Our campus community is looking forward to safely welcoming you, our student family, back for the Spring 2021 semester. Please carefully review the information below, specific to students.
COVID Student Testing Requirements Checklist - Spring 2021
As part of plans announced to begin the spring 2021 semester remotely, the University is urging students who live off campus to postpone their return to their campus community unless it is necessary for work, academic-program-specific reasons or other important circumstances. Students who must return to their campus community before Feb. 15 or who have remained in their campus community over winter break will be required to order and complete a free COVID-19 test before their arrival.
The following steps must be taken by all students who are returning to their campus communities before Feb. 15:
- Students from all campuses are required to participate in COVID-19 testing and have a negative COVID test result on file prior to their return to their campus community. Self-test kits will be provided to students at no cost.
- The University plans to have a test result on file for every student within 72 hours of their intended return.
- Students who have a positive test on file with the University from within the last 90 days do not need to complete this testing.
- Students should determine their individual arrival date and count backwards to complete each step on the timeline.
To avoid delays due to the holiday season and shipping considerations, students should use the timeline instructions below to count backwards and determine the dates when they need to complete each step:
STEP 1
21 days before you plan to arrive:
- Log in to the “Know Your Status” Portal to check your test status.
- Know Your Status can also be accessed on the Penn State Go app, which is available to download in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
- Log in with your Penn State Access Account to check your “test status” and track your progress through the testing process; the University also will be able to track your progress. You need to complete testing before you return, unless you have a COVID-positive test result from the last 90 days on record in the portal. You can also upload a positive test result from the last 90 days from a third-party PCR test.
- Keep in mind, the timing to order and complete the test will vary for each student depending on their planned return.
STEP 2
14 days (at least) before:
- Order your at-home test kit: Vault Health will mail your test kit to your current place of residence, along with detailed instructions to complete the test with a Vault Health representative virtually.
STEP 3
5 days before:
- Take your test and mail it back 5 days before you plan to return to your campus community. A pre-paid expedited shipping label is included.
- During the period of several days before being tested, you should take extra precautions. As much as possible, limit your interactions with others to only the essentials.
- Don't eat, drink or chew gum for 30 minutes prior to taking your test.
- Take your test in a Zoom meeting with a Vault Health representative.
STEP 4
3 days before:
- Students should receive test results from Vault Health within 72 hours of the test arriving at the lab. Test results will be automatically uploaded to the University’s portal.
- If your test result is positive: Isolate at home and do not return to your campus community. Contact tracers from Penn State will reach out to you to offer support and guidance on the time period for isolation.
- If your test result is negative: Continue to limit interactions with those outside your household and take health and safety precautions during your travel to your campus community.
STEP 5
Get ready for arrival: Students must be able to check off the following:
- You have self-quarantined for at least 7 days immediately prior to your arrival and before moving in to off-campus housing.
- You are complying with travel requirements: The University’s pre-arrival test plan will enable students who complete pre-arrival testing to meet Pennsylvania travel requirements to be tested within 72 hours of entering the state and help them avoid a travel quarantine.
- You are not COVID-19 positive, do not have symptoms of COVID-19, and have not been in close contact with someone who has tested positive or is suspicious of having COVID-19; if you are or have been, do not return to your Penn State campus community.
- Contact the COVID-19 Response Center with specific questions about testing or the portal
COVID Response Center Phone: (814) 865-2121
Student checklist for Spring 2021
| Task | Time Frame | |
|---|---|---|
| Check your Penn State E-Mail for course and University info | Daily | |
| Check LionPATH for the delivery mode of all of your scheduled courses | Now | |
| Contact your academic adviser or professor if you cannot participate in a course because of its delivery mode, or if you haave been scheduled to participate in person on a day when you would not be coming to campus | Now | |
| Review Penn State's health and safey policies, including mandatory wearing of masks | Now | |
| Check Penn State's Keep Learning site for imporant university updates | Daily | |
| Check Canvas for course specific information | Prior to Jan 19 | |
| Confirm home technology abilities (computer, internet, etc.) to address areas of concern | Prior to Jan 19 | |
| Obtain course materials | Prior to Jan 19 | |
| Schedule daily "tech-free" times to reduce Zoom fatigue | Daily | |
Plan for technology on and off campus:
|
Prior to Jan 19 |
Student Q&A:
Will students be required to take their temperatures before attending class?
The University expects students to self-monitor their health, for example by taking their temperature before going to class or campus. While fever is a common symptom of COVID-19, it is only one of the potential symptoms individuals may have. If you have a temperature or feel sick, reach out to your health care provider.
What if I am a student who is immunocompromised?
We are dedicated to supporting students who are immunocompromised or at-risk to identify and develop appropriate accommodations.
Please reach out to Diana Kreydt for flexibile options to continue making progress toward your degree.
Will masks be provided to students for classes?
The University purchased 500,000 reusable masks to be distributed across all campuses. Cloth face masks will be provided to students as needed at the beginning of the semester. Masks will be expected to be worn in classrooms, labs, offices, dining and retail facilities, public spaces, and while walking and traveling on campuses.
Who will make sure that students follow safety guidelines? Are there penalties for noncompliance? What support will professors have if students are not adhering to masking and other safety guidelines?
By following University and CDC guidelines for masking, social distancing and hand hygiene, students can have a direct impact in achieving an extended return to learning on campus this fall. Upon returning to campus, students will be asked to take personal responsibility both on and off campus and to sign a pledge to help uphold the health of the community by following University guidelines.
Students will be warned first, but faculty will have the authority to remove students from class if they refuse to comply. Where students fail to comply despite these efforts, faculty members can refer students to the University’s conduct process through the Office of Student Conduct, and students will be required to participate in a disciplinary process before they can return to the classroom. Faculty will receive guidance on enforcement, and they will be supported in these critical measures.
To serve as a reminder to all, distance markers, directional arrows, signage and other visual cues will be installed in high-traffic areas, classrooms, common areas, study spaces and other shared locations across the campuses.
What will happen if/when students test positive?
Any student who feels sick or who has symptoms, or has been exposed to COVID-19, should stay home and seek the advice of a medical professional as appropriate. Students who test positive for the virus are expected to isolate for 14 days, and if a student was not tested on campus, they should notify campus nurse, Jill Benton about the result. Individuals who test positive will be interviewed to identify people with whom they had close contact (less than six feet of distance for 15 minutes or longer within two to four days before the onset of symptoms). These close contacts will be alerted, asked to quarantine for 14 days, and asked to be tested immediately.
Students who must isolate will receive detailed instructions, and they will receive daily check-ins regarding their health. The University will work closely with these students to see that they continue to make academic progress, and to assist with any other needs that may arise.
*(Isolate: individual has tested positive for COVID-19 | Quarantine: individual has been exposed to COVID-19)
What does this mean for international students, immunocompromised or at-risk students, or others who are unable to be on campus this fall?
Penn State is committed to meeting its students where they are. Flexible options will be available to students who are unable to return to any campus so they can continue to make progress toward their degrees. Additional information can be found at https://keeplearning.psu.edu/fall-2020/learning-at-home/.
For our international students, we are excited to welcome scholars from across the globe into our community, even if current circumstances prevent residential study. We understand that travel restrictions and delays in the visa process may make it difficult for international students to arrive in the fall, but we are committed to working with our students to support their academic progress.
For those students unable to join us on campus, a robust portfolio of remote delivery course work and student experiences is being developed to allow them to continue or begin working toward their Penn State degree.
Starting in the fall means first-year students will build a strong foundation for their academic programs, and students will not have to delay lifetime plans to pursue degrees at one of the best universities in the world. When they can arrive on campus, these students will already have established relationships with fellow students and faculty members. In a dynamic environment, learning happens via video- or tele-conferencing, live chatting, or livestreaming lectures on your normally scheduled class day and time. Students are able to achieve their academic goals while also meeting other Penn State students, making friends, engaging with faculty – the same ones you will meet when you are on the ground at a campus – and working with student organizations. Our community will support students in making these valuable connections that will serve them long into the future.
Regardless of their ability to attend in-residence classes, students will be able to make academic progress throughout the semester. Penn State students who cannot be in residence, including first-year students living outside the U.S.; first-year or continuing students with health concerns; transfer students who cannot be in residence; and students who choose not to be in residence, will have a high-quality experience that includes courses critical for their educational advancement and integration into the University.
Will there be student activities, like intramural sports, student organizations, Greek life, THON, Movin’ On, activities fair, etc.?
Co-curricular learning is an important component of students’ college experiences. Student organizations are expected to adhere to all health and safety requirements established by the University, including social distancing and meeting virtually. While large gatherings will be prohibited upon return, restrictions may be loosened depending on results of early stage mitigation efforts. Recreational activities and facilities will be open if participants can adhere to social distancing, enhanced sanitation measures and other safety standards. Additional information relevant to specific activities will be forthcoming closer to the start of the semester.
Campus Dining and Local Housing
What steps should students take before coming to campus?
It is very important that students check with their health insurance provider regarding their coverage at local healthcare facilities. The following are providers located near campus:
- MedExpress Urgent Care, 655 E. DuBois Ave., DuBois, PA 15801, (814) 371-6164 | Hours 8 am - 8 pm
- Penn Highlands Q-Care, 621 S. Main St., DuBois, PA 15801, (814) 299-7520 | Hours 8 am - 8 pm
- Penn Highlansd Hospital, 100 Hospital Ave., DuBois, PA 15801, (814) 371-2020 | Emergency Hours - 24/7
What should students bring with them when moving into the local rentals?
We recommend that students bring a thermometer with them to keep in their residence. While Health Services will be available on campus, hours and possible high demand may make it more convenient for students to have their own thermometers on hand. Face masks will be provided, however students are also encouraged to bring extra face masks with them.
Will every Penn State student be tested in the spring before coming to campus?
As part of plans announced to begin the spring 2021 semester remotely, the University is urging students who live off campus to postpone their return to their campus community unless it is necessary for work, academic-program-specific reasons or other important circumstances. Students who must return to their campus community before Feb. 15 or who have remained in their campus community over winter break will be required to order and complete a free COVID-19 test before their arrival.
The following steps must be taken by all students before Feb. 15 who are returning to their campus communities:
- Students from all campuses are required to participate in COVID-19 testing and have a negative COVID test result on file prior to their return to their campus community. Self-test kits will be provided to students at no cost.
- The University plans to have a test result on file for every student within 72 hours of their intended return.Students who have a positive test on file with the University from within the last 90 days do not need to complete this testing.
- Students should determine their individual arrival date and count backwards to complete each step on the timeline.
To avoid delays due to the holiday season and shipping considerations, students should use the timeline instructions below to count backwards and determine the dates when they need to complete each step.
Who will make sure that students follow guidelines not only in the classroom, but elsewhere? Are there penalties for anyone who does not follow guidance?
By following University and CDC guidelines for masking, social distancing and hand hygiene, students can have a direct impact in achieving an extended return to learning and living on campus this fall. Upon returning to campus, students will be asked to take personal responsibility both on and off campus and to sign a pledge to help uphold the health of the community by following University guidelines. Mask wearing will be expected in class, and faculty members have discretion to make delivery modality adjustments if they have concerns about adherence to University expectations. To serve as a reminder to all, distance markers, directional arrows, signage and other visual cues will be installed in high-traffic areas, and classrooms, common areas, study spaces and other shared locations across the campuses.
What about the dining commons? How will students get their meals? How can you prevent the spread in the dining commons?
It is Penn State’s goal to make on-campus dining as comfortable and convenient as possible while maintaining the safety of our students and visitors. Here are the steps we’re taking to meet those goals:
- Capacity in campus our dining facility will be limited, with seating and tables removed to encourage physical distancing, in accordance with governmental mandates and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations.
- In addition, there will be extensive and regular cleaning of high-touch surfaces, and restroom spaces will be cleaned at least two times each day; these restrooms will be configured to encourage distancing among users.