COVID-19 FAQs
Yes. Per SUNY and New York State policy, all all students at public universities must be vaccinated against COVID-19 (or have an approved exemption) in order to attend in-person, on-campus classes.
Students may seek a medical or religious exemption to the vaccination requirement. There is also an exemption available to students who are taking a fully online course schedule and have no campus presence. More information about exemptions is available here.
No. SUNY’s policy requires only an initial COVID-19 vaccination for students (meaning, both doses of a two-shot vaccine, or one dose of a single-shot vaccine). The College strongly encourages all eligible students to get a booster to maximize protection against the virus, but boosters are not required for most students.
New York State requires people who have not received all boosters they are eligible for to quarantine if exposed to COVID-19 by a close contact. If you are not up to date on your booster(s) and need to quarantine, you should have a plan to do so off campus. Students may not attend classes while in quarantine.
Please note: All student athletes are required to be vaccinated AND boosted to participate in intercollegiate athletics.
Being "up to date" on your vaccination means having all vaccines for which you are eligible.
This could mean:
- You recently got an initial COVID-19 vaccination, and are still waiting to become eligible for a booster;
- You got your initial vaccination and your first booster;
- You are eligible for, and have received, multiple boosters.
The CDC currently recommends a single booster for everyone over the age of 5. Second boosters are recommended for those over the age of 50, and those who are immunocompromised.
More information about vaccine booster eligibility is available from the CDC.
Yes. New York State public health law already requires post-secondary students attending colleges and universities to demonstrate proof of immunity against certain diseases, including measles, mumps and rubella.
In order for these requirements to be permitted under the law, available vaccines must have full FDA approval.
On Aug. 23, 2021, the FDA gave full approval to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, and SUNY’s policy requiring all SUNY students to be vaccinated went into effect.
Yes. New York State public health law allows college students to be exempted from existing immunization requirements if a doctor verifies that a vaccine would be detrimental to the patient’s health (medical exemption) or if they hold “genuine and sincere religious beliefs which are contrary to immunization” (religious exemption).
Use this link for the Medical Exemption request form.
Use this link for the Religious Exemption request form.
More information about medical and religious exemptions is available at the Student Health Service website.
An additional exemption is available to New Paltz students who are taking a fully online course schedule and have no campus presence. More information about that exemption is available here.
Students, faculty and staff who have gotten a COVID-19 vaccine can upload their information by logging into my.newpaltz.edu and clicking "View your COVID-19 profile."
From there, look for the option to Submit Vaccination Information. You'll need to let us know which vaccine you received, and on what date(s). You'll also be asked to upload a photograph of your COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card (That image will be deleted from campus drives after approval of your vaccination status).
The College collects this information as part of our institutional COVID-19 management.
More information and detailed instructions for the vaccination sharing option can be found here.
Student vaccination information disclosed to the College may be shared with College officials on a need-to-know basis as a necessary element of our campus COVID-19 management and within what is allowed by federal and state law (FERPA).
This may include employees who are involved in campus contact tracing, quarantine and isolation protocols, and general health and safety personnel, among others.
Vaccination figures for our community will also be reported to SUNY and New York State and will be used to help inform planning for on-campus programs and activities.
According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), there is no need to wait for the flu shot or another vaccination if you’ve recently gotten the COVID-19 vaccine (and vice-versa: There's no reason to wait on the COVID-19 vaccine if you’ve recently received a flu shot or other vaccination).
You can even get multiple vaccines during the same visit (though it’s recommended to get the two shots in different arms!).
From the CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccines resource page:
“You can get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines at the same visit. You no longer need to wait 14 days between vaccinations. Experience with other vaccines has shown that the way our bodies develop protection, known as an immune response, after getting vaccinated and possible side effects of vaccines are generally the same when given alone or with other vaccines.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration are the leading national sources of good information about research and development of vaccines.
The CDC maintains a comprehensive vaccine information hub online that is updated on a regular basis with new information. The CDC also updates these pages to explain what scientists and doctors do not yet know about the vaccination process, as research is ongoing.
We found this list of the Key Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines especially helpful.
Another useful CDC resource is this list of Frequently Asked Questions about the Vaccines.
New York State’s COVID-19 vaccine resource hub includes a great deal of information about how and when residents can get vaccinated.
The state is also reporting on its progress to date on their COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker, which is updated daily with new numbers on doses administered, broken down by region.
Many counties are also publishing vaccine information online. Ulster County offers tools for finding vaccination sites (most counties are running their own sites in addition to the state-operated locations). Dutchess County and Orange County provide similar online services to their residents, as do most other counties in New York.
COVID-19 tests are optional for all vaccinated students, faculty and staff, but are strongly encouraged when you develop symptoms or if you are returning to campus after extended time at home or traveling (for instance, in the week before each of the fall and spring semesters).
Unvaccinated students may be periodically required to participate in surveillance testing. Any such requirement will be clearly communicated with sufficient advance time.
As always, people with symptoms should get a test as soon as they can, and mask and avoid close contact with others until testing is complete.
PCR COVID-19 testing will not be provided on campus.
Antigen test kits will be distributed at the Welcome Center, University Police Department and the Office of Emergency Management.
They may also be obtained for $1 in the Snack Shack vending machines and can be obtained in the Village of New Paltz at Walgreens and Tops as well.
If you use an at-home antigen test, or if you get a PCR test off campus, you may upload your test results to the COVID-19 Profile at my.newpaltz.edu. Doing so fulfills SUNY and campus testing requirements.
If you get an on-campus test provided by Enzo Labs, your test results are automatically uploaded to your COVID-19 Profile and shared with the Student Health Center for students or HRDI for staff.
According to the CDC:
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
This list does not include all possible symptoms.
Vaccinated people who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should be tested for COVID-19. You may use a self-administered, "at-home" antigen test, or contact your health provider about scheduling a PCR test.
If you get a negative result with an antigen test, but your symptoms persist, it is recommended that you do a second antigen test 24 hours later or take a PCR test. Students who test negative by antigen test, but have symptoms and/or had an exposure, should contact the Health Center at (845) 257-3400 for advice about further testing.
While experiencing symptoms, please wear a mask and isolate from others until you have a negative test result, and/or follow any other directions given by their physician.
Per the CDC and New York State, anyone (regardless of vaccination status) who tests positive for COVID-19 must isolate for five days after becoming symptomatic or testing positive. They must then wear a mask in all public spaces during days 6-10 after symptoms or positive test.
Members of our community who test positive for COVID-19 are responsible for notifying the College. The Student Health Service will work directly with students who test positive to provide guidance and identify possible exposures. HRDI will work with employees (see below).
Students who test positive for COVID-19 must notify the Student Health Service at (845) 257-3400 or healthservice@newpaltz.edu as soon as possible.
Per the CDC and New York State, anyone (regardless of vaccination status) who tests positive for COVID-19 must isolate for five days after becoming symptomatic or testing positive. They must then wear a mask in all public spaces during days 6-10 after symptoms or positive test.
Faculty and staff who test positive for COVID-19 are expected to notify the Office of Human Resources, Diversity & Inclusion (HRDI) so the College can support you during your mandatory isolation period.
If you are able to work from home during your isolation, you should do so. If you are unable to work from home or are too sick to work, HRDI will work with you and your supervisor to determine appropriate use of non-chargeable time and/or sick leave.
Employees who complete the mandatory isolation must submit a signed Affirmation of Isolation to HRDI, per New York State and Ulster County Health Department policy.
Yes. Notices of positive cases reported to the Student Health Service will continue to be shared with students’ in-person faculty.
This is done primarily to support the student by confirming with faculty that the student will be in isolation and unable to attend in-person classes for a period of 10 days.
Notifications will not be given in cases of exposure when a student who is not up to date on vaccination must quarantine.
Anyone who is exposed to COVID-19 through a close contact should monitor symptoms for 14 days and get tested 3-5 days after exposure, either by using a self-administered antigen test or by contacting their health provider to explain their situation and, if directed, scheduling a PCR test. Avoid being around immunocompromised people during those 14 days.
If you test positive for COVID-19, you must isolate for five days, then mask for another five days. More instructions about isolation policies below.
Yes. Per the CDC and New York State, anyone (regardless of vaccination status) who tests positive for COVID-19 must isolate for five days after becoming symptomatic or testing positive. They must then wear a mask in all public spaces during days 6-10 after symptoms or positive test.
If you test positive, you must isolate for five days, then mask for another five days, per CDC recommendations.
In most cases, residential students will isolate off campus. In situations where isolating off campus is not possible, students may remain in their room just as with the flu, strep throat and other illnesses.
Whenever students are ill with a contagious disease and not able to recover off campus, they should protect roommates, housemates and floormates sharing the same bathroom by social distancing to the degree possible, wearing a mask, washing their hands, and cleaning any high-touch surfaces.
Students who are ill with any contagious disease should limit time out of their room to obtaining food, health services, and attending to hygienic needs. Residential students who are ill may use this form to ask for food via a sick tray. Residential students who are ill with a contagious disease and share a room with an immunocompromised individual should notify Student Health Services at (845) 257-3400.
All students who live off campus will be expected to isolate off campus if they test positive.
If you had no or minor COVID-19 symptoms, and are fever-free for 24 hours, you may end isolation after five days and should mask when around others for another five days. The CDC recommends that those experiencing more severe or prolonged symptoms isolate for up to 10 days.
Faculty and staff who test positive are also expected to isolate off campus. Please see below for more guidance for employees who test positive for COVID-19.
No. On Aug. 22, 2022, The New York State Department of Health adopted new CDC guidance recommending that people no longer need to quarantine if exposed to COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status.
Quarantine will no longer be required for SUNY New Paltz students, faculty and staff who are exposed.
The isolation protocol remains in place, and anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 will still need to follow the directions outlined above.
No, masks are optional in most indoor areas on the SUNY New Paltz campus.
As always, we will remain in close contact with SUNY and health department partners and will react quickly to modify these policies should pandemic conditions or guidance change.
Read more here about the mask-optional policy.
Yes. Masks must be worn at all times by everyone, regardless of vaccination status, in the following health-related spaces:
- The Student Health Service
- The Athletic Training Facility in Elting Gym
We know that some in our community may ask others to voluntarily wear masks in campus spaces where it is no longer required, and we hope that people respect such requests from colleagues, peers and professors.
SUNY New Paltz will not enforce individual requests by faculty that students wear masks in specific courses. No conduct charges will be brought against students who fail to comply with such requests.
SUNY New Paltz will not enforce individual requests by employees or offices that visitors wear masks in those areas, with the exception of the health-related areas listed above.
We know that some in our community may ask others to voluntarily wear masks in campus spaces where it is no longer required, and we hope that people respect such requests from colleagues, peers and professors.
The College will continue to distribute KN95 masks to faculty and staff (with campus ID) from the Mail Room in the Haggerty Administration Building basement while supply lasts.
Students are expected to provide their own masks.
Students who are uncomfortable attending in-person classes are encouraged to consult with their faculty and/or academic advisors about altering their course schedule and their plan of study.
The Division of Academic Affairs and Information Technology Services have been working continuously to develop faculty proficiency in teaching both online and seated modalities with content-specific webinars and other training opportunities.
We are also working to provide additional free training and resources for students to help ensure they can succeed in online learning settings.
Yes, our protocol for cases when an instructor is unable to complete a course is unchanged from the pre-COVID-19 era.
If a faculty member becomes unable to teach due to illness or for other reasons, their faculty colleagues will work with the department chair and other academic leaders to make arrangements for course instruction to continue in the original instructor’s absence.
Student Health Service will be open Monday – Friday, but in order to reduce exposure walk-ins will not be allowed. Students must make an appointment before visiting. Please call 845-257-3400 to make an appointment.
Triage nurses will be available for phone assessment and will advise students on self-care measures, schedule in-person consultations as needed, and direct students to emergency services, if warranted.
SHS will also make greater use of telemedicine to continue providing health services to students in the safest manner possible.
Masks will be required for in-person appointments. No one will be allowed to accompany a student to their appointment. Students will be taken directly to an examination room where hand cleaning protocols will be required of the student at the beginning and end of their office visit.
Student Health Service will help ensure that students have access to COVID-19 testing when needed and will work with local health departments to coordinate quarantine, monitoring and treatment efforts.
Have questions? You may also get in touch via email at Healthservice@newpaltz.edu.
Yes, flu shots will be given out at the on-campus Health Center and at local pharmacies.
In addition to the Health Center, the following medical facilities are located in the New Paltz area:
- New Paltz Family Health Center: 279 Main Street, New Paltz, NY, (845) 255-2930
- CareMount Medical: 264 Main Street, New Paltz, NY, (845) 255-7900
- Health Quest Medical Practice: 514 Route 299, Highland, NY, (845) 691-9200
- FirstCare Medical Center (functions as an Urgent Care Facility): 222 Route 299, Highland, NY, (845) 691-3627
If a student has an urgent medical problem and they are not sure how to proceed, they may reach the Student Health Center’s on-call physician outside of regular office hours by calling (845) 257-3400.
The on-call physician is available to discuss urgent medical questions with students by telephone and to help the student caller identify their options for care.
Students who require in-person medical attention can go to FirstCare Medical Center, which functions as an Urgent Care Facility and is located at 222 Route 299, Highland, NY, (845) 691-3627.
For students experiencing severe medical problems, there are Emergency Departments at the following area hospitals:
- HealthAlliance Hospital: 105 Mary’s Avenue, Kingston, NY, (845) 338- 2500
- MidHudson Regional Hospital: 241 North Road, Poughkeepsie, NY, (845) 483-5000
- Vassar Brothers Medical Center: 45 Reade Place, Poughkeepsie, NY, (845) 454-8500
Please be advised that you should only go to these Emergency Rooms for serious medical issues. Wait times for non-life-threatening emergencies may be significant, and emergency medical services can be costly.
The Psychological Counseling Center (PCC) at New Paltz has increased its services and staffing by expanding the number of licensed, experienced counselors available to address the student mental health needs that have increased during the pandemic.
Students can make appointments by calling (845) 257-2920 Monday through Friday, and counselors are on call for crisis assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through that number as well.
As more students than ever before are attempting to succeed academically while living through challenging circumstances, clinical services (including individual, group therapy, crisis-related assessment and intervention, and psychiatric services) are conducted in person (with tele-health available) free of charge.
The PCC, the Institute for Disaster Mental Health (IDMH) and SUNY have made training available to faculty, staff and students on both Psychological First Aid and suicide prevention. SUNY’s Mental Health Matters website offers additional online suicide prevention training. We also encourage students to call or text the numbers 9-8-8 for the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline when needed.
The following link to the Student of Concern Reporting Form is available for campus affiliates who want to alert the Center of a student in crisis: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SUNYNewPaltz&layout_id=12
Students who come directly to the PCC experiencing emotional/psychological distress but not of life-threatening nature, will be seen briefly for consultation followed by a scheduled intake and assessment appointment within one week. While waiting to be contacted for intake, they will be directed to self-help phone apps to aid in self-deescalating or regulating their anxiety.
The Division of Student Affairs has compiled a list of local agencies and support networks that are open and providing valuable services to members of the public, including students.
Use this link to view the Local Resources List on the Student Affairs website.
The list is updated regularly with contact information for organizations offering information about COVID-19; crisis intervention and assistance; help with food insecurity; substance abuse disorder treatment, including Narcan kits and training; resources for LGBTQ+ community members; and more.
The Student Crisis Fund provides quick-response, one-time grants in the event of a qualifying emergency. Funds can be used toward essential academic needs (books and supplies); replacement of lost or damaged items; or basic needs such as utilities, childcare, short-term housing or transportation. Average awards are $100-$1,000.
Click here for the Student Crisis Fund application.
Students with special circumstances are encouraged to contact Student Financial Services to learn more about what additional resources are available. Please note that the office is practicing social distancing strategies to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). To help us maintain the best customer service possible, please submit any financial aid questions or concerns via e-mail to fao@newpaltz.edu.
Yes. The Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER) and SUNY approved a SUNY-wide telecommuting program in 2021, and extended that policy through Aug. 31, 2022, for M/C employees and all bargaining units, except for PEF.
This program grants the College authority to support telecommuting arrangements from all employee classifications.
While we welcome the added flexibility this provides our campus, we remind employees that telecommuting is not an entitlement and may not be possible for all areas or all positions. Decisions on telecommuting remain at the discretion of the College.
More details about the SUNY telecommuting program are available at this link.
Yes. Under guidance issued in March 2020 by the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER), employees are provided with up to 14 days of paid sick leave, without charge to accruals, when subjected to a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation.
A mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation may come from a Public Health Officer (for example, a County or City Department of Health or a written statement from the individual’s attending physician or local health officer attesting to the quarantine and the necessity of the absence).
Should an employee need to remain quarantined or isolated, the second and third periods of paid sick leave will require a positive COVID-19 test in addition to an order of quarantine or isolation. Employees who choose not to obtain a test will be required to charge their sick accruals for absences.
More information about COVID-19 leave is available at this link.
Yes, the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research Compliance remains open, whether in person or remotely, to assist with identifying, securing and managing external funding for research and creative activities as well as assisting with research integrity and compliance.
Work-related travel will continue to be very limited during the 2021-22 academic year and will continue to require pre-approval by the Provost or the divisional Vice President. International travel is banned until further notice.
All pre-approved travel requisitions must be submitted to the Travel Office before employees’ travel occurs. If travel is not pre-approved, it will not be reimbursed.
More information about employee travel in 2021-22 is available at this link.
We recognize that some faculty, staff and students may have health issues that raise particular concerns related to COVID-19.
We encourage these campus community members to file appropriate documentation for accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
For issues related to their own medical conditions, including immunocompromised status, faculty members requesting a change in teaching modality should pursue the process for ADA-based accommodations, if they have not already done so.
Further, faculty who have an immunocompromised dependent who lives in their household may also request a change in teaching modality by presenting the request to the chair and dean. Faculty can support these requests by providing medical documentation confirming the immunocompromised status of a dependent in the household to the Benefits office (benefits@newpaltz.edu, subject: Dependent Supporting Information). This information will be held confidentially except, as warranted, to inform the chair and dean of the legitimacy of the request
Students should work with their physicians and the Disability Resource Center to complete appropriate paperwork and make an appropriate accommodation plan.
