[Students] Winter Term Return Update

Greetings Students,

The state of the nation as it pertains to COVID-19 has continued to evolve and change. As a result we have made a change to our pre-arrival testing date window for students coming from contiguous states. We also want to highlight that students returning from non-contiguous states should submit their quarantine plans as soon as possible. Keep in mind that other changes may come so please make sure that you are checking your email on a regular basis for updates from us as we receive them. Review information from our November 11th message. Here are the key changes and upcoming dates to remember:

• Students returning to campus from N.Y., Penn., Vt., Mass., Conn., or N.J. should take their pre-arrival test within 5 days of returning to campus. Please see the chart below with updated dates.

• Students who are from non-contiguous states and international students should submit their quarantine plans using this form by December 15.

Best,

Dean Fran’Cee

_______________________________

Below is the information shared with our students on Nov. 11, 2020. Note that we have highlighted information that has changed since we sent this note.

Step 1: Sign up for initial on-campus testing

All in-person students (on-campus, off-campus and commuter) traveling from these states must have a College-administered COVID-19 test upon arrival on campus. Student IDs will not be activated until confirmation of a negative pre-arrival test and an on-campus test is administered.

• Initial testing will take place on Jan. 7, 8 and 9 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

• You can make your own COVID-19 testing appointments by signing into the student health portal and clicking on the "Appt. Scheduling" tab. Note: The appointment scheduling is not recurring. You will need to make an appointment for each week of the term.

Step 2: Pre-arrival testing

To help reduce the risk of positive cases on campus, all students are required to have a COVID-19 test within five days prior to arrival on campus and must submit their negative test results at check-in.

• Any student arriving without a test will have to find their own, non-College housing and will not be permitted on campus until they can produce a negative test result and then participate in our initial campus testing.

• Any student who tests positive should follow the directives of their local department of health and should not arrive on campus until they have been cleared by their local health department. Students who test positive must also notify Union’s Health Services at uchealthcenter@union.edu.

Step 3: Arrive on campus during your designated time for your initial COVID-19 test

• Do not arrive earlier or later than expected.

• Go directly to the COVID-19 Testing Center. You CANNOT move into your room or visit any other campus location prior to completing your test. Your ID card will not be activated until you have arrived and completed your initial test.

Step 4: Move in and begin quarantine until negative result comes back

• Once you have completed your initial test, you may move into your residence hall (if living on campus) and begin your pre-test result quarantine.

• Students will be required to self-quarantine in their room (applies to all students regardless of if they are living on campus or off campus) until they receive a negative result. Results have typically taken between 24 and 48 hours to be returned. Any student found violating the pre-test result quarantine will have their housing and in-person class privileges revoked immediately and may be subject to additional sanctions.

• Note: Students who were not living on campus during the fall term but are returning for winter term will receive separate instructions from Residential Life about key pickup location and specifics.

Key dates for pre-arrival and initial on-campus testing:

If you schedule your initial on-campus test for Jan. 7, then you should have your pre-arrival test on Jan. 2, 3, 4, 5 o r 6.*

If you schedule your initial on-campus test for Jan. 8, then you should have your pre-arrival test on Jan. 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7.*

If you schedule your initial on-campus test for Jan. 9, then you should have your pre-arrival test on Jan. 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8.*

*All students must submit their negative pre-arrival test results at check-in.

To comply with the NYS Travel Advisory and to help reduce the risk of positive cases on campus, all students arriving from other countries and states other than N.Y., Penn., Vt., Mass., Conn. and N.J. must follow the procedures below:

Step 1: Sign up for on-campus testing. (Applies to students arranging their own quarantine. Students using college-provided quarantine can skip to step 2.)

• Students arranging their own quarantine must sign up for on-campus testing on day 4 of their NYS quarantine.

• Students quarantining in College-provided space do not need to sign up for a testing date. Testing staff will come to the hotel on the designated date to administer the test.

• On-campus testing will take place on Jan. 7, 8 and 9 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

• Students arranging their own quarantine can make their COVID-19 testing appointments by signing into the student health portal and clicking on the "Appt. Scheduling" tab. Note: The appointment scheduling is not recurring. You will need to make an appointment for each week of the term.

• Student IDs will not be activated until confirmation of a negative pre-arrival test and a day 4 college-administered test is completed.

Step 2: Pre-arrival testing:

• Obtain a COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to arrival in N.Y. with documentation of a negative result, which you will show at check-in.

Step 3: Quarantine for 3 days upon arrival in N.Y.

• Students can either move into College-provided quarantine space on Jan. 4, 5 or 6, or they can arrange their own quarantine that fulfills the New York state requirements.

• Students can submit their quarantine plans using this form by December 15.

Step 4: Receive a COVID-19 test on day 4 of their quarantine in the state of New York

• Students who quarantine in College-provided space will receive their N.Y. COVID-19 test through the College at their quarantine location and will be permitted to move into campus housing upon receipt of their campus test result. Students must remain in quarantine until they receive a negative result for their day 4 N.Y. COVID-19 test.

• Students who arrange their own N.Y. quarantine should schedule a day 4 COVID-19 at the Testing Center and must provide proof of the location of their quarantine (hotel/Airbnb receipt, travel receipts, etc). Students who are scheduled to live on campus for the winter term can move into their residence hall to begin their pre-test result quarantine after they have completed their day 4 COVID-19 test at our Testing Center. They must remain in their pre-test result quarantine until they receive a negative result for their day 4 N.Y. COVID-19 test.

• Students who live off campus must remain in their pre-test result quarantine until they receive a negative result for their day 4 N.Y. COVID-19 test.

Step 5: Move-in after negative day 4 COVID-19 test

• Students who quarantine in College-provided space, who are living on campus for winter term, can move into their residence hall room after receiving a negative result for their day 4 N.Y. COVID-19 test. Their IDs will also be turned on at this time.

• Note: Students who were not living on campus during the fall term but are returning for winter term will receive separate instructions from Residential Life about key pickup location and specifics.

Key dates for pre-arrival testing, quarantine, and day 4 testing:

If you arrive in NY/start your NYS quarantine on Jan. 4, then your pre-arrival test needs to be on Jan. 1, 2 or 3 and your day 4 college-administered COVID-19 test will be on Jan. 7*

If you arrive in NY/start your NYS quarantine on Jan. 5, then your pre-arrival test needs to be on Jan. 2, 3 or 4 and your day 4 college-administered COVID-19 test will be on Jan. 8*

If you arrive in NY/start your NYS quarantine on Jan. 6, then your pre-arrival test needs to be on Jan. 3, 4 or 5 and your day 4 college-administered COVID-19 test will be on Jan. 9*

*All students must submit their negative test results at check-in.
Students arranging their own quarantine must sign up for on-campus testing on day 4 of their NYS quarantine.
Students quarantining in College-provided space do not need to sign up for a testing date. Testing staff will come to the hotel on the designated date to administer the test.

Options for pre-arrival testing include:

• Contact your primary care provider to schedule a test.

• Check with your local urgent care centers or pharmacy.

• In New York, students can call the COVID-19 hotline at (888) 364-3065 to schedule a test.

• Students who have exhausted all options in their area may reach out to dos_office@union.edu to discuss an alternative means of securing a test.

Vice President for Student Affairs and
Dean of Students Office

Union College
Schenectady, NY 12308
Office: (518) 388-6116