Executive Education Health and Safety Protocols

Prior to May 12, 2023: All HLS Executive Education participants are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to coming to campus, meaning that at least two weeks have passed since receiving the final dose of a vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or World Health Organization (WHO), which currently includes Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna/Spikevax, Johnson & Johnson/Janssen, AstraZeneca/Vaxzevria, SII/Covishield, BIBP/Sinopharm, Sinovac/CoronaVac, Bharat Biotech/Covaxin, SII/Covovax, and Novavax/Nuvaxovid/CanSino Biologics/Convidecia.

As with existing requirements for other vaccines, exceptions may be provided only for medical or religious reasons. Please note that if an exemption is granted, participants may be subject to additional requirements, such as more frequent testing.

After May 12, 2023: It is strongly recommended that participants be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to coming to campus, per CDC guidance.

In addition to being fully vaccinated with one of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized by the FDA or WHO, it is strongly recommended that participants be up to date on boosters, per CDC guidance.

Prior to May 12, 2023: All Executive Education participants will be required to complete an attestation form prior to the program, confirming that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by their on-campus program or module start date. Further details regarding our Terms of Agreement will be communicated closer to the program start date. Additionally, there may be some businesses and organizations in the Boston area that currently require proof of vaccination to enter.

After May 12, 2023: No attestation of vaccination status will be required. However, all participants must accept our community Health & Safety commitment prior to their on-campus program or module start date.

In order to reach the high levels of vaccination needed to protect our community, Harvard University is requiring all community members who will have any on-campus presence to be vaccinated. This includes faculty, staff, and students.

It is strongly recommended that the vaccine must be approved by the FDA or WHO. Please note that we cannot make a medical recommendation as to whether you should get a second, different vaccine to satisfy our vaccine requirement. This would need to be determined by a medical professional.

The United States announced its new travel policy, effective November 8, 2021, allowing non-citizens who are fully vaccinated to travel by air to the U.S. In addition to proof of vaccination, air travelers may be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test three days before their flight to the U.S.

Please review travel guidelines prior to planning your trip.

We recommend that you take a COVID-19 test prior to departing for the program to avoid the need to quarantine when you arrive, should you test positive.

No quarantine is required for entering Massachusetts from outside of the U.S. for fully vaccinated individuals. Please review the requirements for travelers arriving to the U.S. from abroad. In addition, you are advised to confirm requirements for your place of origin and your specific airline. Note also that travel restrictions into the U.S. remain in place from specific countries.

If you are unable to attend due to travel restrictions issued after you’ve been accepted to a program, we can discuss options to either transfer your enrollment or cancel your participation for a full refund.

Harvard Law School Executive Education asks that you take a self-administered rapid test after arriving in Cambridge, within 24 hours of the start of the program, and prior to coming to campus. A rapid test will be provided to you upon check-in at the Sheraton Commander. Additional rapid tests will be available in Pound Hall should you wish you test again during the program for any reason.

We also recommend that you take a COVID-19 test prior to departing for the program to avoid the need to quarantine when you arrive, should you test positive.

If you are experiencing any potential COVID-19 symptoms, including fever, chills or muscle/body aches; sore throat; new cough, congested or runny nose (not related to seasonal allergies), fatigue, or headache; shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; loss of taste or smell; nausea or vomiting; and diarrhea, or if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 within 10 days of your scheduled arrival at Harvard Law School, please contact us as soon as possible to discuss your situation.

If you test positive, you will be required to isolate in your hotel room for a minimum duration of five days, provided that you have no symptoms or that your symptoms are resolving after five days. If on day five or later you are still experiencing symptoms, you may need to isolate for an additional five days. If you are released after completing the five-day isolation period, you will be required to wear a mask around others for an additional five days.

If you are required to quarantine past the last day of the program, your accomodations will be at your own expense.

Close contacts who are asymptomatic are not required to quarantine following an exposure if they have been boosted or have completed the primary series of a two-dose FDA- or WHO-authorized vaccine within the last five months or the primary series of a single-dose FDA- or WHO-authorized vaccine within the last two months.

Close contacts who are unvaccinated or who are eligible for, but have not received a booster shot and/or have symptoms, are required to quarantine in their hotel room for five days following the date of last exposure. If you are required to quarantine past the last day of the program, your accomodations will be at your expense.

In both cases, participants are required to wear a mask, self-monitor for symptoms, and test on days one and five following the exposure. Participants who develop symptoms and test positive must follow the isolation protocols mentioned above.

Masks and face coverings are optional in all indoor spaces on Harvard Law School’s campus. Masks are required in certain settings, such as healthcare facilities, public transit, and University buses and shuttles. Because anyone may unexpectedly need to enter a space where masks are still required, we ask that you carry a mask with you at all times.

Anyone who prefers to continue wearing a mask indoors may freely exercise the personal choice to do so. Harvard University supports such personal health decisions by our community members, and asks that everyone support and respect any member of our community who wishes to continue taking advantage of the extra level of personal health protection offered by face coverings.

Anyone completing isolation or quarantine should continue to wear masks for the full 10 days, according to existing protocols.

Our dining services and catering provider closely monitors and adheres to the CDC and WHO safety recommendations. All dining associates and managers are trained in the latest protocols for cleaning, protection, and food safety.

HLS Executive Education participants stay at the Sheraton Commander Hotel. Learn more about the new protocols and elevated practices implemented at the Sheraton Commander in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harvard Law School has upgraded heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems across campus to ensure that all systems meet the recently enhanced CDC recommendations for air filtration and exchange.

Harvard Law School has ample signage to help guide traffic flow in and out of classrooms, common areas, restrooms, and other locations to avoid congestion and to meet any social distancing guidelines that may be in place. Hand cleanser, sanitizing stations, and masks are available throughout all of our buildings.

It is important that everyone in our community follow guidelines for handwashing (regularly, for 20 seconds with soap and water), using hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable.