Plans for Fall 2021

• Updated Travel Policy for Heller Students (May 10, 2021)
• Spring Semester to begin Feb. 1 (October 8, 2020) from Provost Lisa Lynch
• Heller Building Use Protocol (September 14, 2020)
• COVID-19 health & safety compliance: checklist for campus return (August 24, 2020)
• Pausing Heller Space Use Requests (August 17, 2020)
• Heller building to become campus testing site (August 12, 2020)
• Stage 2 of Scaling Up at Heller (July 30, 2020)
• Fall 2020 at the Heller School (June 30, 2020)

Please visit the university's Before Coming to Campus page for the most up-to-date information about campus health and safety protocols.

In short, all community members must get an approved COVID-19 vaccine and maintain a green or yellow status on the campus passport on the days you are on campus. (You do not need to have a green or yellow passport if you are not on campus).

To achieve green or yellow passport status, you must:

1. Complete an online COVID-19 training (once per year)
2. Sign up for asymptomatic testing (frequency varies)
3. Pass the Daily Health Assessment in the Campus Passport (every day you are on campus), and
4. Wear a mask in certain settings.

Yes. All students are asked to attend class in person in Fall 2021, to the extent that state and university rules allow. All students are expected to be on campus for Spring 2022.

There are some limited exemptions from this requirement. Contact Ravi Lakshmikanthan (kanthan@brandeis.edu), Assistant Dean Academic and Student Services, for COVID-related exemptions and questions related to the fall return to campus. 

For more details about qualifying for exemptions, read Dean Weil's letter to the community on May 18.

Brandeis University requires all on-campus faculty, staff, and new and returning students to be fully vaccinated. Limited exemptions to this policy will be granted for medical or religious reasons.

Proof of vaccination should be provided before the start of the fall semester by uploading your completed vaccination card to the Campus Passport.

Please visit the Brandeis FAQs for additional information regarding the Brandeis student vaccination requirement.

All on-campus Brandeis community members are required to undergo asymptomatic COVID-19 testing. All testing is self-administered. Appointments must be scheduled in advance and results are delivered over email within 24-48 hours. Testing is more frequent for students and unvaccinated community members. Testing is only required if you are on campus. 

Complete testing guidelines and FAQs are available here. 

Any member of the Brandeis community who is notified by the Health Center, Brandeis Case Tracing, Occupational Health and Safety, or a local department of public health that they have come into close contact with someone who has or is suspected of having COVID-19 may be required to quarantine if it is clinically determined that they are at high risk for the illness. Due to the increased transmissability of the Delta variant, this may include vaccinated individuals.

Brandeis information and FAQs about quarantine for on- and off-campus students. 

Zoom information, including beginner tutorials, FAQs and technical support, are available through the ITS Zoom page. Contact Marc Kiredjian (mkiredjian@brandeis.edu) or Ravi Lakshmikanthan (kanthan@brandeis.edu) if you have any questions or concerns.

• Getting Started with Zoom
• Getting Started on Windows and Mac
• Zoom @ Brandeis Video Tutorial
• Zoom FAQ

Heller students experiencing financial strain are strongly encouraged to contact Ravi Lakshmikanthan (kanthan@brandeis.edu) for support.

Heller students are eligible for the Brandeis Student Emergency Fund. These funds can be used food assistance, emergency travel assistance, unreimbursed medical expenses, and more. Contact emergencyfunds@brandeis.edu to apply for funds.

Brandeis Health Center

If you feel ill, are concerned about an underlying health condition or have questions about coronavirus, contact the Brandeis University Health Center at 781-736-3677.

Mental Health

The Brandeis Counseling Center (BCC) provides care to all students, on or off campus. To reach the BCC, please call its 24/7 answering service at 781-736-3785. 

Other resources include: 

• iHope Network: Videoconferencing therapy that is covered by many major health insurance companies, including Brandeis health insurance.
• BetterHelp: Largest online counseling platform worldwide. They provide convenient, discreet and affordable access to a licensed therapist.

All Brandeis faculty and staff must be vaccinated, and must upload their COVID-19 vaccination documentation to the Campus Passport by August 26, unless they receive a medical or religious exemption.

More details available in the June 16 email to the Brandeis community.

All on-campus Brandeis community members are required to undergo asymptomatic COVID-19 testing. All testing is self-administered. Appointments must be scheduled in advance and results are delivered over email within 24-48 hours. Testing is more frequent for students and unvaccinated community members. Testing is only required if you are on campus. 

Complete testing guidelines and FAQs are available here. 

Please visit the university's Before Coming to Campus page for the most up-to-date information about campus health and safety protocols.

In short, all community members must get an approved COVID-19 vaccine and maintain a green or yellow status on the campus passport on the days they are on campus. To achieve green or yellow status, you must:

1.  Complete an online COVID-19 training (once per year)
2.  Sign up for asymptomatic testing (frequency varies)
3. Pass the Daily Health Assessment in the Campus Passport (every day you are on campus), and
4. Wear a mask in certain settings.