Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advisory

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, a respiratory virus that has become a global pandemic. Preventive measures have been put in place to stop the spread of the disease. Suffolk University continues to take steps to respond to the evolving coronavirus health epidemic, with the safety of our students, employees and the wider community as our highest priority. Please see the latest information and updates on this page.

Page Updated: June 25, 2020

Coronavirus Health Information

Suffolk recommends individuals follow CDC guidance regarding when to contact a healthcare provider over the telephone.

NOTE: it is essential, in the interest of maintaining your health and safety as well as decreasing the potential spread of communicable disease, that you call a healthcare provider to discuss next steps rather than proceeding to a healthcare facility on your own.

Please call a healthcare provider if you are experiencing:

  1. Fever
  2. New sore throat
  3. New cough
  4. New runny nose or nasal congestion
  5. New shortness of breath
  6. New muscle aches
  7. New loss of sense of smell

AND/OR

if you have had close contact with someone who is sick and being evaluated for COVID-19 or who has received a laboratory confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis.

  • Students should call Counseling, Health and Wellness (CHW) at 617-573-8226 during business hours (M-F, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.) to consult with a CHW Nurse Practitioner.
  • Employees should call their personal medical provider.
  • Anyone can call the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) COVID-19 Hotline 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., 7 days a week with COVID-19 questions or concerns at 617-724-7000.
  • Anyone experiencing emergency symptoms, or seeking COVID-19 information after 8 p.m. should call the MGH Emergency Department at 617-724-4100.

The CDC and Boston Public Health Commission have recommended the following precautionary measures to decrease the spread of coronavirus.

Note: many of these preventive measures are recommended to decrease the spread of other types of viruses as well, including common colds and influenza.

  • Create social distance/space between people of 6-10 feet when outside of your home (including when outdoors).
  • Do not gather in groups and stay out of crowded places.
  • Wear cloth face coverings (ie: multiple layers of fabric - not surgical masks or N95 masks) when outside of your home and especially when social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.  It is important to launder the mask between uses.
  • Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm, running water for at least 20 seconds; if soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
  • Cough or sneeze into your elbow/sleeve.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
  • Do not share food, drink, or eating utensils.
  • Have no contact with bodily fluids of an ill person.
  • Stay hydrated.
  • Stay home when ill until fever-free for 72 hours.

Updated 4/4/2020

As of April 3, 2020, the CDC changed its recommendation regarding the wearing of face cover for asymptomatic persons (persons not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms) when they are in public settings, especially settings in which public distancing is difficult to maintain. The CDC now recommends that cloth face cover be worn in public settings by all individuals without COVID-19 symptoms. 

This revised recommendation is based upon evidence that “a significant portion of individuals with COVID-19 lack symptoms (“asymptomatic”), and that individuals who eventually develop symptoms (“pre-symptomatic”) can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms.” People can transmit the COVID-19 virus before showing symptoms when interacting in close proximity to others (e.g., speaking, coughing, sneezing). Therefore, wearing cloth face cover in public settings is a prevention step for the transmission of COVID-19 by asymptomatic individuals.

It is important to note that recommended cloth face cover is NOT surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Surgical masks and N-95 respirators are critical supplies needed for healthcare workers and medical first responders. The CDC states that cloth face cover can be fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost.

Face cover should:

  • cover your nose and mouth
  • fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
  • be secured with ties or ear loops
  • include multiple layers of fabric
  • allow for breathing without restriction
  • be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape

The CDC cautions to NOT place face cover on:

  • children under the age of 2
  • anyone having trouble breathing
  • anyone unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the face cover

For more information about wearing, making and cleaning face cover, see the CDC website.

Quarantine is the separation of a person or group of people reasonably believed to have been exposed to a communicable disease but is not symptomatic. The person is separated from others to prevent the possible spread of the communicable disease.

Isolation is the separation of a person or group of people reasonably believed to be infected with a communicable disease and to be potentially infectious. The isolation is intended to prevent the spread of the communicable disease. The isolation may be voluntary or compelled by federal, state, or local public health order.

Suffolk University is currently requiring travelers from CDC level 3 high risk countries (whether they are with or without symptoms) to not come to campus, not be in a residence hall, or not attend any Suffolk sponsored events until 14 days after their first day of arrival in the U.S. Suffolk strongly advises such individuals to follow Self-Quarantine instructions described below.

Suffolk strongly advises such individuals to follow Self-Quarantine instructions described here. Should a student require immediate administrative assistance regarding implementation of University quarantine guidelines, they should:

  • Boston Campus CAS/SBS students: call the Office of Student Affairs (617-573-8239) during business hours or call Suffolk Police (617-573-8333) after business hours and request to receive a call from the Dean on Call.
  • School of Law students: call the Law School Dean of Students Office (617-573-8157) during business hours or call Suffolk Police (617-573-8333) and request to receive a call from the Law School Dean of Students.
  • Madrid Campus students: call the Madrid Campus (+34) 91-533-5935 during business hours, or call Madrid Staff on Call at (+34) 628-294-290 after business hours to speak with a Madrid campus staff member.

Self-Quarantine Steps – COVID-19

The purpose of self-quarantine is to separate and prevent the movement of asymptomatic people who have been exposed to or at higher risk of having been exposed to an infectious disease, in this case, COVID-19.

“Self-quarantine” means that you will have to stay home and monitor yourself for any potential signs of infection—coughing, fever, chills or muscle aches—for the duration of the incubation period (14 days), checking your temperature in the morning and evening,

Stay at home means you cannot go to work or school, attend social activities, or visit any public places.

  • If possible, you should stay in a well-ventilated room that is your own living space in a home or apartment setting.
  • Do not spend time with family or friends in person.
  • Do keep in touch with friends, significant others, and family via phone or text as this is important to supporting your well-being.
  • Do not have contact with family pets or animals.
  • If you live with others, it’s recommended to have separate sleeping quarters (sleeping alone in a separate room).
  • It’s also preferable to have your own bathroom. If you must share one, it’s vital to clean it after every use, using disinfectants that contain at least 60-90% alcohol or bleach-based cleaning wipes.
  • Use your own dishes, drinking glasses and eating utensils; do not share with others.
  • Meal delivery is acceptable, but it must be left outside your door or room.
  • Hand washing is paramount. Frequent hand-washing with soap and warm, running water for at least 20 seconds is important; if soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.
  • If you develop a fever or a cough and/or breathing difficulties, contact a medical provider or hospital ER by phone.
  • If you develop a fever or a cough and/or breathing difficulties, wear a mask if others need to enter your room for emergency care.

Consult CDC recommendations for more details for implementing both” self-quarantine” and “self-isolation” in the setting of potential exposure, or if you test positive for COVID-19.

Please consult the CDC recommendations above for any updates or changes.

Adapted from https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertglatter/2020/03/02/what-does-it-mean-if-you-are-asked-to-self-quarantine-for-the-coronavirus/#7073f9327def

Latest Advisories

Dear Colleagues,

As planning for the fall semester and the gradual reopening of campus operations and activities continues, I write to update you with some details on current expectations for employees, some planning principles, and a preliminary timetable for additional information.

As previously announced, all summer classes will be held online, and in most cases, we will continue to operate remotely until at least July 1. Essential personnel will continue to provide critical services that are required on campus, but most employees should expect to work remotely through the end of June, and perhaps longer.

The health and safety of our students and employees remains paramount. We are using the rest of May and the month of June to further plan for gradual reopening of on-campus operations, with the intention of keeping these to a minimum for most of the summer. Our on-campus operations will gradually expand as we move toward the fall. All of this will be done in line with public health guidance and the requirements provided by the state and city.

As you know, a number of University working groups are developing plans for the fall semester and will make recommendations to the University's COVID-19 task force on academic activities, student life, health and safety, and other areas. A link to the various planning groups working on preparations and policies can be found on the Provost's Office web page. Among those groups, the Safe Actions for Employee Return (SAFER) group, led by Chief Human Resources Officer Boris Lazic, will make recommendations on the policies, processes, changes in operation, and communication that we need to bring employees back to campus in a safe, orderly, and strategic fashion. SAFER is a University-wide group that includes representatives of exempt and non-exempt employees, as well as employees who are student facing and those who are not, and academic representation from all three schools.

Senior Associate Provost Gary Fireman is working with the Office of Environmental Health and Safety and faculty to develop a process to safely allow resumption of certain research laboratory activities, in line with Phase 1 of the governor's guidelines for Massachusetts.

The planning groups will make recommendations to the University task force by the first week in June, and the task force will in turn make recommendations to me.

I will update you with further details, including preliminary FY21 budget actions, through a virtual town hall meeting for employees to be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 10. The town hall also will include other members of the University's leadership team. Specific details about accessing that town hall meeting will be communicated in the coming days.

Again, all of the ongoing planning for the fall will be done in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local health officials, as well as with the governor and mayor's guidelines for institutes of higher education, which are still under development.

I continue to wish you and your families good health and a happy Memorial Day weekend to all.

Sincerely,

Marisa Kelly
President

Dear Colleagues,

As you know, it has been our hope to hold a face-to-face commencement for the class of 2020 this August. We believe that the public health situation will not allow us to do so. As such, we now hope to hold a ceremony for the class of 2020 in May of 2021.

The message below was sent to our recent graduates yesterday. While it is difficult to wait a full year, we will look forward to celebrating the class of 2020 and their many accomplishments at that time.

Sincerely,

Marisa Kelly
President

_________________________________________________________________

To our graduating students,

On behalf of the entire Suffolk community, I want to offer my sincere congratulations on completing your Suffolk degrees. Your achievements would be impressive under normal circumstances. But those accomplishments are all the more remarkable in the face of a pandemic that has caused both tragedy, distress, and dramatic changes in the way you have had to live and learn. For all that you have accomplished in the face of extreme adversity, we are very proud of you. You have proven beyond measure that you are determined, resilient, and creative in how you approach your work. That will serve you well as you pursue your professional and personal goals, both now and over the course of your lives.

Gathering to celebrate your accomplishments remains one of the University's highest priorities. In March I told you we would postpone rather than cancel Commencement ceremonies. While some universities were shifting to virtual graduations, I have felt that this moment is so important to you, your loved ones, and to this University community that we need to come together and celebrate in person, if at all possible. As much as we wanted to commence on our scheduled date this month, the pandemic made that impossible, and I know that has been so very disappointing. For that reason, we had hoped to schedule a commencement celebration in August. But we expect public health conditions and guidelines will continue to prevent large groups to safely gather, so we have looked further out on the calendar.

While I wish it could be sooner, I am pleased to announce that we have scheduled a Commencement celebration for the class of 2020 to be held on Sunday, May 23, 2021-- just over a year from now -- at the Rockland Trust Bank Pavilion in Boston. Exploration of earlier dates this coming fall made clear that a celebration at that time would be highly unlikely. I am guardedly confident that by May of 2021 public health conditions and guidelines will allow us to bring our graduates and their families safely together to celebrate. We looked to pick a time that gave us the best chance of being able to move forward with celebrations while allowing as many graduates and their families as possible to attend. The planned Commencement celebration schedule is:

  • Sawyer Business School at 9 a.m.
  • College of Arts & Sciences at 1:30 p.m.
  • Law School at 5:30 p.m.

We will celebrate the graduating class of 2021 on the following day.

Yours will be a unique celebration, reflecting what has been a distinct experience for the class of 2020. Even as we honor your academic accomplishments, we will mark your return as members of our alumni community. I hope you will save the date for a celebration that we hope will be worth waiting for and one to remember. If you have completed your degree program and other requirements, you are a graduate of this institution as of yesterday, May 17, 2020. Diplomas are being mailed to graduates now.

Again, please accept my heartiest congratulations on your accomplishments and my wishes for your continued health and safety and that of your loved ones.

Sincerely,

Marisa Kelly
President

To our students,

I hope that this email finds you and your families safe and well. My thoughts have been with you during exam week and as a semester that none of us will ever forget comes to a close. Despite all of the challenges, including the shift to virtual learning, I hope you have had a successful academic year.

The University is at this moment engaged in an extensive planning process to ensure that in the coming academic year we will be prepared to provide our students with the transformational educational experiences that are at the heart of a Suffolk education. It is too soon to know the exact conditions in which we will operate at the start of the fall semester, or all of the public health recommendations pertaining to COVID-19 that will guide us. Planning, however, is moving forward, and we are preparing for a number of scenarios, always with the health and safety of our students and employees as our highest priority.

While there is much that remains unknown, I can tell you with certainty that Suffolk University will be open this fall and fully prepared to deliver on our educational mission. We will start our academic year according to our normal calendar. It is our hope and intention to hold in-person classes and activities at our Boston and Madrid campuses. However, to ensure the health and safety of our community and the broader public, we are also very likely to need a mix of face-to-face and virtual operations that allow for social distancing. We are engaged in careful planning so that we are ready for a wide range of possibilities, and final decisions will be made in light of guidelines set by government and public health officials.

Groups made up of administrators and faculty with expertise from across the University are working to address scenarios related to course delivery and schedules, campus and residence hall life, the cocurricular experience, international programs, and of course, health and safety. A health subcommittee is developing medical and health guidelines to limit the risk of COVID-19 transmission and to protect Suffolk community members, including medically vulnerable populations, as the University transitions back to campus in the fall. That committee will make recommendations on precautionary measures we can take to reduce risk, including social distancing, face covering, accommodations and protections for vulnerable populations, and other areas. COVID-19 testing and contact tracing will be integrated into our operational plan for the fall.

The recommendations from these working groups will be gathered by the COVID-19 Task Force that has been operating since early March, and will inform the final decisions made about the next academic year and the specifics of our operations. We will update you with details on our plans as soon as they become available. We know international students may face special challenges, especially related to visas. A more detailed message from Vice President of International Affairs Sebastián Royo will be forthcoming for those students.

In the meantime, please know that we are committed to our mission and to all of you. We will chart a course for the fall designed to continue to help you achieve your educational goals in and out of the classroom. And until we gather together again, whether in person or virtually, we want to stay connected. Please do not hesitate to reach out to a faculty member, an adviser, to a mentor in your school or in Student Affairs if you have questions. We are here to support you.

My continued best wishes for your health and safety and that of all your loved ones.

Sincerely,

Marisa Kelly
President

All previous Suffolk Advisories can be found on the Advisory webpage.

CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Grant for Students

Students enrolled during the Spring 2020 should apply by the August 1, 2020 deadline.

Learn more

COVID-19 Response Teams

COVID-19 Task Force
Integrated Response Team
Safe Actions for Employee Return (SAFER)
Lab Re-opening Group

Travel Information and Advisories

See the most up to date CDC travel advisories.

Temporary Travel Policies, last updated March 18, 2020

Students – Suffolk-Sponsored Travel
  1. All outbound and inbound Suffolk-sponsored international travel by students and employees through May 31, 2020, have been canceled.
  2. Decisions about Suffolk-sponsored international trips and international travel seminars scheduled to run later in the Spring and Summer have not been made, but we will continue to monitor the situation.
  3. All Suffolk-sponsored domestic travel will be evaluated on a case by case basis. Students should contact their trip leaders for more information.  Trip leaders should contact the Dean of Students, Ann Coyne, or the Dean of Students at the Law School, Laura Ferrari, as applicable.
  4. In order to manage the logistics and the financial consequences in this uncertain time, students should not book flights for Suffolk-sponsored travel on their own.  All flight bookings will be managed centrally through the Center for International Programs and Services (CIPS).  Students who have already purchased flights should not make changes in their flights until instructed to do so.
  5. If a student studying abroad returns to the United States from any country for which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Warning Level 3 notice or for which the United States Department of State has issued a Level 3 or Level 4 Travel Advisory for COVID-19, that student must successfully complete a 14-day self-quarantine period off campus, before being permitted to attend any Suffolk-sponsored activities, attend classes, or be present in a Suffolk residence hall.
  6. CIPS enters the travel information for students scheduled to travel on Suffolk-sponsored international trips into our tracking database with Drum Cussac, our global travel assistance partner.
Students – Personal Travel
  1. As communicated on March 5, 2020, students are strongly discouraged from personal international travel at this time.
  2. If you do choose to travel internationally, please be aware of the latest advice from the CDC and the United States Department of State, as well as local health authorities at your destination. In this rapidly evolving situation, you may find yourself being quarantined abroad, and you may have difficulty re-entering the United States.
  3. If a Suffolk student travels to any country for which the CDC has issued a Warning Level 3 notice or for which the United States Department of State has issued a Level 3 or Level 4 Travel Advisory for COVID-19, that student must successfully complete a 14-day self-quarantine period off campus, before being permitted to attend any Suffolk-sponsored activities, attend classes, or be present in a Suffolk residence hall.
Students – Online Tracking Tool
    1. Students are strongly encouraged to register their personal international travel using our University tracking tool. This will allow us to better communicate with you.
    2. Students considering personal domestic travel should consult the section on the CDC website for travel within the United States for the latest information about their destination.

    Temporary Travel Policies, last updated March 18, 2020

    Faculty and Staff – Suffolk-Sponsored Travel
    1. All outbound and inbound Suffolk-sponsored international travel by students and employees through May 31, 2020, have been canceled.
    2. Travelers currently abroad may complete their trip. Any returning employee who has visited a country for which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Warning Level 3 notice or for which the United States Department of State has issued a Level 3 or Level 4 Travel Advisory for COVID-19 will be required to successfully complete a self-quarantine period of 14 days off campus before being permitted attend any Suffolk-sponsored activities, or be present on the Suffolk campus.
    3. The University will evaluate Suffolk-sponsored domestic travel on a case by case basis and will be flexible in response to employee concerns. . Managers with questions about upcoming domestic travel should consult with their Vice President or Senior Vice President.  Faculty should consult with their Dean.
    Faculty and Staff – Personal Travel
    1. All personal international travel is strongly discouraged and employees are urged to consider the benefits and risks of personal international travel at this time.
    2. If you do choose to travel internationally, please be aware of the latest advice from the CDC and the United States Department of State, as well as local health authorities at your destination. In this rapidly evolving situation, you may find yourself being quarantined abroad, and you may have difficulty re-entering the United States.
    3. If an employee visits any country for which the CDC has issued a Warning Level 3 notice or for which the United States Department of State has issued a Level 3 or Level 4 Travel Advisory for COVID-19, the employee must successfully complete a 14-day self-quarantine period, before being permitted attend any Suffolk-sponsored activities, or be present on the Suffolk campus.
    Faculty and Staff – Online Tracking Tool
    1. All employees are strongly encouraged to register their personal international travel using our internal tracking tool. This will allow us to better communicate with you.
    2. Employees considering personal domestic travel should consult the section on the CDC website for travel within the United States for the latest information about their destination.

    Suffolk University is currently requiring travelers from CDC level 3 high risk countries (whether they are with or without symptoms) to not come to campus, not be in a residence hall, or not attend any Suffolk sponsored events until 14 days after their first day of arrival in the U.S.

    Suffolk strongly advises such individuals to follow Self-Quarantine instructions described on this page.

    Any CAS/SBS undergraduate or graduate student with international travel questions should contact Greg Jabaut, Director of International Student Programs. Any law students with international travel questions should contact Laura Ferrari, Law School Dean of Students.

    Event and Meeting Policies

    All Suffolk-sponsored group events of any size that bring visitors to our campus are canceled until further notice. One-on-one meetings with visitors may continue. We will continue to monitor the situation and will lift this restriction when warranted.

    This includes:

    • admitted student events
    • campus tours for more than one student
    • conferences
    • events planned by faculty, staff, and students in all three schools
    • events planned by central units such as Admissions, CTSE, Human Resources and others

    Organizers are encouraged to develop virtual alternatives where possible, as our central Admissions team is already doing for their events.

    All Suffolk-sponsored group events that take place outside our campus should be canceled. We will continue to monitor the situation and will lift this restriction when warranted.

    Although the advisability of Suffolk-sponsored domestic travel will continue to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, the cancelation of all Suffolk-sponsored group events that take place outside our campus will greatly reduce the number of domestic travelers and help to prevent the spread of the virus.

    In consultation with the Boston Public Health Commission, internal group meetings of Suffolk faculty, students and staff must be no larger than 25 people.

    • Meeting organizers are urged to develop online alternatives to internal group meetings.
    • For face-to-face internal group meetings of fewer than 25 Suffolk community members, we recommend following the CDC guidance about groups, which include social distancing for those meetings that are not held online, i.e., holding the meeting in a space that is large enough to allow a significant distance between participants.
    • We encourage the use of Zoom meetings, which can be held virtually and scheduled directly from Outlook.

    Additional Resources and Information

    All students should follow the class attendance policy listed below as it pertains to their school enrollment. Should a campus communicable infectious disease impact the wider campus community, students will be notified of any temporary change in this policy.

    The Off-Campus Housing Office (OCHO) has received inquiries from students and family members about continuing to live in an off-campus apartment or ending their lease since the University has moved to virtual learning. We have prepared the following information to assist you in considering your options.

    Your Tenant Responsibilities

    Students are legally responsible for complying with the terms of the rental lease signed including ensuring they pay their rent in full and on time. Failure to pay the rent can result in the landlord taking you to Small Claims Court. Students who wish end the apartment lease early should contact the landlord or property manager to discuss options. More information about tenant responsibilities may be found at the Mass Legal Help Website.

    Subletting

    Students who wish to move out of their apartment but not end the lease, might consider subletting the apartment if permitted in the lease or through discussions with the landlord, but you should note that many leases do not allow for subleasing.  If subleasing is allowed under the lease, OCHO can help. You may list sublets or find roommates on the OCHO on-line housing website.

    • Post an apartment or room: You can list an apartment or room for free online.  Once you log into the website using your Suffolk University email credentials, you have the ability to post pictures and details of the room or unit. You can find this under "My Account" page, under the Housing header, "Add Listing."
    • Post a roommate profile: You can create a roommate profile under the "Roommate" tab, noting that they are "Looking for a Roommate."  Profiles can be viewed by the Suffolk community as well as neighboring institutions. You can also email the Off-Campus Housing Office for additional options as management companies are sharing March and April openings.

    Moving & Storage Information

    A list of moving and storage companies is included here [PDF]. Suffolk University does not endorse any of the companies listed.

    If You Need Medical Assistance while Living in a Local Off-Campus Apartment

    As communicated in previous COVID-19 Suffolk health advisories, you should consult with a medical provider:

    • If you develop symptoms of a fever AND a cough OR shortness of breath AND you have recently traveled in China, Iran, Italy, OR South Korea OR
    • If you have had exposure to a person diagnosed with COVID-19 OR
    • If you have had exposure to a person who is being evaluated for COVID-19.

    You may call Counseling, Health and Wellness at 617-573-8260 during business hours or your medical provider at home. Do not go to the offices before calling and speaking with someone. After business hours, please call Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Emergency Department at 617-724-4100 or your local hospital emergency room.

    Off-Campus Student Behavior

    OCHO encourages students living in off-campus apartments to practice social distancing and limit contact with large crowds. Also, please continue to demonstrate responsible citizenship in your local neighborhoods.

    Contacting OCHO

    If you have any questions, please contact OCHO. The office is open and operating and is available for in-person and virtual meetings with students. Please call OCHO at 617-573-8647 to schedule a convenient appointment.

    Best regards,

    Yvette Claudia Velez

    Director

    Off-Campus Housing Office

    Boston Campus Students

    Counseling, Health & Wellness
    5th floor, 73 Tremont Street
    617-573-8226

    Suffolk CARES
    12th floor, 73 Tremont Street, Student Affairs Office
    617-573-8239

    Dean of Students Office/Law School (Law Students only)
    4th floor, Sargent Hall
    617-573-8329
    lawdeanofstudents@suffolk.edu

    Center for International Programs and Services
    9th floor, 73 Tremont Street
    617-725-4151

    Interfaith Center
    8th floor, Sawyer Building, 8 Ashburton Place, room 823
    617-573-8325

    INTO Suffolk (INTO Students Only)
    4th floor, 73 Tremont Street
    617-573-8700

    COVID-19 Job Search Resources

    Madrid Campus Students

    Madrid Campus
    (+34) 91-533-5935

    Comunidad de Madrid
    Dedicated line for Madrid COVID-19 concerns at: 900 102 112

    What should employees do if they think they have been exposed to the Coronavirus?

    1. The employee should stay home or go home and immediately seek medical guidance.
    2. The employee should consult with their healthcare provider and follow their healthcare provider’s guidance OR call a COVID-19 health resource and follow their guidance:
      1. The Massachusetts General COVID-19 hotline at 617-724-7000 is open 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., 7 days a week. After 8 p.m., call your local hospital ER.
      2. The Boston Public Health Commission at 617-534-5050.
    3. The employee should notify their manager about how medical guidance will impact their work attendance, if this is the case. Please note: If medical guidance indicates that your concern about coronavirus exposure does not warrant self-quarantine or self-isolation, you can return to work if you are not ill, or contact your manager about work from home options.
    4. If an employee needs to remain home from work per medical guidance, they should contact our 3rd party administrator, Sedgwick, at 888-436-9530.  Sedgwick is our third-party absence management administrator providing consultation and administrative support.
    5. The Suffolk HR Benefit Leave Administrator will be notified by Sedgwick and will follow up with the employee’s manager and the employee to review next steps. For any questions about this or leave of absence, email Human Resources.

    Concerns about Students

    Faculty and staff responding to questions from students about coronavirus are encouraged to refer students to these advisory pages for more information.  Faculty and staff should also instruct students who are concerned about their own health related to coronavirus to call CHW (617-573-8260) to speak with a Nurse Practitioner.

    Employee Support

    Suffolk employees with questions about their health related to coronavirus should contact their personal health providers.  We are aware some employees may have family or loved ones impacted by coronavirus, and others may be experiencing increased distress or worry related to the outbreak.  Employees in need of emotional support are encouraged to contact EAP resources for assistance. For more information visit their website, enter “Suffolk University” for company name, and “guest” for the password, or call them at 1-800-828-6025.

    Remote Readiness Drop-In Zoom Sessions for All Faculty and Staff

    If you don’t know where to start when thinking about working remotely, begin here. Drop in anytime during these sessions to prepare you and your colleagues for the needs of working in a remote environment. Please expect to spend 15-20 minutes in the session in order to ensure familiarity with necessary practices.