COVID 19: Important Reminders Fall 2022

I want to commend you for helping us keep our BSU community safe for everyone. As we know, COVID-19 is still with us, but the steps we have taken to keep our community safe are working. After two and a half years of the pandemic, I know we are all tired of following “protocols.” But doing so is what allows us to attend in-person classes, socialize and participate in activities. Here’s a few reminders:

Vaccination Requirement

• Vaccination Requirement. As has been the case throughout the pandemic, all members of the campus community must be vaccinated with an FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine.
• If you are a new student attending fall classes in-person and/or using BSU facilities, you must be up-to-date with your COVID-19 vaccines and complete your vaccine attestation using this link by Friday, October 14.
• Returning students who attested last year or received an exemption, do NOT need to reattest this year or seek a new exemption.

Get Your Booster!

• Being vaccinated and boosted is proven to be effective in protecting people from the COVID-19 virus and the Omicron variant. If you wish to make an appointment for the new bivalent COVID-19 booster on campus, please choose the first link on the COVID-19 page.

Masking Compliance

• Masks continue to be required for students in all classrooms and instructional spaces during scheduled class times. You should bring and be prepared to wear a mask in all classrooms and instructional spaces unless a faculty member has explicitly eliminated the requirement in their class. Free masks will be available in each classroom and instructional space throughout the academic year.
• Failure to comply with the masking requirement may lead to a student conduct referral to the Office of Community Standards.

Rapid Test Availability

• BSU strongly encourages students to test regularly and especially if you have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in contact with someone who tested positive. BSU has thousands of free rapid tests on hand that can be obtained at the Wellness Center, RSU information desk and the Tinsley Center.

Let Us Know: Reporting

• We ask that all members of our campus community who are COVID-positive or want to report exposure to COVID, please complete our COVID 19 reporting form, which can be easily found on the COVID-19 page. Using this form also allows residents to inform residence life of their positivity and provides all students with a link to the most up-to-date information on isolation.
• Please do not report a positive test unless the result was confirmed via a rapid or PCR test result. Inaccurate reporting can cause class disruptions and adversely impact your fellow students and faculty.

Thank you again for being so conscientious about following these rules, which protect the health and safety of everyone on our campus. Remember, you can find all the latest information and links to complete your vaccine attestation, sign up for a booster vaccination and report a positive COVID-19 test result on our COVID-19 page.