UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As Penn State prepares for the start of the new academic year, the University is reminding students, faculty, staff and visitors of changes to COVID-19 policies and the available resources.
- Masking: All students, faculty, staff and visitors — regardless of vaccination status — are required to wear masks in indoor public areas at all Penn State campuses.
- Vaccines: Penn State strongly encourages all individuals to receive a COVID-19 vaccination as soon as they are able, if they have not done so already. Throughout the fall semester, Penn State will have vaccines available on or near all campuses. At University Park, University Health Services will offer appointments for vaccines on Thursdays and Fridays beginning Sept. 2. UHS also hosted a vaccine clinic on Aug. 23 and 24 where students could receive their first or second dose of the Moderna vaccine. Students can schedule appointments online through UHS. The CDC’s vaccines.gov website provides a list of nearby providers, including hospitals, doctor’s offices, pharmacies, department stores and grocery stores where individuals can receive a COVID-19 vaccination.
- Vaccination Status: Students at University Park campus, Commonwealth Campuses and Dickinson Law should upload their vaccination status through myUHS. University employees and World Campus students can upload their vaccination status through Salesforce Health Cloud.
- Required Student and Employee Testing: Students and employees who are unvaccinated and those who have not shared with the University that they have been fully vaccinated will be subject to required testing during the fall semester.
- Symptomatic Testing: University Park students who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 can schedule a testing appointment with University Health Services via myUHS. Commonwealth Campus students can seek symptomatic testing via their campus’ health services or local provider. Employees who wish to undergo symptomatic testing should schedule an appointment with their health care provider.
- On-Demand Testing: At University Park campus, student on-demand testing is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Friday at Pegula Ice Arena, and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Friday at White Building for all students living on and off campus. At all Commonwealth Campuses, student tests will be distributed by the student health center or designated office, or ordered through the mail via the Vault Health mail-in test kit. Students should contact their campus student health center or office of student affairs for more information. All Penn State employees can seek testing through their health care provider or other local COVID-19 testing options. Employees may also order a Vault Health mail-in test kit.
- Quarantine and Isolation: Penn State will be offering space on or near campus for students who live on campus who need to quarantine or isolate. A robust quarantine and isolation support system is designed to help students continue their studies uninterrupted, maintain their physical and mental health, stay connected and complete their quarantine or isolation period with ease.
- Contact Tracing: Penn State’s contact tracing process focuses on identifying, notifying and monitoring students and employees who came in close contact with a student or employee who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, or is presumed positive, while they were infectious. If Penn State or Department of Health contact tracers reach out, it’s important for students and employees to engage with them and provide information about where they have been and with whom they have been in contact. Protected health information will be kept confidential.
- COVID-19 Response Center: The COVID-19 Response Center is available online and at 814-865-2121 to answer questions and concerns from faculty, staff, students and their families. The center is available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
- University Health Services (UHS): UHS is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. UHS can be reached at 814-863-0774, and offers a 24/7 advice nurse at 814-863-4463. Students may schedule an appointment through myUHS.
- Commonwealth Campus Health Services: Each Penn State campus offers health services for students. Locations, hours and contact information for each campus health office can be found here.
- Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): CAPS is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached at 814-863-0395. CAPS offers a 24/7 crisis line. The crisis line can be reached anytime at 877-229-6400 or by texting “LIONS” to 74141.
- Student Support: Penn State Student Affairs offers an array of resources to support students, ranging from health and wellness to housing, food, safety and advocacy.
- Employee Services: Penn State Human Resources Occupational Medicine office is available to answer employees questions related to health, including COVID, and Leave and Absence Management can assist with Family Medical and Leave Act requests, leaves of absences and related concerns.
For the latest news and information on Penn State’s response to pandemic, go to virusinfo.psu.edu.