Coronavirus Information

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What consequences will students face if they fail to comply with required COVID-19 testing?

Penn State students who are not vaccinated for COVID-19 and those who have not shared with the University that they are fully vaccinated will be required to test weekly for COVID-19 throughout the fall semester, or until they share with the University that they have been fully vaccinated.

Students who fail to test by the weekly deadline will receive an email with a warning that the student will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct and be placed under a registration hold, which prohibits future course registration, if they fail to test within the required time window a second time.

Students who fail to test within the required window a second time during the fall semester will immediately be placed under a registration hold and will be referred to Student Conduct. More information on registration holds is available online.

Students who fail to test a third time within the required window during the semester will immediately be placed on interim suspension. The student’s instructors will be notified of the interim suspension and the student will not be permitted to enter any campus building or participate in any class, activity or program of the University, including Penn State football games. In addition, students living on campus who are placed on interim suspension must vacate their residence hall. The interim suspension will be lifted if the student gets tested; however, the Student Conduct process will continue.

There will be additional accountability for students who continue to disregard their testing obligations after their third instance of noncompliance. At the conclusion of a formal student conduct process, the student may face consequences up to and including immediate suspension from the University.

Additional details about required testing and consequences for noncompliance can be found on the Testing and Support page.

Are there guidelines for eating in the workplace?

The following provides guidance for employees on eating in the workplace, including in break areas:

Basic guidelines:

— Wear a mask except when you are actively eating or drinking. Masks help protect both you and those around you.

— Limit the period of unmasked contact, as well as the amount of time and the number of other individuals you are in contact with.

— The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated there is no evidence that handling or eating food spreads COVID-19, but it is always important to follow good personal hygiene and basic food safety practices.

Eating in the workplace and break areas:

— To limit unmasked occasions while actively eating or drinking, we recommend that you eat at your desk, outdoors or designated break areas.

— Minimize extended periods of contact with multiple employees eating within the same space or limited seating capacity in break areas by staggering mealtimes.

— Further, practice good personal hygiene by washing your hands before and after eating, as well as cleaning and sanitizing your food preparation surfaces and high-touch areas before and after.

Review the University’s “Working on Campus” guidance and Human Resources “Back to State” guidance for additional information. See additional CDC guidance on eating and small gatherings.

Where can I find information about required COVID-19 testing for faculty and staff?

​Information on fall 2021 required COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated faculty and staff can be found on the Testing and Support webpage.

If an unvaccinated employee had a recent negative COVID-19 test through their own medical provider, do they still need to complete Penn State’s required COVID-19 testing?

Yes, employees will need to complete the required testing through Penn State to be compliant.

Who should I contact if I have questions regarding COVID-19 topics?

For questions about COVID-19 topics at the University, faculty, staff, students and families across all Penn State campuses can contact the Penn State COVID-19 Response Center at 814-865-2121 or submit an online contact form. Employees should contact the COVID-19 Call Center for questions related to the testing process. If you have questions related to the exemption or exception process, please contact your unit Human Resources representative. If you have submitted your status previously and received this email, please confirm by logging back into Salesforce and confirming your submission was completed. If you are having technical issues, please submit a ticket by clicking this link.