For the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 semesters, SUNY College at Old Westbury will continuously follow all public health and state guidelines for COVID-19 to provide a safe and healthy environment for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

The Student Health Center announced that any changes or implementations of COVID-19 guidance would be provided via email to our campus community. The website guidance would also be updated.

Here is the updated COVID-19 guidance for this semester, Fall 2022, and next semester, Spring 2023, to protect our community on campus.

Vaccination and Boosters

SUNY Old Westbury requires students that are planning to be on campus to submit their CDC vaccination card to the Student Health Center by emailing [email protected]. 

Remote classes are not an option for students who are not vaccinated. These students cannot request changes in the course modality if they do not get the vaccine.

Students who are not vaccinated and fail to complete a religious or medical exemption will be disenrolled from all of their in-person classes. They will not be allowed on campus.

Students who wish to receive their COVID-19 booster can update their CDC vaccination card by sending it to the Student Health Center by emailing [email protected].

Faculty and staff who are already vaccinated can submit their CDC Vaccination Card to the Office of Human Resources via email to [email protected]. If they do not get vaccinated, they cannot return to campus until they provide proof that they are vaccinated.

Faculty and staff that are vaccinated and send proof will not be mandated to have weekly testing for COVID-19.

Available Exemptions

The school provides the option of medical and religious exemptions that should be requested for students who qualify.

All exemption requests for the Fall 2022 semester have already been reviewed. The deadline to submit a request was August 15, 2022. The deadline for the Spring 2023 semester will be announced closer to the beginning of that semester.

Students who are exempt and receive remote, hybrid, or in-person classes must be tested for COVID-19 weekly. The failure to provide a weekly test for COVID-19 will result in a conduct proceeding and suspension.

The school also provides an affidavit of affirmation form for those seeking a remote exemption from required COVID-19 vaccination for Fall 2022 and Spring 2023. Those students will not be allowed to enroll in face-to-face classes or attend any meetings and activities for clubs.

If you have questions, please email them to [email protected] and someone will answer as soon as possible.

Masking

The masking policy is subject to change at any time, and students, faculty, and staff are required to always follow the masking guidelines.

Students should wear a mask in class if the instructor requires them to wear one.

In settings like the Student Health Center, Office of Counseling and Psychological Wellness, COVID-19 testing site, and other health centers, students, visitors, faculty, and staff are required to always wear a mask.

When you are feeling COVID-19 symptoms, you must wear a mask, get tested for COVID-19, and quarantine. After the quarantine period, students should wear a mask for five more days.

Isolation and Quarantine

Employees that are not feeling well should not go to work and they must call Human Resources for more directions on what to do.

When employees test positive for COVID-19, they should submit the result via email to Human Resources and quarantine for five days.

Students who are not feeling well should not go to class or any campus activities. They must call and inform the Student Health Center.

When students test positive for COVID-19, they should submit the results via email to the Student Health Center and quarantine for five days.

Distancing 

Requirements for physical distance are no longer applicable for students, visitors, faculty, and staff.

Mental Health 

The Office of Counseling and Psychological Wellness Services are available for all students to seek help if they are struggling to handle the challenges that arrived with the pandemic.

Visitors’ Guidelines

All visitors should have completed their initial COVID-19 vaccination series. If they are not feeling well, they should not visit campus until they are completely sure that they are testing negative for COVID-19. 

Right now, masks are optional and frequent hand washing is encouraged. 

Campus Transportation

The use of masks while riding the shuttle bus is optional for both the drivers and the passengers.

If you would like to know more about COVID-19 guidance, you can visit the school website at https://www.oldwestbury.edu. You can also email the Student Health Center at [email protected] or call (516) 876-3250 if you have any additional questions.