Massachusetts College of Art and Design Issues New Campus Guidance in Response to COVID-19 

All campus activities suspended from March 16 to March 22 

Boston, MA – In light of the evolving COVID-19 outbreak, Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) has announced new campus guidance for all students, faculty and staff. 

To help mitigate any exposure or spread of COVID-19 among members of the MassArt community, the college will follow public health guidance, in consultation with public health agencies, to implement increased precautions in the coming weeks for the health and well-being of the campus and neighboring communities.

MassArt will suspend all campus activity for the week of March 16-March 22, following the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to slow transmission of COVID-19 through “social distancing.” During this time, MassArt’s facilities team will complete a thorough deep-cleaning of the vacated campus. College leadership and faculty will also use this time to plan for alternate modes of instruction if needed in the weeks ahead. 

Further updates for the week of March 23 will be sent on or before Wednesday, March 18. Future campus events and activities will be assessed on an ongoing basis, and the MassArt community will be notified immediately of any changes. At this time, MassArt’s Commencement remains scheduled for Friday, May 22. 

Suspension of Campus Activity 

• All academic instruction will be suspended starting Monday, March 16, with the current working assumption that it will resume on Monday, March 23

• Because students are currently on spring break, all students are advised not to return to campus or residence halls until Sunday, March 22, unless otherwise notified
   
• All faculty and staff are asked not to come to campus, and to work remotely, in consultation with their supervisors
   
• The MassArt Art Museum (MAAM) will be closed from Thursday, March 12 through Tuesday, March 24
   
• All on-campus events will be cancelled from March 16-March 22

Student Housing

Students who are on campus at this time have been asked to vacate by Friday, March 13 at noon. The college will work with international students and students who have an acute need to remain on campus to make individual arrangements on a case-by-case basis. 

Spring Break/Returning from Travel

Any member of the MassArt community who returns to the U.S. from a region or through an airport considered to have a CDC Level 3 or CDC Level 2 Travel Health Notice will be recarr@massart.eduequired to stay away from the MassArt campus for a full 14 days. Guidance may be revised as the outbreak continues to spread and if more countries are added to the CDC list.

Moving forward, additional updates, guidance and information will be posted on a dedicated MassArt webpage: massart.edu/coronavirus.

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Media Contact
Ellen Carr, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications
ecarr@massart.edu