FAQs will be updated as new information becomes available. Please check back often.
Last updated date
Health & Safety
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Are face coverings required on campus? (Updated 4/21/22)
Face coverings are optional indoors and outdoors on campus. However, given the continued presence of COVID in our community, and the prevalence of colds and flu, we continue to strongly encourage use of a KN95 or a snug-fitting single-use surgical mask when indoors.
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What should I do if I think I have COVID-19 symptoms? (Updated 9/20/21)
If you are experiencing severe symptoms or a medical emergency while on campus, call 508-831-5555 for WPI Police, or call 911. Anyone with COVID-19–like symptoms should stay home or in their residence hall room and self-quarantine immediately. See a list of symptoms here. Symptoms should also be immediately reported via the Symptom Tracker. Please note, with the COVID variants, symptoms may be milder and may seem to be a simple sort throat, a cold, or even allergies. Don't dismiss them!
Faculty, staff, and contract workers should contact their personal physician to see whether symptomatic COVID-19 testing is needed. They should also contact their supervisor to note that they are ill and discuss taking time off or working from home if well enough. Students can also contact Health Services at 508-831-5520 to arrange for follow-up assessment.
Testing, Isolation & Quarantine
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I am a close contact of someone who tested positive, what should I do? (Added 1/5/22)
Please report your contact through the Symptom Tracker, and follow these Massachusetts DPH precautions here. You are welcome to get tested at Harrington Auditorium unless otherwise instructed by a member of the WPI Public Health Team.
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When is the COVID test site open? (Updated 5/6/22)
Spring and summer hours have changes and are listed here: https://www.wpi.edu/we-are-wpi/quick-links/schedule-a-covid-test.
Starting May 16, Summer testing will move from Harrington Auditorium to the Hackfeld Lot.
Vaccines
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UPDATE
As announced by President Leshin on December 16, WPI requires that all students, faculty, and staff receive a vaccine booster shot by January 18, 2022, or within 30 days of becoming eligible, whichever is later.
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When am I eligible for a booster shot? (Updated 1/13/2022)
Your eligibility for a booster depends on when you received your last dose of your primary COVID-19 vaccination series.
You’re eligible for a booster if you received:
- The Pfizer & Moderna vaccine as your primary COVID-19 vaccination and it has been at least 5 months since your second and last dose
- The Johnson & Johnson vaccine as your primary COVID-19 vaccination and it been at least 2 months since your first and only dose.
- A WHO-approved vaccine and it has been at least 6 months since your last dose.
You can mix and match vaccines. You do not need to get the same vaccine brand for your booster as your primary COVID-19 vaccination series.
If you are ages 16-17, you can only get a Pfizer booster. If you received a WHO-approved vaccine (other than Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson), you can only get a Pfizer booster.
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Where can I get a booster? (Added 1/5/22)
You can get a booster shot at numerous locations--many area pharmacies, clinics, and public health sites are offering them.
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What does it mean to be “fully vaccinated”? (Updated 12/17/21)
“Fully vaccinated” currently means that the individual has completed their primary COVID-19 vaccination series (i.e., two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine) AND that the individual has waited the required two weeks following the final dose of the primary COVID-19 vaccination series.
The CDC has not updated this definition to incorporate COVID-19 booster shots.
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I was vaccinated at WPI; do I still need to submit my vaccine information to WPI? (Updated 8/31/21)
Yes, even if you were vaccinated at WPI, you still need to submit your vaccination information to WPI. Students must upload their vaccination information into Medicat using this link. Employees must enter their vaccine information, including a copy of your vaccination card, into Workday by following these instructions or by going right to Workday.
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Can I request a philosophical exemption from WPI’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement? (Added 8/31/21)
WPI is only providing approved disability/medical or religious exemptions to the COVID-19 vaccination requirement. WPI will not grant exemptions or accommodations for philosophical reasons. To receive an exemption, you must share proof that a disability or medical condition prevents you from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine or demonstrate a sincerely held religious objection to the vaccine.
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What COVID-19 vaccines will WPI accept to meet the vaccination requirement? (Updated 12/17/21)
WPI will accept any COVID-19 vaccine and booster approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), unless otherwise indicated by the CDC or Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
For international students not currently in the United States, if a COVID-19 vaccine is available in your country that is not on this list, we still advise that the best vaccine is the first one you can get. See additional information under International Student FAQs.
Currently, in the United States, the approved COVID-19 booster shots are: Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson.
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I received a third COVID-19 shot because I am immunocompromised. Will WPI accept that third shot to meet the COVID-19 booster requirement? (Added 12/17/21)
Yes. WPI will accepted a third COVID-19 shot in lieu of the COVID-19 booster.
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Are vaccinated students, faculty, and staff exempt from COVID-19 testing on campus? (Updated 8/25/21)
No. All students, faculty, and staff must be tested at least weekly. Undergraduates and anyone who is unvaccinated must be tested twice per week.
Student Vaccination Requirement
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What COVID-19 vaccines will WPI accept to meet the vaccination requirement? (Updated 12/17/21)
All undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in on-campus classes and/or conducting research in on-campus labs, whether they live on campus or off, are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. See the June 22, 2021 WPI community update.
As announced by President Leshin on December 16, WPI will now require that all students receive a vaccine booster shot by January 18, 2022, or within 30 days of becoming eligible, whichever is later.
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Why is WPI requiring all students to be vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19? (Updated 12/17/21)
Vaccination provides excellent protection against severe illness from COVID-19 and the best chance for the WPI community to continue to return to the daily activities that are so important to college life. Currently, the CDC recommends that everyone aged 18+ get a vaccine booster shot as soon as they are eligible.
For students, WPI already requires students to be vaccinated against a wide variety of vaccine-preventable illnesses, like meningitis, measles, tuberculosis, and others that are easily spread among people who live in congregate settings or who spend time in densely populated spaces. COVID-19 is another illness that can be mitigated by vaccines.
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How do students submit their vaccination information? (Added 5/6/21)
Students must upload their vaccination information into Medicat using this link. If you are having any difficulty with Medicat, please contact Health Services.
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How do students request a medical or religious exemption from WPI’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement? (Updated 12/17/21)
Students can submit their request for a medical or religious exemption to the COVID-19 vaccination requirement by following the instructions found at Vaccination Exemptions.
If an unvaccinated student has an approved medical or religious exemption to the primary COVID-19 vaccination series (i.e., two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine), the same vaccination exemption will apply to the COVID-19 booster.
If a vaccinated student wants to request a medical or religious exemption for the COVID-19 booster only, they can submit their request requirement by following the instructions found at Vaccination Exemptions.
Employee Vaccination Requirement
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Is the COVID-19 vaccine required for employees? (Updated 12/17/21)
Yes, both the primary COVID-19 vaccination series and the COVID-19 booster shot are required for WPI faculty and staff.
Primary COVID-19 Vaccination Series (i.e., two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine)
- All current employees must have completed their primary COVID-19 vaccination series and entered their vaccination information into Workday on or before October 11, 2021.
- Employees hired after July 14, 2021 must be fully vaccinated prior to their first day of work at WPI and enter their vaccination information into Workday.
- Employees classified as fully remote must be fully vaccinated on or before January 18, 2022 and enter their vaccination information into Workday.
As announced by President Leshin on December 16, WPI will now require that all faculty and staff receive a vaccine booster shot by January 18, 2022, or within 30 days of becoming eligible, whichever is later.
COVID-19 Booster Shot (i.e., a booster shot of the Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccine received at least 6 months after completing the primary COVID-19 vaccination series with Pfizer or Moderna or at least 2 months after completing the primary COVID-19 vaccination series with Johnson & Johnson)
- All current employees, including employees classified as fully remote, must have completed their COVID-19 booster shot and entered their booster information into Workday on or before January 18, 2022 or within 30 days of eligibility for their booster shot.
- Employees hired after January 18, 2022 must have completed their COVID-19 booster shot and entered their information into Workday prior to their first day of work or within 30 days of eligibility for their booster shot, whichever is earlier.
- Unvaccinated employees who have an approved medical or religious accommodation to the primary COVID-19 vaccination series do not need to apply for another accommodation; their accommodation will apply to the booster.
Review WPI’s COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement here.
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Why is WPI requiring all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19? (Updated 11/1/21)
Vaccination provides excellent protection against severe illness from COVID-19 and the best chance for the WPI community to continue to return to the daily activities that are so important to college life. Currently, the CDC recommends that everyone aged 18+ get a vaccine booster shot as soon as they are eligible.
As a federal contractor, WPI also is required to comply with the Biden Administration’s September 9 Executive Order and guidance from the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force requiring that employees of federal contractors be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
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How does an employee request a copy of their COVID-19 vaccination record if they lost their vaccination card? (Added 11/1/21)
Even if you were not vaccinated in Massachusetts, please follow these instructions from Mass.gov on how to request a copy of your vaccination record: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/requesting-a-copy-of-your-covid-19-vaccination-record.
Employees who were vaccinated in Massachusetts can also complete an Immunization Record Request Form from the MA Department of Public Health. Please note that this process can take up to 2 weeks.
Where Can I Get Vaccinated?
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Where can I get vaccinated in Massachusetts? (Updated 8/31/21)
You can sign up for a vaccination at certain pharmacies, community health centers, and health care providers in Massachusetts. You can search by zip code for these vaccination locations.
Local pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and Walmart also have vaccines available; check their websites.
Events
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Is WPI allowing any on-campus events right now? (Updated 1/27/22)
WPI is permitting and planning events and meetings to be held on campus in accordance with all campus, federal, state, and local guidelines.
Please read the COVID Events Guidelines provided by the Events Office for more details.
Visitors & Vendors
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Are there COVID-related restrictions on visitors and vendors? (Updated 9/20/21)
Vendors and visitors are no longer required to register or to provide a health attestation to be on campus; campus tours have returned to normal capacity. All visitors and vendors are required to follow WPI's guidelines on face coverings and continue to social distance when possible.
Global StudiesGlobal Studies
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WPI is currently reviewing all global projects on a case-by-case basis, weighing public health trends for each site. Updates will be provided to affected students via email from the Global Experience Office (GEO), or you may contact your project advisor with questions.
Athletics
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Is the Sports & Recreation Center open? (Updated 4/21/22)
The Sports and Recreation Center, including the pool, is open to faculty, staff, and students who are approved to be on campus. Harrington Auditorium is open, as well. (COVID testing has been moved upstairs at Harrington Auditorium.)
WPI varsity athletics will continue to follow the guidelines set by the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association), CDC, ACHA, Massachusetts governor and our conference, NEWMAC (New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference).
Check Athletics for updates and information.
International Students
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Note: (Added 6/22/21)
U.S. or Permanent Resident students who live abroad and do not have access to vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be considered in the same category as “international students” for the FAQs listed here.
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What COVID-19 vaccines will WPI accept to meet the student vaccination requirement? (Added 6/22/21)
WPI will accept any COVID-19 vaccine approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). Please review the most up-to-date information here about WHO-approved vaccines.
Financial AidFinancial Aid
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Information about Financial Aid and Student Literacy can be found here. Specific questions can be directed to finaid@wpi.edu.
Admissions
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Has the university’s application process changed? (Updated 6/22/21)
The pandemic has no impact on the application process for students, whether undergraduate or graduate. Deadlines remain the same, and the Admissions staff continue to serve applicants and their families. Learn more about undergraduate tours or graduate admissions.
Research
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Have research operations resumed fully? (Added 6/22/21)
Research has resumed normal operations. Activities in laboratories follow the same health and safety protocols as other campus buildings. Students should work with their faculty advisors on options for continuing and completing their project work.
Travel
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Is overnight travel permitted for clubs and organizations? (Updated 1/26/22)
Clubs and organization can plan overnight travel, following appropriate approvals. Each person is required to have their own bed in a room.
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What is considered “WPI-sponsored travel”? (Updated 3/5/21)
WPI-sponsored travel is all travel by WPI students, faculty, and staff that is part of academic, scholarly, or business work in which the traveler is representing WPI, that is funded, in whole or in part by WPI funds (regardless of purpose) or by a grant, foundation, company, or other university. Such travel may include, but is not limited to travel for: teaching, research, academic study, attendance at a conference, official global project programs, internships, volunteer or work programs and other experiential learning, field studies, performances, athletic contests, or trips abroad in connection with a WPI-recognized student organization, academic or administrative unit.
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What is not considered “WPI-sponsored travel”? (Updated 4/13/21)
Personal travel is not considered WPI-sponsored travel.
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What are WPI's travel policies for WPI-sponsored domestic and international travel (not related to projects)? (Added 8/12/21)
- There are currently no prohibitions on WPI-sponsored domestic travel for students, faculty, or staff, regardless of vaccination status. If travel costs will exceed $1,000, prior financial approval is required; travelers must submit a Workday Spend Authorization Form prior to incurring travel expenses.
- WPI students and employees who are not fully vaccinated are expected to follow all CDC travel guidelines, including getting tested 1-3 days before traveling.
- WPI-sponsored international travel is not permitted for any employee or student who is not fully vaccinated (regardless of medical or religious exemptions).
Student Life & Dining on Campus
See the Student Experience web pages for details about Student Life and Dining.
Residential Life
See the Residential Services web pages for details about Residential Life.