糖心传媒

Skip to content
COVID-19 Resource Center
Resources

Students: What to expect for the fall 2021 semester on campus

August 16, 2021

  • SHARE

Students: What to expect for the fall 2021 semester on campus

  • SHARE

Updated August 26, 2021

As guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and from New York State continues to be updated, the Coronavirus University Restart Team (CURT) and senior leadership have updated the guidance for the fall on the University糖心传媒檚 non-Medical Center campuses.

Currently, Monroe County’s rate of COVID infections is 糖心传媒渉igh,糖心传媒� according to the (CDC), meaning wearing a mask indoors in public and shared spaces will maximize individuals糖心传媒� protection from the Delta variant. These guidelines will be updated as additional CDC, county and New York State guidance is distributed, so please check back regularly to the COVID-19 Resource Center site. For the latest Medical Center updates, see the .

Explore topics

Here are some of the ways the campuses will operate to start the fall semester. Click on the topics boxes below or scroll down the page to see more details.

Face masking

On August 10, 2021, the University of Rochester reinstated a face-masking requirement for everyone indoors on the University糖心传媒檚 campuses and properties, regardless of vaccination status. This is intended to be a temporary safety measure until COVID transmission rates have declined sufficiently in Monroe County, and if COVID-19 case numbers remain low at the University; visit the University糖心传媒檚 COVID-19 Dashboard for updates on confirmed cases on all University campuses.

All students, faculty, staff, visitors, and tenants糖心传媒攊ncluding those who are fully vaccinated糖心传媒攎ust wear a face mask while indoors on any of the University糖心传媒檚 campuses and properties. For full details on the face mask requirements on the Medical Center campus, see the (URMC credentials required).

This University-wide face-masking mandate differs from policies in place during the last academic year in that physical distancing is not currently part of the requirement. As part of the current mandate:

  • Fully vaccinated students, faculty, and staff who are alone and not in a public or shared space may unmask.
  • Any in-person meetings or group activities in conference rooms or other indoor spaces should be conducted with everyone being masked糖心传媒攔egardless of vaccination status.
  • In the classroom, fully vaccinated instructors who can maintain greater than 6 feet distance from all class participants can unmask while instructing; class attendees must remain masked and the instructor should re-mask when class instruction is complete.
  • When eating in Rochester Dining locations or other public or shared spaces on campus, everyone should remain masked up to the point of starting a snack, or meal, remove their face mask to eat, and then re-mask when done.
  • In on-campus student living spaces, students may be unmasked in their room with their roommate(s) or 糖心传媒渇amily unit糖心传媒� (family units are defined in the FAQ). All other times, students should be masked.
  • Outdoors, everyone who is not fully vaccinated should wear a face mask on campus when physical distancing isn糖心传媒檛 possible.
  • Face masks continue to be required for everyone on the University shuttles.

Dr. Chat Bot

Dr. Chat Bot is a brief daily health screening for COVID-19 symptoms that helps to keep the University community healthy and help UHS closely monitor student health and wellness on campus. Students complete Dr. Chat Bot on a smartphone, tablet, or computer.

Dr. Chat Bot participation continues to be required daily for all students who are physically on any University campus or property at any time of day or night, including fully vaccinated students. Students with a medical or religious exemption to the vaccine should complete Dr. Chat Bot every day, even if not on campus.

To access the Dr. Chat Bot screening tool, students should use . Students should enter the credentials they use for University wireless (UR Connected). Dr. Chat Bot is also available through the UR Mobile app.

Daily emails will help remind everyone to complete their Dr. Chat Bot survey, and text messages will be delivered to on-campus students who register their cell number in .

Surveillance testing

The University has developed a plan for surveillance testing for the academic year. UHS will conduct random surveillance COVID testing of both on-campus and off-campus undergraduate and graduate students who have received a medical or religious exemption to the vaccine, and those who are in the process of completing their vaccination requirement (second dose, two weeks after final dose). The first test will be a rapid test and, if positive, a second PCR test will be used to confirm the positive rapid test. Fully vaccinated students will not be called upon, but this may be subject to change as the semester progresses.

UHS will also continue to provide COVID tests to symptomatic students throughout the semester.

Dining options and spaces

Students living and/or taking classes on the University糖心传媒檚 River Campus or Eastman School of Music can again expect full occupancies at campus dining locations, and some limited dining space will be available for those who wish to be physically distant.

When eating in Rochester Dining locations or other public or shared spaces on campus, everyone should remain masked up to the point of starting a snack, or meal, remove their face mask to eat, and then re-mask when done. For more information about the opening of Dining Services campus operations, please check the .

The shared kitchens on River Campus residence hall floors are open with access to microwaves and sinks.

Eating in a classroom during instruction is not permitted, and drinking (water bottles, coffee, etc.) should be minimized as much as possible. This update, which applies to classrooms on all campuses, is made in effort to minimize the potential of COVID transmission. Classes with formal events or other activities with food are allowed and should follow聽University rules聽about events and gatherings.

Gatherings and events

Currently, there are no limits on the number of participants for events and activities, but this is subject to change based on guidance from New York State or the CDC. The contains all event listings for happenings, performances, classes and programs, and more throughout the University, and indicates whether the format of the event is in-person or virtual.

In AS&E, Wilson Commons and Eastman Student Activities are continuing to plan events and activities to engage students. All events will be listed on CCC and can be filtered by in-person, hybrid, and remote activities. The beginning of the semester will feature the Rochester tradition Yellowjacket Weekend, featuring a carnival on Wilson Quad food, games, rides, and giveaways.

The Goergen Athletic Center糖心传媒檚 tennis courts, pool, fitness center and additional exercise areas are fully open. Face masks are required indoors.

Eastman students will receive detailed information about music-making protocols, including practice room and ensemble procedures, in coming days. The update will be posted shortly on .

Guests and visitors (in residence halls)

Currently, there are no COVID restrictions against having another student or visitor in a residence hall room, other than everyone must be masked. And existing Residential Life policies related to guests and visitation remain in effect.

This is subject to change, however, as the conditions of the pandemic change over the course of the semester.

Travel policies

With all travel, individuals must adhere to any standards and travel advisories set by New York State and the CDC and meet any additional restrictions required by the state and local jurisdiction to which they are traveling.

Everyone traveling internationally should review the entry requirements of the destination and considerations for an intended return to the US. If your visa has expired, your return trip could be delayed as many US Consular offices remain closed or with limited services available (). Additionally, travelers from certain areas are subject to US entry restrictions, which can change with little notice (see State Department糖心传媒檚 summary of聽聽and national interest exceptions). Students on visas sponsored by the University should contact the 聽prior to travel to secure any needed travel authorizations for visa purposes.

Quarantine and isolation

For undergraduate students, the University has reserved some quarantine and isolation space for suspected or confirmed COVID cases in its campus housing in Whipple Park. UHS will continue to support students in quarantine and isolation, arranging plans for routine follow-up care.聽Telehealth visits can be arranged with the Campus Counseling Center (UCC).聽Students who require higher level health care will be referred to Strong Memorial Hospital.

When a student enters Whipple Park for quarantine or isolation, support will be provided by units including the CARE Network and Dining Services, among others. Dining will share all options for food which will be delivered to the student糖心传媒檚 room.聽Care and support coordinators in each of the schools will coordinate support and services for students.

Plan for tracking and responding to infection surge

The University will follow CDC, New York State, and Monroe County guidance as warnings of a COVID surge in Monroe County or among the University community become apparent, The CURT and the University Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) will continue to coordinate University planning.聽 These groups will respond to significant changes with consideration of additional control interventions (e.g., limitations on gatherings, limitation on in-person instruction, shutdown certain operations or areas) and/or enhanced surveillance (e.g. asymptomatic testing).