Dear SUNY Oswego Students,
I am writing to let you know that we are eager and excited to welcome you to campus next month. During the warm and sunny days of summer on Lake Ontario, our faculty and staff have been planning for you to have a vibrant academic experience with active campus life opportunities and expertly preparing the campus for the health and safety of our entire campus community.
And you have a huge role in assuring that we can keep our campus open and thriving. You can protect yourselves and others. If together we can prevent or keep extremely low any community spread of COVID-19, we will be successful as the semester progresses.
I am writing to let you know that we are eager and excited to welcome you to campus next month. During the warm and sunny days of summer on Lake Ontario, our faculty and staff have been planning for you to have a vibrant academic experience with active campus life opportunities and expertly preparing the campus for the health and safety of our entire campus community.
And you have a huge role in assuring that we can keep our campus open and thriving. You can protect yourselves and others. If together we can prevent or keep extremely low any community spread of COVID-19, we will be successful as the semester progresses.
Here is what you must do:
- By August 3, 2020, read and accept the Oswego Forward Pledge (available upon log in to myOswego). SUNY Oswego acknowledges how vital our students are as members of our college community. It is why we are requiring all students to agree to the Oswego Forward Pledge and clearly define for yourselves what it means to be a responsible and caring person in society today. By agreeing to the Pledge, you are confirming your commitment to taking care of yourself and, through your own considerate actions, helping to safeguard the health and safety of your fellow students and all other Lakers on campus. Log in to myOswego to read and agree to the Oswego Forward Pledge by Aug. 3, 2020.
- Self-quarantine at home for 7 days prior to arriving in Oswego / on campus to lessen the exposure opportunity to COVID-19. For example, if you are a new student (freshman or transfer) and are slated to move in on Aug. 14, you should self-quarantine at home from Aug. 7 – Aug. 13. If you are a returning student and scheduled to return to campus on Aug. 23, you should self-quarantine from Aug. 16 – Aug. 22. It is important to note that off-campus students must also self-quarantine at home or in their off-campus residence for 7 days.
- Fill out the COVID Pre-Arrival Screening form 7 days prior to arriving in Oswego / on campus. All students returning to SUNY Oswego or the Syracuse campus for the fall 2020 semester are required to complete the COVID Pre-Arrival Screening form 7 days prior to their arrival. Please do not complete this form any earlier than 7 days prior. To access the screening, visit http://Oswego.medicatconnect.com; the form is located in the "Forms" tab in the Patient Portal. We ask that you complete this screening questionnaire to help maintain the health and safety of our community.
- You must self-quarantine for 14 days (on campus or off) upon arrival in New York if you are coming internationally or from any State listed as restricted on a New York State travel advisory, and complete the online traveler health form as required by New York State. This NYS-required health form has to be completed online but the traveler should take a screenshot of the last page and email a copy (from their Oswego email address) to deanofstudents@oswego.edu. If you have traveled internationally or to any of the restricted states and want to self-quarantine on campus, beginning Aug. 10, please contact Residence Life and Housing at reslife@oswego.edu.
- Complete an Online Health and Safety Training Module. All students will be asked to complete an online health and safety COVID-19 training that provides information on how to complete the daily health screening form and instructions on social distancing, personal hygiene, face coverings, early identification of COVID-19 symptoms and how to report symptoms. The Division of Student Affairs is developing this training through Blackboard and it will be sent to you via email in early August.
- Bring and wear your own personal masks upon arrival to campus. We will give you two face coverings (cloth masks) upon “check-in.” But bring and wear your own personal mask(s) upon arrival to campus. Face masks are a big deal; use them!
Here is some additional Information:
- Move-In: All students planning to live in SUNY Oswego residential housing should have received guidance from our Office of Residence Life and Housing. Students who are planning to live off-campus in the Oswego community should contact their landlords or property managers for information about move-in as well as any pertinent details related to health and safety expectations and requirements. Please contact Residence Life and Housing at reslife@oswego.edu should you have any additional follow-up questions.
- COVID-19 Testing: SUNY Oswego is planning to provide a highly reliable, saliva baseline test for all students who plan to be on campus this fall, as well as students who have traveled from outside New York State. The college plans to test students upon their arrival to campus (during scheduled move-in times for new and returning residential students, and on dates to be determined for off-campus and commuter students). The tests will be performed on campus and processed within 24 hours.
- Daily Health Screening: We will be requiring all students to complete a daily online COVID-19 screening (via Oswego’s Patient Portal) each day BEFORE leaving their residence hall room or off-campus residence.
- Webinars: SUNY Oswego will also be offering informational webinars to interested students and their families. Beginning this Sunday and running throughout the first week of August, webinars will be held on the following topics: Student Move-in for First Year and Transfer Students / Returning Students (Aug. 2 and 3); Student and Campus Life (Aug. 4); and Academics & Course Instruction (Aug. 6). To register, visit the Oswego Forward webinars site.
I hope you find this information helpful as you and your families plan for your arrival to Oswego. We will continue to provide updates over the next several weeks if there are any changes to our reopening plans or if we receive additional health department and State guidelines. If you have any questions, please submit them via email to oswego-forward@oswego.edu. Until then, please enjoy the rest of your summers and stay safe. You will be here next month!
Best Regards,
Deborah F. Stanley
President