Emerson will loosen guest policies in on-campus housing for the fall semester, reversing pandemic-era restrictions as vaccinations in the state continue to climb and cases plummet. 

A Tuesday afternoon email sent by Housing and Residential Education to on-campus students states upon student’s return to residence halls in August, students will be permitted to visit residence halls that are not their own, off-campus students will be able to be signed in as guests to residence halls, and all residential lounges and community kitchens will reopen. 

“We are excited to start taking some steps to move forward to a more vibrant, active, and connected campus,” the email read. 

Among the reversals, visitation of non-Emerson community members is still being reviewed by the college, the email said. 

The decision comes following the college’s April announcement of the restoration of in-person learning for the fall semester provided that students receive a COVID-19 vaccine, marking the first major signal of a post-pandemic reality.

The vision of the fall semester still remains foggy, with the viability of in-person student organization gatherings, the COVID-19 testing program, and mask requirements still up in the air. 

“We understand that with each item comes more questions about what else to expect,” the email read. “We want to make sure that you understand this is information based on the current public health guidance and shifts are possible as we learn more and as conditions change. As the College continues to evaluate and prepare for the upcoming year, more information will be communicated over the summer months as it becomes available.”