REMINDER: Return to Campus Pre-Arrival Instructions
As we approach the start of our Spring 2021 semester and the return to life on campus, there are several items that all students who will attend classes on campus, live on campus or plan to use campus facilities must complete before the semester begins on Monday, Feb. 8.
Pre-Arrival COVID-19 Test
All students will be required to provide proof of a negative result from a COVID-19 test taken within seven (7) days prior to their return or provide documentation of a positive COVID-19 test within the last three (3) months and have since completed the proper isolation and quarantine protocols. Mandatory pooled saliva testing will be conducted for all students upon arrival as well, and will be required weekly for all students, staff and faculty who are physically on campus, throughout the semester. Do not arrive on campus without proof of a negative test, or you may be turned away.
Acceptable tests for COVID-19 are:
- Rapid or non-rapid tests
- Molecular or antigen tests
Antibody tests are not acceptable
Non-rapid tests can take several days to provide results, so please plan accordingly, and do not wait until too close to your move-in date. The results should be uploaded by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 3 to Blackboard. If you receive your results after that time, please bring a physical copy with you to move-in. If you have not received a negative COVID-19 test prior to your arrival, you will not be allowed to attend classes in person, and you will be directed to South Hall to quarantine until the results of your pooled saliva test have returned negative. If South Hall is full, you will need to return home until a negative test is provided.
To locate a testing site near you, search here. Individuals who have questions regarding eligibility or access for testing should call the New York State COVID-19 Hotline at 1.888.364.3065 or visit the NYSDOH website. If you go to a test site run by New York State, there is never any charge for your test. If you go to a non-state-run test site, you are advised to check with the testing site and your health insurance company in advance of being tested to confirm if you will be responsible for any fees associated with your test.
One-Week Quarantine
In addition to taking a COVID-19 test prior to returning to campus, we are asking all students to precautionarily quarantine at home for seven (7) days prior to their move-in date, to ensure that they are not exposed before coming back to campus. Given the increase in cases of COVID-19 locally, statewide and nationwide, students must restrict their movement in the week preceding their return. Weekly pooled saliva testing will allow us to identify cases early, before they spread.
Blackboard Course: "Mustangs Stamping Out COVID"
To provide a place for information as well as to submit important documentation, all students are automatically enrolled in a Blackboard course. Beginning today, Jan. 29, the course will allow students to upload proof of their negative COVID-19 test, complete an attestation that they have completed a seven-day precautionary quarantine before returning to campus, and otherwise learn about and meet all COVID-19 campus safety measures. To access this course, and complete your requirements, please follow these steps:
- Navigate to blackboard.morrisville.edu
- Click on 'Student Experience' in the top righthand corner
- Select the 'Mustangs: Stamping Out COVID' Course
- The link to submit your documents is on the left, as well as links to other resources for returning to campus. Please submit all documents by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 3.
As a reminder, all plans are subject to change due to new information, guidance and/or direction received from SUNY Administration, the State of New York and the Office of the Governor. SUNY system has approved our return-to-campus plan. If changes are made to our return-to-campus plan, we will post them on the college website and send to SUNY Morrisville email accounts.
We look forward to a safe and healthy Spring 2021 semester!