There is an expectation that all UMass Amherst students will be tested two weeks prior to the start of spring classes.
All students are expected to undergo an advance COVID-19 test between 10 and 14 days prior to the start of spring classes on Jan. 25, 2022. The advance testing program will help provide the university an assessment of COVID-19 infections as the semester begins, and it allows any student who tests positive to meet the isolation requirements before classes start and therefore not miss any in-person instruction time.
Students who do not take a COVID-19 advance test as outlined in the options above will be expected to test at the PHPC immediately upon arrival on campus for the start of the semester. Students who test positive upon their arrival on campus will be sent home to isolate for 10 days, as required by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
There are three advance testing options for meeting this requirement:
- Mail-in Test: Prior to their departure for winter break, students were able to pick up a testing kit and a pre-addressed, postage-paid envelope at the PHPC in the Campus Center. Students should conduct their unobserved test between Monday, Jan. 10 and Friday, Jan. 14. following the instructions provided, and promptly use the pre-addressed envelope to mail in their test.
- Test in Person: The PHPC will be in operation for testing over winter break. Students who choose to do so may complete the COVID-19 test at the PHPC between Monday, Jan. 10 and Thursday, Jan. 13.
- Test at a Stop the Spread Location: Individuals anywhere in Massachusetts can test free of charge at any of the more than 450 Stop the Spread sites. Across the U.S., community-based testing sites are available. Individuals should conduct their test between Monday, Jan. 10 and Friday, Jan. 14, and have the results emailed to testing@umass.edu no later than Monday, Jan. 17. This must be a PCR test.
