Dear students, staff and faculty:
We wanted to provide you with an update about COVID-19 and new changes from the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) that took place as of March 2024. The CDC has changed COVID guidance to mirror other respiratory virus guidelines, like the flu and RSV.
The new guidelines state to stay home and away from others until your symptoms begin to improve for 24 hours and you are fever-free without the use of medications for 24 hours. It also advises using prevention strategies for the next five days to prevent infecting others (wear a mask, social distance, etc.).
COVID is not an automatic excuse for absence from classes. If you are unable to attend classes for three consecutive days or more, please contact Health Services or the Office of the Dean of Students to see if an out-of-class notice can be sent to your professors. Please note that the out-of-class notice is not an excused absence. Please see the “Class Attendance” information in the “University Standards and Policies” section of the Undergraduate Catalog for more information about out-of-class notices.
We advise contacting your professors if you will be absent from class, as they will direct you on the procedure for absences in their class.
Remember, the best ways to prevent getting sick are to wash your hands before you eat or touch your face, get immunized, have good air circulation and fresh air, stay home when you are sick, get six to eight hours of sleep a night and follow good nutrition habits.
Watch for upcoming flu vaccine clinics on campus in Swetman Gym with Wegmans (10/8 and 10/28). You can use this link to schedule immunizations within 30 days of a clinic.
Looking forward to a happy and healthy fall semester,
The Health Services Staff