Dear Members of the Campus Community:
The University has adopted the following COVID-19 protocols for the Fall semester:
Vaccinations
As of September 1, students, faculty, and staff are required to be fully up-to-date, as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Students, faculty, and staff are responsible for updating their vaccine status in VitalCheck. Employees must send their proof of vaccination to VitalCheck at [email protected] and [email protected] (student proof of vaccination should only be uploaded into VitalCheck; see detailed instructions online). VitalCheck is linked to your Fordham ID card for ease of entry to campus. VitalCheck will also display proof of vaccination on your smartphone and may serve as the campus access card.
Individuals are eligible for the first booster 5 months after the final dose of the initial series; and may be eligible for a second booster 4 months after the first booster. The University will continue to consider medical and religious accommodations for individuals who request them.
The University will resume administering free COVID-19 vaccinations on campus beginning August 1.
Testing
The University will offer on-demand testing and testing for suspected exposure, and for students only, diagnostic testing, but will discontinue surveillance and return-to-campus testing in the Fall semester. (Employees who have COVID-19 symptoms should not come to campus, but should see their healthcare providers for diagnostic testing.)
The University will continue to require weekly testing for individuals with medical or religious vaccine accommodations, or who are not yet fully up-to-date with their vaccines.
Fordham recommends that everyone returning to campus for the Fall semester take a COVID-19 test (PCR or rapid antigen) prior to arrival on campus, especially individuals who are traveling from outside of the New York metropolitan area. Anyone who receives a positive test result should complete their isolation before coming to campus. In August, the University will share testing locations and times for the Fall semester.
VitalCheck Daily Screening
Fordham will discontinue required daily screenings on VitalCheck as of August 8. VitalCheck will continue to send a daily notification which can be used to report symptoms and access telehealth appointments (particularly for employees and graduate students), but users will not have to respond to the daily affirmation to continue campus access. The University will continue to use VitalCheck to manage vaccine, testing, and isolation requirements, and for integration with the ID card system for access to campus.
Masking
On campus, masks are recommended but not required in classrooms, labs, work settings, and public spaces for individuals fully up-to-date on vaccinations. (The CDC’s mask guidelines say that individuals may “wear a mask based on your personal preference, informed by your personal level of risk.”) All individuals may wear masks in any setting if they choose to do so. Faculty may require masks in classrooms and laboratory settings, if they believe the particular circumstances warrant such measures.
- Unvaccinated individuals with an exemption must still wear masks.
- Masks remain mandatory on Ram Vans and in University Health Service locations (offices, and testing and vaccination sites).
Contact Tracing and Isolation and Quarantine
The University is evaluating the current contact tracing protocols and will advise the community when more details are available.
There are no changes to the isolation and quarantine protocols: commuter and resident students who are able to travel to their homes will be directed to isolate or quarantine at their off-campus residences. Resident students who are unable to travel home will be isolated or quarantined in designated residence hall rooms.
Students and Employees who are up-to-date with their vaccinations do not have to quarantine upon exposure, but should monitor their health and be tested 5 days post exposure, or if symptoms appear. Anyone with vaccine accommodations is required to quarantine upon exposure. Employees who become ill on campus will be provided with guidance on isolation and quarantine requirements by Human Resources.
Visitor and Guest Policies
Beginning September 1, Fordham campuses will be open to non-Fordham visitors and guests, and to Fordham-sponsored external events. All visitors 6 months of age and older are expected to be up-to-date on vaccinations, as stated above, and the University will require proof of vaccination for entry to campus. More information and details on residence hall visitation and overnight guests will be provided soon by the Offices of Residential Life.
Employees with questions about Fordham’s COVID-19 policies should email vpforadministration@fordham.
As always, our policies and protocols are subject to change, based on conditions on and off campus, and any new federal, state, or local regulations. Thank you for your support and cooperation.
Marco Valera
Vice President for Administration & COVID-19 Coordinator
