STUDENTS RETURNING TO UMASS FROM ALL BUT EIGHT STATES ARE REQUIRED TO QUARANTINE UPON ARRIVING IN AMHERST

Source: UMass News and Media

Returning UMASS students were informed of new Massachusetts travel restrictions which apply to all travelers entering Massachusetts with the exception of residents from the following states: Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. Students were informed in a letter from Jeff Hescock, Executive Director of Environmental Health and Safety at the university.  Students were also advised of quarantine and testing protocols that will apply once they arrive in Amherst.  The letter can be read here.

Students returning from international embarkation points and from any non-exempted states must quarantine for 14 days unless they can produce a negative COVID-19 test, taken within 72 hours of their arrival in Amherst. By July 31, 2020, all returning students are required to sign the UMass Amherst Agreement, which outlines a set of behaviors that support the health and wellbeing of the campus community, including compliance with quarantine and testing protocols. All returning students who are required to quarantine must submit a form to the University detailing their quarantine plans, no later than Tuesday July 28. 

Neither the UMass Amherst Agreement nor the letter from Hescock indicate whether the University will monitor or enforce quarantine requirements for off-campus students or for on-campus students who choose to self quarantine in their rooms.

Quarantine requirements and protocols are as follows. 

For Undergraduate Students
Students living in residence halls for fall 2020 may quarantine on campus starting August 10. If they do not have a face-to-face class starting on August 24, they may also elect to come to campus to quarantine closer to August 24.

Students living off campus should plan to self-quarantine in their local residence for 14 days. If they are unable to do this or have concerns about their local space to self-quarantine, the university may provide quarantine space.

For Graduate Students
Students living off campus should plan to self-quarantine in their local residence for 14 days. If they are unable to do this or have concerns about their local space to self-quarantine, the university may provide quarantine space.

Self-Quarantine Through UMass 
Students who self-quarantine through UMass will be assigned to quarantine space for 14 days and should expect extremely limited ability to leave their room until the 14-day self-quarantine period has ended. Students who do not follow self-quarantine guidelines during their stay will be asked to leave the self-quarantine location and will not be able to check in to their residence hall assignment. Students may also have their fall assignment cancelled and will be charged the housing cancellation fee.

Self-Quarantine at a Local Residence  
Students who opt to self-quarantine on their own will be required to submit documentation of when they arrived in Massachusetts and the location where they will be self-quarantining. Students who self-quarantine on their own are expected to follow all self-quarantine guidelines. If the university is made aware that students have not followed self-quarantine guidelines, they will not be permitted to check into their residence, may have their fall assignment cancelled, and will not be able to attend face-to-face classes.

Additional  information can be found here and here.