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COVID Corner

The COVID-19 Corner was created to help students find answers to common questions that they have related to the Royals Safe Together Plan, University procedures, and related Student Life information. If you have a question that is not answered here or on the University's Royals Safe Together website, please contact Student Life at (570)941-7680 or studentlife@scranton.edu.

COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement

In an effort to best protect our campus and surrounding community, the University of Scranton will require that all students attending in-person classes or accessing campus for other reasons be fully vaccinated by August 27, 2021. Below are some frequently asked questions regarding this requirement. Should you have additional questions, please email vaccines@scranton.edu.

Yes. All students attending in-person classes or accessing campus for other reasons must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by August 27, 2021.

Vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2 virus is the best way to ensure the health and safety of our communities. While most young adults do not experience symptoms that would require hospitalization, they can transmit the virus to others in our community. It is the shared responsibility of all community members to keep safe not only our campus, but our surrounding Scranton community. Having a fully vaccinated campus will enable us to plan a fully in-person experience with less disruption from testing, isolation, and quarantine.

A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after a single dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnson/Janssen)  or two weeks after the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer and Moderna).

Students must be fully vaccinated by August 27, 2021. Timelines for vaccination differ depending on which vaccine you receive. Below is a chart that will help you plan for the August 27 deadline*.

Pfizer

Moderna

Johnson & Johnson

Before July 23rd (first dose)

Before July 16th (first dose)

Before August 13th

Before August 13th (second dose)

Before August 13th (second dose)

 

 

*Please note, if you need to come to campus earlier than August 27 (Resident Assistant, Orientation Assistant, Student Athlete, Student Officer, etc.), you need to plan and adjust your dates accordingly. Please check with your supervisor as to when you need to be back on campus and adjust the schedule accordingly.

Inquiries regarding waiving the COVID-19 vaccine requirement should be directed to Student Health Services, vaccines@scranton.edu. Please note that individuals who are not fully vaccinated due to a medical condition/religious exemption need to isolate if they develop COVID-19 and need to quarantine if a close contact of a person who is positive for COVID-19.

Students will upload their COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card from the CDC to their secure Student Health Portal. Detailed information regarding where to upload your card within the Portal is forthcoming. 

Per CDC guidelines for fully vaccinated persons, a individual who is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 need not quarantine if exposed to someone who is COVID-19 positive provided they are asymptomatic. 

No. While you are encouraged to get vaccinate as soon as possible, the requirement to be fully immunized against COVID-19 to attend classes or otherwise be on campus does not take effect until August 27th.

While much can change between now and August, as was shared in March 2021, the University plans to offer undergraduate and graduate classes fully in-person in fall 2021, excluding graduate programs that are traditionally online. Implementing a fully in-person approach will depend on a number of factors, including vaccination and infection rates, and will demand that we retain many of the safety measures now in place.

 

Other COVID FAQs

If you have a question that is not answered here or on the University's Royals Safe Together website, you are welcome to contact Student Life at (570)941-7680 or studentlife@scranton.edu.
  • Between 8:30am-4:30pm Monday – Friday, please call Student Health Services and speak to a medical professional about your symptoms and confirm whether you need to be tested.  
  • After business hours and on weekends, in case of medical emergency or significant symptoms, students should contact University Police
If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and decide to depart campus to go home prior to getting tested at Student Health Services, please note that you must get tested for COVID-19 through an off-campus provider, upload your test result to the Student Health Portal, and contact Student Health Services for guidance prior to returning to campus. 
Please call Student Health Services immediately to report your positive test result. This will ensure that the University is aware of your need for support and able to assign a Contact Tracer to work with you. If you receive your test result after hours or on the weekend, please call University Police to report your positive test result. 

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