Dear ESF Students,
With your cooperation and dedication to the health and safety of the ESF community, we have had an exemplary fall. The following steps will ensure that we maintain this dedication to community well-being – both on the ESF campuses and in your home communities.
Exit Testing
All students taking at least one class on campus, using services on campus, or working on campus must receive a PCR COVID-19 test prior to departing campus. PCR COVID-19 testing will be available at Syracuse University in the Stadium (formerly the Dome), between November 11, 2020, and November 19, 2020. As we learn more details from Syracuse University, we will provide updates. For students who choose to test elsewhere, it is important to know that the exit test must be completed within 10 days of your expected departure date.
Students may be exempted from the mandatory testing required if they are non-residential students not taking any classes on campus nor using any in-person campus services (e.g., library, dining, Barnes Center, etc.). Students will have the option of providing documentation to the College of a COVID-19 diagnostic result within the same period. Students may also provide documentation to the College of a previous positive COVID-19 diagnostic result within the previous 90 days. Documentation should be sent to [email protected].
Testing is necessary to help prevent community spread of the virus as people leave ESF campuses. The reasons to take a test and make sure you cannot infect your friends and family with COVID-19 are many, but we’d like to offer you an incentive.
All students completing exit testing will be entered into daily random drawings to win one of four $100 gift cards to the ESF Bookstore, where you can find excellent options for everyone on your holiday gift list! Testing will be conducted 10 days; a total of 40 gift cards will be presented to ESF students who complete exit testing. Students are only entered into the drawing on the day they complete the exit test. Winners will be notified by the College.
Please follow all guidelines for testing:
- Have your ESF ID card with you.
- Do not report to testing if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
- Wear a mask when arriving at the check-in center.
- Do not brush your teeth or use mouthwash for 3 hours prior to arriving at the check-in center.
- Do not eat or drink – including water, gum, mints, lozenges, smoking, or smokeless tobacco products – for 30 minutes prior to arriving at the check-in center.
We fully expect to enjoy our continued trend of negative COVID-19 results as we complete this exit testing. However, should your exit test come back positive, additional steps will be necessary. Please remember, this testing is required per SUNY’s Uniform Sanctions in response to violations.
Please keep the following important dates in mind:
11/9 - 11/20: Advising for Spring 2021 semester
11/11 – 11/19: COVID-19 testing at Syracuse University
11/24: Last day of residential instruction
11/20 - 11/25: Residential move-out period
11/25, 2:00 p.m.: Centennial Hall closes for Winter break
12/7: Spring course registration begins
What to Expect in Spring 2021
Planning for spring residential instruction is in progress. We look forward to welcoming all students, including Centennial Hall residents, back to campus, including those Centennial Hall residents who opted to live at home for the Fall 2020 semester. As of this date, we do not anticipate offering an opt-out option for the Spring 2021 semester.
We are finalizing testing plans for the Spring 2021 semester currently and expect to share detailed information in early December. We expect classes for the Spring 2021 semester to begin on January 25.
We are proud of the willingness our students have shown to adhere to health and safety guidelines, and we genuinely want students to embrace the full ESF experience. We will continue to monitor the situation but are excited to see Stumpies back on campus in January.
Sincerely,
Joanie Mahoney
President
