Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Information

While Lesley strongly encourages community members to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations, we no longer require vaccinations. 

• Based on your personal risk assessment, we strongly encourage you to be up to date on your COVID-19 vaccination. The CDC now recommends one updated (bivalent) COVID-19 vaccine.
• Please consult the CDC website or your physician for your personal risk assessment. 

• No Required Testing: Lesley is not requiring testing for participation in university activities or housing.   
• End of PCR Testing on Campus: Lesley partnered with Cataldo Ambulance Services and the Broad Institute to provide daily PCR testing on campus to the Lesley community for the last three years. The Broad Institute announced that it would be ending its COVID-19 testing program. Given this development and the end of the state and federal health emergency, Lesley no longer has a PCR testing program on campus. PCR testing is available through your healthcare provider and some urgent care clinics. 
• Rapid Tests Available on Campus: Lesley community members who are taking courses or working on campus may obtain rapid tests on campus through Public Safety and the Student Health Service if they are symptomatic or believe they have been exposed.   

• Lesley has an optional mask policy.
• Anyone who wishes to wear a mask should feel free to do so in any setting.
• Anyone who wishes for others to wear a mask in their classrooms or office spaces should feel to require that.  It is important to respect the individual choices our community members make regarding personal health decisions.

• Immediately notify the Student Health Service and the Office of Residence Life.
• Isolate in your home and do not come to campus
  • for a period of at least five days (if asymptomatic or symptoms resolve after five days)
  • and until at least 24 hours have passed with no fever (without the use of fever reducing medications) and improvement in other symptoms.
• If you are a residential student:
  • Immediately notify the Student Health Service and the Office of Residence Life.
  • Please isolate at home off campus if feasible.
  • If this is not possible, follow the “isolate in place” model. The university is no longer providing on-campus isolation housing. Remain in your assigned living space and follow the CDC guidance for isolation. You will be able to leave your room to pick up food from the dining hall to take back to your room and to seek medical assistance.
  • If you have a roommate, as you would anytime you or your roommate might become ill, be considerate – let them get rest and sleep, and do your best to minimize disturbances.
• Wear a well-fitting mask during your isolation period. For a period of five days after the isolation period, always wear a mask when around others indoors and outdoors.
• Consult your physician or other healthcare provider.
• Notify your advisor and instructors (for students) or supervisor (for employees) that you will be unable to come to campus for a period of time.

If you are a residential student and your roommate has COVID-19 and is isolating in the residence hall room, please see the instructions elsewhere on this webpage, wear a mask, and contact the Student Health Service or the Office of Residence Life if you have any questions.  

Please notify your close contacts, including your personal close contacts and your on-campus close contacts, if you have COVID-19.  The University no longer conducts close contact tracing.  

• If you are sick or symptomatic—even just a runny nose or coughing— please stay off campus or in your residence hall room until your symptoms resolve.
• Employees should avail themselves of the paid sick leave benefits available to them or switch to remote working options to the extent feasible.
• Students who feel sick must be in immediate and regular communication with their advisors and faculty members to discuss alternate plans. Students may also contact the Student Health Service.

Please do not come to campus if you

• Have any COVID-19 symptoms
• Are a caretaker for a household memberhttps://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/contact-tracing/contact-tracing-plan/appendix.html with COVID-19
• Had COVID-19 within ten days before coming to campus

If you are a residential student, please remain in your residence hall room, follow the instructions on this webpage, and contact the Student Health Service. 

On-campus events or Lesley-sponsored events off campus that include non-Lesley guests must be pre-approved by the relevant Cabinet member and the campus events team.