Fall 2021 COVID-19 Response

While York College is not requiring students to be vaccinated for COVID-19, we recognize the importance of vaccination to achieve as much normalcy as possible during this academic year. Therefore, we will continue to strongly encourage all members of the community to be vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Please note that some activities and programs may require vaccination in order to participate (e.g., study abroad, clinical assignments, athletics). Activities and programs requiring vaccination will be determined at a later date.

In order to be on campus and participate in classes, students will need to provide one of the following:

• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination, OR
• Results of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of returning to campus
  
  

Information for Fully Vaccinated Students

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving a one-dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnson), or the second dose of a two-dose vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna). If you are fully vaccinated, you can be cleared to come to campus by sharing vaccination information with York College Health Services prior to your arrival. After your information has been reviewed, you will either receive on-campus clearance or be contacted for follow-up information if needed.

Provide proof of vaccination here. Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Information for Students without Full Vaccination

If you are not fully vaccinated before the start of the semester, you can be cleared to come on campus by presenting the results of a COVID-19 test taken within three days before your arrival. (For example, if you are scheduled to arrive on campus on Friday at 11 a.m., you can take the test any time after Tuesday at 11 a.m. A test administered on Monday would not be accepted.)

Upload proof of a negative COVID-19 test here. Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Face masks will be required for all members of the York College community in shared indoor spaces, including classrooms. Face masks are not required outdoors.

Students who are not fully vaccinated will be required to participate in random surveillance testing. These tests will occur on a weekly basis.

If you are selected for random testing, you will be contacted by Health Services. Failure to attend surveillance testing will lead to significant repurcussions, including possible dismissal for the remainder of the semester.

If you become fully vaccinated during the semester, you can share proof of vaccination with Health Services. Once your results have been verified, you will be removed from the random surveillance testing group.

If you were diagnosed by the YCP Health Center: 

• Follow all instructions given by YCP Health Center staff.
• Isolate at home per CDC guidelines.

If you were diagnosed off campus:

• Notify Health Center staff immediately by calling 717-849-1615 (open Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. After regular office hours, please email healthcenter@ycp.edu. Please include your name and cell phone number. Health Center staff will return your call/email as soon as possible.
• You must leave campus immediately, even if you have not yet spoken with the Health Center staff, and return to your permanent residence to complete your isolation period.
• All students are required to isolate off-campus until their "return to campus" date, which will be provided by York College Health Services.

If you were notified by someone other than York College's Health Center staff, please contact the Health Center immediately by calling 717-849-1615 Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. After regular office hours, please email healthcenter@ycp.edu.

Vaccinated students will not be required to quarantine, but it is recommended that students should be tested for COVID between days 3-5 after exposure. Please contact the Health Center for an appointment. Continue to monitor symptoms for 14 days and wear a mask while indoors.

Unvaccinated students will be required to quarantine for 14 days after their last exposure to the positive individual. Students are required to quarantine off campus. Students have the option to shorten their quarantine period by obtaining a negative test on days 5-7. If the test is negative, the student may return to campus on day 11 of their quarantine.

Students must quarantine/isolate off campus. With all students back on campus for in-person instruction, we have an extremely limited number of quarantine/isolation spaces on campus. These spaces are for the most extreme circumstances and must be approved by Health Center administration.

In the rare event that students remain on campus for isolation/quarantine, please remember that healthcare is not available 24/7.

Suggestions for off-campus quarantine/isolation:

• Permanent residence
• Family friend
• Local hotel
• Any other off-campus location

The most secure place for students to quarantine/isolate is at their permanent residence where they can be under the watchful eye of a parent/guardian, and where healthcare needs can be tended to in a timely manner.