*Published on December 14, 2020*
Dear Northeastern University Faculty and Staff,
Congratulations on approaching the end of a successful fall term, and thank you for the daily actions you took to make it possible! We write with an update on Northeastern’s plans for a safe transition to the winter break and then back to classes in the spring.
Students living on the Boston campus or in the Boston area are required to complete a travel form so that Northeastern can provide them with detailed guidance and reminders about their testing requirements. Students will be receiving regular reminders about the safety measures they should take: to be tested before they travel, to update their status in the COVID-19 Test Scheduler, and to practice safe and healthy measures during the break. Students who are living on the Boston campus or off-campus in the surrounding zip codes during the winter break will be required to continue the three-day testing cadence.
At the start of the spring term, students will complete the same rigorous testing cadence Northeastern required in the fall. Students will test on arrival and then again on days three and five before resuming their regular three-day testing cadence. This cadence will begin with the first test students schedule after January 4. Quarantine is required until their first negative test result, and three negative tests are required before resuming in-person classes.
Cabot Testing Center will be open throughout the break with adjusted hours of operation. Faculty and staff who are not teaching or working on the Boston campus during the break should feel free to schedule tests if they wish. The Huntington Testing Center, which provides testing for those with symptoms or those in quarantine, will also be open through the break.
Boston-based faculty and staff who will be away from the campus and do not wish to stay with the testing cadence, should switch their status in the Test Scheduler from “Primarily In-Person” to “Primarily Remote.” This video gives a brief guide on how to switch your status in the COVID-19 Test Scheduler.
Anyone—including vendor employees—who continues to work on the Boston campus during the winter break must continue following the same twice per week testing requirement throughout the break.
We urge all staff to practice healthy measures throughout their time away from campus: get a COVID-19 test before you travel, practice healthy distancing, wear a face covering, and limit your contact with members from outside your household.
These requirements will help protect everyone’s safety during the break and as we reconvene for the spring. Please reach out to NUCovid19Qs@northeastern.edu with any questions related to COVID-19, and check the Northeastern COVID-19 website for the latest updates.
Sincerely,
Ken Henderson Chancellor and Senior Vice President for Learning
David Madigan Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs