Student Covid Info SPRING 2022 Testing
Information below is only for the Spring 2022 semester.
When will COVID-19 testing be available on campus?
Starting on January 18th, the asymptomatic COVID-19 testing clinic will be available Monday – Friday from 10am to 5pm at Philips Memorial Hall – Green Room. This is a free COVID-19 testing for students, faculty, and staff. EMS Medical Management will be administering antigen (rapid) tests. The entrance to the testing clinic is located on the Academic Quad side of the building. An accessible entrance is located by the Philips Memorial Hall arch.
Click here for more information on available testing dates and times. No appointments or registration needed.
Students experiencing symptoms should call Student Health Services 610-436-2509 to set up an appointment for testing and medical care.
Students attending the Philadelphia Campus may find a COVID-19 testing site near them using the City of Philadelphia resource page.
What should I do if I got tested off campus and my result was positive?
If you receive a positive test result, you must isolate yourself from others, submit your positive test results using the COVID-19 Student Status Form, and contact the Student Health Service for guidance on next steps for medical care and learn how to protect others from being exposed.
What is the process for the random screening testing?
We will be conducting weekly randomized COVID-19 screening for all unvaccinated students. The plan is to randomly select 10% of students living off-campus and 10% of on-campus students for COVID-19 screening. Students selected for random screening testing will be notified by email.
Off-campus students—voluntary testing
On-campus students—required testing
If you are fully vaccinated and you have uploaded your vaccination card to myWCU, you will be exempt from this screening process. Philadelphia campus students are also exempt from the process.
If you have a medical condition that prohibits you from being screened, when selected, you will receive instructions on how to request an exemption at that time. There is no advanced processes to request an exemption.
If students test positive through Student Health Services, they will be provided with directive for isolation. For students living on campus, they will need to promptly isolate off campus until they have been cleared by Student Health Services.
If a student tests positive, they should refrain from coming to campus until they have been cleared by Student Health Services or their medical provider.
Student Health Services and Residence Life will communicate with on campus residents as needed based on each individual case. The Chester County Health Department also conducts case investigations and provides individuals guidance on how to provide notifications to others.
People who are fully vaccinated do NOT need to quarantine after contact with someone who had COVID-19 unless they have symptoms. However, fully vaccinated people should get tested 3-5 days after their exposure, even if they don’t have symptoms, and wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until their test result is negative.
What do I do if I think I have a false positive antigen (rapid) COVID-19 test?
Asymptomatic & Positive Antigen
- Asymptomatic students with positive results on antigen (rapid) tests and no known exposure must isolate.
- Any asymptomatic student with no known exposure and a positive antigen test result may return to the on-campus testing site located in Philips Memorial Hall – Green Room to request a confirmatory PCR test on the same day of the antigen test.
- All students must isolate off campus while awaiting results of the confirmatory PCR test.
- Any off-campus confirmatory PCR tests must be performed by a medical provider. If you receive a negative confirmatory PCR test result by a medical provider, email your results to Student Health Services at healthctr@wcupa.edu.
- Self-swab/self-administered tests will not be accepted.
- Students must remain in isolation until released by Student Health Services. Student Health Services will release students who receive a negative PCR confirmatory test and remained asymptomatic and have no known exposure.
Symptomatic & Positive Antigen
- Symptomatic students with positive results on antigen (rapid) tests must isolate. Symptomatic students will not be able to test out of isolation.
*Note: There will be no out-of-pocket expense for the on-site PCR test. Students must provide a copy of their health insurance card for billing of the optional confirmatory PCR test. Students who do not have insurance will be covered through a federal program for the uninsured.
Questions? Please contact Student Health Services at 610-436-2509 and ask to speak with a Testing & Case Coordinator.