Campus Pandemic Updates

Each Five College campus is taking measures to ensure safe operations for students, faculty, and staff. Some of the related policies are highlighted on this page; specific policy information and expectations can be found on each campus' COVID-19 page.

This information is updated regularly. Last update on August 3, 2022.

All Campuses

• Masks are optional in most indoor spaces at Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, Smith, and UMass.
• Asymptomatic testing has been suspended at Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, Smith, and UMass. At Amherst, asymptomatic testing for everyone on campus is required once a week.

The following policies have been announced by Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith Colleges. Click on the links below for details on individual campus policies. 

Masking

Masks are required in all classes and most indoor gatherings at Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith for the first weeks of the semester.

Testing

All students must test upon arrival on campus at Hampshire. At Mount Holyoke, students should test within 24 hours before arrival on campus, and all employees must test within 24 hours before September 6. All students must test at the start of the semester at Smith, and all employees are encouraged to test in the days leading up to September 1.

Vaccinations

All campuses require students and employees to receive COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters, with exceptions allowed for health and religious reasons. 

Access to campuses, meetings and events

All campuses allow Five College students and employees access to their classroom facilities, but each campus has its own policies on access to other campus resources. All campuses have resumed in-person and hybrid meetings, although each campus may have different rules on participating in them.