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

On August 10, 2021, the University of Rochester reinstated a face-masking requirement for everyone indoors on the University’s 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’s COVID-19 Dashboard for updates on confirmed cases on all University campuses.

All students, faculty, staff, visitors, and tenants—including those who are fully vaccinated—must wear a face mask while indoors on any of the University’s campuses and properties. For full details on the face mask requirements on the Medical Center campus, see the COVID-19/Redesigned intranet portal (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—regardless 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 “family unit” (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’t possible.
• Face masks continue to be required for everyone on the University shuttles.

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.

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 University of Rochester Calendar 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’s 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 Eastman’s COVID -19 policies page.

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 (look up visa wait times by location). Additionally, travelers from certain areas are subject to US entry restrictions, which can change with little notice (see State Department’s summary of coronavirus travel proclamations and national interest exceptions). Students on visas sponsored by the University should contact the International Services Office (ISO) prior to travel to secure any needed travel authorizations for visa purposes.

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.  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).