Guide for Returning to the Workplace
The goal of this site is to provide guidelines that will help minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection as we plan for a return to campus. Boston College’s plans will continue to be aligned with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Boston College will remain flexible in its approach. Accordingly, this site may require future updates.
Key Documents
FAQ
Vaccination
Yes. In order to safeguard the health of the BC community, all faculty, staff, and students will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by August 13, 2021.
Once fully vaccinated, you can upload your vaccination card via PeopleSoft, which will help BC keep track of how many people in our community have been vaccinated.. Please note that all students will similarly be required to upload proof of vaccination to University Health Services.
For faculty and staff who would like to request an exemption due to medical reasons or sincerely held religious practices or beliefs, please fill out the exemption request form on the Human Resources website.
Login to the Agora Portal
Click the "PeopleSoft Human Resources Services" link located in the "Human Resources" section
Confirm your identity through BC's 2-Step Verification process.
To login to Peoplesoft Human Resources while off campus, you will need to connect to a BC VPN and confirm your identity through BC's 2-step Verification
From the “Main Menu” select “Self Service” then “Personal Information” and select “Update COVID-19 Record”
Enter the date of your completed COVID vaccination in the date prompt, click the “Add Attachment” button and upload your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card.
Your vaccination date will appear on the page. Click “Save” to submit your record.
If you have tested positive for COVID-19, please include your positive test date under the “COVID-19 Testing Record” tab
If you have any questions, please reach out to HR@bc.edu
Yes. For now, all staff and faculty who intend to be on campus are required to be part of the University’s surveillance testing program even if vaccinated.
Health & Wellness
Yes. Faculty and staff who work on campus must conduct daily symptom monitoring each day before reporting to work utilizing BC Check.
Faculty and staff must be free of ANY symptoms potentially related to COVID-19. If you are experiencing symptoms, you should self-isolate at home, and call your primary care physician for further direction.
At this time, symptoms include one or more of the following:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fever (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher)
- Chills
- Repeated shaking with chills
- Runny nose with new sinus congestion (not related to allergies)
- Muscle aches
- Fatigue
- Sore throat
- Headache
- New gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms
- New loss of taste or smell
If you are sick you must stay home. Stay home even if you have mild symptoms of illness. Please contact your primary care provider for further instruction.
Boston College is conducting ongoing COVID-19 asymptomatic surveillance testing at the Margot Connell Recreation Center. Testing at this site is only for students, faculty, and staff invited by University Health Services (UHS). If you receive an email from UHS requesting that you be tested, please follow the instructions in the email.
If you would like to get tested for any reason outside of the surveillance process (e.g., you develop symptoms, you are a close contact of someone who has tested positive, you are traveling, etc.), you should seek out a Massachusetts testing site. You can visit the MA COVID-19 Testing website for an interactive map to find a testing site near you. Many sites may require pre-screening, a referral and/or an appointment.
Faculty and staff who test positive for COVID-19 must contact their supervisor, department chair, or dean--who will contact their Human Resources representative—and isolate at home until cleared to return to work by their physician. If faculty and staff are unable to work remotely during this time, they may use accumulated sick leave to cover their absence while in isolation. To the extent possible, isolating employees whose roles are conducive to working remotely will be expected to do as long as they are able, provided they have been in contact with their supervisor or department chair/dean.
Anyone who is not vaccinated and is identified as a close contact (within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more) with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, is required to quarantine prior to returning to work.
The state recognizes the following exemptions to quarantine:
If you have received two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines or one dose of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine more than 14 days prior to an exposure, you are not required to quarantine. It is recommended, however, that you obtain a COVID-19 test to verify that you are not positive.
Individuals who are COVID-19-recovered and do not have symptoms, are not required to quarantine. This exception does not include COVID-19-recovered individuals who have symptoms of COVID-19.
Contacts who do not fall into the exemption categories above will need to remain quarantined for at least 7 full days, provided all of the following are satisfied:
- You have not had, and do not have, any symptoms;
- You are tested between days 5–7 of your quarantine period or later using a molecular diagnostic test (e.g., polymerase chain reaction (PCR)) to detect the presence of the virus;
- You receive a negative test result; and
- You monitor yourself for symptoms for 10 days.(If you develop symptoms you should contact your health care provider and be re-tested.)
Contacts who do not fall into the exemption categories above will need to remain quarantined for at least 10 days from the date of last exposure, provided all of the following are satisfied:
- You have not experienced any symptoms up to that point; AND
- You conduct active monitoring through Day 14.
Contacts who do not fall into the exemption categories above will need to remain quarantined for at least 14 full days, if you experienced ANY symptoms during the quarantine period EVEN if you have a negative COVID-19 test
To the extent possible, self-quarantined employees whose roles are conducive to working remotely will be expected to do so as long as they are able, provided they have been in contact with their supervisor or department chair/dean. Such staff and faculty who are quarantined and cannot work remotely shall be granted up to 14 days of leave with pay.
Effective May 31, 2021, all special accommodations approved through the Office for Institutional Diversity related to the pandemic, including authorizations for remote work, expired. Individuals who desire a special accommodation must reapply for the summer 2021, and any special accommodation granted through the Office for Institutional Diversity will end no later than August 13, 2021 unless otherwise approved through the normal ADA reasonable accommodation process. Please note that individuals who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are not eligible for a special accommodation.
Return to Campus
Employees can begin coming into the office immediately. Effective May 29, 2021, Boston College is no longer subject to occupancy restrictions in offices or classroom facilities. Accordingly, all current capacity limitations on campus classrooms, workspaces, and outdoor areas are rescinded.
Schools and departments will begin bringing employees who have been working remotely back to campus during the summer, based on the operational needs of the University. Consistent with University policy, school and departmental plans may include options for flexible work where suitable for specific positions. These plans will be approved and communicated to you by your school dean or vice president.
Boston College has an established policy on hours of work that includes the possibility of flexible work schedules and remote work. That policy will remain in place once we return to regular operations for the 2021-22 academic year.
The CDC and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health have lifted the mask mandate. As a result, BC faculty, staff, students, and visitors who are vaccinated are not required to wear masks. Those who are not yet fully vaccinated, however, will be required to wear masks on campus when physical distancing cannot be maintained. Anyone who is fully vaccinated may choose to continue wearing a mask if preferred.
Boston College will follow local and state guidelines on University-related testing when those are announced.
In-person meetings may resume effective immediately. Prior to the August 13th date by which all faculty and staff are required to be fully vaccinated, we encourage you to meet virtually when possible and efficient. When meeting in-person, non-vaccinated individuals will be required to observe COVID safety protocols (masks, social distancing). Vaccinated individuals may participate without masks or social distancing.
Unless conditions change significantly, we expect to return to normal operations with regard to in-person meetings in the fall. Those needing to book spaces or who would like to serve food at meetings should continue to do so through BC’s Event Management team. Note that the availability of classroom spaces for the fall booking may not be released until the late summer.
Business travel continues to require the approval of the Executive Vice President or Provost until further notice.
Yes. Facilities Management is in the process of removing outdated signage.
Classroom & Teaching Protocol
Capacity limitations for campus classrooms, office workspaces, and outdoor areas that were in place for the 2020-2021 academic year have been rescinded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, effective May 29, 2021.
Information on student accommodations will be provided during the summer.
At this time, we anticipate that the classroom environment will largely return to pre-COVID normal, and faculty should plan their pedagogy accordingly. Additional details will be shared later in the summer.
Yes. Unless conditions change significantly, we expect to return to normal operations with regard to office hours.
Yes. Classes scheduled for rooms equipped with Lecture Capture will continue to be recorded and linked to Canvas by default.
These recordings are not accessible until faculty make them viewable in the settings. Please refer to the CTE website for instructions.
Upcoming Deadlines
Aug 1
Last day for faculty & staff to request COVID-19 vaccination exemptions
Aug 13
Faculty and staff must be fully vaccinated by 8/13 if coming to campus before classes resume