Dear Students:

This week’s asymptomatic and symptomatic COVID-19 testing resulted in two student positive cases. Both have been contacted and instructed to isolate. The University administered a total of 323 tests this week. Westfield State’s COVID-19 Testing Dashboard has been updated to reflect these numbers.   

Surveillance/Asymptomatic Testing Dec. 8 & 17  

Residential students approved to remain in Housing and commuters with approved access to campus for the remaining semester are required to participate in the University’s COVID-19 asymptomatic/surveillance testing on Tuesday, Dec. 8and Thursday, Dec. 17. 

Both rounds of asymptomatic/surveillance testing will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in University Hall’s Multipurpose Room (not The Woodward Center).

As you know, the University’s asymptomatic/surveillance testing is complemented by as-needed symptomatic testing through University Student Health Services. Students approved to remain on campus who experience COVID-19 symptoms are required to notify University Health Services (413.572.5415) and visit the office to be tested. 

The Dec. 17 testing is in accordance with the state’s guidance to test University students prior to them returning home for breaks, as announced by Gov. Baker in mid-November and now part of the COVID-19 Higher Education Control Plan. The guidelines indicate that the testing should be done 72 hours in advance of the student’s return home. If students are tested on Dec. 17, but are scheduled to return home after Dec. 20, they should seek additional testing within 72 hours of your return home.

 In addition, I offer a reminder that free drive-up testing is available at Holyoke Community College Mon., Wed., Fri., and Sat. from 7 to 11 a.m. and Tues. and Thurs. from 2 to 7 p.m. Alternative testing locations are available throughout the Commonwealth. Click here to reference the list of sites. In addition, for more information on measures to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/stop-the-spread.

Students are reminded to be on the lookout for a potential phone call from a contact tracer with information on recent exposure or the need to quarantine for your health and the health of your community.   

Calls from the MA COVID Team will use the prefix 833 and 857 and your phone will say the call is from “MA COVID Team.” Calls will be made daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.   

Your immediate assistance in responding to any outreach by the Contact Tracing Team will help to stop the spread of COVID-19 on campus and in our surrounding communities.    

Thank you for your continued vigilance as we work to ensure the health and safety of our community. 

Best,

Maggie

Good afternoon Residential Student,

Please join us at 6 p.m. this evening for a discussion on Housing and Dining at Westfield State for Spring 2021. Here are the credentials:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://westfield-ma.zoom.us/j/92552752446

Meeting ID: 925 5275 2446

One tap mobile:

+13017158592,,92552752446# US (Washington D.C)

+13126266799,,92552752446# US (Chicago)

Understanding there are many questions about living on campus next semester, we have extended this zoom invitation to those who resided on campus for the Fall 2020 semester and those who have expressed interest in living on campus for the Spring 2021 semester. The University continues to focus on safety for our campus community and further de-densification of our residence halls is being implemented for the spring semester. 

We are using data from the fall semester, guidelines from the Department of Public Health, and measures included in the COVID-19 Higher Education Control Plan to finalize our overall operational plan for the Spring 2021 semester. Our goal is to keep students as healthy and safe as possible and to complete the semester successfully.

As part of our de-densification of residence halls, Davis, Dickinson, Lammers, New and University Halls will continue to operate at reduced capacity – students can expect single rooms in all residence halls, and those in the apartment/suite style halls will have a reduced number of apartment/suite mates for the spring. Lansdowne Place will continue to be reserved for isolation/quarantine housing. As part of the de-densification plan, Courtney Hall will not be an option for residence in the spring, nor will the Apartment Complex. The Apartment Complex will be closed due to the rate of COVID-19 cases in the hall during the fall semester. These collective changes will significantly reduce the number of students able to live on campus. 

Tonight’s meeting will outline the eligibility criteria for the Spring 2021 Housing Selection process; answer questions about the required meal plan; address billing adjustments for those who will not receive on-campus housing; and review the waiting list process for students ineligible for on-campus housing, but still interested in living on campus.  

We hope you will be able to join us.

Dear Residential Student:

During the next two weeks students will have the opportunity to select housing for the Spring 2021 semester through a housing selection process in MyHousing. Included in this email is important information for students to consider as they determine whether they are interested in living on campus or not. Guidance from the CDC, public health departments, and the American College Health Association have informed the setup for housing. Please review this entire email in preparation for the process to open in students’ MyHousing accounts.

All Rooms Will Be Singles

In order to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 on campus, all rooms on campus will be converted to singles for the Spring 2021 semester. All rooms in all halls will be reduced to the lowest housing rate of $3,525 and will require the Owl Dining Plan. Because this decision is being made to increase the safety of students on campus and reduce the risk of COVID-19 exceptions for double rooms will not be possible.

Students Will Be Able to Select a Block of Rooms

Although students will not be able to match with other students as roommates, they will be able to form roommate groups in order to select from available blocks of rooms. A block of rooms will allow students to select multiple rooms at one time. Roommate groups may consist of up to six students. Students will be able to begin creating roommate groups on Wednesday, December 2 at 9AM. Students will be able to partially fill apartments/suites.

Housing Accommodations

Students with approved housing accommodations for the 2020-2021 academic year will have their accommodation honored for the Spring 2021 semester. Students will receive an email this week to confirm their plans for the Spring 2021 semester.

Living Learning Communities

Based on the significant number of changes to housing for the Spring 2021 semester, the Honors Housing and Performing Arts Living Learning Communities will not take place. We anticipate them to resume in Fall 2021.

Housing Selection Nights

The housing selection nights for students to select a room will take place on December 8-10, 5-10PM. Selection times will be prioritized by class year, then issued to students at random.

• On December 8, juniors and seniors will be eligible to select housing
• On December 9, sophomores, juniors and seniors will be eligible to select housing
• On December 10, all students will be eligible to select housing

It is expected that students will select an available room during the selection process if they plan to remain in housing for the spring semester.

Changing Your Plans

Students who decide to commute for the spring semester may do so without penalty through Friday, December 18 by submitting the Petition for Release application in MyHousing.

Additional information on how students will be able to select housing in their MyHousing account will be emailed to students. Should you have any questions regarding the process please feel free to respond to this email.

Sincerely,

Housing Operations

All WSU Students,

I hope you had a good Thanksgiving yesterday.

I want to share that SGA made a proposal to university governance that the university extend to this academic year the Pass/Fail policy adopted for  the spring 2020 semester. The All University Committee and Academic Policy Committee each reviewed this proposal. They made a number of changes to improve the policy from the spring and then approved the policy.  President Saigo also approved this Pass/Fail policy for the 20-21 Academic year.  A copy of the policy is attached to this email.

Before deciding to take a course as Pass/Fail, I strongly suggest that you discuss this with an advisor or instructor to be sure that this is the right decision for you.

I would like to highlight some of the key parts of the policy.

1. Students have until the last day of classes during the fall 2020 (12/16) and spring 2021 (5/3) to submit the Pass Fail Form to the Registrar’s Office. No requests will be accepted after those dates and the request is not reversible.
2. The deadline to withdraw from a class has also been moved to 12/16 for the fall and 5/3 for the spring.
3. A Pass is defined as a D- or higher.
4. Pass/Fail classes will not be factored into  a student’s GPA
5. All Classes may not be eligible for the Pass/Fail option. Academic Departments have the option to not include classes in their majors/minors/concentrations. 
6. Students are not allowed to take more than 3 courses in a semester as pass/fail and departments can limit the number of pass/fail classes used toward their major/minor/concentrations.
7. Department Chairs will need to notify their students by Thursday 12/10  of any limitations defined under #5 & 6 above.

Please review the attached policy for additional details and the specifics on all of these points.

Bob

Robert C. Kersting, Ph.D., A.C.S.W.
Interim Provost & Vice President

The following information is provided to students and champions to communicate plans for the Spring 2021 Semester. Contact information is provided in the end if you have additional questions not answered in this communication.  

Fall 2020 Refunds

We're working extra hard to speed up your refund!
Westfield State University will be issuing prorated refunds to eligible students for room, board, and the fitness center fee for the Fall 2020 semester.  Refunds will be issued beginning on Monday, November 23, 2020.   
Prorated housing, dining, and fitness center refunds will first be used to offset any remaining fall semester outstanding balance. Any remaining fall semester credit balances will be refunded in order to comply with Federal guidelines.
Westfield State University partners with BankMobile to deliver refunds to our students.  To access BankMobile and review your refund preference, log onto your myWestfield account and select Finances from the top menu bar. Under the menu entitled “1098-T & Student Refunds”, Select BANKMOBILE DISBURSEMENTS. 

Spring 2021 Billing Information

Spring bills will be mailed on November 25, 2020  
Spring bill due date: December 18, 2020

Financial Aid

The Financial Aid Office will be working to ensure that students’ financial aid awards reflect their plans for the Spring 2021 semester. At Westfield, we award institutional grant aid based on a student’s housing status, and continuously update financial aid awards based on a student’s housing choice. Students who choose to move on-campus or move off-campus for the Spring 2021 semester may see their institutional financial aid grants adjusted and should contact the Financial Aid Office with any questions they may have about their grants.   
When Spring 2021 bills are mailed, a student’s financial aid will be listed on the bill. This aid will reflect the most current information the Financial Aid Office has and may change if a student decides to update their housing status.  Students can view their financial aid award at any time by logging into their myWestfield account and clicking the “Finances” tab. 
The Financial Aid Office is committed to working with students and families to understand all their options and provide as much assistance as possible. 

Housing & Dining

Fall 2020

• Refunds will be provided for Housing and Dining for students who complete the check-out process as of November 22, 2020. Students who are approved to remain on campus will not be receiving a Housing or Dining refund.  
• Residential students will receive a 28% Refund for Housing costs.  
• Owl Plan Meal Plan students will receive a 28% Refund for the meal swipes portion of their plan: $432.88.
• On-The-Go Meal Plan students will receive a refund equal to the number of meals remaining in their block after the 28 meals provided by the University at the start of the curtailment period are deducted. Students with a “0” or negative number of meals remaining will not receive a refund.  
• Carryover Funds and Dining Dollars from the Spring and Fall 2020 will rollover to the Spring 2021 semester and will not be refunded.  

Spring 2021

• Housing and Dining will be combined into one new rate for the Spring 2021 semester regardless of housing selection - $5,757. This new one rate includes a mandatory Owl Meal Plan for all residential students. Given the timing of the billing and housing assignments, this will simplify and streamline the overall process.
• All Spring bills will include this one rate.  
• The housing selection process will begin on Monday, November 30, 2020, for returning students.

Have questions? We're here for you.

Student Accounts 
Nicole Baginski, Director 
(413) 579-3090 
studentaccounts@westfield.ma.edu
 
Financial Aid 
Michael Mazeika, Director 
(413) 579-3080 
financialaid@westfield.ma.edu 

Housing Operations 
Joshua Hettrick, Director  
(413) 572-5402 
housing@westfield.ma.edu
 
Dining  
Bill Connor, Director 
(410) 572-5410 
dining@westfield.ma.edu 
 

Dear Students:

Residential students approved to remain in Housing following the controlled move-out and commuters with approved access to campus for the remaining semester will both be required to participate in the University’s COVID-19 asymptomatic/surveillance testing for the rest of the fall semester. 

Directions for Your Return to Campus after Thanksgiving break 

You are receiving this email as you are required to provide a negative molecular COVID-19 test upon your return to campus (negative results from a molecular COVID-19 test administered within 72 hours prior to your return to campus can be emailed to studenttesting@westfield.ma.edu), or you must participate in Westfield State’s next asymptomatic/surveillance testing on Monday, Nov. 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in The Woodward Center. This is in accordance with the COVID-19 Higher Education Control Plan.

As you know, the University’s asymptomatic/surveillance testing is complemented by as-needed symptomatic testing through University Student Health Services. Students approved to remain on campus who experience COVID-19 symptoms are required to notify University Health Services (413.572.5415) and visit the office to be tested. 

Those Returning to Campus from Out-of-State Travel 

Residential students returning to campus from Thanksgiving break following out-of-state travel must complete the Massachusetts Travel Form and quarantine for 14 days in Lansdowne Place (commuters must quarantine in their off-campus residence) until they receive confirmation of a negative result from the University’s Nov. 30 testing. Or, students may provide Health Services with a negative result from a molecular COVID-19 test administered up to 72 hours prior to their arrival in Massachusetts (test results can be emailed to studenttesting@westfield.ma.edu). 

Students who are returning from Thanksgiving following out-of-state travel are instructed to email Dean of Students Maggie Balch (deanofstudents@westfield.ma.edu) to coordinate their return to campus.     

In addition, I offer a reminder that free drive-up testing is available at Holyoke Community College Mon., Wed., Fri., and Sat. from 7 to 11 a.m. and Tues. and Thurs. from 2 to 7 p.m. Alternative testing locations are available throughout the Commonwealth. Click here to reference the list of sites. In addition, for more information on measures to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/stop-the-spread.

Thank you for your continued vigilance as we work to ensure the health and safety of our community. 

Wishing you a restful break!

Maggie​

Maggie Balch
Dean of Students

Dear Campus Community: 

Thank you to our residential students and their families for working through the controlled move-out of Westfield State’s residence halls that concluded yesterday, Nov. 22. I also extend appreciation to the required residential students and commuters, as well as faculty and staff for their participation in the Nov. 19 and Nov. 23 COVID-19 asymptomatic/surveillance testing.  

On-Campus Isolation & Quarantine Update 

As a result of the Nov. 19 testing, 1 positive case was identified. The individual was contacted and isolation instructions were provided. As of this morning, 1 student is isolating and 7 are quarantining at Lansdowne Place, while 1 student is quarantining in a campus suite following Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidelines. The results from today’s (Nov. 23) asymptomatic/surveillance testing are expected tomorrow.  

Fall 2020 Refunds and Spring 2021 Bills 

Prorated refunds will be processed this week for Housing, Dining, and the Fitness Center for the Fall 2020 semester. The refunds will be processed in advance of the Spring 2021 bills being issued. Keeping with the University’s normal semester billing cycle, Spring 2021 bills will be sent out this week in order to maintain payment plan timelines.  

The Spring 2021 bills will reflect one Housing/Dining fee for all residential students for the spring semester. More specific information on Housing selection will come during the week of November 30, 2020. Residential students and families will be receiving an email on Tuesday, Nov. 24 that provides more information on the Housing/Dining fee included on the Spring 2021 bills.       

As we continue to plan for the Spring 2021 semester, updates will be emailed and posted, and FAQs will be revised. As always, the Safe Opening webpage will continue to serve as the repository for updates and current information.  

Stay safe and be well. 

Roy 

Dear Campus Community:

Interim President

Dear Campus Community:

Interim President

Dear Campus Community:

Thank you to our students and their champions for their patience and flexibility as dedicated faculty and staff educate, advise, and inspire students during these challenging times. I appreciate our community’s cooperation in adhering to the shelter-in-place order that began Nov. 5. Westfield State University’s order was supported by the City of Westfield’s Heath Department and allowed us to cautiously manage and navigate the needs of positive COVID-19 cases, while concurrently meeting the needs of our greater student population.

Throughout the Curtailment period, Westfield State closely communicated and collaborated with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and coordinated efforts with the Massachusetts Community Tracing Collaborative (CTC). As positive cases were identified through University testing or other testing sites, students and close contacts were communicated with, and provided instruction to isolate or quarantine. I recognize the careful attention and energy that has and continues to go into this important process.  

On-Campus Isolation and Quarantine Update 

Today’s numbers indicated that 26 students are isolating and 11 are quarantining at Lansdowne Place, while 28 students quarantine on campus suites or apartments following Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidelines. Our front-line staff and those who volunteered to supplement their efforts have worked diligently to address the residential and health needs of our students in isolation and quarantine. Their work has been met with cooperation from impacted students. 

However, we are now at a critical juncture, as the health and safety of our students and workforce remains Westfield State’s priority.

Move to “Critical Operations Only” phase of Curtailment Plan 

Given the lessening capacity for isolation and quarantine and a continually increasing need for related resources, the University has made the difficult, but necessary decision to activate the next phase of its Curtailment Plan. 

This “Critical Operations Only” phase involves the following measures: 

1. Continuing exclusively remote learning until the end of the fall semester.  
2. Closing residence halls to the general student population. A controlled move-out plan (Nov. 17–22, 2020) will begin Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 10 a.m.   
3. Cancelling or moving online any on-ground campus events and activities. 
4. Continuing the University’s remote workforce plan and other flexible work arrangements, reserving an on-campus presence for personnel associated with critical operations.    
5. Sustaining the University’s shelter-in-place order beyond Nov. 19. Further updates regarding campus restricted access will be provided on Monday, Nov. 23 after the controlled move-out of our residence halls is completed. 

I apologize for the inconvenience this short notice brings to our residential students and their families. In addition, I regret the collective disappointment that these changes for the remaining semester brings to all students—commuters and residents. Know that the University consulted the expertise of DPH to coordinate the timing of the residence hall closures to take place after all close contacts of positive COVID-19 cases (beyond roommates and other on-campus close contacts already identified and properly quarantined following DPH guidelines) were notified of their potential exposure to COVID-19 and instructed to quarantine.

Should you be contacted by a member of the University Contact Tracing Team now or in the future, please respond promptly as your immediate response is important to your health, as well as the health and safety of your family, friends, the campus community, and that of our surrounding communities. 

Remote Learning 

Exclusively remote learning will extend until the end of the fall semester. Limited allowable exceptions to this include on-ground learning or academic requirements that cannot be transitioned to online instruction. The list of exceptions will be similar to the list during this semester’s delayed-opening period in September. Overall, moving to exclusively remote learning will help us to further de-densify the campus to help preserve the health and safety of our campus community.

Controlled Move-out Plan for Residential Students 

A controlled move-out of residence halls will begin Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 10 a.m. The schedule is designed to allow less than 10 people, per hour, per hall to move their possessions out of their rooms. Although a parent or friend will be permitted access to campus during move-out to assist their students, those guests must follow health and safety protocols and will not be permitted access to residence halls or other campus buildings. 

Residential students will receive more information from Housing Operations later today to register for a check-out date and time. In order to receive their full, prorated Housing and Dining refund, residential students must:
     1. adhere to the move-out date and time that they have selected while following mask,
         handwashing, and social distancing protocols; and
     2. complete appropriate check-out procedures. 

Due to a few limited and specific, in-person academic requirements or housing insecurity issues, there will be a small number of students who will be allowed to remain in Housing and/or have access to campus for the remainder of the fall semester. The application process for such exemptions will be provided in the email from Housing Operations to come later today.  Academic exemptions will center on learning requirements that could not be transitioned to online instruction or the completion of student teaching, practicums, clinicals, or field placements that require students to be in the Westfield area. Exemptions will be reviewed and/or approved by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs or the Dean of Students. 

The move-out is scheduled as follows: 

Residential Students who remained on campus during the shelter-in-place 

Move out: Tuesday, 11/17 through Thursday, 11/19, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.  

Residential Students who remained on campus to complete their quarantine or isolation period 

Move out: When cleared by University Health Services, individual move-out plans will be arranged. 

Students exempt from move-out plan 

Remain in current Housing assignments until the controlled move-out phase is complete and they are permitted to move into campus apartments for residency through the end of the semester. These students are required to attend mandatory asymptomatic/surveillance COVID-19 testing on Thursday, Nov. 19.  

Residential Students Temporarily Off Campus During Shelter-in-Place 

Move out: Saturday, 11/21–Sunday, 11/22, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. 

Included among this group of residential students are those who opted to leave campus for their quarantine or isolation period. When cleared by University Health Services, individual move-out plans will be arranged. 

Dining Services 

On Thursday, November 19, the Dining Commons (DC) will close at 8 p.m., TJ Bistro and Marketplace Convenience Store will close at 9:30 p.m. Starting on Friday, November 20 Dining Services will operate through the GET App only for pickup at the TJ Bistro location from Noon to 6 p.m. everyday. TJ Bistro is located on the Scanlon Hall Side of the Dining Commons. Students who are exempt from the move-out will be have access to their meal plan and ongoing Dining Services. Residential and commuter students who have a meal plan and are not exempt from move-out will be emailed directly regarding a prorated credit for unused portions of their meal plan. Dining Services can be contacted at dining@westfield.ma.edu or 413-572-5410.

Credits/Refunds to Housing, Dining Services, and the Fitness Center  

Due to this phase of Curtailment, prorated refunds will be made for Housing, Dining Services, and the Fitness Center. More information on this will be coming from Student Accounts in the days ahead. The University is in the process of preparing Spring 2021 bills and therefore credits from the Curtailment are not likely to be processed before bills are sent, as credits/refunds will take a few weeks to finalize. Note that residential students must complete required check-out procedures by Sunday, Nov. 22 to receive a full prorated refund. Following check-out protocol is critical to ensure the University can confirm the students who meet exemptions to remain on campus.   

Spring 2021 Semester 

Westfield State will return to delivering a combination of in-person, remote, online, and hybrid courses when the spring semester begins Tuesday, January 19, 2021. By December 14, students will receive information on an additional housing selection process based on the to-be-determined configuration of Housing options for the spring semester. The University plans to offer residential housing and weekly asymptomatic/surveillance COVID-19 testing next semester for residential students. 

Testing during the week of November 16   

In light of the current Curtailment, only students exempt from move-out and employees involving critical operations will remain on-campus for the remainder of the semester. Therefore, the next round of on-campus surveillance testing will take place Thurs., Nov. 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will be intended for:  

• Exempt students who will remain in Housing for the remainder of the fall semester 
• Faculty/Staff with an on-campus presence for the remainder of the fall semester 

Given the residence hall closures, the asymptomatic/surveillance mandatory testing for students who had an on-ground presence—which was previously announced for Wed., Nov. 18 during the shelter-in-place—will not take place, nor will the next round of testing previously scheduled for Nov. 30–Dec. 3.  

Note that free drive-up testing is available at Holyoke Community College Mon., Wed., Fri., and Sat. from 7 to 11 a.m. and Tues. and Thurs. from 2 to 7 p.m. Alternative testing locations are available throughout the Commonwealth. Click here to reference the list of sites.

Moving Forward During a Pandemic 

I know I have provided a large amount of information to you with this announcement and you will have many questions. We will continue to update the “Critical Operations Only Curtailment” frequently asked questions and I will provide additional updates through University email. The Safe Fall Opening webpage will continue to serve as the most up-to-date source of information throughout the semester. 

Students and families or faculty and staff who have remaining questions about the University’s Curtailment Plan are encouraged to call our designated phone line—413.579.3050—from 12 to 7 p.m. today (Nov. 16) and from 1 to 6 p.m. tomorrow (Nov. 17).

When I first arrived at Westfield State, I shared with you my three priorities for this academic year. Perhaps the most important one is to treat our students as if they are our own children. Throughout the many decisions we have made during the pandemic, know that this has been my guiding principle. 

Stay safe and be well. 

Roy 

Interim President

Dear Campus Community:

We appreciate residential students and many faculty and staff making it a priority to participate in Tuesday’s asymptomatic/surveillance COVID-19 testing at The Woodward Center.

Test Results 

As a result of University asymptomatic/surveillance testing performed on Monday and Tuesday, an additional 23 positive COVID-19 cases have been identified. These consist of 22 residential students and one commuter. No employees tested positive in this week’s University testing. A total of 798 asymptomatic/surveillance tests were performed.

Westfield State’s COVID-19 Testing Dashboard has been updated with these current testing numbers. All of the newly identified cases through University testing were contacted and instructed to isolate following Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidelines. 

Isolation and Quarantine Update 

Currently, 57 students are isolating in Lansdowne Place and 11 students are quarantining there. In addition, 27 close contacts of positive cases are quarantining in campus suites or apartments following Massachusetts DPH guidelines. Meals are being delivered to all students in isolation and quarantine and Health Services and the Massachusetts Community Tracing Collaborative (CTC) team members provide regular check in’s with these students. If any quarantining students begin to exhibit symptoms, they are instructed to contact Health Services at 413.572.5415. 

Close Contacts of Positive Cases  

As of this message, the University’s Contact Tracing Team has not yet completed notification to all close contacts of positive cases regarding their exposure. The University continues to communicate and coordinate with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health throughout its Curtailment period and the University’s Contact Tracing Team continues its coordination with the CTC to identify additional close contacts of positive cases beyond the residential roommates who have been instructed to quarantine. The contact tracing process can take several days. Therefore, the following actions are critical at this time:

• Shelter-in-place.  It is imperative that any existing residential students on campus continue to follow the shelter-in-place order at the University, in addition to continuing to strictly follow the health and safety protocols related to mask wearing, hand washing, and social distancing. 
• Maintain Isolation and/or Quarantine.  It is also critical for those quarantining and isolating to continue to follow the instructions provided by University Health Services and/or CTC professionals who are in touch with these individuals.   
• All COVID-19 positive individuals should work with the CTC to ensure all close contacts are identified and receive proper notification and guidance from public health officials. 
• Answer the Call. All members of the campus community should be on the lookout for a potential phone call from a contact tracer with information on a recent exposure and the need to quarantine for your health and the health of your community.  
  • Calls from the MA COVID Team will use the prefix 833 and 857 and your phone will say the call is from “MA COVID Team.” Calls will be made daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.  

Your immediate assistance in responding to any outreach by the Contact Tracing Team will help to stop the spread of COVID-19 on campus and in our surrounding communities.    

Ongoing Updates   

Throughout the shelter-in-place period, we continue to monitor our capacity for the isolation of any future positive COVID-19 cases that may arise, as well as our quarantining capacity for any residential students identified as close contacts.

I will continue to provide updates to you through University email, and the Temporary Curtailment FAQs will be updated regularly. 

Stay safe and be well.

Roy

Interim President

Roy 

Interim President

Dear Students,

To follow up on President Saigo’s Nov. 9 and tonight’s emails, please be advised that all residential students remaining on campus during Westfield State University’s shelter-in-place period are required to participate in asymptomatic surveillance testing.

Mandatory testing will be conducted:

• Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in The Woodward Center

Students, it is preferred that you walk to The Woodward Center for the testing. If you need to use a vehicle, please do not drive with any passengers, and only drive from your on-campus residence to Woodward.

Note: Students who are quarantining/isolating in Lansdowne Place will not participate in this testing; University Health Services will continue to monitor this group of students for any necessary testing. Asymptomatic students who are quarantining in their University suite or apartment should still report to The Woodward Center for testing—be vigilant about wearing your masks and social distancing AND return to your residence hall immediately following testing to continue quarantining. 

If you are among the students required to be tested and do not attend the required rounds of COVID-19 testing, you will be removed from Housing for spring 2021. 

It is critically important that students and all campus community members maintain their adherence to health and safety protocols:

• Wear a mask;
• Wash your hands;
• Don’t gather indoors with others;
• Socially distance; and
• Adhere to Governor Baker’s 10 p.m.-to-5 a.m. stay-at-home advisory.

During this curtailment period, please continue to be vigilant with existing health and safety protocols to protect yourself and others. We appreciate your continued cooperation in helping to lessen the spread of COVID-19; we look forward to seeing you tomorrow (Tuesday, Nov. 10) in The Woodward Center.

Please be safe and healthy,

Maggie Balch
Dean of Students
Westfield State University

Interim President

Interim President

Roy

Interim President

Roy

Interim President

Roy

Interim President

From the Dean of Students

Greetings Residential Students, We are certain you have questions as a result of President Saigo’s recent message regarding a Curtailment Plan for Westfield State University. Prior the zoom meeting, we wanted to share a few key areas that will be critical to our collective community success in the coming 48 hours.

Please understand information is coming quickly and we will continue to do our best to share information in a timely fashion. Continue to check your email daily for updates.

COVID-19 is exhausting. We understand we are asking a lot of you and our campus community and yetwe believe, I believe, that together we can rise to the occasion and do what is expected of all us to help make Westfield, and this little section of the world, a little safer for everyone.

I will be hosting a Community Town Hall on Thursday, November 5 at 7PM to address any additional questions you may have about the curtailment plan.

Thank you for being good partners and citizens in this process!

Maggie Balch
Dean of Students

Dear Campus Community:

As you know, this week involved our most recent round of asymptomatic/surveillance testing on campus. As a result of the 621 tests administered on Monday, Nov. 2, results that came in late yesterday indicated a total of 23 positive student cases of COVID-19—19 residential students and 4 commuter students. The residential cases have been moved to isolation in Lansdowne Place, while the positive commuter students have been instructed to isolate in their off-campus residences.  

It is important to note that although the degree of symptoms experienced by those students isolating in Lansdowne varies (from no symptoms to more severe), none of our positive cases have required hospitalization. Dedicated on-site residential staff and our Health Services team are carefully managing the residential and health needs of these students.  

Temporary Curtailment Plan 

However, given this rise in positive cases, Westfield State leadership and the Emergency Response Team’s Recovery Team met last evening. The decision has been made to activate the portion of the University’s Curtailment Plan that calls for a temporary pause of on-campus activities. We have been in touch with the director of the City of Westfield’s Health Department, who is supportive of this action.

The components of University’s Curtailment Plan, and the timing for the onset for each, are listed below. These will all be in effect until 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 19: 

1. The cancellation of on-ground classes Thursday and Friday, Nov. 5-6. Online courses will still take place on these two days. 
2. A temporary campus shelter-in-place (limitations defined in paragraph below) will begin Thursday, Nov. 5 at 8 a.m. 
3. A temporary transition to exclusively online/remote learning will begin Monday, Nov. 9. 
4. On-ground campus activities will be moved to a remote format or cancelled, beginning immediately. 
5. In addition to having critical employees relative to COVID-19 business operations on campus, vice presidents will be communicating with their employees regarding any temporary or additional assignments or adjusted schedules during this curtailment period. Vice presidents and supervisors will also discuss continued remote work options with those employees who are able to do so. Employees should connect with their department heads with any questions they may have. 

The shelter-in-place order is meant to create a “bubble” for our campus to help mitigate further spread of COVID-19. The following limitations apply to the temporary shelter-in-place: 

1. Campus is closed to visitors and personnel not deemed as critical for COVID-19 business operations by their vice presidents or supervisors. 
2. Student activity will be mainly confined to residence halls (current COVID-19 health and safety restrictions remain in place), but students will be allowed to leave halls to pick up on-campus meals and for individual exercise outdoors on campus. 
3. Residential students must remain on campus grounds and are prohibited from traveling to and from campus during this period. Limited exceptions to this include travel to and from campus for academic requirements (clinicals/practicums, internships, and student teaching) or off-campus employment. Students who meet these exemptions are permitted to travel for only these limited purposes and are reminded to be vigilant in wearing masks, hand-washing, and social distancing during their time on and off campus.  
4. It is important to note that residential students who DO NOT meet the limited exemptions in #3 and leave campus will not be permitted to return to campus until November 19, only after submitting a negative molecular COVID-19 test result to Health Services within 72 hours of returning to campus.   
5. Commuter students are asked to remain off-campus while continuing to follow health and safety protocols and narrow their social circles as much as possible. 
6. All students are expected to comply with the shelter-in-place order to support our mitigation efforts. Any student who does not comply with these requirements or restrictions may face sanctions up to and including suspension from the University through spring 2021. 

Residential students will be receiving further communication and instructions from Housing Operations and Residential Engagement. 

To help facilitate any questions that students or families may have, a phone line—413-579-3050—will be staffed from 6 to 9 p.m. tonight and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday, Nov. 5).

Current Round of Asymptomatic Testing 

As you know, the current round of the University’s asymptomatic testing runs through tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon. Residential students, commuter students, and employees who were expected/scheduled to report to The Woodward Center for testing Thursday, Nov. 5, are still permitted and encouraged to do so. 

Next Steps 

I realize that this temporary curtailment will be met with disappointment from all campus constituents. I understand and share your disappointment. However, this approach is the most prudent to ensure the health and safety of our full community by proactively lessening the risk of further spread of the highly contagious and unpredictable COVID-19 virus. 

I will continue to communicate regarding the status of COVID-19 cases and alterations, if any, to the current, temporary curtailment plan. Look for my next communication to come on or around Nov. 13, 2020. I also recommend you continue to reference our Safe Fall Opening webpage for more information and frequently asked questions. Westfield State’s COVID-19 Testing Dashboard is updated each Thursday. 

During this curtailment period, please continue to be vigilant with existing health and safety protocols to protect yourself and others. We realize this temporary measure will bring about inconvenience for our students, faculty, and staff. For that, I apologize. However, it is the right course of action, given the current set of circumstances at Westfield State.

I offer a special thank you to the many employees who are working extremely hard to manage all of the additional responsibilities associated with this pandemic to keep us all safe. I appreciate your continued diligence and care for our full community.

The level of resilience, collaboration, and character I have observed throughout this pandemic, but especially more recently, is admirable. It is evident that the most challenging times at Westfield State University have a way of revealing the very best of what we offer—a highly supportive and inspirational environment for teaching, learning, and living.

Please be safe and stay well.

Sincerely, 

Roy

Roy

Interim President

Dear Campus Community:

I write today to share two important pieces of information—specifics on the Nov. 2–5 round of COVID-19 testing at Westfield State; and key reminders to be vigilant in adhering to health and safety measures on and off campus.

Nov. 2–5 Student COVID-19 Testing

The University’s November 2–5 round of mandatory asymptomatic COVID-19 testing for students will take place in The Woodward Center. Participation in the November 2–5 testing round is required for all residential and commuter students (including part-time continuing education and graduate students) that have an on-campus presence this semester. Students who took part in the September and October rounds of testing are still required to attend this round of testing.

The schedule for residential students is as follows:

Monday, Nov. 2:

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: residents of Dickinson and New halls, and Apartments.

Tuesday, Nov. 3:

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: residents of Davis, Lammers, and University halls.

The schedule for commuter students is as follows:

Wednesday, Nov. 4:  

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: commuter students with last names starting with A–K; 

Thursday, Nov. 5:  

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: commuter students with last names starting with L–Z.

Testing for faculty and staff is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Wednesday, Nov. 4 and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5.

Students among those required to be tested that do not participate in the Nov. 2–5 round of COVID-19 testing will have their access to academic, administrative, and residential buildings through use of their University-issued ID temporarily shut off until they can produce a negative COVID-19 test result to University Health Services. 

In addition to the Nov. 2–5 round of COVID-19 testing, please mark your calendars and plan to participate in the final round of asymptomatic testing in the fall semester:

• Nov. 30–Dec. 3, 2020

As you know, regular student asymptomatic testing will be complemented by as-needed symptomatic testing through University Health Services. Students with an on-campus presence who experience COVID-19 symptoms are required to report these to University Health Services and visit the office to be tested. 

#ProtectingTheNest and Others

You’ll note that the numbers updated on Westfield State’s COVID-19 Dashboard this morning illustrate a slight increase in positive cases involving our students; and numbers in the City of Westfield community are climbing as well. The increases underscore the need for all students and members of the campus community to be vigilant in following mask wearing, social distancing, and handwashing protocols.    

Your health and safety continues to be my priority. We certainly don’t want anyone becoming ill or passing the virus onto others, including elder members of our families or community, who are more likely to become very ill or hospitalized. As Massachusetts enters what some are calling “the second wave,” Gov. Charlie Baker is urging all to stop hosting and attending parties and large gatherings.

Gov. Baker announced at a press conference on Tuesday, Oct. 27 an uptick in COVID-19-positive cases in Massachusetts and mentioned that people under age 30 now account for most COVID-19-positive cases in the Commonwealth, explaining that many cases stem from social gatherings, primarily those that take place indoors without social distancing and masks.

Because younger adults who have the virus may exhibit no or less severe symptoms than older adults, I continue to caution us all to narrow our social circles and adhere to health and safety protocols on and off campus. Even a gathering of 10–15 individuals without using masks or insisting social distancing can have far-reaching, negative effects for our campus and the greater community. You or a friend or colleague who is asymptomatic may have no idea that you are passing the virus on to others.

Together, we can continue to do our part in mitigating the spread of this awful virus that has afflicted so many. Thank you, all, for your continued cooperation and adherence to protocols related to our Safe Fall Opening at Westfield State University.

Warmly,

Roy

Roy H. Saigo, Ph.D.
Interim President

Dear Campus Community:

Thanks to our testing partners, campus volunteers, and support staff, Westfield State completed its October round of asymptomatic COVID-19 testing. As reported on the University’s COVID-19 Dashboard this week, the University has administered 5,840 total COVID-19 tests to date. Zero positive results resulted from the October round of asymptomatic testing.

Despite these encouraging test results, elevated numbers of COVID-19 cases are being reported in communities across the state and nation. Locally, the City of Westfield reports 36 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases over the last week.

In addition, our Health Services team has been managing COVID-19 testing on students presenting symptoms, in between the University’s rounds asymptomatic testing. Those symptomatic students are quarantined as they await their test results. Teams in Student Affairs and the Office of Human Resources, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity have been working with Health Services to swiftly identify close contacts of those symptomatic students to ensure appropriate quarantine protocols are followed.

The University’s COVID-19 Dashboard that includes results from its asymptomatic and symptomatic testing is updated weekly, each Thursday. Westfield State’s next round of asymptomatic testing will be held November 2–5.

Be Vigilant to #ProtectTheNest
Our collective adherence to COVID-19 health and safety parameters has helped to insure the safety of our campus community, and the testing results have justified the effectiveness of these behaviors. However, even with our encouraging testing results, all students, faculty and staff are reminded to not let their guard down. Please continue to wear a mask, wash your hands frequently, maintain social distancing, and narrow your social circle to mitigate the risk to yourself and others on campus. All members of the Westfield State community are also reminded to follow comparable protocols during their time away from campus.

Reservations Now Accepted for Indoor Dining

Students on campus can now use the GET App to make 45-minute reservations for limited, indoor seating at Scanlon Banquet Hall, located across from the Dining Commons. Indoor seating is also available in Ely Campus Center, outside the Gym, and in the Wilson Hall café area. The new reservation process is located in the GET app under “myTABLES”.

Dining Services has created a video to show you how to reserve a table.

Tables will be disinfected after each use, and restrooms and hand sanitizer will be available for students to wash their hands before dining. Remember when dining—sit down, mask down; stand up, mask up! It is important that students only remove their mask to eat and only do so while seated. When students finish eating and are waiting for friends, they are reminded to wear a mask. Additionally, when entering and exiting the dining area, a mask must be worn.

Reminder: Available Student Study Spaces 

I offer a reminder to reference the online list of locations in campus academic buildings where students may find space to study during the fall semester. When using the spaces, be sure to follow all safety precautions, including abiding by posted room capacity limits; wearing a mask; wiping down your area before and after use; and frequent handwashing or sanitizer use. 

Use of Other Campus Spaces

As we continue to navigate restricted access at Westfield State University, remote/virtual internal meetings are encouraged as much as possible. When a remote meeting is not possible, contact Event Management at ex. 5580 or email Joanne Bigelow at jbigelow@westfield.ma.edu to inquire about limited options for reserving space for small, internal, in-person meetings. Similar to the cleaning protocols of student study spaces, areas reserved and used for small, internal meetings will need to be wiped down before and after use by the meeting participants, who will need to adhere to mandated mask, social distancing, and hand washing protocols.  

Flu Clinics

The University’s Health Services will sponsor its last fall semester Flu Clinic Thursday, Nov. 5, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Woodward Center. Offered by Stop & Shop Pharmacy, the clinic is free with most insurances or either $25 exact cash or check are accepted.

Spring Plans for COVID-19 Testing

The University aims to again partner with the Broad Institute to administer testing during the spring 2021 semester. More information will be shared in the coming weeks about COVID-19 testing, as well as other considerations for the spring semester.

Warmly,

Roy

Roy H. Saigo, Ph.D.
Interim President

Dear Campus Community:

As we reach the midpoint of the fall semester, the University is pleased with the response by members of our community to adapt to the many changes and to follow the precautions necessary to maintain a safe environment. We hope that the measures we have taken will continue to produce positive results.

COVID-19 Testing and Dashboard

Thank you for your continued cooperation with the October 13–16 round of COVID-19 testing. Working with our partners from the Broad Institute and On-site Medical and according to this week’s update to the University’s COVID-19 Dashboard, Westfield State has administered 4,542 COVID-19 total tests to date, which has yielded five positive results. Zero positives have come in the past seven days and one positive result came in the last 14 days. Our current positivity rate is 0.11 %.

We are awaiting final results from this round of testing, which will be shared next Thursday on the dashboard. Please refer to this resource for information about campus testing results, as well as COVID-19 case totals in the City of Westfield.

Wear Masks, Wash Hands, Keep Your Distance, and Don’t Hold Doors Open
Your continued vigilance related to COVID-19 health and safety parameters is critical to the University’s ability to continue in-person learning and meaningful residential experiences through the semester.

To keep all campus community members and safe during this time of restricted campus access, please adhere to established procedures related to wearing masks, frequent handwashing, and socially distancing from others. All are asked to “narrow your social circle” to mitigate the risk to yourself and others.

Also, it is important to not hold doors open for others to enter campus facilities, given the University’s status of continued restricted access throughout the fall semester. Only students who have participated in the COVID-19 testing program, and faculty and staff are permitted access to the academic, administrative, and residential buildings on campus this semester.

Flu Clinics

The University’s Health Services sponsored the first of three fall semester Flu Clinics yesterday, offered by Stop & Shop Pharmacy, and approximately 300 individuals received the flu vaccination. The next Flu Clinic will be held Thursday, October 22 at a location to be communicated soon. It is free with most insurances or either $25 exact cash or check are accepted.

Spring Plans for COVID-19 testing

The University aims to again partner with the Broad Institute and On-site Medical to administer testing during the spring 2021 semester. More information will be shared in the coming weeks about COVID-19 testing, as well as other considerations for the spring semester.

Warmly,

Roy

Roy H. Saigo, Ph.D.
Interim President

Dear Campus Community:

The University has successfully welcomed residential and commuter students to campus and started on-ground courses on Tuesday, Sept. 29. It has been wonderful to have our students’ energy and presence back on campus.

Thank you to all members of the campus community in working together to follow new protocols and procedures to ensure our health and safety.

COVID Testing and Dashboard

Thank you to the entire campus community for its cooperation with the September 24-27 round of COVID-19 testing. Working with our partners from the Broad Institute and On-site Medical, Westfield State has administered nearly 3,200 COVID-19 tests to date, which has yielded four positive results, as we shared with you earlier this week. For more information, refer to the email I shared Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 29, or visit the Safe Fall Opening site.

The University’s COVID-19 Dashboard has been updated with the most recent information. Refer to this resource for information about campus testing results, as well as COVID-19 case totals in the City of Westfield.

Planning has begun for the October 13-16 round of COVID19 testing. Required testing for students that have an on-campus presence and faculty and staff will again take place in The Woodward Center from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to the below schedule:

Tues., Oct. 13: Residential students living in Dickinson and New halls and the Apartments

Wed., Oct. 14: Residential students living in Davis, Lammers, and University halls.

Thurs., Oct. 15: Commuter students (including part-time continuing education and graduate students) with last names beginning with A-K; and faculty and staff

Fri., Oct. 16: Faculty and staff (8a.m.-noon only); Commuter students with the last names beginning with L-Z.

Wear masks, wash hands, keep your distance, and don’t hold doors for others
To keep all campus community members and our visitors safe during this time of restricted campus access, I remind on-campus students, faculty, and staff to adhere to established procedures related to wearing masks, frequent handwashing, and socially distancing from others. Also, it is important to not hold doors open for others to enter campus facilities, given the University’s status of continued restricted access throughout the fall semester. Only students who have participated in the COVID-19 testing program, and faculty and staff will be permitted to be on campus for the fall semester. Access to academic and administrative buildings is limited to faculty, staff, and students through use of their University-issued I.D. cards, which must be worn visibly while on campus. In addition, only visitors with business with the University will be permitted on campus by appointment only. The respective University department or division must coordinate and log its campus visitors. 

Your continued cooperation with these parameters is critical to the University’s ability to continue in-person learning and meaningful residential experiences through the semester.

Important Reminders from Residential Engagement

The Residential Engagement team looks forward to building our residence hall communities. Learn more about Residential Engagement leadership by watching a welcome video from the team. If needed, students, champions, or community members are encouraged to contact resengage@westfield.ma.edu or 413-572-5402.

Additional policies in place for the fall 2020 semester are included in the Housing Agreement Addendum that residential students signed prior to move-in. These include:

• Face masks will be required when students are outside of their room, apartment, or suite;
• No guests are permitted in the residence halls, including residential students from other residence halls, commuting students, non-students, and family;
• Room changes will not be permitted to limit contact between students assigned to different areas of housing;
• Study lounges and kitchens will have seating reduced, and in some instances, may be unavailable for use; and
• Students living in traditional halls will be assigned to one bathroom. 

Student Account credits/refunds
As previously communicated, student account credits (for Housing, Dining and Fitness Center fees) will be processed by mid-October. Financial Aid must be disbursed to a student’s account before credits can be applied. This activity is scheduled to occur next week. Once Financial Aid is disbursed and accounts are reviewed, credits/refunds will be processed on a rolling basis. The account review and credit/refund process may take up to two weeks to complete from the date of the Financial Aid disbursement. Updates will be posted to the Student Accounts website.

Welcome back, Owls! It is great to have you back in the nest.

Warmly,

Roy

Roy H. Saigo, Ph.D.
Interim President

Dear Campus Community:

Roy

Roy H. Saigo, Ph.D.
Interim President

Dear Campus Community:

Roy

Roy H. Saigo, Ph.D.
Interim President

Dear Students:

Beginning tomorrow, Westfield State University’s September 24-27 round of asymptomatic/onboard COVID-19 testing will take place in The Woodward Center. Participation in the COVID-19 testing program is required for all residential and commuter (including part-time continuing education and graduate students) students that will have an on-campus presence for the fall semester. 

Early Arrival Students: Those students who were tested for COVID-19 on Aug. 31 and permitted to return to campus early due to specific academic requirements are still required to participate in the September 24-27 round of testing. 

Commuter Students (including part-time continuing education and graduate students): Commuter students who will have an on-campus presence in the fall semester should report for testing as follows:

Thursday, Sept. 24:  

• 8 to 11 a.m.: Commuter students with last names starting with A-D;  
• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Commuter students with last names starting with E-K; and  
• Noon to 3 p.m.: Commuter students with last names starting with L-Q.  

Friday, Sept. 25:  

• Noon to 4 p.m.: Commuter students with last names starting with R-Z.  

Residential Students: Students living in the residence halls have been emailed their pre-determined test dates and times on Sept. 25, 26 or 27. 

Exclusively Online Students: Those students who are taking only online courses for the full fall semester, having no on-campus presence, are not required to participate in the University’s COVID-19 testing program.  

For more information on what to expect during the testing process, watch the “Protect the Nest: How Do I Get Tested?” video.    

In addition to the Sept. 24-27 round of COVID-19 testing, please mark your calendars and plan on participating in the other three rounds of asymptomatic testing in the fall semester:   

• Oct. 13-16, 2020;   
• Nov. 2-5, 2020; and  
• Nov. 30-Dec. 3, 2020. 

Regular student asymptomatic testing will be complemented by as-needed symptomatic testing through University Student Health Services. During the semester, students with an on-campus presence who experience COVID-19 symptoms are required to report these to Student Health Services and visit the office to be tested.  

Thank you, all, for your continued cooperation and adherence to protocols related to our Safe Fall Opening at Westfield State University.  

Roy

Roy H. Saigo, Ph.D.
Interim President

Dear Campus Community:

We continue to plan to welcome back residential students and commuters to campus later this month, with on-ground courses resuming on Tuesday, Sept. 29. We have kept in contact with the City of Westfield’s Director of Public Health regarding local COVID-19 trends and have been keeping a close eye on sister state universities and other institutions who began managing on-campus student populations since the end of August. Currently, all factors and indications remain favorable for Westfield State to continue to move forward with our plan. However, like with all decisions made regarding Westfield State continuity during a very fluid pandemic, we have contingencies in place should the current, encouraging status of COVID-19 on campus and in the area change significantly.  

Reminder: Continued Restricted Access 
Restricted access will continue through the fall semester. Only students who have participated in the Sept. 24-27 COVID-19 testing, and faculty and staff will be permitted to be on campus for the fall semester. Access to academic and administrative buildings is limited to faculty, staff, and students through use of their University-issued I.D. cards, which must be worn visibly while on campus. In addition, only visitors with business with the University will be permitted on campus by appointment only. The respective University department or division must coordinate and log its campus visitors.  

September 24-27 COVID-19 Testing 
Asymptomatic/onboard COVID-19 testing for on-ground students and employees will take place in the University’s Woodward Center September 24-27, 2020. The Woodward Center is #2 on the University Campus Map.  

Residential students were emailed directly with their pre-determined test dates and times on Sept. 25, 26 or 27, while on-ground commuter students are reminded of the following schedule:   

Thursday, Sept. 24: 

• 8 to 11 a.m.: Commuter students with last names starting with A-D; 
• 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Commuter students with last names starting with E-K; and 
• Noon to 3 p.m.: Commuter students with last names starting with L-Q. 

Friday, Sept. 25: 

• Noon to 4 p.m.: Commuter students with last names starting with R-Z. 

Faculty and staff testing will be offered at The Woodward Center, based on the following schedule:  

Thursday, Sept. 24:  

• 3 to 4 p.m.: Employees from the Student Affairs division  

Friday, Sept. 25: 

• 8 to 9 a.m.: Faculty/Staff with last names starting with A-G;  
• 9 to 10 a.m.: Faculty/Staff with last names starting with H-O; and  
• 10-11 a.m.: Faculty/Staff with last names starting with P-Z. 

Data for students who signed the online testing informed consent forms by the Sept. 8 deadline have been inputted in our system, providing for a streamlined check-in at the testing site. Students who did not yet provide informed consent were sent an email from Dean of Students Maggie Balch on Sept. 17 that included consent forms and other instructions. 

Data for faculty and staff who submitted signed informed consent forms to the Office of Human Resources, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity in advance of Sept. 8 have been inputted in our system, providing for a streamlined check-in at the testing site. Information will be emailed soon to faculty and staff who did not yet submit informed consent forms, including instructions for those employees still interested in participating in the testing program.   

For more information on what to expect during the testing process, watch the “Protect the Nest: How Do I Get Tested?” video.    

In addition to the Sept. 24-27 testing, note the following future asymptomatic testing dates for the fall semester:  

• Oct. 13-16, 2020;  
• Nov. 2-5, 2020; and 
• Nov. 30-Dec. 3, 2020.

Regular student asymptomatic testing will be complemented by as-needed symptomatic testing through University Student Health Services. During the semester, students with an on-campus presence who experience COVID-19 symptoms are required to report these to Student Health Services and visit the office to be tested. 

COVID-19 Dashboard 
Westfield State University’s Safe Fall Opening webpage contains the most up-to-date information, including a newly added COVID-19 Dashboard. The Westfield State University COVID-19 Dashboard provides information relating to the health of our campus community by transparently sharing metrics, such as the number of tests conducted, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, and trends in positive test results and percent positivity rates, consistent with local and state reporting protocols. Westfield State’s dashboard will be updated each Thursday with the latest information from our testing partners. 

Thank you, all, for your continued cooperation and adherence to protocols related to our Safe Fall Opening at Westfield State University.  

Warmly,

Roy

Roy H. Saigo, Ph.D.
Interim President

Gloria Lopez

Dear Campus Community:

Although the fall semester is off to an atypical start, we welcomed the opportunity to engage our students remotely with the start of classes this week.

Academic Support and Information Services Updates

• An extensive “How Do I?” Webpage serves as a centralized resource for students as they navigate a unique fall 2020 semester. Helpful information on how to access academic support services is well organized and intuitive for students’ easy access. Visit the How Do I? webpage for the answers to your academic support questions. 
• The Ely Library is enlisting a variety of measures to ensure safe service this fall. Occupancy will be limited to ensure safe seating and physical distancing. Masks will be required at all times, and books will be retrieved by staff and pre-issued for pickup. Returned materials will be quarantined, per state guidance, before being made available again. Hand sanitizer stations and sanitizing wipes will be provided.
• Technology Support will provide assistance online and by phone to minimize contact. If in-person help is needed, this will be by appointment only in the Ely Library and Wilson Hall, also to control contact. Technology Support has been working with vendors to make lab software available to those who need it, and preparing labs for safe use.
• Media Services is making Zoom licenses available to every student, faculty member, librarian, and staff member through a site license. Media Services has also acquired enhanced web cameras for the classroom and has assembled Mobile Capture Carts that include cameras, microphones, GoPro camera, and the necessary software and hardware. These are specifically designed to capture “experiential learning activities” such as labs or demonstrations.
• The Center for Instructional Technology has provided a wide array of well-attended training opportunities to equip faculty members to provide the best possible instruction through remote and hybrid modalities. The team at CIT has been providing outstanding assistance to faculty members in preparing for the fall.

Student Testing & Isolation and Quarantine

Students and parents were sent an email last week regarding the required COVID-19 testing for all residential and commuter students that will have an on-campus presence in the fall. Students need to complete the online consent forms by Sept. 8, 2020 through MyHousing in MyWestfield. Check University email for last week’s message and reminders.

Should any student test positive as part of our onboard testing on Sept. 24-27 or through symptomatic or asymptomatic testing during the fall semester, there are specific protocols for isolation and quarantine. Students who test positive will be encouraged to return home to isolate; however, a separate, designated residence hall is available for those who need to remain on campus for isolation.

In addition, students are encouraged to consult with their champions/parents about creating a plan in the event that they test positive. When residential students move onto campus in late September, they should bring a pre-packed bag with essential items they would need to isolate or quarantine for 14 days.

Dining Services

WSU Dining is excited to welcome student, faculty and staff back to campus. For students especially, we know this time of year is filled with excitement, but can also be full of anxiety. Dining’s mission is to feed students well and help them feel comforted when they are away from home. Food is a huge part of settling in the nest at Westfield State. Students are encourage to reach out with any questions. If they know they will be missing their mom’s chicken pot pie, or their grandpa’s veggie enchiladas, share the recipe with Dining Services and staff can bring a taste of home to YOUR Dining program.

Concerns about allergies, or how operating hours will synch with class schedules should be forwarded to dining@westfield.ma.edu. Dining staff will do their best to make your semester a delicious one! Follow Dining on social media or visit the website for video updates at www.westfield.ma.edu/dining . 

Refund/Credit Update

Given the delay with most students’ return to campus for move-in September 25-27, Dining, Housing, and Fitness Center fees will be prorated based on the number of unused days for the fall semester. Look for more specific information on the Fall 2020 refund/credit process to be posted on the Student Accounts webpage by mid-September.

We look forward to welcoming you back to the nest soon, Owls! 

Warmly,

Roy

Roy H. Saigo, Ph.D.
Interim President

Dear Students:

We miss you and look forward to welcoming all residential and commuter students back to campus on September 29! We appreciate your understanding and flexibility given the announced delay of your physical return to campus from the beginning of September until the end of the month. We wish you well as you begin your online or remote classes next Wednesday, Sept. 2. 

Warmly,

Roy

Roy H. Saigo, Ph.D.
Interim President

Dear Campus Community:

I realize that last week’s announcement about delaying the return of our residential and commuter students to campus until late September, raised many questions. I hope today’s update provides many of the answers, as well as other important updates as the fall semester quickly approaches.

Changes Resulting from the Delay of Student’s Return

The following are important updates based on the recent adjustment in Westfield State’s Safe Fall Opening:

• New Move-in Dates: The new move-in dates for the residential students will be Friday, Sept. 25 (12-4 p.m.), Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27. There will no longer be an additional “drop-off” process. Instead, residential students will be provided a predetermined date and time to move into their assigned rooms. Housing Operations and Residential Engagement will organize the move-in schedule to ensure social distancing and safety for students and champions that assist with move-in. Note that there is no limit to the number of individuals who accompany the students to assist with move in; however, each student will be permitted only one guest in the residence halls at a time during this process.
• Student Testing: Residential students will receive a predetermined time for required COVID-19 testing. Students’ testing times will be one hour prior to their move-in times. All students (residential and commuter) will receive an email by next Wednesday regarding testing and consent forms. The designated days for testing for commuter students who have an on-ground presence will be Thursday, Sept. 24 and the morning of Friday, Sept. 25.
• Exemptions to the Delayed Return: Due to limited and specific, in-person academic requirements or housing insecurity issues, there will be a small number of students who will be allowed to return and have access to campus for the start of the fall semester. Through special arrangement with academic deans and department chairs, exemptions center on learning requirements that could not be transitioned to online instruction or the completion of practicums, clinicals, or field placements that require students to be in the Westfield area. These students (residential and commuter) will be communicated with directly. Residential students exempt from the delay will be permitted to move into their respective residence halls on Monday, Aug. 31. COVID-19 testing will be required prior to moving in. Information on the Aug. 31 testing, consent forms, and move-in will be sent through University email tomorrow, Aug. 21 to these exempt students. Also, exempt students must sign the Student Code of Conduct COVID-19 Addendum outlined in the Vice President of Student Affairs’ email sent on July 31, 2020.
• Faculty and Staff Testing: Testing for faculty and staff who will be interacting with those exempt students will also be offered on Monday, Aug. 31. These employees will receive direct communication on voluntary faculty and staff COVID-19 testing and related consent forms on Friday, Aug. 21 also. For all other faculty and staff who will have an on-campus presence during the fall semester after Sept. 29, testing will take place on Thursday, Sept. 24 and the morning of Friday, Sept. 25.
• Housing and Dining Refunds/Credits: Information will be provided in next week’s Safe Fall Opening Update on this issue. The campus is actively working on the details associated with providing refunds or account credits due to the delayed on-campus opening.

Continued Restricted Access

It is anticipated that restricted access will continue through the fall semester. Unless students are exempt from the delayed return, they should not return to campus until Sept. 29. Exempt students permitted to return to campus in advance of Sept. 29 are reminded that visiting University administrative and academic offices, as well as other support services offices will be handled through appointment only. This includes the Ely Library. Students are encouraged to access the office directory on the homepage of the University’s website for phone numbers. Feel free to leave a message and your call will be returned as quickly as possible. Restricted access is an important element of any contact tracing process.

COVID-19 Symptom Tracking and Contact Tracing

As part of our agreement with OnSite Medical to assist with COVID-19 testing, a Wellbility app will be provided for employee and student use. As part of our campus community’s collective effort to mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus, campus community members who have an on-campus presence for the fall semester will be required to use the app for daily secure self-assessment of potential symptoms. The app will also be used to assist with contact tracing, should the need arise. Look for more details on the Wellbility app in future email communication.

Safety upgrades to campus buildings and classrooms

Facilities Management and Academic Affairs have been working to prepare buildings and classrooms for a safe return. Signage has been placed across campus at entrances and exits, hallways, bathrooms and elevators to direct traffic flow and limit capacity. Hand sanitizer stations have been added near entrances, exits and all bathrooms. Classrooms have had furniture arranged to create six feet of distance between students and rolling plexiglass shields have been added to classrooms to increase safety. Each classroom will be supplied with sanitizing wipes and sanitizer. Finally, the cleaning protocols in buildings, following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state recommendations, have been greatly increased including daily fogging, frequent classroom and high-touch area cleaning. Bathrooms have signs indicating safe occupancy numbers as well as hand washing procedures. 

Departmental Supply Kits

This week, campus department offices received supply kits that include face masks (for use in situations where individuals may have forgotten their own personal face cloth coverings), sanitizing wipes, hand sanitizer, and materials outlining critical information on work station and shared electronics cleaning. Information about re-ordering after the initial supplies are depleted will be shared soon.

Get the GET App

Dining will be using the GET mobile App to enable students to pre-order custom meals, access select menu items, and order for a designated pickup time using meal swipes, dining dollars, Owl Bucks, or a credit card. The new app will provide access to the menu items at the new pop-up location in Ely Campus Center. The almost famous WSU Rice Bowls will be available exclusively via GET, which will allow students to create and customize their own unique rice bowl to include favorite toppings. Also at Ely Campus Center, Ely Harvest will offer custom smoothies and grab-n-go items only via the GET app. Also, students can use GET to order the new Chicken Bacon Ranch Twister Wrap and Espresso Drinks at TJ Bistro. Breakfast and coffee orders can be ordered for a no-wait contactless pick up the Market Place Convenience Store in New Hall. Students should be sure to download the GET app before their return to campus.

Courtney Hall closure for fall semester

Due to several factors regarding safety, the design and efficiency of the University’s facilities, and housing flexibility for the spring 2021 semester, Courtney Hall will be closed for the fall semester. Students who planned to reside in Courtney Hall received notice of this change on Aug. 10. The letter is posted on the Safe Fall Opening FAQs page. Students originally planning to reside in Courtney this fall have several options to other campus housing facilities. Westfield State apologizes for this inconvenience.

Nearly $40,000 raised for Owls Helping Owls

Thank you to the many faculty and staff members who have provided their support to the “Owls Helping Owls” Student Emergency Fund, which has raised nearly $40,000 to support the essential needs of our students who do not have parents or champions to assist them since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak. With your help, the University has addressed the insecurities of our students in need during this trying time. If you wish to make a contribution, visit westfield.ma.edu/owlhelp to make a gift online or contact Marnie Dacko in Institutional Advancement at mdacko@westfield.ma.edu.

I know there are many changes being made now as the University continues to adapt to shifting circumstances for the fall semester. I appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to work through these issues and toward a safe fall opening.

Thank you for your support and commitment to Westfield State University. Go Owls!

Warmly,

Roy

Roy H. Saigo, Ph.D.
Interim President

Dear Campus Community:

I write to share a change in our Safe Fall Opening Plan. As you know, months of planning have gone into the plan that we initially shared about welcoming back our residential and commuter students to campus in the fall. Although we still plan to do so, the decision has been made to delay their return from the end of August until the end of September.

First day of classes for the fall semester will remain as Wednesday, Sept. 2, at which time all academic courses will be delivered remotely or online. On Sept. 29, the delivery of those courses will revert to the originally intended mode—In-person (NORMAL), Hybrid-blended (HYBRID), Remote (synchronous-RMSYNC), or Online (asynchronous-ONLINE).

This was not an easy decision. And unfortunately, the unpredictability of COVID-19 does not provide for any absolute right answer or course of action. Months of diligent planning had gone into our original plan to welcome back students at the end of August. Westfield State University was prepared. However, in conversations with medical professionals and recent guidance provided by our City of Westfield Public Health officials, I cannot in good conscience allow for the return to take place at the end of August. I made this decision to delay the return to campus until the end of September with the safety of our campus community as the leading consideration.

Quite frankly, we simply don’t know if the decisions right now being made by all institutions of higher education are right or wrong. What I do know is that I would rather err on the side of caution and safety. As you can imagine, the easier decision would have been to move forward with our original plan.  

I realize today’s announcement will be met with much disappointment, especially for our residential and commuter students who are eager to join our physical campus after many months of being away, or for our first-year and transfer students who looked forward to moving into their new home away from home.

Just yesterday, I observed a handful of families enjoying an appropriately social distanced tour of campus. Although I could not see their facial expressions through their masks, their other body language said it all—they were happy to be on campus. After all, our physical campus is one of the leading attractions for students who chose Westfield State University for their higher education. I empathize with you and ask for your continued patience as we delay students’ return for four weeks.

I realize that this announcement will also be met with many questions, and we will do our best in the coming days to provide clear and timely updates associated with our adjusted plan. Next week, expect more information about:

1. Revised drop-off and move-in dates for our residential students;
2. Dates for required on-board COVID-19 testing for all residential and commuter students who will have an on-ground presence during the fall semester;
3. Applicable refunds for housing and dining; and
4. Specific academic and housing insecurity exceptions to this delay on our students’ return to campus.

The Safe Fall Opening website will soon be updated to reflect our adjusted plan and will include all updates to be emailed to students, faculty, and staff next week.

I appreciate your understanding and flexibility as we work together and lean on each other through these unprecedented and difficult times.

Thank you.

Roy

Roy H. Saigo, Ph.D.
Interim President

All students and their families,

We are a week closer to the start of a new academic year. This time usually comes with a great deal of excitement for me. In truth this year I am both excited and anxious. I am sure we are all anxious about what this year will look like. I want to report that the Faculty and Staff continue to work diligently to be ready for this fall. I also want to update you on a few of important items.

Our early Add/Drop period ends today. We hope you have been able to make adjustments to your schedule to have it better align with your needs. I will remind you that Add/Drop will again open at the beginning of the semester. Further, new students who are still having problems with their schedule should be in touch with our Office of Academic Advising for help.

As we get closer to the beginning of the semester please check your schedule for any classes with face to face meetings. We are continuing to finalize room assignments based on course enrollment to insure appropriate social distancing in the classroom.

We appreciate that social distancing is creating challenges in all of our lives. One area of concern for us is providing study space for students. I want to share that we are working on expanded study space on campus that will include a variety of spaces in dorms and classroom building. A comprehensive list will be shared at the beginning of the semester.

Finally I want to share a little information regarding our academic student support services. Our Office of Academic Advising, TRIO, Urban Education, Reading & Writing Center, and our Disability Services  (Banacos Academic Center) have been spending the summer planning for the fall. To insure appropriate social distancing and to be able to provide services to students who have chosen to not be on campus, these services will be primary offered through virtual meetings. Students will need to make appointments with program staff. There will be some limited ability to have in person meetings but will require an appointment. We plan to provide more details about these services as we get closer to the beginning of the semester but I felt it was important to let you know that we are developing ways to offer these services that is safe and accessible to all.

Take care and be safe

Robert C. Kersting, ACSW, PhD
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Campus Community:

I am pleased to share with you this week’s Safe Fall Opening Update, including my video message on the safe opening. For more information, please visit our Safe Fall Opening website which includes our the Safe Fall Opening Plan as well as continually updated frequently asked questions.

Social Contract for Safe Fall Opening

Protecting the Nest as Owls, we keep learning and we keep going; always flying to the next level, together. Being a part of the Owl community means that each of us must take extraordinary steps to stay well and persistently protect others. Therefore, each person will take responsibility for their own health and to help keep the Westfield State University community safe by stopping the spread of COVID-19 and other infections as identified and instructed by the University. Please review the Protect the Nest Pledge, outlining these steps to keep our community safe.

Building Access

Westfield State University will continue to operate with restricted access on campus throughout the summer and fall semester. Restricted access means that access to academic and administrative campus buildings is restricted to students, faculty, and staff through use of their University-issued identification. Building access by permissible contractor and vendors must be organized through department directors or otherwise referred to Public Safety (413-572-5262).

Campus Visits

Given the University’s continued restricted access through the fall semester, only visitors with business with the University will be permitted on campus. These visits will be allowed by appointment only. Appointments and access to campus buildings for visitors will be coordinated by the respective department or division. All campus visitors must be logged by the respective department or division. For tracking purposes during the pandemic, visitors who are permitted access to campus buildings will be logged. A visitor is simply defined as an individual that is a not a Westfield State employee nor a current student. Each department/office will receive more information about this with a link to the required visitor log and directions to save and submit completed weekly logs.

Course Scheduling Update

The early Add/Drop period has allowed a great number of students to successfully adjust their schedules to better suit their needs, based on their preference for remote or in-person learning. Add/Drop remains open for returning students through Friday and first-year and transfer students may still contact the Academic Advising Center to make scheduling adjustments through Friday. Note that Add/Drop will again open at the beginning of the semester.

COVID-19 Surveillance and Required Testing of Residential and Commuter Students

All residential students and those commuter students who will have an on-campus presence in the fall semester will be tested for COVID-19 by the University prior to the start of the semester. Dates, times and locations of the testing will be communicated to students directly in a separate email. In addition to­ on-board testing, monthly testing is planned for the fall.

Out-of-State and International Students plan

Students coming to campus from either an international location or a high-risk state (one other than ME, VT, NH, CT, NY, NJ or HI) will need to be tested for COVID-19 (by the University) and quarantine at the University’s designated residence hall for quarantine until a negative result is confirmed.

Travel Restrictions

Following the travel restrictions issued by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Westfield State University asks for continued adherence to several protocols, including a discontinuation of work-related travel and a preference for remote meetings. All travelers should take note of the state’s new travel order. All visitors and returning residents entering Massachusetts must complete a Massachusetts Travel Form prior to entering/reentering the Commonwealth and should be aware of the impact of non-compliance.

Warmly,

Roy

Roy H. Saigo, Ph.D.
Interim President

July 29, 2020

Dear Students,

On June 19, President Torrecilha informed you that Westfield State University will utilize both on-ground and online academic instruction and warmly welcome back both commuter and residential students to campus in September—something that I, too, am looking forward to as your new interim president.

As a follow-up to the June communication, I am pleased to share with you that our Safe Fall Opening Plan has been posted to our Safe Fall Opening website and includes important information about campus housing, dining services, athletics and activities, Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing, contact tracing, and other health and safety protocols and procedures. It is important to note, however, that the Safe Fall Opening Plan should be considered a working, flexible document—as federal, state, and local public health and safety guidelines and directives related to the COVID-19 continue to evolve. Because of this, I encourage you to refer often to our Safe Fall Opening website for the most current information and frequently asked questions, and forthcoming emails to keep you updated.

As uncertainties related to the pandemic remain, the University continues to monitor and implement the guidance provided by Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, the state Department of Public Health, the state Department of Higher Education, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We’re also in close contact with state and local health officials. As such, I ask for your patience, understanding, and continued participation in the final preparation for your return to campus in the fall.

I am looking forward to meeting you this semester and to help ensure that you have a memorable, enjoyable educational experience at Westfield State. Above all else, though, your safety and well-being—and that of our full campus community—are my paramount concern, and we all need to work together to stop the spread of COVID-19.

This virus has no playbook, as you know, so creating our prudent plan to welcome you back to a safe nest this fall required careful, campus-wide collaboration. I realize it wasn’t a simple task and wish to express my gratitude and appreciation to the leadership of the University’s Safe Opening Taskforce (SOTF); our divisional working group members; and members of the University’s Emergency Response Team (ERT), for getting it done in a careful, thoughtful, and timely manner. 

In the meantime, I wish to relay what Governor Baker said during his press conference Monday: “COVID-19 isn’t taking the summer off, and neither should we.” So, Owls, let’s do this together; please continue to wear your cloth face coverings, wash your hands, avoid touching your face, and maintain social distancing to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Until we meet in September, enjoy the rest of your summer.

Warmly,
Roy

Roy H. Saigo, Ph.D.
Interim President

July 28, 2020

Dear Faculty and Staff,

As we all know, COVID-19 has no playbook. I thank the teams of individuals at Westfield State for their careful and thoughtful consideration to equip our community with a prudent plan to welcome our students back to the nest for this fall.

The Westfield State University’s Safe Fall Opening plan is now posted to our Safe Fall Opening website. It is important to note that this should be considered a working, flexible document—as federal, state, and local public health and safety guidelines and directives continue to evolve. The University will continue to monitor and implement the guidance provided by the Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, the state Department of Public Health, the state Department of Higher Education, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.   

Creating this plan required careful, campus-wide collaboration. I realize this was not a simple task, and I wish to express my gratitude and appreciation to the leadership of the University’s Safe Opening Taskforce (SOTF); our divisional working group members; and members of the University’s Emergency Response Team (ERT), for getting it done in a thoughtful and timely manner. 

Westfield State remains in close contact with state and local health officials, as uncertainties related to the pandemic remain. As such, I ask for your patience, understanding, and continued participation in the final preparation for our students’ return in the fall.

The safety and well-being of our full campus community remains our paramount concern.

Thank you, all, for doing your part to implement the plan, and for following the health and safety guidelines yourselves, to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Warmly,

Roy

Roy H. Saigo, Ph.D.
Interim President

July 24, 2020

Students and Parents,

As we move closer to the beginning of the fall semester, I want to update you on our course schedule and our plans for supporting students who wish to make changes to their fall schedule. Again, we appreciate that some students will want to increase their face to face classroom experiences while some will desire to be fully online. We also understand that your schedule  impacts your decision about housing.

As we updated course modality for the fall schedule, we did find some issues and inconsistencies. The Registrar’s Office has been working to manually correct these issues. At this time, the schedule does correctly identify the modality for all courses. We do apologize for any confusion this week has caused.

The next step is to allow students to update their schedules. With close to 4000 students we are unable to simply open this process to all simultaneously. We will be opening the ability to change schedules starting next week in a tiered process.

First years and transfer students require a staff member's help to adjust their schedule. We will begin that process on Monday (7-27) and it will run until Friday (7-31).  The first year students and new transfer students were divided alphabetically and assigned a day to schedule an appointment. The registrar’s office will be contacting these students directly with information on how to schedule their appointment. Those emails will be going out today with reminders next week.

Exploratory first year students will be scheduling a meeting with our Academic Advising Center and will be sent an email to make an appointment using Westfield 360. A video link will be provided instructing them on how to make the appointment.

On August 3, we will open Add/Drop for returning students. Monday and Tuesday (8-3 and 8-4) will be reserved for seniors to help insure they can register for classes they need to graduate. On Wednesday (8-5), Add/Drop will be opened for all returning students.  Add/Drop will remain open through Friday (8-7). I want to remind returning students that they do not need their PIN to add or drop courses at this point. It is worth noting that the regular Add/Drop period at the beginning of the semester also will allow students to make scheduling changes if needed.

It is my intention to send a reminder and update next week about this process that will include advising  contact information for returning students divided by major in case you need help with the Add/Drop process.

Thank you for your patience during these turbulent times.

Robert C. Kersting, ACSW, PhD
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

July 24, 2020

Dear Campus Community:

Warm regards,

Roy H. Saigo, Ph.D.
Interim President

GLOSSARY OF INSTRUCTIONAL MODES

July 16, 2020

Dear Campus Community:

I am pleased to share with you the latest updates on Westfield State University’s Safe Fall Opening.

Billing and Housing Deadline Extended to July 31

Following the billing and housing communication received by students and families last week, we received much feedback regarding extending the deadlines for billing and for returning students to submit a Petition for Release with the Cancellation Fee waived. The deadline for students and parents/families to pay fall 2020 semester tuition and for returning students to submit the Petition for Release with the Cancellation Fee waived, has been extended from July 24 to July 31. We hope the week extension gives students and their families more flexibility and time as they make decisions and plan for the fall semester.

Academic Schedules and Student Support

As I shared last week, the finalized class schedule will be announced by Academic Affairs during the week of July 20. College deans, department chairs, and staff in the Office of the Registrar have worked together on adaptations to the fall course schedule, using feedback from surveys and forums following the spring semester. Faculty considered the nature of the course, learning outcomes, and student engagement as they identified the appropriate modality of instruction. Modalities range from fully online to partially online (hybrid) to in-person. Academic Affairs collaborated with Facilities to ensure instructional spaces will meet physical distancing guidelines.

Additionally, Student Academic Support Services Program directors have developed plans to remotely deliver services, based on their experience in the spring and summer terms. Staff will meet with students by appointment and hold drop-in office hours using an online meeting program. Staff are determining the protocols necessary to open study spaces for students by reservation.

MASCAC Suspends Fall Athletics

The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) announced today its difficult decision to suspend the fall 2020 athletic season, including all indoor and outdoor athletic competition, due to the highly contagious nature of the COVID-19 virus and the risk of community spread through conference competition. Although there won’t be fall contests, Massachusetts state universities, including Westfield State, are planning to provide student-athletes with on-campus, in-person practices, and conditioning and training opportunities during the fall semester to support their physical and mental well-being. Winter sports are being evaluated and will be addressed in the fall. For more information on this, please visit the Westfield State Athletics website. 

Dining Services

Dining Services has introduced a new meal plan—The Owl Plan—to give students flexibility and convenience. The Owl Plan gives students 19 swipes per week (one per meal time) to use in the Dining Commons. Students can take what they like to make sure they get enough to eat at each meal.

The Owl Plan also gives students unlimited choices across campus with meal exchanges and dining dollars. For those students who are unable to visit the Dining Commons, they can opt for “Meal Exchange” at any retail location on campus, or visit The Marketplace for a quick snack, using their dining dollars on any of their selections in the store.

Students are encouraged to download the GET Mobile App now, so they will be ready to use a meal swipe, Dining Dollars, or Owl Bucks to order food for pick up at a convenient time at all dining locations.

Visit Westfield State Dining Services’ website for more information.

COVID-19 Testing

The University is planning for on-board COVID-19 testing of residential and commuter students at the beginning of the fall semester. We hope to contract with Cambridge-based The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard for these services. More information will be shared as operational logistics are finalized.

I encourage you to often visit Westfield State’s Safe Fall Opening website for the latest information and frequently asked questions.

Please be safe and well.

Ramon S. Torrecilha, Ph.D.
President

July 12, 2020

To all our new and returning students,

Our University and our nation have been on quite a ride the last six months. As summer progresses, the fall will be upon us before we know it. Teams of faculty and staff at Westfield State University continue our planning to welcoming you back in the fall.

We continue to finalize a class schedule for the fall and plan to have the schedule available to students by July 20. We will be offering classes using a number of delivery methods. We will have some traditional face-to-face classes. We will offer some hybrid classes or classes with some face-to-face meetings and an online component. Hybrid classes will be offered with varyng amounts of face-to-face meetings. We will have some remote classes where students meet with faculty in real time through an online platform. Finally, we will have some classes online where there are not real time meetings online.

Over the next two weeks, changes in the class schedule, including changes in delivery methods, will begin to roll out in your schedule in myWestfield. All changes will not appear at once, but the schedule will be finalized and available to you by July 20. The schedule will include more details regarding the delivery method of each class.

Once your schedule is fully updated and you can see the modality in which your classes will be delivered, you can explore how you prefer to fine-tune your schedule to best meet your interests, needs, and learning style. We appreciate that some students may want to have more classes with face-to-face meetings, while other students may prefer a fully online schedule. To help facilitate fine-tuning your schedule, the Office of the Registrar will be opening drop/add by mid-August to allow early schedule adjustments.

We at Westfield State know these are challenging times with many unknowns but the faculty, librarians and staff remain unwavered in our commitment to provide you with a quality educational experience.

Over the next few weeks, more detailed information will continue to be shared regarding class scheduling, living on campus, dining on campus and social life on campus.

We look forward to welcoming you back to Westfield State University this fall.

Sincerely,

Robert C. Kersting, ACSW, PhD
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

July 10, 2020

Dear Campus Community:

I hope that you and your families are well as our community continues to navigate through the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our lives and those of our students and their families. While the pandemic has put physical distance between us, it has also brought us closer together through our care for each other, our families, and neighbors. Today, I am pleased to provide an update on several aspects of Westfield State University’s Safe Fall Opening plans.

A letter to our returning resident students – regarding the move-in, new protocols and expectations, and meal plans – was sent earlier today. The letter, in addition to other communication and FAQs regarding Westfield State’s Safe Fall Opening, is available at westfield.ma.edu/safe-fall-opening. We continue to update this page as plans are finalized, communications are sent, and answers to more FAQs are available.

As we continue to plan for our courses to be comprised of a mix of online, on-ground and a hybrid model, I share with you that the finalized class schedule for the fall will be available the week of July 20. Students will receive a more detailed message from Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Robert Kersting, Ph.D. on this topic in the coming days.  

For our student-athletes and us as fans, we all are eager for our Owls to return to competition. The Department of Athletics is awaiting an announcement from the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference in mid-July to reveal how the fall sports season will be administered.

More planning regarding the student experience, Dining Services on campus, COVID-19 testing, and changes to the living and learning campus environments continues. We will offer future, regular communication through email and videos on these and other matters as teams of faculty and staff continue to work on operational logistics to welcome our residential and commuter students back to campus in the fall.

Thank you for your continued patience and understanding. Despite the continued uncertainties surrounding COVID-19, Westfield State University is working diligently to provide a high-quality education and experience in an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment.

I hope that this brief summary provides some answers as we continue to prepare and plan for the fall 2020 semester. We will continue to provide further answers and specifics in the days and weeks ahead. 

Sincerely,

Ramon S. Torrecilha, Ph.D.
President

July 10, 2020

Dear resident student,

We hope you and your family have been safe and healthy. We continue to plan for the upcoming academic year and the safe return of students to the campus. In order to keep the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff as the focus of our Safe Opening Plan, we would like to update you on the move-in process, additional policies for the Fall 2020 semester, and the Petition for Release process.

Residence Hall Move-In Process

The move-in process will take place over two weeks in two separate phases. The first phase will have students able to move into their assigned room August 17-21 and August 24-28. Students will be able to register for one-hour time blocks to ensure social distancing. A maximum of two guests will be permitted to assist students with moving in. After moving in students will be expected to return home. The second phase will be on Sunday, August 30 when students are able to return to campus and remain in housing.

Additional Policies for Fall 2020

Based on recommendations from the state and other agencies, additional policies will be in place for the Fall 2020 semester as we focus on the health and safety of all students. Later this month, these additional policies will be covered in a Housing Agreement Addendum that all students living on campus for Fall 2020 will agree to prior to being able to move into housing. They will include:

Face masks will be required when students are outside of their room/apartment/suite.
No guests will be permitted in the residence halls. This includes residential students from other residence halls, commuting students, non-students, and family.
Room changes will not be permitted to limit contact between students assigned to different areas of housing.
Study lounges and kitchens will have seating reduced and in some instances may be unavailable for use.
Students living in traditional halls will be assigned to one bathroom within their residence hall and will not be able to access any other bathroom facilities.

Petition for Release

Returning students who decide they do not want to live on campus can complete the Petition for Release application in their MyHousing account. Students submitting the Petition for Release by the fall semester billing deadline, July 24, will be approved and have the $750 Cancellation Fee waived. Students submitting a Petition for Release after July 24 will not be guaranteed approval and will be responsible for the $750 Cancellation Fee.

New incoming first-year and transfer students may request to change their status from housing to commuting by emailing the Admissions Department at admissions@westfield.ma.edu. Students making this decision no later than the fall semester billing deadline, July 24, will not be responsible for the $750 Cancellation Fee.

Meal Plan Information

The Dining Commons and Marketplace Convenience Store will open on Sunday, August 30 at 12 Noon for all meal plan participants. All other Dining locations will open on Monday, August 31.

Dining will be following all guidelines established by the Commonwealth for the fall, including take out only meals and individually wrapped items.
Students and guests will be required to wear a face mask and follow appropriate social distancing practices when visiting any Dining location.
Please download the GET Mobile Application from your App Store for the ability to order ahead for contactless pickup as well secret menu items and popup locations.

We hope you are able to enjoy the remainder of your summer and we look forward to you joining us on campus this fall. Should you have any questions please feel free to let us know.

Sincerely,

Housing Operations

June 19, 2020

Dear Campus Community:

I write to share information about Westfield State University’s Safe Fall 2020 Opening.

Last semester was a unique experience for us all, and I am grateful for everyone’s flexibility, persistence, and desire to succeed in the face of adversity. As a community, students, faculty, and staff navigated the effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic with uncommon grace, good sense, and cooperation. We learned a significant amount about our strengths as individuals and as an institution.

The decision has been made as part of our plan for a Safe Fall 2020 Opening to utilize both on-ground and online academic instruction and welcome back both commuter and residential students to campus in September.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, our Emergency Response Team’s Coronavirus Management Group has been working to manage continuity in the face of the global pandemic. In addition, a Safe Opening Task Force was convened with representation from all University divisions and unions to comb through the vast amounts of guidelines, standards, and protocols put forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the American College Health Association (ACHA). The group used these expert sources combined with the guidance and directives of Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, the state Department of Higher Education, and state Department of Public Health to present three scenarios for my Cabinet to consider for the fall 2020 semester.

The Cabinet and I came to our decision by weighing heavily the following criteria:

• An ability to provide an environment with proper health and safety precautions
• A favorable downward trend of the data related to COVID-19 in Massachusetts
• A commitment to provide a high quality, engaging student experience
• A capacity to be flexible given the uncertainties related to the pandemic
• A commitment to ensure continuity

With a general plan set, University divisional working groups will continue to finalize their respective pieces of the plan to build on what has been determined so far.

As always, we remain in contact with state and local health officials as we work on the remaining logistical and operational details related to our Safe Fall 2020 Opening. We continue to appreciate your patience and understanding as we institute the following thoughtful and careful measures to welcome our students back to campus in September.

Health and Safety Preparation and Protocols

All members of the campus community will be asked to comply with a social contract that will emphasize expectations of all individuals in our community during an unprecedented public health crisis.

Cloth masks will be required to be worn by all individuals without prohibitive health conditions and six feet of social distancing, when possible, will be enforced. Hygiene and social distancing protocols will be prominently displayed on signage throughout the campus. All members of the campus community will be required to wear and display their University-issued ID badges when on campus property and to access campus buildings.

Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) that exceeds beyond the cloth mask requirement will be provided to select employees, based on the nature of their job function and inherent risk. Although students will be required to provide their own cloth masks, additional PPE in laboratories and other academic learning environments will be provided by the University as the course or experience requires.

Our campus has remained open, but has operated with restricted access since the spring. The majority of staff have been ensuring business continuity through remote work with a limited on-campus presence. Following the release of a Return to Work plan in the coming days, and following the state’s current guidance, phased-in staffing will take place over the summer months to prepare for welcoming our students back to campus in the fall.

Enhanced cleaning protocols and frequency will be implemented this summer and continued in in the fall semester, with a particular focus on high-touch surfaces and high-traffic areas. Protocols are in line with the CDC, OSHA, and DPH guidelines.

Much of the in-person interactions on campus will be by appointment only.

Work is underway to modify campus environments—including academic buildings, dining spaces, and residence halls—to support social distancing and uphold health and safety protocols. Directional signs, occupancy limitation signs for elevators and restrooms, and hygiene and social distancing reminders will be posted prominently. An increased number of sanitation stations will be installed in all campus buildings.

Academic Learning and Teaching

The Division of Academic Affairs held several open forums for the campus community (attended by approximately 200 faculty and staff) to share their perspectives and ideas to best deliver academic instruction in the fall. In addition, the division surveyed students, faculty, and academic support staff regarding their spring 2020 experiences following the move to an exclusively remote teaching and learning environment. Valued input, creative ideas, and helpful data were gleaned from these important exercises and will be used to map out the comprehensive academic plan for the fall.

We anticipate a portion of classes to be delivered in a hybrid fashion, involving both on-ground and online components, while a substantial number of classes will be delivered exclusively online. On-ground class work will be implemented with proper social distancing and other health and safety precautions. College deans, department chairs, and staff in the Office of the Registrar will work together on adaptations to the fall course schedule using feedback from the surveys and forums, which indicated prioritizing on-ground experiences for first-year students, hands-on pedagogical demands (e.g. laboratories), and experiential learning requirements (e.g. clinicals, internships, practicums, etc.).

Extensive professional development will be offered for faculty in online teaching modalities and pedagogy. In addition, the installation of enhanced classroom technology and critical discipline-specific software will take place over the summer months to better prepare for courses that may include an online component.

Specific logistics on our course offerings will be announced in the coming weeks so students will gain a better sense of how their selected courses will be delivered.

At this time, no changes are anticipated to the academic calendar, with first day of fall classes remaining as Sept. 2, 2020.

Student Life

The student experience on campus for commuters and residential students will continue to provide robust programming and opportunities to engage while maintaining social distancing and other safety protocols.

We will work to de-densify residence halls in a way that limits the use of shared facilities and common areas in compliance with recommended guidelines. The move-in process for residence halls will mirror the move-out process in March, with students signing up for specific time slots offered over several days. Also, should the need arise, we will designate areas for isolation and quarantining of students who exhibit signs of, or have had direct exposure to COVID-19. In the weeks ahead, we will provide more specific information on these and other aspects of our housing arrangements for the fall.

Our Dining Services will undergo a significant transformation. Although food selections will continue to be healthy and flavorful, a takeout format will replace a dine-in experience in the Dining Commons. Retail dining will be enhanced to provide more variety and options for all students. Because of occupancy restrictions and social distancing mandates, Dining Commons hours will be more limited and we will only be able to offer one basic Dining Plan to students living in traditional residential-style housing. A second plan will be offered to commuters and residential students living in apartment-style housing.

An announcement from the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) regarding the fall Athletics season is expected in July. The Athletics Department will continue to be in touch directly with existing and incoming student athletes regarding any updates. 

Continued Contingency Planning

We will keep you apprised of our progress on a timely basis to ensure you have enough advance notice to plan your schedules. As always, every decision will be carefully considered and will reflect our top priority—the health and well-being of the Westfield State community.

While we are excited about this upcoming semester, we are aware that an unexpected outbreak of COVID-19 remains a possibility. For this, we will remain vigilant and continue our comprehensive planning efforts so that Westfield State is prepared for any potential COVID-19 complication. Contingency planning is ongoing and the ability of the University to pivot to changes in our circumstances remain a key element of our planning process.

The patience and understanding of our students and families is very much appreciated. I know this email does not answer all of your questions. Although we are able to provide some answers, many are still in process. We look forward to sharing with you updates as they become available in the days and weeks ahead.

I wish to thank the many individuals at Westfield State University who have dedicated countless hours to moving Westfield State forward, including the Safe Opening Task Force, the Emergency Response Team’s Coronavirus Management Group, and divisional working groups.

We will continue to update our community through regular email communication, as well as through FAQs and other resources and announcements to be posted on the Safe Fall 2020 Opening webpage. This webpage, easily accessed through the University website homepage, will serve as the repository for the latest updates for the fall opening. When divisional plans are more solidified, the University will offer additional forums and other opportunities to have a dialogue about the unique qualities of our fall semester.

Your understanding continues to be appreciated as we work to create an engaging and safe learning, living, and working environment at Westfield State University despite the ongoing uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sincerely,

Ramon S. Torrecilha, Ph.D.
President

June 18, 2020

Dear Campus Community:

I wanted to inform you that the Council of Presidents of the nine Massachusetts state universities announced today the state universities' intention to welcome students back to our campuses, beginning in September, offering a combination of on-ground and online classes and re-populating residence halls for the fall 2020 semester. 

Following this general announcement by the Council of Presidents, you can expect to receive an announcement from me through email tomorrow, Friday, June 19, 2020, with more information on the fall semester at Westfield State. Our plan for the fall was chosen among the scenarios presented to Cabinet members and me by the University's Safe Opening Task Force (SOTF). 

Building upon Westfield State's ongoing contingency planning since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring, the SOTF, our Emergency Response Team, and working groups established in each of the University's divisions, will continue to work to develop detailed logistics based on the fall plan officially announced tomorrow. Health and safety will remain as the paramount consideration when finalizing details and operational specifics in adherence to state and federal COVID-19-related guidelines, protocols, and procedures.

Look for the fuller announcement on the fall 2020 semester at Westfield State University to come from me tomorrow, Friday, June 19, 2020. 

Sincerely,

Ramon S. Torrecilha, Ph.D.
President