Campus Pandemic Updates

All of the Five College campuses are 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. The last update was made on May 25, 2022.

All Campuses

• Masks are optional in most indoor spaces at UMass but are strongly encouraged for indoor events.
• Masks are required in most indoor spaces at Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith.

Amherst College

The College is at Level 1 operating status. Testing for students, faculty, and staff occurs once a week. Masks are required in all indoor spaces except in residence halls and Val Dining Hall and when alone in a private office with the door closed. Visitors are allowed on-campus but must show documentation of up-to-date vaccination and booster, or a negative test result from a PCR test or antigen test taken within 72 hours preceding their visit. The host department is responsible for verifying the vaccination status or test result. Further details can be found here.

Hampshire College

All employees must test once per week. Masks are required in all indoor spaces except when alone in a private office or residential room with the door closed. Visitors are allowed on-campus but must wear a mask at all times when indoors. Further details can be found here.

Mount Holyoke College

The College is currently at Operating Level 1: Normal COVID-19 Operations. Testing is required for employees regularly working on campus. Masks are required in indoor spaces. Visitors are allowed on campus grounds but all campus buildings remain closed to the public with the exception of those on Admission tours and guests at Willits-Hallowell. Further details can be found here.

Smith College

The College is currently in Green Mode. Employees must test twice a week during the summer. Masks are required in all indoor spaces except when eating, drinking, or alone in an individual room or office. Visitors are allowed at events and in the majority of buildings on campus. Further details can be found here.

UMass Amherst

Visitors are allowed at on-campus events. Event organizers should make hand sanitizer available at entrances and exits of indoor event venues. Organizers should ensure that venue permitted capacities are not exceeded. Further details can be found here.

All consortium campuses require students and employees to receive COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters, with exceptions allowed for health and religious reasons. See the links below for individual campus policies.

Indoor masking is required on four campuses. Outdoor masking is not required but encouraged in crowded situations by all consortium campuses. See the links below for individual campus policies.

All four college campuses are requiring regular testing of all students and employees; UMass is requiring testing only of those who are not vaccinated, though testing is readily available for all. See the links below for individual campus policies.

While students and faculty members from each Five College campus are allowed access to the classroom facilities of other Five College campuses, each campus has its own policies on access to other campus resources. Click the links below for full campus visit policies.

Click the links below for policies regarding campus members traveling outside the state and abroad.

The campuses may have restrictions on event capacity or attendees. General information on campus events can be accessed using the links below.