Campus Life

University Park students urged to utilize walk-up COVID-19 testing

Students can get a rapid test at no cost six days a week at two campus testing sites

At University Park, walk-up testing for students is available at the Hintz Family Alumni Center and the Pegula Ice Arena from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State urges University Park students to take advantage of the walk-up COVID-19 testing on campus if they are concerned that they may have been exposed to the coronavirus. As part of Penn State’s augmented spring 2021 testing strategy, the University has increased the availability of walk-up testing for students and added a second testing site compared to the fall semester.  

Walk-up testing is available for students who are identified in the University’s contact tracing process or who believe they may have been in close contact with an individual who tested positive for COVID-19. It doesn't matter if they were tested last month, last week or yesterday — if a student is concerned that they may be at risk, they are strongly encouraged to get tested again and frequently for the rest of the semester.

At University Park, walk-up testing for students is available at the Hintz Family Alumni Center and the Pegula Ice Arena from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. 

The walk-up testing at University Park utilizes rapid tests. A student who tests positive will take a secondary PCR test to confirm the positive result. At this point they will be referred to isolation and the University’s contact tracing process will be initiated. If the secondary PCR test is negative, the student will receive information from Contact Tracing about leaving isolation. If the secondary test is positive, the student will complete their 10-day isolation period. More information about what to expect in quarantine and isolation is available online at virusinfo.psu.edu.

University Park students who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should continue to schedule testing appointments with University Health Services (UHS) via myUHS (review UHS's hours of operation). Students living on or near other Penn State campuses should seek symptomatic testing via their campus’ health services or a local provider.

More information on University COVID-19 testing is available online at virusinfo.psu.edu.

Last Updated March 10, 2021