Dear Wagner community,
We are so excited to begin another new academic year at Wagner College. We are ready to welcome folks back to campus.
With a new year and a pandemic still with us, we wanted to outline our health and safety protocols for the community so we can continue to keep each other safe and have a successful semester. Please note that this message supersedes previous written and town hall communication, as the Delta variant has caused a rise in Covid cases in our area and regulations from New York City have changed.
Vaccine Requirement
Students: ALL students are required to be vaccinated in order to attend classes and/or live on campus. You must have the full dose of one of the FDA-authorized vaccinations (either emergency-use or full authorization) and be two weeks out from the last dose. If for some reason you are not able to meet this requirement, contact the Center for Health and Wellness at studenthealthservice@wagner.edu immediately. There are limited exemptions which have been given for medical or religious reasons.
Throughout the summer, the college has worked diligently in assisting international students previously unable to get the vaccine in making their safe return to campus.
Faculty and Staff: Over the summer, faculty and staff were asked to complete a vaccine information form to share their Covid-19 vaccine status. At this time we are continuing to strongly encourage but not mandate the vaccine for most employees.
Ensuring that all campus community members are vaccinated protects all members of our community, including those who may be unable to get vaccinated themselves and the loved ones of our students and employees who may not be able to be vaccinated or who may not yet be eligible to be vaccinated.
Surveillance Testing (for exempted students and others not fully vaccinated): For those who are not fully vaccinated, there will be a requirement to have a Covid PCR test administered each week beginning August 30. We will be conducting these tests on campus Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 11am-3pm. We have partnered with Superhealth Pharmacy to provide these PCR tests. Individuals will need to sign up using this online portal. Your insurance information will be collected and charged accordingly. Non-compliance may result in disciplinary action.
Arrival Testing (for exempted or not fully vaccinated students)
All exempt, unvaccinated residents are required to complete a Covid-19 test within 72 hours of your move-in to campus housing. Vaccinated students are not required to complete a Covid-19 test before or after their arrival.
Symptomatic Testing
All students, regardless of vaccination status, will be tested by the Center for Health and Wellness if they report symptoms suggestive of Covid-19. Faculty and staff who exhibit symptoms suggestive of Covid-19 should contact their health care provider for testing and evaluation.
Contact Tracing, Isolation, and Quarantine
Students: The Center for Health and Wellness staff will conduct contact tracing for students who test positive for Covid-19 on campus.
Any student, regardless of vaccination status, who tests positive for Covid will be required to isolate for 10 days. Limited isolation housing on campus, as well as other services such as meal delivery, will be available for students.
Fully vaccinated students who are identified as close contacts of a Covid-positive individual but are asymptomatic will not have to quarantine, but will be tested three to five days after exposure. They should also wear a face covering and self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days. Should symptoms develop, they should notify the Center for Health and Wellness so they can be tested.
Unvaccinated students who are identified as a close contact of a Covid-positive individual will be required to quarantine for a period of 10 to 14 days. The duration of quarantine will be guided by the current rates of transmission on campus and in the surrounding community, and in accordance with CDC, New York State, and the New York City Department of Health guidelines. Students in quarantine will be tested between five to seven days after exposure. Limited quarantine housing on campus and other support services will be available for students.
Faculty and Staff: Human Resources will conduct contact tracing for employees who test positive for Covid-19. Faculty and staff experiencing Covid-19 symptoms or who have tested positive must not teach or work in person. Any employee who tests positive for Covid-19 will be required to isolate for 10 days prior to returning to campus and should notify Human Resources at humanresources@wagner.edu.
Employees who have been exposed to Covid-19 will be required to follow CDC and local guidance. Currently, this requires vaccinated individuals to be tested three to five days after exposure, and to wear a face covering and self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result. Unvaccinated individuals are required to quarantine for 10 to 14 days and be tested between five and seven days after exposure.
Faculty who feel well enough to teach may teach remotely and should email their department chair and the provost’s office if they expect to remotely teach two or more consecutive in-person classes for any one course. If unable to teach for extended periods, faculty should work with department chairs or the provost’s office to make arrangements for covering classes. Faculty are responsible for informing their students of any changes in instruction.
If well enough to perform job duties, staff should work with their supervisor regarding remote work arrangements. We will report new positive Covid-19 cases and isolation and quarantine numbers via weekly community emails and on our dashboard.
Daily Screenings
While daily health screenings using the CoVerified app are no longer required, please continue to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of illness each morning, and stay home if sick.
Dining
Please note that the mayor of New York City has mandated that all indoor dining locations check the vaccination status of diners; this will be in full effect for the Main Dining Hall, where there is indoor seating. You will need to show a pass to enter the dining hall. More information will be sent shortly on downloading this pass.
Please note that Chartwells dining staff in the Main Dining Hall will continue to serve students, as opposed to allowing self-service.
The Hawk’s Nest will be open for take-out options ONLY. Please note that all dining options will be cashless, meaning that people should order on the Boost Mobile app and/or pay with a credit or debit card.
There will be tents placed on the Union Patio for those who bring their own lunches or do take-out from the Hawk’s Nest.
Masks
Wagner requires community members to wear masks, regardless of vaccine status, in all indoor campus environments, even if they can socially distance, except when in a private office, personal residence or residence hall room, or when eating or drinking. Face shields, bandanas, scarves or other facial coverings are not acceptable. Masks must be worn to cover both the mouth and nose, not below the nose or on the chin.
Meetings
Capacity limits and restrictions for meetings on campus have been lifted. All campus offices will be open for in-person meetings, but students may request a virtual meeting. For all departmental and employee-only meetings, the college encourages safe in-person meetings as we return to campus, but it is at the discretion of the group to determine the best meeting option. Please keep access to technology, privacy and safety concerns in mind when making this determination.
Off Campus — New York City: Vaccination Card Use
Most recently, New York City entertainment venues, restaurants, gyms and museums are requiring proof of vaccination. For those who are vaccinated, you are advised to ensure that you have your vaccine card or vaccine card app (like New York State’s Excelsior Pass) in order to enter such establishments. We advise that you check proof of vaccination requirements if you are intending to enter these establishments.
Going Forward Together
We appreciate your patience, understanding and adherence to these rules and reminders as we embark on a new academic year at Wagner College. We will update you on any changes in these protocols in a timely manner. It takes ALL of us to create a safer and successful environment at Wagner.
