms and buildings, the library, and walking through campus. All individuals must wear a mask in all Dining Hall Areas and may be removed only when seated and eating. Masks are required to be worn in all common areas of the residence halls, including but not limited to hallways, laundry rooms, kitchens, study rooms, lounges, lobbies, common bathrooms. Students may remove masks only while in their own rooms. Masks must be worn in common bathroom spaces and can only be removed while in the stall, shower, or while using the sink. Ensure proper use of face masks by:
• Washing/sanitizing your hands before and after handling the mask to reduce cross contamination risk. Do not touch the outside of the mask while it is being worn.
• Ensuring that the mask covers both the mouth and the nose. Do not pull the mask down under your chin while wearing it, move to top of the head, and/or dangling from the ear on one side.
• Storing the mask every time it is taken off in a clean place; a paper bag is best, or an open plastic Ziploc-style baggie is an alternative if a paper bag is not available. Do not store loose in a pocket, purse, bag or backpack
Individuals who do not follow the mask requirements, will be referred to the Office of Community Standards for the following, but not limited to:
23.a. Failure to comply with COVID-19 regulations and/or guidelines
23.b. Intentionally placing an individual at risk
III. COVID-19 Testing Requirements
All students (residential and commuting), Faculty, and Staff are required to be tested before classes begin and on a pre-determined frequency thereafter. Nichols College has contracted with the Broad Institute of Cambridge, Massachusetts for testing services beginning August 17, 2020. The test is a self-administered minimally invasive nasal swab PCR test for COVID-19. All campus-based COVID-19 testing costs will be the responsibility of the College. Any individual who fails to complete the required testing by their personal deadline will be placed on restriction status and will be referred to the Office of Community Standards for the following, but not limited to:
23.a. Failure to comply with COVID-19 regulations and/or guidelines
23.b. Intentionally placing an individual at risk
IV. Guests
No visitors are allowed into the Residence Halls at any time for any reason. Initial move-in guidelines pertaining to visitors during that specific timeframe only are communicated through the Office of Residence Life. Only those individuals who live in a specific Residence Hall are permitted to enter at any time. For example, residents of Remillard Hall are not allowed to enter Shamie Hall and vice-versa. Residential students are not permitted to enter any resident room where they are not assigned. For example, Shamie Hall Room 133 residents cannot go into Shamie Hall Room 135. Any individual who fails to adhere to any guest restrictions will be referred to the Office of Community Standards for the following, but not limited to:
23.a. Failure to comply with COVID-19 regulations and/or guidelines
23.b. Intentionally placing an individual at risk
23.c. Allowing any individual access to campus buildings including Residence Halls
V. Hosting Large Gatherings/Guests
All parties, large gatherings, and get-togethers, whether on or off campus puts people’s health and safety at risk and are not permitted. Any student or group of students who host(s) a large gathering/party/event on or off campus will have their access to in-person classes, activities, and athletics revoked during the duration of the Fall Semester.
23.a. Failure to comply with COVID-19 regulations and/or guidelines
VI. Spatial Regulations
Occupancy
Common spaces throughout campus are labeled with the number of individuals allowed to be in a space at a given time. All individuals must abide by these regulations and not enter any space that is already at capacity.
Social Distancing
All individuals must maintain at least 6 feet of social distancing when possible; even with the use of face masks. Floor markings exist around campus areas and must be followed by all individuals. Students are asked to avoid large, off-campus events and/or off-campus social gatherings. All students are asked to practice all necessary health and safety behaviors while off campus.
VII. COVID-19 Protocol
Any individual showing signs of COVID-19 will be tested immediately and quarantined until test results are returned. Daily, self-guided symptom checking is expected of all students, faculty, and staff.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 may include any of the following:
• Fever ≥100.00 F
• Cough
• Shortness of Breath
Additional symptoms that are less common but have been present with COVID-19 include:
• Sore Throat
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Muscle Aches
• Unexplained loss of sense of smell and/or taste
VIII. Residential Living Guidelines
All individuals living in the Residence Halls must abide by all previous mentioned requirements including testing requirements, guests/visiting of other resident rooms and/or Residence Halls, occupancy, social gatherings, masks, and social distancing. No personal items are to be left in any of the Residence Hall common spaces, including common bathrooms, kitchens, lounges, study rooms, and/or laundry rooms. Resident who have a private bathroom must follow the guidelines that no personal items can be stored in the bathroom, and bathrooms should be wiped down by each individual after their use. Cleaning and disinfecting supplies will be provided for each private bathroom, and community bathrooms will be cleaned twice daily at a minimum.
The College has set aside several rooms for quarantine, but students who reside within a 6- hour radius from campus will be required to quarantine at home with few exceptions. Contact tracing procedures will identify individuals who have been exposed to a positive COVID-19 case. In the event that an individual is required to quarantine in a Residence Hall Room, all guidelines for quarantine are required to be followed at all times.
IX. Sanctions
Students found responsible for violating any portion of the Nichols College COVID-19 Policy are subject to the following sanctions at the minimum:*
First Violation
• Written Warning
• Removal from Housing Held in Abeyance (Resident Students)
• Removal from In-Person Class Participation Held in Abeyance (Commuting Students)
• Parent/Guardian Notification
Second Violation
• Probation
• Removal from Housing (Resident Students)
• Removal from In-Person Class Participation (Commuting Students)
• No Trespass from Residence Halls (Resident Students)
• No Trespass from Nichols College Campus (Commuting Students)
• Parent/Guardian Notification
*Any student or group of students who host(s) a large gathering/party/event on- or off campus will have their access to in-person classes, activities, and athletics revoked for the duration of the fall semester.