A RETURN TO CAMPUS
As the COVID-19 pandemic and protocols evolve, please check this page for the latest information specific to BUSSW. For the most comprehensive coverage regarding Boston University overall, please visit the Back2BU website.
Symptomatic/Close Contact Exposure COVID-19 Testing
COVID-19 PCR testing is available for individuals who are experiencing symptoms or who have had close contact exposure.
Beginning August 15, 2022, all PCR testing for students and BU employees will be located at the Health Services Annex, located in the rear of Agganis Arena at 925 Commonwealth Avenue.
All faculty, staff, and students who need testing due to symptoms or due to being exposed to someone with COVID-19 (close contact exposure) may pick up COVID-19 self-test kits, register their test kit through their respective portals, complete the test, and drop off their specimens at the Health Services Annex from Monday through Friday 9 am-5 pm. Test results will come to the portals by the end of the following business day. If you have questions about test results, symptoms, or care, please contact Student Health Services (students) or the Occupational Health Center (employees).
Students with COVID-related concerns should contact Student Health Services or review the Student Health Services COVID-19 website.
The latest Covid-19 info for BU faculty and staff can be found here.
Face Masks
BU has updated the face mask policy as of May 2022 and no longer requires masks to be worn on the Charles River campus including classrooms, dining halls, residential housing common areas, shared offices, libraries, food courts, Fit-Rec, athletic venues, and common areas in buildings and colleges. While masks are not mandated, due to many of our small classrooms, it is encouraged and recommended. Also, it is preferred that eating take place in larger spaces such as the student lounge.
Masks are still required on the BU Shuttle and in healthcare facilities.
BUSSW off-campus students will follow the guidelines for the campus site they attend. Information for each campus can be found here. Please direct any questions to the OCP office at sswocp@bu.edu.
We do encourage everyone to continue to use high-quality filtering masks such as N95s, KN95s, KF94s, and FFP2s to reduce viral transmission based on personal risk. We ask that everyone be respectful of optional mask use in areas that no longer have a mask requirement in place and acknowledge that this will be a significant transition for many.
A high-quality mask worn correctly will significantly reduce the risk of viral transmission even if others around you are not masked. The CDC has also recently updated its masking guidance based on levels of community transmission with a COVID-19 County Check search function available for reference.
Vaccination
Boston University requires COVID-19 vaccinations and COVID-19 booster shots for students, faculty, staff, and affiliates. Campus-wide vaccination and boosters are the best defense against severe disease within our community.
Please review the University’s Back2BU Community Health & Safety guidance to learn more about our vaccination requirement and special circumstances, as well as BU’s Charles River Campus screening, testing protocols, isolation and quarantine provisions, and what to expect when you arrive on campus.
For information on student vaccination requirements, medical questions or concerns about COVID-19, please contact Student Health Services at 617-353-3575.
Monkeypox
Monkeypox is a viral illness that has recently been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO).
BU’s Student Health Services (SHS) is working closely with state and local health officials to prevent, identify, and provide medical care for monkeypox. For more information including prevention, signs and symptoms, and treatment, please visit the CDC website. Students with monkeypox symptoms or exposure should contact Student Health Services at 617-353-3575. SHS can help students get tested, treated, or find a vaccination location.
Employees with monkeypox symptoms or exposure should contact their primary care provider, and can also find more information about vaccination centers here. Employees who do not have a primary care provider may inquire about testing at local urgent care centers.
Helpful Links
- BUSSW Student Emergency Fund Application
- Testing & Public Health Protocols
- Isolation, Quarantine & Classes
- Teaching FAQs
Financial Support for Students
If you would like to make a donation to support BUSSW students in need during the pandemic, please click here.