Tuesday, September 7, 2021

Keeping Our Campus Safe: Required COVID Testing, Wear Your Face Mask and Contact Tracing Information

Dear Seawolves, 

We hope you had a good holiday weekend. To date, 92% of all students enrolled in on-campus classes have submitted proof of their COVID vaccination. In order to continue keeping our campus safe, it is extremely important you follow these guidelines so we can continue to enjoy in-person classes and many social activities: 

Wear Your Face Mask:
Regardless of your vaccination status, you must wear a face mask over your nose and mouth when inside any campus building, including classrooms, hallways, libraries and other common spaces, as well as SBU buses and shuttles. The only exception is when you are in your own private residence hall room, suite, or apartment, or are actively eating a meal. 

Participate in Required COVID Testing:
In addition to a very high vaccination rate, another important public health and safety measure is regular COVID testing.  View your testing schedule hereas well as appointment instructions and testing location information. We recommend that you write down your required testing dates and appointments on your calendar or set up an alert on your phone so you remember your required testing dates.  Students who do not participate in required testing will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards and may face suspension from the residence halls and classes. 

Contact Us if You Test Positive or Were Exposed to Someone with COVID-19:
If you test on campus, Student Health Services will contact you with your test result and will direct you on next steps, including contact tracing. If you test off-campus and receive a COVID-19 positive result or have a possible known exposure to someone with COVID-19, call Student Health Services’ Contact Tracing Team at (631) 632-6176 (on campus, dial 2-6176). 

The Contact Tracing Team will speak with you to determine who among your recent contacts is at risk. This process helps to break the chain of transmission and limit infections. Do not attend classes or come to campus until you are given the all clear by the Contact Tracing Team. 

If you test positive or are instructed to quarantine, please contact the Student Support Team at student_supportteam@stonybrook.edu or (631) 632-7320 so that they can then email your instructors regarding your absence from class.  The Student Support Team does not share any personal or medical information with your instructors, but will validate your absence from in-person classes for the duration of your isolation or quarantine period.  You are permitted to continue any online courses if you feel well enough to do so. 

Thank you for your commitment to keeping our campus safe and healthy.  With your help we will continue to have a successful semester! 

Sincerely,

Rick Gatteau, PhD
Vice President for Student Affairs

Marisa Bisiani, DNP, ANP-BC
Assistant Vice President
Student Health, Wellness, & Prevention Services