The Institute is making plans to enroll students for the 2021-2022 Academic Year!
We’ll continue to develop COVID protocols according to any relevant Massachusetts restrictions. In the meantime, we are planning on a normal in-person/residential enrollment for the Class of 2022!
Throughout the pandemic, we have closely monitored the Massachusetts COVID-19 mandates and the current situation in Berkshire County. As of May 29, Governor Baker rescinded most restrictions, including the mask mandate. On June 15, the State of Emergency is set to expire. In Berkshire County, the number of new COVID cases and the infection rate continue to decline.
For these reasons, our expectation and prayer is that we will be able to implement our regular program this fall. We do realize that the situation could change, but we’re grateful for the prospect of a normal year.
There may be some situations where students will be asked to wear face coverings, especially surrounding various group travel opportunities or public activities. While our hope is that this becomes less frequent, we’ll be grateful for only these slight inconveniences.
This summer, we’ll be developing a set of COVID-related protocols for dorm life that will consist primarily of what to do in the event of symptoms or known exposure. Otherwise, we expect that our students and staff will operate as an extended “household” given the frequency and proximity of contact with one another.
We will not be requiring the COVID-19 vaccine for our students and staff. However, as of right now, Israel is only permitting entry to their country for those who have been vaccinated. If this policy holds and in the event that a student chooses not to be vaccinated, we will discuss their options regarding the possibility of future travel.
If you have any questions about the impact of COVID-19, please contact us. We’ll continue to monitor the situation and notify our students of any significant changes. In the meantime, we’ll pray for good outcomes.