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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.

 

Surveillance Testing FAQs

The University will continue conducting surveillance tests for all students, faculty and staff on campus during the Spring semester to proactively identify individuals with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, especially when they do not have symptoms. Identifying positive cases through this process is our intention and expectation. Doing so helps isolate individuals who may have been contagious but never develop symptoms.

If you have additional questions, regarding COVID testing please email covidtesting@scranton.edu

Testing occurs each week on Mondays and Tuesdays from 8am until 4pm at the Long Center Testing Site. Each week, students who are invited for testing will select a time that best fits their schedule on either day. 
Sstudents will be randomly selected for surveillance testing approximately 3-4 times per semester. If at any point during the semester more targeted testing is warranted, some students may be tested more frequently.  
Students receive an email from Dr. Davis, Vice President for Student Life, prompting their sign up. Students must complete the intake questionnaire and then schedule an appointment. After scheduling, students must order their test by logging in to LabPass using the credentials that they set up previously. 
  • Log into your LabPass account using the credentials you set up earlier this semester. 

A screen shot of the Lab Pass Log in

  • Click on Start and Order your test.  

A screen shot of how to order your test

  • Complete the questionnaire. Please make sure the information that may be autofilled is correct. Answer the questions completely and submit. Your test will be ordered in the system. You will go to the Long Center during your assigned time for your test. 
Yes, vaccinated individuals must adhere to the University’s health and safety requirements, including the requirement to participate in surveillance testing. 
It depends. If you tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days and have uploaded confirmation of your positive result to the Student Health Portal, you do not need to participate in surveillance testing. However, if you tested positive for COVID-19 more than 90 days ago, you need to participate in surveillance testing.  

Students will receive an email approximately two days after their test prompting them to login to their LabPass account to receive their test results.

A student who tests positive will receive a call from a medial professional from PWN health. This call will explain the result and need to isolate as well as answering any questions about the medical diagnosis. In addition to the initial notification, all students will be assigned a University contact tracer who will communicate regularly with the student during isolation.   

Once the University learns of a positive test result for a residential student, the student will receive a call from Residence Life to confirm their isolation plan. Generally, students are able to move to a temporary isolation space on campus or return home.  

It is possible that a student with a positive test result may know the result before the University contacts them. If a student learns they are positive for SARS-CoV-2 through their LabPass Account, the student must: 

  • wear a mask at all times, including in their room; 
  • refrain from leaving their room except to go to the bathroom; 
  • immediately avoid creating any new close contacts; and 
  • sanitize any common touch points. 
Invalid, inconclusive and TNP/Unsatisfactory have slightly different meanings. Inconclusive tests generally require a retest while invalid and TNP/Unsatisfactory results do not require a retest. Students who are required to retest will be contacted directly to arrange a test. Students who are not required to retest will still be invited to do so if they wish to.  
  • Invalid: Test did not detect a clear positive or negative result. Depending on the circumstances, students may need to be retested. Students will be contacted if they need to retest.  
  • Inconclusive: Test did not detect a clear positive or negative result, but a viral signal was detected. Students will be contacted to retest to confirm a positive or negative test.  
  • Test Not Processed (TNP) or Unsatisfactory: There was an issue with the sample itself and the Broad Institute was not able to process it. 

Isolation and Quarantine FAQs

Below are frequently asked questions regarding the University's COVID-19 procedures particularly as it relates to isolation and quarantine. Should you have additional questions, please email studentlife@scranton.edu. 
Isolation is used to separate people infected with COVID-19 from people who are not infected. People who have tested positive for COVID-19 must isolate to avoid transmission of the virus. Isolation is generally for 10 days after symptom onset provided symptoms are improving and fever has resolved for 24 hours without any fever-reducing medications. In the case of asymptomatic COVID-19 persons, isolation is generally for 10 days from the date the test was collected. 
Quarantine restricts the movement of people who had close contactt to a person who is positive with COVID-19 until they are no longer likely to develop COVID-19 to avoid possible transmission of the virus. Quarantine generally lasts for 10 days after the last close contact. However, a student who gets a quarantine test (PCR) on or after day 5 and tests negative may be released from quarantine as early as the end of day 7. The University will test students who are in quarantine. 
Students in quarantine are invited by their contact tracer to schedule a test for on or after day 5 of their quarantine. Given that students will only be offered one quarantine test, it is important that they sign up for a test to be administered on or after day 5 if they hope to be released prior to 10 days. Quarantine testing is generally held Monday through Friday between 11:30am – 1pm by appointment. Students with additional questions should consult their contact tracer.  
Students in I/Q on campus can receive lunch and dinner (with breakfast items included) twice daily. Students receive an email each night prompting them to choose meals for the next day. Students who don’t select meals will receive the standard meal. For questions related to meals, please email catering@scranton.edu.  

Off campus students who are on a meal plan may access meals at the Quincy Lot. Lunch and dinner are available daily.

Image of a food truck with information on how to pick up meals

faculty members are notified of your initial isolation or quarantine dates by the Provost’s Office upon receiving this information from Student Health Services. You should also reach out to your faculty individually to let them know of your situation and your desire to keep up with your coursework to the extent possible based on how you are feeling. In the event that your isolation is extended or your quarantine is reduced by your contact tracer, it’s important that you forward the email extending or reducing your time in I/Q to your faculty members so they know when to expect you back in the classroom.

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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