Spring 2022 Semester Update: Return Testing, Vaccinations, Campus Facilities

By Daniel DiPrinzio | January 6, 2022

Dear Arcadia Community,

This update contains additional information regarding the spring 2022 semester. As stated, the semester will begin as scheduled on Tuesday, Jan. 18 with courses starting online; in-person instruction begins Monday, Jan. 31. 

Please note that we have seen a spike in reported COVID cases in the Arcadia community. As the Omicron variant spreads locally and globally, Arcadia is working quickly to stagger demand on campus operations and adapt our protocols for health and safety.

Vaccinations and Boosters

Arcadia strongly recommends and follows the CDC guidelines that vaccinated people 18 and older receive a booster to increase their level of protection. 

  • Arcadia is following the CDC’s recently updated guidance on quarantine and isolation which defines a person who is more than six months out from their vaccination (or two months out for J&J vaccine) as unvaccinated. It is crucial for members of the Arcadia community to receive their booster shots if they are now eligible for them. 

  • Arcadia is offering COVID booster clinics on Thursday, Jan. 13, and Thursday, Jan. 20, from noon to 2 p.m.

  • Individuals can receive the COVID booster on their own from local and county health clinics, physician offices, and area pharmacies and stores, including participating Rite Aid, CVS, Walgreens, Giant, Costco and other stores. Check your area for locations and appointment requirements.
     

Return to Campus COVID Testing 

Testing will play a crucial role in managing the return to campus. We expect all community members to be tested as close as possible to their return to campus.

  • All students (undergraduate and graduate), faculty, and staff, regardless of vaccination status, are to get tested upon returning to campus. Testing will start on Monday, Jan. 10 and take place in the Commuter Lounge in Heinz Hall. Test results will not be immediately available, and individuals may continue to be on campus while awaiting those results while practicing proper COVID safety measures.

  • Moving in and Residential Living: Students can move in between Jan. 16 and Jan. 31. Residents should check their email for specific directions from Campus Life about how to sign up for their move-in and testing appointments. All students are required to test upon entry to campus. 

  • Students, staff, and faculty who test positive for COVID over winter break must report it through the Self Disclosure Form. 

Scheduling Your Return to Campus Test

Arcadia is using GENETWORx to conduct return to campus and surveillance testing for COVID. To schedule your PCR COVID test with Arcadia you will need to utilize GENETWORx’s app.

  • On Friday, Jan. 7, you will receive an important email from info@auratracker.org to access GENETWORx’s app, Aura Sequential Testing, to schedule your Return to Campus COVID-19 Testing and view your test results. (Please check your spam inbox if you do not see the email in your primary inbox.)

  • The subject line will read “Aura.” Once you open, set your password. Please be sure to sign both consent forms upon first logging into Aura.

  • If you experience any issues with any of the above, please submit a request for assistance as a ticket through Aura’s support website or call the hotline at 844-224-0011.

     

Weekly Surveillance COVID Testing

COVID Care Team maintains a regular testing schedule for students, faculty, and staff.  This is regular COVID testing that occurs AFTER return-to-campus testing has been completed.

  • Community members who are unvaccinated will need to continue to test on a weekly basis on campus. Arcadia currently defines “unvaccinated” as individuals who have not received two doses of Moderna or Pfizer or one dose of Johnson and Johnson. This definition is subject to change as more data becomes available.
     
  • Vaccinated community members are encouraged to “opt-in” to weekly surveillance testing.  
     
  • Community members need to register for Aura using the directions above.
     

Returning to Campus for the Spring Semester 

  • Athletics: Athletics will continue to follow regulations and guidelines from the NCAA, MAC, and related sports organizations, as well as state and regional public health organizations. Athletics will communicate directly with student-athletes and their families on any changes to practice or competition schedule.
     
  • Campus Facilities:

Campus events for the spring semester of 2022 will continue with a similar process to the fall semester. Information will be sent in the next few days.

Study Abroad: Preview and Global Field Study courses are still scheduled with travel as planned for the spring semester. Our health and safety professionals continue to monitor the pandemic, including border regulations and hospitalization rates, and any updates will be sent to students from the Division of Civic and Global Engagement.

Arcadia continues to share weekly COVID update messages from leadership and centralizes all information and updates on our webpage arcadia.edu/COVID. Employees with questions should contact humanresources@arcadia.edu; students with questions should contact COVIDCareTeam@arcadia.edu. 

Thank you for your continued support,

COVID Care Team

January 6, 2022

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