Update on COVID-19 Protocols

February 18, 2022

A Message from President Fiorentino and the President’s Cabinet:

Students, Faculty, and Staff:

We hope that the spring semester has been off to a very good start for all of you. Following a remote start that was instituted to keep our community safe amidst the pandemic’s surge, the region seems to be moving in the right direction. We are pleased that numerous students, faculty, and staff have become fully vaccinated/boosted and continue to take the necessary precautions needed to keep everyone safe.

As we have mentioned in previous communications, we continue to monitor the pandemic and respond appropriately should conditions demand. It is within this context that we have made the decision to shift our decision matrix from one that is primarily driven by the presence of COVID-19 on campus to transmission rates within our community. Keeping with this, we are modifying our testing protocol as described below. Even with this change, our best strategy for reducing transmission is maintaining our mask requirement in place until public health guidance changes. Thus, our mask requirement remains unchanged. Please familiarize yourselves with the following important updates:

  • Mandatory testing of unvaccinated students in the residence halls will be terminated effective immediately.
  • As members of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), the University continues to comply with all Conference rules, including COVID-19 testing for student athletes who are not fully vaccinated. As such, PSAC athletes continue to be required to test for COVID-19.
  • On-campus COVID-19 testing will continue to be offered on a regular basis for all students, faculty and staff who wish to avail themselves of these services. Students receiving COVID-19 testing at the Philips Green Room will not be charged.
  • Excused COVID-19 related absences from all classes require documentation from the Student Health Center, which can be initiated with this form.
  • The indoor masking requirements will remain in place.
  • Properly worn masks will continue to be monitored in buildings for two more weeks.

Thank you to all Golden Rams for doing your part to keep us healthy. The University’s success in establishing a safe environment is due to your commitment to help fight against the spread of COVID-19.

 

Student FAQs for Spring Semester 2022

 

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