Spring 2022 Frequently Asked Questions

Updated March 2022

 

Academics

What if I need technical support to complete my coursework online?

The Information Technology website is updated regularly with guidelines and resources to help provide students, faculty, and staff with the best online learning experience possible. Visit their website to see vendor offerings of resources such as free wifi, software, etc. For technical issues, students can contact Helpdesk@arcadia.edu for additional needs.

How can I access various registration and academic forms?

Registrar forms are available online, If a form you need immediately is not electronically submittable, please email appropriate information to registrar@arcadia.edu. 

Vaccines, Masking, and Surveillance Testing

Who is required to wear a mask on campus?
The University lifted the masking requirement on the Glenside and Christiana campuses on March 12. Individuals are still welcome and encouraged to wear masks at their comfort level, and all community members are asked to remain respectful of others when in their company.

What is the University’s vaccination policy? 
Students and faculty and staff members are required to be fully vaccinated with the Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Any requests for exemptions should be submitted to covidcareteam@arcadia.edu. 

What is Arcadia’s definition of “fully vaccinated”? 
Arcadia currently defines “fully vaccinated” as having completed the primary series of COVID vaccination: two doses of Moderna or Pfizer or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine. About 93 percent of the Arcadia community is fully vaccinated.

Are students and employees required to get a COVID booster shot?
While boosters are not currently required, the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID, including the Omicron variant, is to get both fully vaccinated and boosted. Individuals can receive the COVID booster at their healthcare provider as well as area pharmacies and stores, including participating Rite Aid, CVS, Walgreen’s, Giant, and other stores. Check your area for locations and appointment requirements.

What is Arcadia’s vaccination policy for fall 2022?
All community members will be required to be fully vaccinated for fall 2022.

Where can I upload my vaccination/booster record? 
Students: Upload COVID vaccine information here: Patient Portal.
Employees: Upload your vaccination records to the iSolved platform. (Instructions on uploading records are available here.) 

Employees

Students in my class have tested positive for COVID or have been determined to have had close contact with someone who tested positive; what do I do? 

Students who test positive for COVID or who are determined to have had close contact with someone who tested positive may not be able to attend class for a few days to a couple of weeks. In these cases, a representative of the Division of Student Success will contact you to let you know that the students will be missing class; however, the cause for their absence will not be disclosed. These students should not receive any penalties related to class attendance policies and should receive accommodations, including remote access, to help them stay fully engaged in the class. In the event that remote access is not possible, such as for some classes approved to be fully in-person, please provide recordings of the class. Students should reach out to you to make these arrangements. 

Please note that if a student mentions to you that they tested positive for COVID, but they have not notified the University, you should ask them to complete the Self Disclosure form.

Any student, faculty member, or staff member showing the following symptoms should stay in their residence hall or at home.
 
•     A fever of 100.4 F or greater, taken with an oral thermometer 
•     and/or signs of an acute respiratory illness (i.e., dry cough, congestion or runny nose, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing), 
•     and/or fatigue, muscle or body aches, sweats, or chills, 
•     and/or new loss of taste and/or smell, 
•     and/or headache, 
•     and/or sore throat, 
•     and/or nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting
 
When students with these symptoms contact you about missing class, they may or may not have been tested yet, or they may end up testing negative. If an individual tests negative for COVID, you will not be notified by the Division of Student Success about student absences. Because it is preferable for everyone in the classroom that students with these symptoms do not attend class, we encourage you to find ways to support them to stay in their residence hall or at home. For example, excusing their absence without penalties, providing them with remote access to class, or sending them information distributed during class, are all useful approaches.