Student Life

The COVID Advisory Group and the Positivity Tracking Team meet regularly to evaluate the University’s COVID-related operations, determine how our decisions may need to evolve, and advise senior leadership on adjustments to Clark’s pandemic strategies. The Positivity Tracking Team in particular looks for broader trends and clusters of outbreak on campus — for example, in individual classes or residence halls — to craft a customized, targeted response.

As of March 21, mask-wearing is optional EXCEPT in classrooms, in the Clark Health Services facility, and while riding Clark Shuttle or ClarkRIDE. Organizers of events, in coordination with the Office of Student Leadership and Programming or the Office of Events Planning, may require masks as certain events.

Clark is not requiring the wearing of masks, but if you choose to wear a mask, a KN95 is recommended. Clark has KN95 mask available at these distribution points on campus: the Information Desk in the University Center, the Information Desk in the Shaich Family Alumni and Student Engagement Center,  the Help Desk in the Academic Commons, and the Library Services Desk (formerly Circulation Desk) on the second floor of Goddard Library.

Clark went through an exhaustive process in summer and fall of 2020 to evaluate and optimize our ventilation systems in classrooms and in public spaces, and continues to maintain standards set at that time. We have also added additional mitigation methods (air filtration and ionization) in targeted public areas and some under-ventilated rooms.

Yes. However, visitors are expected to be in compliance with Clark’s vaccination policy for the safety of all community members and themselves.

Masks are now optional in residential areas.

Visitors are allowed in the residence halls. Students are expected to inform their guests of Clark’s vaccination policy.

Yes, the Kneller Athletic Center and the Dolan Field House will be open at full capacity this spring. Mask-wearing protocols inside the facilities apply. (Masks do not need to be worn in the pool.)

The Kneller gym and the Bickman Fitness Center will be open for regular hours starting on Jan. 18.

Our athletics groups are competing following NEWMAC guidelines. Student clubs should reach out to Student Leadership and Programming for information.

We plan to continue the varsity seasons as scheduled. If one member of the team tests positive, that individual will go into quarantine and the team will continue.

Clark has restored intramural and club sports under conditions that are as normal as possible.

Clark works with the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference to develop guidelines that will allow for competition in a safe and healthy manner.

Students can log in to Handshake using their Clark ID and password to view available positions and apply for jobs.

To help reduce potential transmission of COVID-19, any fully vaccinated student identified as a close contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 is strongly encouraged to use the grab-and-go feature from the Higgins Café and Bistro until they have received a negative COVID test. Please note that students on the meal plan have the option of obtaining a reusable grab-and-go container from the cashier at the Café, serving themselves, and then enjoying their meal in their room, outside in nice weather, etc. According to Clark’s quarantine and isolation policy, fully vaccinated people should get tested 5 days after their exposure.

Yes. Students, staff, and faculty can eat in the dining hall. Visitors to campus can eat in the dining hall only when Clark is at Alert Level 1. The current alert level can be found on the Healthy Clark Dashboard.

The Center for Counseling and Personal Growth will restart groups in early February. An updated list of groups will be available for students early next week. It’s hoped the sessions can be in person, but that will depend on the state of the pandemic. Also, the Worcester Community Counselor Collective cannot run this year due to a national and regional shortage of therapists. CPG anticipates trying to build back that program in the fall.

Clark’s Center for Counseling and Personal Growth has a full staff of therapists and doctoral interns, in addition to psychiatry services. CPG offers several types of one-on-one counseling, including short-term therapy, single-session therapy, and same-day crisis appointments. CPG After Hours provides telephone support with a therapist when the counseling center isn’t open, and Peer Support Workers are available in the evenings in the library to help students with non-crisis emotional support.