FSC’s Spring 2022 Covid Protocol

Farmingdale State College has been remarkably successful in dealing with the ongoing public health crisis. We continue to ask for your cooperation to safely proceed with a more normal and extensive campus experience. COVID-19 vaccine booster shots and regular testing are effective ways to contain Coronavirus transmission and protect your fellow students. Please review the COVID requirements that we are implementing at FSC for the Spring 2022 semester.

Vaccine Mandate

All SUNY students who plan to have an on-campus presence, including any use of campus facilities, must be vaccinated against COVID-19. Such students may receive any of the three vaccines available in the United States (Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson).

All students who still need to provide vaccination status, please use the COVID Vaccine Upload Form External link.

The College has the discretion to create additional health and safety restrictions as it deems appropriate and has elected to require masks, regardless of vaccination status, in all indoor public settings.

Students participating in applied learning experiences will be required to comply with the vaccination policies of their host site. This includes all levels of clinical and allied health training and educator preparation.

Covid Booster Mandate 

In alignment with Governor Hochul’s mandate, all FSC students are required to receive a booster vaccination when eligible to do so. You are eligible to receive your booster 6 months after completing a primary Moderna series, 5 months after completing a Pfizer series, or 2 months after your initial J&J immunization. FSC students must update their booster status through the SUNY Vaccination Verification App External link to ensure continued enrollment.

Students will have a 30 day window from the first day of eligibility to comply with the mandate. Those who fail to comply after the 30-day grace period will have their in-person class schedule dropped. The published refund schedule will continue to apply to those who do not comply with this mandate. Students who have already submitted proof of a primary COVID vaccination are not eligible for a religious exemption to this policy.  Medical exemptions will continue to be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Students who recently tested positive for COVID may receive a medical extension of up to 90 days to comply with the booster requirement. With appropriate documentation, please use this form External link to request a temporary medical accommodation.

Spring 2022 Semester

Students must be full vaccinated and submit proof of complete vaccination External link. To be considered fully vaccinated by the first day of the Spring semester, you must receive the first dose of your vaccine by December 20 if choosing Moderna, December 27 if choosing Pfizer or January 17 if choosing Johnson and Johnson to allow for sufficient time for both a possible second dose and a 14-day period after the last vaccination in the series.

Students who fail to comply with the vaccine mandate and are not given a medical or religious exemption by January 31, 2022 will be disenrolled from in-person classes subject to the refund policy.

Pre-Arrival Testing Requirement

All students with an on-campus presence must submit proof of a COVID test  External linkprior to returning to campus. Residential students and student-athletes must do so three days prior to the start of the semester. All other students must do so five days before the beginning of the spring term.

The College will offer pre-arrival testing the last week of January, prior to the start of the semester. The test is a PCR COVID-19 oral, saliva-based test. Testing will be available in the Campus Center Student Lounge and Ballroom C.

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

• Wednesday 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• Friday 6:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

If you cannot make it to the on-campus pooled testing, you are required to obtain a test and submit the results External link.

Surveillance Testing 

All students with an on-campus presence are required to participate in our COVID Surveillance Testing. The test is a PCR COVID-19 oral, saliva-based test.

The Health and Wellness Center is offering free testing in the Campus Center Student Lounge:

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

• Wednesday 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• Friday 6:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

If you cannot make it to the on-campus pooled testing, you are required to obtain a test and submit the results.

• Students who verify their booster shot will be exempt from the College’s weekly COVID surveillance testing, provided they don’t live on campus or participate in intercollegiate athletics.

• Students who recently tested positive will be exempt from the College’s weekly COVID surveillance testing for 90 days.

Vaccine Verification & Waiver

Medical or religious exemptions may only be requested by newly accepted, qualifying students. Students with approved medical or religious exemptions should be aware that they may be excluded from all in-person classes and activities at the College’s discretion should a COVID-19 outbreak occur at the campus. If you have questions, please email covidexemption@farmingdale.edu.

• Medical Exemption: Medical Exemptions must come from a licensed healthcare provider (MD, DO, NP, PA).

  • Medical Exemption Form External link

• Religious Exemption: Students who hold genuine religious beliefs that are contrary to COVID-19 vaccination fill out a religious waiver. The student must explain how receiving the COVID-19 vaccination conflicts with the student’s deeply held religious belief or practice.

  • Religious Exemption Form External link

Masking

The College is requiring that all students, faculty, and staff wear face coverings at all times within indoor settings when on campus.

Face coverings include but are not limited to, cloth (e.g. homemade sewn, quick cut, bandana), surgical masks, N-95 respirators, and face shields used in conjunction with an acceptable face covering that covers both the nose and mouth – standard face shields should NOT be used alone.

Distancing

Fully vaccinated individuals are not required to adhere to social distancing protocols; however, we encourage all campus constituents to continue to do so when possible and to respect others comfort level in regard to distancing.

Feeling Ill?

Anyone within the campus community should not report to work or class if they are sick or feel sick.

Prior to returning to campus after an illness you should consult with your healthcare provider in order to determine that it is safe to do so.

Students who are unable to attend a scheduled face to face class session are required to notify their course instructor.

COVID Positive

If you test positive for COVID, please upload External link your positive COVID result. The Health and Wellness Center will contact students for information and guidance after receiving the upload.

The College will conduct contact tracing and notify individuals who have been identified as potentially being exposed. Due to federal HIPPA laws, the identity of those who are diagnosed with COVID-19 cannot be disclosed and the College is limited in the amount of information it can make public in such situations.

A/B Schedule

The College has collapsed the A/B week schedule; these classes will now meet on campus and in-person every week. The A/B course schedule will remain in place for registration purposes and will resume, if a resurgence of the virus occurs. The A/B schedule allows for students to attend in-person instruction every other week alternating with livestream virtual attendance.

Precautionary Quarantine

Unvaccinated individuals along with those who are eligible for a booster but have not yet received it are required to quarantine for a 5 day period should they be identified as a close contact of an individual who tests positive for COVID. Should any individual begin to experience symptoms consistent with COVID-19, they should remain home and contact their primary healthcare provider for guidance.

Student COVID Sanctions

Farmingdale State College (FSC) remains committed to ensuring a healthy campus environment for all members of its community. Pursuant to guidance issued by the State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor’s Office, the Office of the Dean of Students intends to address COVID-19 related behaviors that threaten or endanger the health and safety of others. FSC has developed modified disciplinary guidance for all students.

Mental Health

Campus Mental Health Services (CMHS) remains committed to providing clinical services to the Farmingdale State College student community as we continue to adjust to the challenges posed by this pandemic.

Update Your Information

The most important thing to being an FSC student is to always be in the know. Ensure your contact information is up-to-date and check to make sure you are signed up to receive text message notifications from the College to receive important need-to-know information, including weather emergencies, important deadlines, and other essential items.

Quickly Update Your Information to allow us to communicate important information with you.

Resources & Forms

• Student Testing Upload Form External link

• Student Vaccine Upload Form

• Student COVID Sanctions

• Medical Exemption Form External link

• Religious Exemption Form External link

Thanks for reading! Please check out the information below and have a great day! Feel free to reach out to us at dalenewsfsc@gmail.com

Dale News Online Publication: Feb. 2022

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