As students plan their return to Penn State campuses for the fall 2022 semester, the University continues to provide resources to help individuals stay safe and healthy and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Based on public health guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), indoor masking will no longer be required at Penn State Hazleton, Schuylkill and Wilkes-Barre, effective Friday, June 17, due to decreasing COVID-19 Community Levels in the counties where these campuses are located.
Face masks are now required to be worn indoors on eight Penn State campuses, in accordance with public health guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that advises that masks be worn in counties with high COVID-19 Community Levels.
Enrolled students who are noncompliant with the weekly required testing will lose access to Canvas until they become compliant. Continued noncompliance will result in additional disciplinary sanctions, up to and including conduct suspension upon the completion of a formal student conduct process.
Well-fitting, multi-layered masks are key to reducing transmission as nationwide spread of omicron variant continues. Here are key things to know about masking at Penn State as the semester begins.
In alignment with the recent announcement from the White House on federal vaccination requirements, all Penn State employees at all locations are now subject to a federal COVID-19 vaccination requirement. The deadline for employees to receive their final dose of a vaccine is Jan. 4, 2022
As part of Penn State's COVID-19 mitigation plans, COVID-19 tests will be required for all students moving into on-campus residential housing who have not shared with the University that they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or provided a positive COVID-19 test result from the last 90 days prior to arrival.
Recognized student organizations may return to holding in-person activities, including meetings, tabling, and other events for the fall semester. Students are expected to follow all current masking requirements on their campus during these activities.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health recently announced the dates for phases 1B, 1C and 2 of the commonwealth’s COVID-19 vaccination distribution program and Penn State is strongly encouraging all students, faculty and staff to sign up to get a vaccine as soon as they are eligible to receive one.
As part of the University’s comprehensive testing strategy for the spring semester, all Penn State students must meet requirements for COVID-19 testing prior to their return or if they are already living in their campus community.