Vaccination policy for the 2022-23 academic year

COVID isolation and exposure policy

As the COVID-19 pandemic begins the inevitable transition to the endemic stage, St. Bonaventure University’s focus is shifting toward an emphasis on personal health responsibility.

The CDC now considers shared housing at colleges and universities — such as residence halls, townhouses and off-campus houses —a lower-risk congregate setting due to the lower risk of severe health outcomes associated with young adults.

While the vast majority of SBU students are vaccinated, cases will continue to surface as subsequent variants of COVID-19 emerge and spread, sometimes infecting even those who are vaccinated and boosted, but most often with mild to moderate symptoms.

Unlike the previous two academic years, St. Bonaventure will not offer isolation or quarantine services — including isolation/quarantine rooms, meal delivery and transportation — for the 2022-23 academic year. 

Students will need to have their own isolation plan in case they test positive for COVID-19. Students who live on campus and test positive for COVID-19 will be required to do one of three things.

Isolation options*

1. Isolate in your campus residence, provided you receive consent from the person with whom you share your bedroom. You may return to class or campus life once you’ve completed 5 days of isolation, have been fever-free for 24 hours, and any other symptoms have improved.
   
   
2. Return home if possible and isolate there. You may return to campus once you’ve completed 5 days of isolation, have been fever-free for 24 hours, and any other symptoms have improved.
   
   
3. Secure another off-campus residence closer to campus (friend, relative or hotel) and isolate there. You may return to campus once you’ve completed 5 days of isolation, have been fever-free for 24 hours, and any other symptoms have improved.

NOTE: If you still have significant symptoms after day 5 of isolation, you should remain isolated until you’re fever-free for 24 hours and your symptoms have improved.

*Day 1 of isolation is the first full day after your symptoms developed, or the day you received your positive result if you were asymptomatic. For example, if you don’t test positive until 2 days after your first full day of symptoms, you only need to isolate for 3 days, as long as you’ve been fever-free for 24 hours and any other symptoms have improved.

Meals, masking and restrooms while isolating

1. For students on an unlimited meal plan (or have a block meal plan), a reusable food container can be obtained through Dining Services ($5 deposit) for grab-and-go takeout meals at the Hickey dining hall. Please bring the container at each visit and exchange at the checker station for use and when no longer needed the $5 deposit will be refunded when the container is returned. Disposable cups and utensils can also be picked up at the checker station. Students should be masked the entire time while leaving their to room to pick up their meals.
     
2. Students who complete their 5-day isolation still must mask for an additional 5 days after resuming normal campus activities.
   
   
3. Students in isolation are allowed to use restrooms in their place of residence but must be masked when they leave their rooms and enter the restroom.

Information to help develop your isolation plan

1. If you are unable to travel home and will isolate locally, you should pre-plan to have the following items on hand to help you during your isolation: proper-fitting mask, thermometer, pain/fever reducers (ibuprofen, acetaminophen, etc.) and throat lozenges.
   
   
2. If you’re not feeling well, remember to seek support from family and friends, who may be able to help you in making arrangements and reservations, if necessary.
   
   
3. As is the case when you’re stricken with any other illness or injury, it’s the student’s responsibility to contact their professors to let them know they will be missing class time during their isolation. IMPORTANT: Faculty can require you to provide them COVID isolation orders, which can be secured from Cattaraugus County by clicking here.

Exposure guidance for close contacts

Per updated (Aug. 11) guidance from the CDC, if you are a close contact of a COVID-positive individual, you are no longer required to quarantine regardless of vaccination status. The CDC recommends that people exposed to COVID-positive individuals should wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days, and, if possible, test at day 5, especially if symptoms have developed. 

Employee COVID-19 policy

As many faculty and staff begin to return to campus, HR has received questions regarding what to do if they test positive for COVID-19, or are exposed to COVID-19. Based upon the most recent CDC guidelines, SBU will adhere to the following protocol:

• If you test positive for COVID-19 you should remain at home in isolation for 5 days*. You may return to work on the 6th day provided you have not had a fever for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your symptoms are improving. A returning employee should wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask for 5 additional days while at work in person.
  *Please note that day 0 is the day that your symptoms began OR you tested positive for COVID.
• If you have been exposed to someone that has COVID-19 but have not tested positive, you may continue to come to work on campus but should wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask for 10-days and if possible, get tested on day 5, especially if symptoms have developed.

Regardless of vaccination status, you should isolate from others when you have COVID-19.

IMPORTANT: St. Bonaventure University reserves the right to change any of its COVID-19 policies at any time in accordance with guidance or recommendation from federal, state, or county health agencies/departments.