Reminders and updates for a smooth end to the spring term

Key Reminders:

• Wearing high-quality masks indoors is strongly encouraged until the end of finals.
• Rapid antigen tests are being made available in limited qualities to all residence halls and FSILGs.
• If you get a positive rapid antigen test result, report it through COVID Pass and begin isolating immediately.
• Instructors will make alternate arrangements for students who must isolate, including students on the May/June degree list.

Dear students,

To help you do your best work during the end of term, we are writing to remind you about measures you can take to stay healthy and make the coming weeks go smoothly.

Masks

As we hope you saw in Monday’s email, MIT experienced an increase in positive tests last week. Beginning on Monday, May 2, and through the conclusion of finals on May 18, we are strongly encouraging all students, staff, postdocs, faculty, and campus visitors to wear high-quality masks indoors, especially in classrooms and other crowded or high-traffic areas on campus; at gatherings and events; and in residence halls and FSILGs. High-quality masks remain available for free in residence halls, in the new campus vending machines, and at our testing drop-off sites (in Building W20 and at the MIT Medical trailer outside Building E23).

Additionally, as has been our policy, any student who is a close contact of someone who tests positive for COVID must wear a mask indoors except when they are alone in their rooms, and they should submit a COVID Pass PCR test as soon as possible.

Rapid Antigen Tests

MIT is distributing rapid antigen tests to all residence halls and FSILGs. Undergraduate residents should refer to an in-house communication for how to obtain a test. FSILG residents can get a test from their chapter leaders. On-campus graduate students can get a test at their residence’s front desk. Supplies are limited, so please get a test only if you need one. And if your rapid antigen test comes back positive, begin isolating immediately and submit the positive test result through COVID Pass. If inconclusive, or if you think you may have been exposed to someone with COVID, please submit a COVID Pass PCR test as soon as possible.

Take care of yourself

Healthy habits such as sleeping well, eating right, and exercising are good for you physically and mentally, and they boost your ability to learn and retain information. And for those of you staying on campus beyond Commencement, please note that MIT Medical and Urgent Care Service will be open and available to the MIT community throughout the summer. Student Mental Health and Counseling Services will also be open during the summer for in-person appointments. And, there are several local pharmacies that accept the MIT Student Extended Insurance Plan, including Capsule Pharmacy, which provides no-cost, same-day prescription delivery in Cambridge and the greater Boston area.

If you have COVID-like symptoms, you should not attend classes or take exams–instructors will make alternate arrangements. There are lots of different ways that missed work at the end of the semester can be addressed, but for students progressing satisfactorily with verifiable medical or personal issues, one possible option is the Excused Absence or OX grade (please see the OX descriptions for undergraduate and graduate students). An OX grade allows you to make up work at a later time for a grade that replaces the OX on the final transcript. Student Support Services and GradSupport are here to help guide you through OX grades and any other academic or personal issues you encounter.

Students on the May/June degree list who need to miss work at the end of the semester should work with their professors and S3 or GradSupport to ensure that whatever is missed gets completed on time.

We are assessing campus conditions daily, and while we recognize that the decision to wear a mask is personal, we strongly urge you to help by wearing your mask indoors between now and the end of finals. Taking precautions is the best way to care for each other during this stressful time of the year.

Best,

Suzy M. Nelson
Vice Chancellor and Dean for Student Life

Cecilia Stuopis, MD
Medical Director, MIT Medical