Promoting the Health and Safety of the Campus Community

Due to the slight increase of positive COVID-19 cases and number of students in quarantine and isolation, the Worcester Department of Public Health contacted the University on Thursday, October 29, to assess the public health situation on campus. The city and University mutually agreed that a lock-down of campus effective Friday, October 30 until Friday, November 6, with students sheltering in place, is necessary to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 on and off campus. The shelter-in-place status will significantly decrease interactions amongst members of the community and the potential spread of the virus. 

Classes will be held remotely. At the end of the timeframe of the shelter-in-place, the University will reassess the situation with the Worcester Department of Public Health with the goal of resuming in-person classes.

All commuter students will be remote for the remainder of the semester. All faculty and staff, except for essential personnel, will teach and work remotely during the shelter-in-place. Most campus offices will operate remotely, except those serving students who will be on campus. Faculty and non-essential staff are prohibited from campus except for their regularly scheduled twice per week COVID-19 testing

If students wish to return home, they should contact Residential Life to make the necessary arrangements. If students return home – no later than Fri., Oct. 30 at 4 p.m. – they are not permitted to return to campus until January. As of 8 a.m. Friday morning, all visitors are prohibited from campus, except family members coming to campus to pick up their son or daughter to bring them home.

Students will be sent home for any instances of non-compliance with the shelter-in-place.

The University realizes the inconvenience that the shelter-in-place will cause students, faculty and staff, however this mutual decision by the Worcester Department of Public Health and the University is a necessary step to promote the health and safety of the campus and Worcester communities.

The University has made inquires with the Massachusetts Secretary of State and the city of Worcester to explore the possibility of emergency ballots for students who are residents of Massachusetts who decide to remain on campus. 

Periodic updates will be provided on this page as information becomes available.
 

10.30.2020 On-campus Dining and Mailroom Hours – 11:37 a.m.

Hounds, below, please find the hours of operation for Taylor Dining Hall and Charlie’s during shelter-in-place. Also, the Mailroom will be open until 4 p.m. today, Friday, for students who wish to pick-up packages.

Please know that the University will not assign times for those in residence halls to pick-up meals, rather, students will continue to use the AU Reserve system on the AU Mobile App to schedule times to pick-up meals. Please continue to use online ordering for Charlie’s.

TAYLOR DINING HALL

Monday to Friday 

• Breakfast, 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Lunch, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Dinner, 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.   

Saturday  

• Brunch, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
• Dinner, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 

Sunday  

• Brunch, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
• Dinner, 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

CHARLIE’S SNACK BAR 

Monday to Friday 

• Lunch, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 
• Dinner, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.  

Saturday to Sunday 

• Dinner, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.