Important timelines for upcoming (spring 2021) semester

As we usher in the new year and prepare for the upcoming semester, I write today to share some important timelines associated with our Winter and Spring Forward 2021 Plan.

The plan continues to focus on the health and safety of our campus community and strives to increase the engagement our students have with one another, as well as expand the services and support our faculty and staff provide to all members of our campus community.  The following are some key elements of the Plan that we want to emphasize and share with you in preparation for the spring 2021 semester.

• All spring 2021 classes begin on Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. The spring semester will begin with a blend of face-to-face (25%), hybrid (25%) and remote (50%) coursework. Two Wellness Days are scheduled for February 24 and March 23 when classes will be cancelled to provide our students with a much needed break.
  
  
• Students’ phased return to campus this spring – Beginning January 24 through January 28, 2021, all new and returning residential students will move into their residence halls. Note: RA’s, student workers, and some international students will return Jan. 21 – 22.  Residence Life and Housing staff will communicate and work directly with students to schedule their return as well as their mandatory COVID-19 testing.
  
  
• Baseline COVID-19 testing – All students are required to test on campus (at our Lee Hall Testing Center) before they are allowed to move into their residence halls.  All students, including students residing off-campus and coming to campus for any reason, must be tested on or before Thursday, January 28, in order to receive test results before classes begin on Monday, Feb. 1, 2021.  Questions about testing may be directed to covidtesting@oswego.edu.  Note: Students who have tested positive for COVID-19 within 90 days of arrival are exempt from participating in campus testing, but must provide evidence of the positive test result to SUNY Oswego’s Health Services office at whealth@oswego.edu. 
  
  
• What students need to do before they come back to campus this spring
  
  
• Pre-Screen Daily for 14 Days Prior to Arrival – All students coming to campus for any reason must pre-screen daily for travel history, COVID-19 history and COVID-19 symptoms beginning 14 days prior to arriving on campus for the spring 2021 semester. The student pre-screening form can be found via the patient portal (under the COVID Status tab).  For example, if you are an RA or student worker planning to return to campus on Jan. 21, you will need to begin filling out the daily pre-screen form today, Jan. 7, and continue to do so for the next 14 days.  If you are a residential student planning to return on Jan. 24, you should begin your daily pre-screening on Sunday, Jan. 10.  Off-campus students who will be coming to campus for classes, services and resources should begin their daily pre-screening 14 days prior to their scheduled COVID test on campus.
  
  
• Quarantine for 7 Days Prior to Arrival – All students coming to campus for any reason must complete a seven-day precautionary quarantine prior to returning to campus.  All SUNY Oswego students who are coming to campus must attest that they have quarantined for 7 days and agree to the Oswego ‘Spring Forward’ Pledge prior to baseline testing.  Visit the Oswego Forward Pledge website to “take the pledge.”
  
  
• Participate in Surveillance Testing throughout the Semester – All students and employees coming to campus must regularly participate in COVID-19 surveillance testing throughout the spring 2021 semester.

The Winter and Spring Forward 2021 Plan will be posted on the Oswego Forward website upon receiving approval from SUNY, and will contain detailed information on academic instruction and important academic calendar dates; campus services, student support and resources (health, counseling, technology, advisement, etc.); isolation and quarantine guidelines and protocols; personal protective equipment (PPE); wastewater testing; outbreak response and containment; and a helpful, new appendix titled “What Students Should Know: COVID-19 and Returning to Campus.”

I hope you all enjoyed the holidays and are taking advantage of a much deserved break, or are already participating in the career development opportunities offered this winter as part of the newly launched Imagine 2021 program.  We will be in touch with you in the coming days and weeks to provide important details and updated instructions regarding your return to campus in late January.  

Stay safe and healthy.  We look forward to seeing you all soon!

Warm regards,

Deborah F. Stanley
President