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COVID Updates and Information
Since January 2020, Arcadia’s COVID response teams, including public health experts and University leadership across departments, have made it a priority to facilitate a safe and healthy living, learning, and working environment for Arcadia community members. The cross-collaborative efforts include our preparedness, flexibility, and decision-making processes. As we progress through the spring 2022 semester, Arcadia looks forward to building on our successes and continuing to provide a rewarding and fulfilling experience for all University community members.
Upload Your Vaccine Record
We strongly recommend that all community members get vaccinated and boosted.
Students, upload COVID vaccine information here: Patient Portal.
Employees, upload COVID vaccine and Booster information: iSolved platform. (Instructions here.)
April 14: Arcadia COVID Indicators And Response Levels
During the pandemic, Arcadia University has implemented varying restrictions and recommendations designed to protect our community. Early on we published a tiered system indicating which actions would likely be taken when certain benchmarks were reached in the pandemic. To make it easier for our community to understand and follow the University's mitigation efforts, the COVID Care Team has developed a new system of COVID response levels. Read more here.
Self-Disclosure Form
Arcadia Students, staff, and faculty who have tested positive for COVID must report it through the Self-Disclosure Form.
Factsheets for Arcadia Faculty and Staff
Communications, Information, and Planning
Fast Links
Planning - Hosting an Event on Campus
Please be sure your form is submitted at least four (4) weeks prior to the proposed event date. Any approved events face cancellation based on campus Operational Tier Status.
Arcadia COVID Communications
- 1/06/22 - Spring 2022 Semester Update: Return Testing, Vaccinations, Campus Facilities
- 12/30/21 - First Two Weeks of the Spring 2022 Semester Online
- 12/21/21 - Stay Healthy Over Winter Break
- 12/2/2021 - Students: 7 Things to Do Before the Semester Ends
- 10/28/2021 - Guidance for University-sponsored Events
- 10/13/2021 - Preparing for Teaching in the Spring 2022 Semester
- 9/14/2021 - Fall 2021 Event Planning and Space Guidelines
- 8/17/2021 - Presidential Message: Update on COVID Vaccine Requirement
- 7/30/2021 - Indoor Masking Requirement for Arcadia Facilities
- 7/23/2021 - Testing for Unvaccinated Individuals, Masking Approach, and Vaccine Records
- 7/01/2021 - Fostering a Culture of Dignity, Personal Responsibility, and Shared Safety
Hear the thoughts and experiences of Arcadia's students through the pandemic.
COVID Student Stories
A GLOBAL JOURNEY THROUGH THE COVID PANDEMIC
Arcadia’s Community-Centered Pandemic Response
Arcadia University took a values-based, community-focused, strategic approach in responding to the disruptions that have been brought by COVID since early 2020. Each initiative enacted and measure taken placed students and those most vulnerable in our community at the center, with University units and leadership setting an example of steady, unwavering strength and vision in the face of challenges.
On Campus Through the Semester
COVID TESTING
If you believe you have symptoms related to COVID-19
It is highly recommended that students and employees who believe they may have come in contact with the virus, self-monitor in their place of dwelling while monitoring for signs and symptoms of illness as described by the CDC.
Frequently Asked Questions
For questions about academic and campus life, prevention and self-care, study abroad programs, and more, please refer to our FAQs here.
Scalable Testing
Our scalable testing approach is tied to a number of risk factors, such as the level of positivity in our community and vaccine coverage. It is designed to be sufficient to secure shared safety. Our approach to testing is:
- LOW - Required weekly testing of unvaccinated individuals during the first four weeks of the semester; opt-in surveillance testing for all vaccinated and unvaccinated community members throughout the semester.
- MODERATE - Opt-in surveillance testing for those who are vaccinated, but requirement for those who are unvaccinated to more closely monitor any COVID spread on campus, matching the higher risk within our community.
- HIGH - Surveillance testing for both vaccinated and unvaccinated. A sample of vaccinated individuals will be tested and the sample size will be informed by other factors like the level of community and campus spread.
At all times, we have:
- Return to campus (entrance testing)- regardless of COVID levels in the local community, entrance testing of unvaccinated community members to mitigate potentially higher risk from other geographic locations. Utilization of entrance testing of vaccinated individuals will be based on level of community spread.
- Symptomatic testing - If you are exhibiting symptoms, have a concern, or want to be tested regardless of community transmission level.
- Close contact testing - if you are unvaccinated and in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID or vaccinated and having symptoms after being in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID regardless of community transmission level.
| Condition | Vaccinated | Unvaccinated |
|---|---|---|
| Close contact of case | Only if symptomatic | Yes |
| Symptomatic | Yes | Yes |
| Return to campus (entrance testing at start of semester) | Opt-in or Yes, based on community spread | Yes |
| Low community spread (less than 10 per 100,000 in last 7 days) | Opt-in | Opt-in |
| Moderate community spread (at or between 10 – 49 per 100,000 in last 7 days) | Opt-in | Yes |
| High community spread (at or above 50 per 100,000 in the last 7 days) | Yes, sample | Yes |
| Moderate to low AU community vaccination coverage (below 75%) | Opt-in | Yes |
| High AU community vaccination coverage (at or above 75%) | Opt-in | Opt-in |
| Concerning campus spread | Yes, sample Opt-in | Yes |
| Waning vaccination immunity or increasing cases in fully vaccinated individuals | Opt-in or Yes, based on other conditions listed above | N/A |
Note: This approach is meant to serve as a guide. When conditions indicate conflicting approaches,or if emerging data supports a different approach, Arcadia will utilize the factors indicated above along with other information such as but not limited to COVID variant characteristics and recommendations from public health agencies to determine the current surveillance testing response.
Guidelines for University Event Planning (Jan. 2022):
- Masks are required when indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
- Event managers are responsible for sharing Health and Safety guidelines with any visitors and guests expected to campus.
- Supervisors and group planners planning large group functions should consider a virtual event when possible and when technically supportable.
- All classroom requests and assignments must go through the Office of the Registrar.
- Student organizations sponsoring events involving outside groups must include approval by the Office of Student Engagement or Dana Davies.
- The event host is responsible for submitting to the COVID Events Taskforce at least 21 days before the event for approval and additional guidance based on the University’s evolving health and resource availability.
- All requests for facilities other than academic courses must be reserved through arcadia.libcal.com
- If you have any questions, please reach out to Event and Relations at 215-517-2373 or eventandrelations@arcadia.edu
What if I still have questions?
Contact Information
If you are a member of the University community and need a place to direct your question, our central point of contact is Public Safety at 215-572-2800 or 215-572-2999 (emergency) for more information.
For specific questions, please direct to the following Arcadians:
Student Health Services
Theresa Smith
Director of Student Health Services
215-572-2966
Arcadia Glenside Housing
Susanne Ferrin
Director of Residence and Commuter Life
housing@arcadia.edu or call 215-572-2189
Parent and Family Inquiries
If you are a parent of a current student, please join our email listserv or send any questions to mystudentis@arcadia.edu
IT Related Questions or Concerns
Please submit a ticket via helpdesk@arcadia.edu
Staff and Faculty Employment-Related Questions
Human Resources
humanresources@arcadia.edu