Return to Campus Newsletter

Dear Faculty and Staff,

I hope that you found last week’s update regarding the on-campus screening protocols helpful. More details will be shared within your divisions by your respective vice presidents on when testing will begin and how on-campus faculty and staff can plan to incorporate this practice into their weekly schedules. This week, I wanted to share some important resources for those who are already on campus or planning to return in the coming weeks, as well as some clarity surrounding when and where face coverings should be worn.

Face Covering Policy
The universal wearing of face coverings is shown to reduce disease transmission and is one of several layers of public health interventions to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 on campus. As an extension of the governor’s COVID-19 Order No. 31 requiring face coverings in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Bentley has adopted the following policy:

• When on campus, whether indoors or outdoors, all members of the community are required to cover their mouth and nose with a cloth face covering or mask.
• Face coverings are required to be worn by all students and faculty in classrooms at all times. Face shields have not been found to be as effective in preventing the transmission of COVID-19 and are not an accepted replacement for a face covering on campus.
• Face coverings can be removed by faculty and staff when alone in a private office or when seated in areas configured in accordance with physical distancing requirements.
• Anyone unable to wear a face covering on the advice of their healthcare provider due to a medical condition may be accommodated in accordance with Bentley’s Americans with Disabilities Act Policy.

Keeping the community healthy and safe is going to take the cooperation of everyone on campus. As we’re asking students to consistently wear face coverings on campus, we’ll look to faculty and staff to set a good example by always adhering to the above policy. 

Like so many policies and protocols aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19 at Bentley, the face-covering policy may be modified from time to time based on the university’s evolving understanding of the virus or any new standards put into place by local, state or federal authorities. The Cabinet and Return to Campus Task Force will be sure to keep the community updated in the event that this policy changes.

Health Resources for On-Campus Faculty and Staff
For faculty and staff who need to be on campus to do their jobs, Bentley has created a series of health resources for you to be mindful of. Those resources include a training video that you’ll be required to watch and a symptoms checklist to review before coming to campus each day. After reviewing the training video, you’ll be asked to complete a brief attestation form in Workday acknowledging that you’ve watched the video and understand the content. Even if you are not required or planning to be on campus, this training video has important content that all may find helpful and informative. Be sure to check it out!

Next week, I’ll share additional updates regarding where testing will be conducted on campus and how quickly the tests can be administered. The Communications Workgroup will continue to take questions about updates on the return to campus. Please contact Kevin Wong, chair of the Communications Workgroup, at kwong@bentley.edu, and he will continue to make sure that your question goes to the right people.

Until next week,
Geoff

Geoffrey C. Bartlett, CEM
Director of Emergency Management