COVID19 Resources for the BAC Community

Whether you are an employee, student, vendor, or any other type of visitor you are considered to be “Regular On-Campus” if you anticipate coming on campus during the semester more than 2 times.

For Regular On-Campus Students:

Whether you are an employee, student, vendor, or any other type of visitor you are considered to be “Regular On-Campus” if you anticipate coming on campus during the semester more than 2 times.

For Regular On-Campus Employees:

Whether you are an employee, student, vendor, or any other type of visitor you are considered to be “Regular On-Campus” if you anticipate coming on campus during the semester more than 2 times.

For Regular On-Campus Vendors and Other Visitors:

Employees, Students & Visitors who are on campus only once or twice in the semester.

For Non-Regular On-Campus Vendors and Other Visitors:

Is COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for students? Yes.

Is COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for staff and faculty? Yes.

Is a COVID-19 vaccination booster mandatory for students, staff, faculty, and visitors? Yes, in most cases. Please refer to the Spring 2022 COVID Policy.

Why is the BAC requiring students to be vaccinated? 
The BAC’s decision was based on careful consideration and consultation with experts. The college is joining hundreds of higher education institutions across the country, and nearly all those within New England, in requiring vaccinations in order to safely reopen the campus.

Are there exemptions to mandatory vaccination? 
Exemptions from COVID-19 vaccination requirements will be made only for religious or medical reasons on a case-by-case basis.

Where do I get the waiver form for exemptions?
To obtain the waiver form for faculty & staff members, please contact Human Resources (human.resources@the-bac.edu). For students, please contact Student Services (studentservices@the-bac.edu). 

Do I need to wear a mask on campus?
Yes, masks are required.

How do you define regular attendance at the BAC campus?
Three or more visits per semester or registration in an on-campus course section.

I have neither the vaccine nor a waiver. Can I come to campus wearing a mask? 
Yes, but anyone visiting more than three times per semester or registering in an on-campus course section will be required to provide documentation of full vaccination or a waiver.

Which COVID-19 vaccines are accepted by the BAC?
All COVID-19 vaccines will satisfy the BAC’s requirements. However, if Massachusetts imposes its own vaccination requirement, we will abide by those requirements.

I’m outside the United States and cannot access a vaccine. What are my options?
BAC students unable to get vaccinated or travel to Boston may continue to choose a remote learning option for Spring 2022. BAC faculty and staff in this situation should discuss with their immediate supervisor the possibility of continuing to work remotely until they can be vaccinated.

What does it mean to be “fully vaccinated"?
In general, people are considered fully vaccinated:

• 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
• 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine

For other vaccines, please contact your local health provider.

Where can I find a MA vaccination site?  See MA vaccination locations here. 

What if I lost my vaccination card?
Domestic students and faculty/staff may request replacement documentation from their providers. Alternative documentation will be accepted on a case-by-case basis.

I am a student. How do I submit my vaccine information?
To submit proof of the COVID-19 Vaccine, students should log into the Student Forms Portal,  click UPDATE in the ‘Immunization Submission & Status’ box and upload a photo of their vaccination record which shows they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In addition to the COVID-19 Vaccine, students returning to campus this fall will also need to submit proof of vaccinations required by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and can find more information here.  For questions about the immunization requirements, please contact studentservices@the-bac.edu.

I am faculty/staff. How do I submit my vaccine information?
You will submit proof of your vaccination to Paycom. Click here for step-by-step instructions.

What is the deadline to submit proof of vaccination?
For those who will access BAC campus on a regular basis:

• BAC requests students to submit documentation before the start of classes. 
• Faculty and staff who intend to return to the campus must submit documentation by January 23rd. 
• However, if a student, faculty or staff member is not vaccinated before the start of classes they must submit documentation before they come to campus the first time.

What if I do not want to get vaccinated?
BAC students electing not to get vaccinated or exempted may continue to choose a remote learning option for Spring 2022. BAC faculty and staff who do not want to be vaccinated should discuss with their immediate supervisor the possibility of continuing to work exclusively remotely.  

I have medical questions about the vaccine. Who should I talk to? 
Medical questions should be directed to your healthcare provider.

I’m an international student who has signed up for an onsite experience, and I am unable to be vaccinated before I arrive in Boston. If I’m not fully vaccinated before my first onsite class meeting, will I receive an excused absence?
You should contact your instructor and ask what their expectations are for virtual (online) attendance until you are vaccinated.

Can I wear a mask to come to class while I wait to be fully vaccinated?
You have to be fully vaccinated in order to regularly visit campus.

I am fully vaccinated. How will I know that the people around me who aren’t wearing masks are also fully vaccinated? 
The BAC maintains documentation of vaccination status for its community members who will be regularly utilizing campus resources. 

Who has access to the vaccination documentation I provide?
Vaccination information is protected via institutional privacy protocols.

I had Covid-19 and recovered from it. Do I still need to be vaccinated to come on campus? Yes. 

Do I need to disclose to the BAC if I test positive for COVID-19?
Yes, if you were onsite you need to inform HR if you are faculty or staff, and inform Student Life if you are a student. You will not be permitted onsite for 5 days after testing positive and you are symptom free.

If I am vaccinated and exposed to COVID-19 am I permitted on campus?
Please follow the state’s public health guidelines here. 

How will Security be able to identify who is vaccinated vs. who is not if everyone is permitted onsite?
Security is being asked to check people in and verify they have shown proof of full vaccination and a vaccine booster. If they have not, the person must sign in at the guard's desk and Human Resources are notified for employees and James Ryan is notified for students. 

As a new student, is there a quarantine requirement for when I arrive in Massachusetts?
Not currently, but please consult the latest guidelines here.

Are there any restrictions for traveling outside of Massachusetts during my studies at the BAC? Where should I look to for COVID national travel guidelines?
Please refer to the CDC website for guidelines here.

As an international student, are there any restrictions in traveling outside the country during my studies at the BAC? Where should I look to for COVID international travel guidelines?
Please refer to the CDC website for guidelines here. 

Who should I talk to regarding COVID-19 policies for my job opportunity when completing hours for the Practice component? How will my job’s/firm’s internal COVID-19 policies affect the BAC’s COVID-19 policies, if at all? How do they work together?
You will need to follow each organization’s policies as appropriate.

1. I need software, how can I get it?

Almost all the software in the labs is available to students, faculty, and staff for FREE (for educational use) or as a Full Trial (capable of saving files). This includes Rhino, ALL AutoDesk Software, and more.
See this list for software available for free and educational use. (updated frequently)

2. I need Revit/AutoCAD or other AutoDesk Software, is it available?

You can get almost all AutoDesk products FOR FREE. Use your BAC Email address and sign up here. 

• • Click the “Free Software” tab.
  • Select the software you want for free.
  • Click the “CREATE ACCOUNT” button.
  • Follow the prompts to enter the requested information.

3. I saw Adobe is free for students through May, how do I access it?

Adobe Creative Cloud is now FREE for all BAC Students and Faculty through May 31.

• • Login here with your BAC email and password.
  • Tutorial: How to Access Adobe for Free

4. I need to use Revit but have a Mac, suggestions?

Revit is not available for MacOS. If you can set up BootCamp (Free!) or Parallels (14-day Free Trial) to run Windows, that is our best recommendation we have at this time.

Parallels is more flexible - you can use MacOS and Windows simultaneously and copy between the two. BootCamp is more robust - and provides more resources to Windows, and Windows applications (such as Revit) will run better.

5. My computer is too old, what can I do?

First, please try anyway, you may be surprised. 

Tips to help new software run better on older computers:

• • Run ONE application at a time (Do not use YouTube, rendering in the background, Spotify or any other program.)

• • HIDE or TURN OFF unnecessary/reference/entourage/context layers in Rhino, AutoCAD, Photoshop, and turn them on when absolutely needed.

6. I have no computing device, what can I do? 

Contact your instructor, Rich Griswold (Dean of Students), and let him know your needs. He will help you review all the options and work with IT to find a solution.

Library

Library questions, research help? We are standing by and encourage you to email us today.

eBook Academic Collection
Multidisciplinary collection includes thousands of e-books covering a large selection of academic subjects such as technology and engineering, education, literary criticism, and environmental technology.

A&AePortal
Over 180 scholarly full-text eBooks on the topics of art history, architectural history, and architectural landscape history.

Art Full Text
High percentage of full text journal articles covering archaeology, architecture, landscape architecture, fine arts, art history, and humanities topics.

JSTOR
Contains over 1,000 leading academic journals across the humanities, social sciences, and sciences, as well as select monographs.

Artstor
High resolution images of architecture, floor plans, sections, elevations, interior architecture, paintings, sculpture, and landscape architecture within the BAC collections.

Kanopy
Video streaming service for documentaries, international, and classic iconic films.

US Major Dailies
High percentage of full text newspaper articles from The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, and the Wall Street Journal.

The BAC continues to modify operations in order to limit onsite work but continue to offer services through a combination of in-person/online/via phone. The BAC considers telecommuting to be a viable, flexible work option during this difficult time and when both the employee and the job are suited to such an arrangement. 

• BAC Cleaning and Sanitizing Process
• Tips to keep workplace, school and home safe

CARES Act

As a participant in our Boston Architectural College 403B Plan we want to make you aware of the options available to you as a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Click here to learn more about how its provisions affect retirement plans. 
Click here to view Quarterly and Final Report.

Work Life Harmony

Now more than ever, learning the art of work-life balance is critical to our health and well-being. We recognize this is a difficult time for everybody, so we strongly encourage you to take advantage of these resources to maintain a work-life balance:

• Tips for your work life balance
• Free Well-being Webinar Series by Tufts Health Plan
• Uncertainty and Parenting
• Surviving During a Pandemic
• Self-care for First Responders
• Stress Relief for Emergency Personnel in Critical Times
• Financial Uncertainty as the Coronavirus Spreads
• Strategies to Manage Anxiety
• Resilience During Difficult Times
• Setting up for Success - Working from Home
• Managing Remotely

BAC Faculty

We are committed to ensuring a great online teaching experience for all our faculty and ask that you please refer back to this page for updated information and resources. If you have questions not covered in these resources for faculty and staff, please reach out to Jade Hopkins.

Looking for ways to help but not sure how? Here are some volunteer opportunities around the Greater Boston community. 

• Boston's Office of Veterans' Services

Mayor Walsh is asking for people to become pen pals with a vulnerable veteran population. You can sign up here.

• Reaching out to District 2 Senior Citizens

City Councilor Flynn is also inviting those in District 2 - where the BAC is located, to volunteer to make calls to seniors in the community who are growing increasingly isolated. You can sign up here. 

• Feed The Frontline

Eager to help those on the frontlines? Our Gala food and beverage partner Johnny's Takeaway is helping feed the healthcare workers on the frontlines with their "Feed The Frontline Packages"! You pay for the meals and Johnny Takeaway will deliver them. Learn more on their Facebook page (and don't forget to check out this week's updated takeout menu, too!). You can order here. 

• Donate your time to help small businesses

The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce is asking you to donate your time to help small businesses! Please support if you have skills in any of the following areas: 1) Legal; 2) Financial Strategy & Accounting; 3) Human Resources; 4) Marketing & Communications. Get involved and help small businesses here! Contact memberservices@bostonchamber.com to be matched with a small business in need of your help!

As Governor Baker recommends, please limit personal travel-both internationally and domestically. All BAC funded, non-essential travel has been canceled until further notice.

If you plan to travel either internationally or domestically, please be aware of the travel restrictions and advisories in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

We ask students traveling internationally to contact emergencymanagement@the-bac.edu, so we are prepared to assist you if needed.

• Student HEERF Reporting Q1 2022
• Student HEERF Reporting Q4 2021
• Student HEERF Reporting Q3 2021
• Institutional HEERF Reporting Q3 2021
• CARES Reporting 1 2020
• CARES Reporting 2 2020
• CARES Reporting 2020