Start of semester testing requirements
Dear Cornell undergraduate students:
Last week, Cornell announced details for the start of the spring semester, including virtual instruction through Feb. 4, which will allow us to provide academic continuity as students move back to campus. Today, we are sharing further details on reentry protocols for undergraduate students.
To ensure the success of these plans, all students must complete a pre-departure test and upload the results to the recently launched Self-Reported Testing form (in Daily Check) prior to arriving in Ithaca. We also ask that students coordinate with their roommates to stagger their individual returns, to the extent possible.
Undergraduate students who are unable to find testing in their area and would like to request an at-home antigen test must complete the following form no later than 11:59 p.m. today, January 12.
Reporting positive test results
Any student who tested positive since the end of the fall semester must report their positive result through the Self-Reported Positive form on Daily Check. Anyone who has recently tested positive will be exempt from testing for up to 90 days from the date of your positive result. Students who tested positive at Cornell during the fall semester have already had their status updated in the Daily Check. When the 90 day period expires, students will return to required testing if applicable. All students should continue to refer to the Daily Check to confirm their testing status.
On-Campus Housing
Students living in residence halls, cooperative housing, Hasbrouck apartments, and residential fraternities and sororities this semester who have not tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days must do the following:
- Pre-Departure Testing: Before you depart for campus, test where you are using an at-home antigen kit or by PCR, 24 hours before your planned arrival in Ithaca and upload results to the Self-Reported Testing form in Daily Check.
International students who are required to submit a negative test in order to depart for the United States may submit this as their pre-departure test, assuming you are arriving directly in Ithaca. If you are not coming directly to Ithaca (i.e. spending more than 24 hours elsewhere before traveling to Ithaca), you will need to take another test 24 hours before your planned arrival in Ithaca and submit those results as your pre-departure test in the Daily Check.
Students who test positive prior to departing should isolate where they are and delay travel to campus until you have completed the required isolation period. - Arrival Testing: On the day of your arrival, you will pick up an antigen test from the RPCC, Willard Straight Hall, West Campus, or Bartels testing sites. You will be responsible for uploading results of this test to the Self-Reported Testing form in Daily Check the same day. Testing results not uploaded on the expected arrival date will result in some campus access restrictions, including Canvas the next day.
Please note: If you need to adjust your arrival date, please do so as soon as possible in the Spring Checklist and Housing Portal. - Enhanced Arrival Testing: Following arrival testing, you will complete twice weekly antigen testing through Feb 4. Tests will be available for pick up at the RPCC, Willard Straight Hall, West Campus, and Bartels testing sites throughout the Enhanced Testing period. You are responsible for completing and uploading the result from each test to the Self-Reported Testing form on your Daily Check homepage on the day you are assigned. Testing results not uploaded on the required date will result in campus access restrictions, including Canvas the next day.
Off-Campus Housing
Students living in off-campus housing who have not tested positive within the past 90 days must do the following:
- Pre-Departure Testing: Before you depart for campus, test where you are using an at-home antigen kit or by PCR, 24 hours before your planned arrival in Ithaca and upload results to the Self-Reported Testing form in Daily Check.
International students who are required to submit a negative test in order to depart for the United States may submit this as their pre-departure test, assuming you are arriving directly in Ithaca. If you are not coming directly to Ithaca (i.e. spending more than 24 hours elsewhere before traveling to Ithaca), you will need to take another test 24 hours before your planned arrival in Ithaca and submit those results as your pre-departure test in the Daily Check.
Students who test positive prior to departing should isolate where they are and delay travel to campus until you have completed the required isolation period. - Arrival Testing – returning before January 18: You will receive an email prompting you to schedule an arrival test at a Cornell testing site through the Daily Check. Your test date will be based on the arrival date you provided in the winter/spring checklist. This test must be completed within 24 hours of arrival.
- Arrival Testing – returning on or after January 18: Upon arrival, you will pick up an antigen test kit from the RPCC, Willard Straight Hall, West Campus, or Bartels testing sites and will be responsible for uploading results of this test to the Self-Reported Testing form on the day of your arrival. Testing results not uploaded on the expected arrival date will result in some campus access restrictions, including Canvas the next day.
Note: If you need to adjust your arrival date, please log in and update your Spring Checklist as soon as possible. - Enhanced Arrival Testing: Following arrival testing, you will be enrolled in twice weekly enhanced arrival testing as assigned through the Daily Check. This will be completed with PCR testing at Cornell test sites. The grace period to complete this test has been reduced to 24 hours. Tests not completed within this timeframe will result in campus access restrictions, including Canvas.
High-quality masks
In addition to vaccination, wearing a high-quality, well-fitting mask continues to be one of the best ways to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. It is our expectation that students, faculty, staff and visitors will wear high-quality masks (e.g., medical/surgical mask, KN95, KF95, N95, or FFP2) when indoors. Masks should also be worn outdoors when physical distancing is not feasible. Masks will be made available to anyone who needs one. Students can pick up masks along with their arrival test.
Spring Semester Forum
As a reminder, there will be a spring semester forum today at 4:30 p.m. ET for students and their families. Please register here and take a moment to review the recent message to our campus community from President Pollack outlining the rationale for our start-of-semester plans.
Thank you for your attention to these many details as we prepare to welcome students back to campus.
Sincerely,
Ryan Lombardi
Vice President for Student and Campus Life