- New and transfer students required to be fully vaccinated
- Students required to test before returning to campus
- Surveillance testing program discontinued
- Face coverings required in Health Care settings
- Testing, quarantine, and isolation moved to Boothroyd Hall
- Closely monitoring worldwide spread of Monkeypox
Dear Campus Community,
I hope that you all have had a calming summer and have been able to enjoy the rejuvenation that these warmer days provide for us. I am writing to you today to outline the colleges COVID-19 policies for the upcoming Fall 2022 semester. During the Spring semester, we saw very few cases of COVID-19 and we did not experience any cases of severe illness. All of that was due to the amazing participation we saw from students, faculty, and staff from a public health perspective. I hope that the IC community will join me in continuing the spirit of good public health practices as we venture into a new and prosperous year ahead. Below are the COVID-19 policies that the college will implement for the upcoming semester.
Vaccination Requirements
All new incoming and transfer students will be required to be fully vaccinated for the upcoming 2022-2023 academic year. Individuals are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after they have received a second dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine or two weeks after receiving a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. The college will continue to offer medical and religious exemptions for those unable to be vaccinated. The process for uploading proof of vaccination and for receiving an approved exemption can be found on the vaccination webpage.
For returning students, staying up to date with your COVID-19 boosters is highly recommended. We anticipate that the federal government will expand eligibility for additional boosters in the fall.
Faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and to stay up to date on all recommended booster shots.
Arrival Testing
All students will be required to test for COVID-19 before returning to campus. Students may elect to do a PCR test or an at-home antigen test. If electing to complete a PCR test, the test must be completed within 72 hours of returning to campus. If electing to complete an antigen test, the test must be completed within 24 hours of returning to campus. During the move-in process, residential students will be asked to show proof of their negative test results before they fully complete the check-in process. Printed or electronic lab results from a health provider, pictures of testing kits that show date and time, and physical test kits with clear results will all be accepted. For those unable to secure a test before returning to campus, testing will be available during the move-in process. Off-campus students will not need to go through the check-in process but are still required to test before returning to the Ithaca area. Off-campus students can email their test results to caremanager@ithaca.edu to meet their testing requirement.
Surveillance Testing
At this time, the college has discontinued its surveillance testing program for all individuals including those who are unvaccinated.
Testing Availability for Symptomatic Individuals
Individuals experiencing COVID-19 symptoms at any point throughout the semester can access rapid antigen testing at our new testing location in Boothroyd Hall. This testing will be free and available to all Ithaca College community members including faculty and staff. The saliva-based PCR testing that we used in the past will no longer be available on campus. This style of testing will only be accessible through Cayuga Health’s testing site at the Shops at Ithaca Mall or urgent care centers and will be charged to a student’s health insurance.
Face Covering Policy
Currently, Ithaca College does not have a mandatory face covering policy for most of campus. We continue to encourage that individuals wear face coverings based on personal comfort levels.
There are still some locations where face coverings will be required such as: Hammond Health Center, PT and OT Labs, Physician Assistant Program locations, and other health care setting locations. All these locations will have signage that clearly indicates that face coverings are required before entering building spaces. In addition, TCAT continues to require face coverings when using public transportation.
Quarantine and Isolation
The college has reserved Boothroyd Hall as the quarantine and isolation space for students this upcoming semester. Emerson Hall has been returned to regular housing inventory for students. Any residential student who becomes COVID-19 positive must be isolated in Boothroyd Hall. Any unvaccinated individuals who are deemed a close contact of a known positive case will also be required to quarantine in Boothroyd Hall. Wrap around care services will continue to be provided to all students in quarantine or isolation. Off-campus students should report their positive test results to caremanager@ithaca.edu for any positive test they receive throughout the semester.
Monkeypox
As we continue to plan and reinforce policies as they relate to COVID-19, we are also closely monitoring the worldwide spread of Monkeypox. Tompkins County and other surrounding counties have all reported their first cases in recent days. Policies and procedures are currently being developed and will be shared with the campus community when available.
Many of the things outlined above will mirror the look and feel of policies that we had in the Spring 2022 semester. While we are still being cautious for the upcoming semester, I am extremely hopeful for a positive semester ahead.
Sincerely,
Samm Swarts – Assistant Director of Emergency Preparedness & Response