DOS Update: URGENT Pre-Arrival Requirements for Early Arrivals
Dear Students,
You are receiving this message because you are scheduled to arrive on campus early. With your arrival date fast approaching, we’re writing to provide notice of some new pre-arrival requirements in light of increased concerns about COVID-19 in our community and worldwide. Even though Vermont has the highest vaccination rates in the nation, prevalence of the virus is expected to continue to rise in coming weeks, so we are taking some additional precautions.
Pre-Arrival COVID-19 Test Requirement
Effective immediately, all students (except those recently recovered from COVID-19 as described below), regardless of vaccination status, must provide proof of a negative PCR COVID-19 test taken within three days (72 hours) before their arrival.
Proof of Negative Test Result
Proof of a negative result must be provided in paper copy form, physically presented upon arrival. If you arrive without a paper copy of your negative test result, you will not be permitted into campus housing, facilities, or classes until you provide one. Additional information about where to present your paper copy of test results will be provided by your group leader or coach soon.
Positive Test Result Procedure
If you receive a positive result from your pre-arrival test, do not come to campus. Immediately contact Health Services at 802-443-3290, and they will advise you of your options. This is a necessary measure given the increasing prevalence of the Delta variant of COVID-19 worldwide.
Recent Exposure
If you have been exposed to someone you know or believe has COVID-19 in the last 10 days, or who is currently experiencing COVID-19 symptoms do not come to campus. Immediately contact Health Services for further instructions at 802-443-3290.
Recently Recovered Students
Consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, students who have recovered from COVID-19 within the previous 90 days are not required to be tested or to undergo travel-related quarantine. Students to whom this applies must contact Health Services at least three business days prior to arrival to be exempted from these requirements. Students in this category also will need to print their exemption communication from Health Services and present it to their early arrival leader in place of a PCR test result.
Declaring a Point of Origin
It is essential that we know where you will be travelling to campus from. All students are therefore required to declare their point of origin using this form. Please note that we do not anticipate that last year’s COVID-19 conduct policy will be needed this year. However, in accordance with our overall conduct policy, due to the importance of collecting this information, being untruthful in completing this form with false information will be considered a serious conduct violation and referred to the Office of Community Standards.
Personal Evacuation Plan and Emergency Contact Information
All students are required to have a personal evacuation plan on file. It is essential that you immediately create one if you have not done so, and review and update your plan if you already have one. If an evacuation becomes necessary, you will be expected to implement your plan. Students are also required to provide up-to-date emergency contact information. Updates to existing evacuation plans and emergency contacts may be made by logging in to BannerWeb and selecting the Personal Information tab. Incoming new students can enter this information via the pre-arrival checklist process shared by the orientation team.
Thank you for your attention to these important updates. We look forward to seeing you on campus soon.
Sincerely,
Derek Doucet
Dean of Students