Requirements to Return to Campus, Off Campus Expectations and Key to NYC Information
Dear Students,
With just two weeks left before the start of classes, time is running out to complete your COVID requirements. Please read this email carefully to ensure you have a smooth transition.
Firstly, as a reminder, all individuals, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, must wear face covering indoors in all University facilities.
Critical Deadlines for Returning to Campus
All students must complete the below deadlines in order to return to campus.
Beginning on September 7, any individual who has not submitted their vaccination documentation or has not received an approved medical or religious exemption will have a red pass on the ReopenCU app and will be unable to access campus. This may also impact your enrollment as a student.
Please make sure you complete this checklist:
- Submit your proof of vaccination now, if you have not already. If you are an international student who is unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated with an FDA or WHO authorized vaccine, you must receive the vaccination upon arrival.
- Schedule your gateway test on the Columbia Health Patient Portal. Scheduling is available 7-10 days before your intended appointment.
- Sign the Compact on the ReopenCU app or web application.
- Complete your training if you have not accessed campus since January 2021.
- Complete your attestation daily before coming to campus.
International Students: please read this FAQ on the COVID-19 website for information especially for you. It includes information about getting vaccinated, quarantine requirements, testing, and other critical information.
Regardless of whether you are a domestic or international student, if you are unvaccinated, you must quarantine until you receive a negative result from your gateway test prior to accessing campus.
Current Columbia COVID-19 Monitoring Plan
We are currently at the Low “Yellow” risk level. Please visit the COVID-19 website to learn more about how the University assesses the risk levels and what each status means.
Keeping the Compact On and Off Campus
As a reminder, you are expected to uphold the Compact and related policies on and off campus, including the events policy. This is to keep you and our community safe, as well as our neighbors. You can learn more about student accountability on the COVID-19 website.
Key to NYC
As of August 17, everyone over the age of 12 must show proof of vaccination to enter many New York City indoor venues such as restaurants, movie theaters, and gyms.
You can learn more about the Key to NYC program on the Columbia COVID-19 website or the New York City Key to NYC website. All Columbia community members are expected to follow city and state public health requirements, in addition to the Compact, on and off campus.
Guidelines for Eating and Dining
Eating together is an important part of how we all socialize and the University wants you to be able to do this safely, as eating involves removing face coverings. Eating indoors requires that you maintain 6 foot distancing, irrespective of vaccination status. The University has put in place eating and dining guidelines to support you dining safely.
Join the Keeping Our Community Healthy Ambassadors
Want to do your part to help Keep Our Community Healthy? Consider becoming an Ambassador! Ambassadors work with other students to keep our community and surrounding neighborhoods safe and healthy. If you are interested, please sign up here.
Take care,
Joseph Defraine Greenwell, Ed.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs
Office of University Life
Gender Pronouns: He/Him/His
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