By Nicole Acevedo, Assistant Editor
Western New England University underwent many changes in the few months students were away for summer vacation, so here’s a few of the major ones you should know about.
Over the last academic year, students were prohibited from having guests on campus to better ensure the safety of the Golden Bear community during the pandemic. However, restrictions have lifted and students are allowed to have guests again under certain stipulations. According to Director of Community Standards and Education, Beth Hill, “The guest policy is not new, the registration process is new. We are attempting to have students simply register their guests so that we can assist in the event that we need to do some contact tracing for COVID-19.”
The following information in regards to the new registration process was sent out to all WNE students via University Posts, Kodiak, and note card:
Individuals who are not vaccinated are strongly encouraged to continue to wear a mask when in a public setting.
In addition, the University will continue to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and may revise safety protocols as needed
NEW THIS YEAR!
Guests (an individual NOT a current student at WNE) must be registered. This applies to all commuter and resident students; undergraduates and graduate/professional students; part time and full time. Registration can be done through the www.wne.edu/community-standards website.
Masks are strongly encouraged inside the residence halls in common areas (lounges, hallways, bathrooms).
Regardless of vaccination status, all individuals MUST wear masks inside administrative, academic buildings, recreational buildings (for example: Rivers, University Commons, CAHLC, Campus Center).
While there are no limitations to the amount of people an individual may have over as guests, it’s important to ensure that the number of visitors does not inhibit or infringe upon the ability of any roommates to remain or live in their room. Furthermore, overnight guests are only permitted to stay for two consecutive nights with the permission of suite/roommates. Below is what is stated in the student handbook:
Guests/Visitors Policy
A guest is any person who is not a student at the University or any student who is not assigned to the bedroom or suite in which they are present. Accordingly, a visitor may be a University student who lives in another room or off-campus, or any non-student.
Western New England University is committed to maintaining a safe work and learning environment. The University maintains the following principles and guidelines during the COVD-19 pandemic which every member of our community – faculty, staff, and students – is responsible for knowing.
All guests coming to campus whether it be for an event, tour, or remaining overnight, must register with the University and attest that the guest is vaccinated and/or not exhibiting any symptoms that could be related to COVID-19 and will abide by all safety standards, including wearing a mask in indoor settings.
All individuals placed in isolation or quarantine housing may not have guests. This includes any Western New England affiliated individual, excluding Health Services staff and their designees.
In addition, the University will continue to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and may revise safety protocols as needed.
Students can fill out the Guest Registration portal via Connect2U or by visiting www.wne.edu/community-standards. Guests who do not meet COVID-19 vaccination guidelines are required to abide by all safety precautions while on campus. For those who are unsure, COVID-19 vaccination requirements and symptoms of the virus are as follows:
People are considered fully vaccinated:
- 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
- 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine
If you don’t meet these requirements, you are NOT fully vaccinated. Keep taking all safety precautions until you are fully vaccinated.
Signs and Symptoms of COVID-19:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
Faculty, Staff or Students who do not adhere to the above expectations may be subject to administrative or disciplinary action. For students only, action may include: monetary fines and/or sanctions as outlined in the Student Handbook.
Failure to Comply
Faculty, Staff or Students who do not adhere to the above expectations may be subject to administrative or disciplinary action.
All students are responsible for the conduct of their guests and visitors at all times. Guests are expected to abide by all University rules and policies. Students may have a guest spend the night, with the knowledge and consent of their roommate. Displacement of other occupants of the living space, or causing inconvenience to residents, is unacceptable and not permitted. Unaccompanied individuals are not permitted in University housing. University housing may not be sublet absent the prior written consent of the Vice President of Student Affairs.
The presence of an overnight guest/visitor in the residence areas must not exceed two (2) consecutive nights or four (4) nights in any seven-day period. Any indication that a guest/visitor is abusing this policy or utilizing University housing as a place of residence may result in discipline, including the guest being restricted from University property and accountability for the student host. The University reserves the right to remove a guest from the campus at any point.
The Student Handbook is updated annually to ensure protocols and regulations adhere to current campus circumstances. “This year we completed a real overhaul in terms of format and attempting to be more user friendly for all of our community,” said Hill. “The Handbook is online so that it may be updated as needed.
The University community will receive notification through University Posts any time the Handbook is updated, along with the link. Historically, we found that once the Handbook was put in print, it became outdated and the students may not realize that some expectations had changed.”
It’s important to reiterate that all campus and student ordinances are subject to change, effective immediately dependent on CDC and Massachusetts state guidelines. As of Thursday, September 2, 2021, Director of the Center for Health and Wellness Kathleen Noone announced via email that the university was continuing with the indoor mask policy for the duration of the semester. The email concluded with the statement, “As always, the University will continue to reserve the right to make adjustments to any of our guidelines, at any time, that support our core value to keep the members of our community safe. Just as was the case last year, we all must work together to not only protect ourselves, but to do what is in the best interest of our fellow Golden Bears.”
As the pandemic and academic year progresses, more information will be released about the effects and changes students will face. Check your email and University Posts to stay up to date.
