Please be assured that our in-person programs will follow strict safety protocols required by George Mason University and are subject to pivoting to all virtual platforms if health and safety conditions warrant. We are working closely with Mason officials to provide a safe environment for students, faculty, and staff. We will be routinely updating the information as it evolves. Stay informed by visiting our website and through other Academy alerts and communication.
General Requirements
- Mask & PPE Requirements—All students, faculty, and staff must wear CDC recommended face masks and practice physical distancing rules throughout the day. Additional personal protective equipment (PPE) will be required for specific programs. Students will be responsible for bringing these items. Please check the individual program’s webpage Requirements Section for links for recommended PPE. Note: Please do not register for our in-person programs if you or your student is unwilling to wear a mask.
- Classroom Capacity—Each classroom has a reduced capacity due to physical distancing and Mason COVID safety guidelines. The room capacity generally is about 7-10 depending on the classroom size. Classrooms will be reserved to host one unique program per space. University Office of Environmental Health and Safety has certified safe airflow quality in all classrooms.
- Lunch & Breaks—At lunch, students will sit with their class cohort while maintaining physical distancing. A 15-minute break will occur to recirculate the air in each classroom every 1.5 hours. All students will be asked to leave the classroom under the Academy staff and faculty’s supervision. Lunch and required breaks will be staggered to avoid crossing paths with other summer programs and will happen outside weather permitting.
- Sanitization Standards—Essential equipment will remain unique to each student each day, and students are required to bring their own writing supplies. Academy faculty and staff will clean and sanitize shared equipment, such as music stands, keyboards, and high-touch surfaces, throughout the day. All buildings and classrooms will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected each night by Mason’s custodial staff.
- In the event that a participant, faculty, and/or staff member becomes ill or reports a positive COVID test, the Academy will work closely with the University Office of Environmental Health and Safety to mitigate the situation appropriately and communicate information to families quickly and effectively.
Check-In Procedure
- Face masks are required for all campus visitors at all times.
- Parent/Guardians will park in designated parking areas and will walk students to the appropriate check-in locations. Drop off locations (See Map) are:
Music programming—Check-in outside de Laski Performing Arts Building, third-floor entrance; For programs held at our Chain Bridge Road location, see welcome email for instructions.
AFYP programming—Check-in outside de Laski Performing Arts Building, first-floor entrance.
Visual Arts programming—Check-in outside the School of Art Building, main entrance. - Check-in tables will be alphabetically staggered with marked physically distanced check-in lines.
- Students must complete daily Mason Covid Health Checks and will be asked to provide digital or printed confirmation at check-in. If a parent/guardian has multiple children attending, they will be able to complete one Mason Covid Health Check per family. Please complete before entering the check-in line.
- Academy staff will escort students to classrooms.
Check-Out Procedure
- Face masks are required for all campus visitors at all times.
- Parent/Guardians should plan to arrive at the same check-in point listed above no later than 30 minutes after the program end time.
- Check-out tables will be alphabetically staggered with marked physically distanced check-out lines.
- To ensure everyone’s safety, please follow all instructions for check-out procedures given by onsite Academy staff.
