Returning to Campus Fall 2020: The UMass Agreement
This week, Chancellor Subbaswamy shared his reopening plan for the fall 2020 semester. The report and the included FAQs provide a sense of what life on campus will be like in the fall, and more information will be added as departments, programs, and schools and colleges finalize their individual plans.
As part of the plan, each student who returns to campus—either to live in residence halls or access physical resources on campus—agrees to sign the UMass Agreement, a set of behaviors to support the health and safety of themselves, their peers, the faculty and staff, and the local community. We are asking each student to make this personal commitment to protect the health and safety or our community.
Please review the UMass Agreement, share it with your friends, parents, guardians, and families, and discuss it with the trusted others in your life. UMass has made the commitment to invite students back to campus in a way that creates as safe a community as possible. Now, it is up to you to decide to make that same commitment in support of our shared wellbeing.
As students evaluate how they wish to pursue their studies at UMass this fall, it is important to understand that life on campus will not be anything resembling normal college life. We certainly understand that not all students will want to live or spend time on campus under such conditions, and no students will be required to do so. We understand students are weighing various factors in making their decision. To support this process, the deadline for returning students to cancel their housing without penalty has been extended to July 12 at 11:59 p.m.
It is expected that all those who choose to live on campus, attend face-to-face classes, and/or access the dining commons will sign the UMass Agreement. Though no immediate action is needed, please, review and understand the commitments outlined in the agreement so you are familiar with it when it is posted on Spire as a required “To Do.”