That means it is time for you to get vaccinated if you will be on the SUNY Oswego campus this fall.  You have time now to begin with your first shot and maybe even get your second shot before you come to campus.

The vaccines are safe and effective, and are offered at most pharmacies, doctor’s offices, and New York State-run vaccination sites. Find a COVID-19 vaccine site near you at https://www.vaccines.gov/search.

Beginning Sunday, August 15, SUNY Oswego will provide the vaccine to you free of charge right here on campus if you are unable to get vaccinated (or get your second shot of the vaccine) before your arrival for the fall semester.  Hours of operation at our Vaccination Center in Swetman gymnasium (on the lower level of the Marano Campus Center) will soon be posted to the Oswego Forward website so you can plan to get your first shot and then complete the vaccination series.

If You Are Already Vaccinated, Submit Proof of Vaccination

At this time, fully vaccinated students and employees can plan to enjoy a vibrant in-person campus experience at SUNY Oswego this fall.  All students who are fully vaccinated should submit proof of vaccination as soon as possible.

• Students should submit their COVID vaccine record within the Medicat Patient Portal

Exemptions

Any student may request an exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination requirements on the basis of a medical or religious exemption. To receive an exemption, a student must meet very specific criteria.  SUNY Oswego’s Health Services staff will review all exemption requests received in the same way the campus considers requests for exemptions from measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) immunization requirements.  However, students who are granted a medical or religious exemption will still be subject to certain restrictions and will also be required to comply with weekly COVID-19 testing responsibilities detailed in this guidance.

Students should submit their request for an exemption by completing and uploading an exemption request form located within the Medicat Patient Portal.  Exemption requests must be submitted by August 9, 2021.


Specific Rules for Masks and Social Distancing  

All individuals, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, must wear masks in all classroom settings through September 24 -- at which time we will assess the vaccination rate on our campus.

Outside of the classroom setting, vaccinated students are not required to wear a mask or physically distance, per CDC guidelines.  

Unvaccinated students must wear a face mask at all times (inside and outside) when gathering with others, and/or at in-person events, in all locations except when eating or drinking or when alone. Unvaccinated students are also required to maintain social distance in all campus settings where practicable.


New Rules on COVID-19 Testing

The college will test ALL students, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, upon their arrival to campus during scheduled move-in times in the Testing Center, which will be located in the Swetman gymnasium (lower level of the Marano Campus Center).  All residential students must be tested before moving into their residence halls.  Off-campus, commuter, and Syracuse campus students will test on dates to be determined prior to the start of classes on Monday, August 23, 2021.

Students who are not fully vaccinated will be required to test weekly throughout the semester.  

Prior to Testing: In order to participate in campus testing, you must first register your profile with the SUNY Upstate Medical portal before coming to the testing center: (https://app.clarifi-covid-19.com/). If you registered last semester or earlier this summer, please check to be sure your profile is updated in the Upstate portal.

International Students: International students who are not fully vaccinated must quarantine for 7 days after their test.  Following the 7-day quarantine, international students will be tested again and weekly thereafter until they are fully vaccinated.


Privileges for Vaccinated Students

Fully vaccinated students will still be required to mask in classrooms until September 24 but will be able to enjoy:

• Full access to campus facilities, all clubs and organizations, and campus events;  
• Participation in Intercollegiate Athletics, club sports, intramurals, campus recreation activities or offerings;
• Access to/use of Fitness Centers on campus.

Requirements and Restrictions for Unvaccinated Students

ALL unvaccinated students coming to campus—living on-campus or off campus-- will be welcome on campus and have access to their education, but will be prohibited from participating in:

• Intercollegiate Athletics;
• Club sports, intramurals, campus recreation activities or offerings, nor access/use Fitness Centers on campus;
• Clubs and organizations that engage in high-impact, high-exertion and/or physical activity (e.g., dance, choir/music, etc.);
• Living and/or entering any campus residence hall.

Additionally, unvaccinated students will be required to:

• Mask in all classes and in many other designated venues as long as they remain unvaccinated;
• Social distance wherever practicable;
• Be tested for COVID-19 weekly.

General Information

• Students who are working as student teachers or interns, including those in on- and off-campus placements, are expected to comply with vaccination and other safety guidance established by those placements.  
• All students, employees and/or visitors who come into Health Services, or use public transportation must wear a mask at all times (regardless of vaccination status), in accordance with CDC and NYS health guidelines.
• All students and employees who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate pursuant to instructions by the local health department where the student or employee resides.
• Oneida Hall will be dedicated to providing both isolation and quarantine this fall for on-campus students.
• Input to our Daily Screening App is no longer required for any student or employee, however those who exhibit any of the following symptoms should not come to campus: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea.
• All visitors who are not fully vaccinated are required to wear masks on state-operated campuses (in both indoor and outdoor settings) and follow social distancing guidelines.
• This Fall Forward information is subject to change per New York State guidelines and/or if SUNY Oswego experiences an increase in the rate of COVID-19 infections on our campus or in the greater Oswego community.

We are grateful for the majority of SUNY Oswego students and employees who have already protected themselves and others by getting vaccinated.  You are helping our campus community restore as much campus activity and engagement this fall.  In addition to requiring our residential students to get vaccinated by September 24, we highly encourage our non-residential students and all our employees to get vaccinated (and submit verification of vaccination) so we can achieve our own version of herd immunity on the SUNY Oswego campus.

If you have any questions, please direct them to oswego-forward@oswego.edu.

Enjoy the rest of your summer and we’ll see you in the coming days and weeks.

Regards,

Deborah F. Stanley
President