Read Smith’s plans for the spring 2021 semester.
Current Operating Mode: BLUE
Coronavirus Screening
Coronavirus Screening
Students approved to be in residence on or near campus are required to participate in the college’s mandatory, three times per week coronavirus screening. Approved on-campus employees will be required to participate in mandatory twice weekly coronavirus screening. Smith’s asymptomatic screening program is managed by the Broad Institute.
This dashboard will be updated daily. In accordance with applicable privacy laws, the college will not release any personally identifying information regarding individual cases.
Asymptomatic Screening
Beginning Monday, January 18, 2021 new hours of operation for the Spring semester will be implemented:
Sunday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Monday & Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday & Friday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Closed on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
More information about on-campus isolation and quarantine is available in the student handbook.
Please send any questions regarding coronavirus screening or contact tracing to testingandtracing@smith.edu.
- All students enrolled in the screening program in Spring 2021 must be screened three times per week.
- Students who have been approved to live near campus must schedule their own screenings.
- Informed consent forms for the asymptomatic screening must complete the "Smith COVID Testing Consent Form" in the Residence Life Self-Service accessible via the Smith portal before your first testing appointment.
- Results will be made available 36–48 hours after the screening is completed. Results will be made available in the new testing app, PolicyPath.
- Only negative screening results will be communicated via PolicyPath.
- Positive screening results will be communicated by health-care staff at the Schacht Center for Health and Wellness.
- Students who test positive will speak with a member of the college’s Contact Tracing Team, who will provide guidance about isolation protocols and how to access needed health care.
- Isolation space on campus will be available to residential students and, when possible, to students who have been approved for local, off-campus status.
The coronavirus asymptomatic screening site is at the Carroll Room in the Campus Center and will be open during the following hours:
Sunday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Monday & Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday & Friday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Please send any questions regarding coronavirus screening or contact tracing to testingandtracing@smith.edu.
- Employees that are on campus two times or more per week must be screened twice per week. Campus Safety, Health Service and other employees who work in residential houses where students are currently staying must also be screened twice a week. Employees who will be on campus at least two times per month and no more than once per week must participate in asymptomatic COVID-19 testing protocol once per week.
- All employees required to work on campus must have a manager submit a return to campus request on their behalf. Faculty members may request these themselves. This is a required and very important first step into getting into the testing protocol pool. When this request is submitted, we are ensuring that you are in the Broad Institute’s lab software used for processing asymptomatic testing.
- Employees must schedule their own screening(s).
- Informed consent forms for the asymptomatic screening will be completed on site at the first screening appointment.
- Results will be made available 36–48 hours after the screening is completed. Results will be made available in the new testing app, PolicyPath.
- Only negative screening results will be communicated via PolicyPath.
- Positive screening results will be communicated by health-care staff at the Schacht Center for Health and Wellness. Employees who receive a positive screening result should contact their manager and their human resources representative as soon as possible to discuss next steps.
- A member of the college’s Contact Tracing Team will reach out to test-positive employees within 24 hours to discuss any close contacts they may have had on campus. Cases will then be passed on to the local Board of Health, which will interview the employee about any close contacts in the employee’s town of residence.
If you test positive for COVID-19
- If you test positive after completing an asymptomatic screening, someone on the Schacht Center staff will call you to discuss your test result and offer guidance about how to access any needed medical care and how to navigate the state required isolation period.
- After receiving a positive result, a member of the HR team will assist you in how to record your time on your timesheet (if applicable) and will assist in notifying your manager that you are approved for a leave of absence from your position. You will continue to be paid for any time spent in quarantine or isolation.
- In accordance with state Department of Public Health requirements, a member of the college’s contact tracing team will call you within 24 hours of receiving your positive test result. The tracer’s job is to interview you and make sure you are connected with appropriate medical resources, offer broad information about isolation/quarantine guidelines, and work with you to identify anyone on campus with whom you may have had close contact. You will also be contacted by your local Board of Health in the city or town of your residence. They will work with you to ensure you have any additional support you need and will inquire about anyone in your local community with whom you have had direct contact.
- If you do not develop symptoms, you will be able to return to work approximately 10 days after receiving your positive result. The Office of Human Resources will guide you in submitting appropriate medical certification to return to work.
- If you do develop symptoms, you should contact your primary health-care provider for guidance. You may return to work after:
- 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared
- 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications
- Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving
- Your doctor has cleared you to return to work and provided the Office of Human Resources with appropriate medical certification to return to work.
- After you test positive, you will continue to show positive test results for up to 90 days. You should discontinue asymptomatic screening protocol during this time. A representative from the asymptomatic screening and contract tracing team will be in touch with you at the end of the 90 days to remind you to begin asymptomatic screening again.
Students and employees are expected to use the PolicyPath on a daily basis to document compliance with campus health practices; students and employees will also receive COVID-19 test results through the app.
Here’s what you need to get started and use the app. These directions are also available on the Digital Support site.
Download and Set Up the PolicyPath App
- Download the iOS version (PolicyPath on the App Store) or the Android version (PolicyPath - Apps on Google Play)
- When prompted to Enter your Organization type “smithcollege” all one word, lower case. If you have not previously logged in, you will be directed to the Smith login page. Enter your Smith credentials.
- As with all smartphone apps, there will be occasional updates. Please process those quickly when prompted to do so.
PolicyPath Web Version
Available for those who are not able or do not wish to use the smartphone version
- Go to the PolicyPath web application.
- When prompted to Enter your Organization type “smithcollege” all one word, lower case. If you have not previously logged in, you will be directed to the Smith login page. Enter your Smith credentials.
Required Daily Tasks
- Launch the PolicyPath app or website.
- Respond to the daily questionnaire.
- Take the recommended action(s), if any.
Students in Residence
- Symptomatic testing is available for students at the Schacht Center for Health and Wellness. Students who have fallen ill and suspect that it may be COVID-19 should immediately call the Schacht Center to schedule a test.
Employees On Campus
- Employees who have developed symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should stay home, complete this form and contact their primary health-care provider to determine if a symptomatic COVID-19 test is warranted. Symptomatic tests can also be offered by appointment at the Schacht Center.
- Employees should remain home until they have been cleared for return by their primary health-care provider.