Spring 2023 Plan

Primary Vaccination 

The SUNY Student COVID-19 Vaccine Policy remains in effect and requires all students who will have a physical presence on campus to provide evidence of, at minimum, the initial course of COVID vaccinations OR apply for and be approved for a medical or religious exemption. Exemption applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, January 20. 

New students must have received their second dose of the vaccine, or single dose of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, AT LEAST TWO WEEKS BEFORE their scheduled arrival on campus for the Spring 2023 semester. This accounts for the necessary two-week period before you are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

We recommend that you begin your vaccination series as soon as possible to avoid any disruptions to the start of classes. If receiving a two-dose vaccination, there will be a 3-week to 4-week interval between your doses. The first day of Spring classes is Monday, January 23.

Please submit proof of any and all COVID-19 vaccinations to the College by clicking the button below.

 

STUDENTS: SUBMIT PROOF OF VACCINATION

Boosters

All students are strongly encouraged to stay up to date on their vaccinations as defined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including obtaining any booster authorized by the FDA and recommended by the CDC for their age group. While not required at this time, SUNY reserves the authority to impose a requirement for any booster at any time as a result of changes in local conditions or as a result of requirements imposed by federal, state, or local authorities.  

Students enrolled in any program or course or who are participating in a clinical or internship held at a third-party location must continue to comply with all health and safety guidelines, including any vaccination or testing protocols that are in place at the third-party location.

For information on the booster vaccines and FAQs, visit the CDC’s website. To find a vaccine site near you and to schedule an appointment, visit New York State’s COVID-19 Vaccine website or the CDC’s Vaccine Finder.   

Students should test if they are symptomatic for COVID-19. Rapid antigen tests are available for residential students in all Residential Life offices and for commuter students in Johnson Hall (University Police offices). 

 

If you test positive, inform the Wellness Center by emailing WellnessCenter@cobleskill.edu with the following:

• A photo of your positive home test AND a copy of your student I.D. together in the same photo OR proof of a positive PCR from a lab
• Please also complete and submit this form.

You may direct any questions to WellnessCenter@cobleskill.edu.

SUNY Cobleskill reserves the right to increase the rate of testing for students based on levels of community transmission on campus and in our geographic region.

If you are a residential student who has tested positive for COVID-19 you are advised to isolate at your permanent residence. If that is not possible, residents may isolate in their designated residence hall room. Commuter students will be advised to isolate at their permanent address.

Who Must Isolate? Anyone who is confirmed to be positive for COVID-19 through viral testing, regardless of their vaccination status. Isolation can end after 5 days (Day 0 is the first day of symptoms or the date an asymptomatic person tests positive) if the individual is fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and other symptoms have improved. If fever continues or other symptoms have not improved after 5 days of isolation, continue to isolate until there is no fever for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications and other symptoms have improved.

Attending Class During Isolation:

• COVID-19 positive students may NOT attend in-person classes or activities until their isolation period is over.
  
  
  

Roommates of Residents in Isolation:

• Roommates of residents who are COVID-positive have the option to remain in their current residence hall room or move to another designated room. They should contact residential life staff to organize their move.
• All roommates must wear a mask at all times while in the room, except while sleeping.
• Roommates must follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for protecting yourself and others found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html.

 

HOW TO ISOLATE

 

What to Do After Being Exposed to COVID-19:

The New York State Department of Health is following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s isolation and precautions for people with COVID-19 guidance, which provides information to those who tested positive. If you were exposed to COVID-19, follow these CDC precautions.

 

 

Residential students who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should call the Wellness Center at 518-255-5225 to arrange testing. If it is after hours and you need a rapid test, please go to the RA’s Office when it is open.

The College encourages students to come to campus with a supply of rapid tests. Free, at-home tests can be ordered from the federal government here: https://www.covid.gov/tests.

If your test is positive, please notify the Wellness Center by phone and follow the isolation directions available on the Wellness Center's web page. You must also complete the Student Report of Quarantine/Isolation Directive form.

Commuter students who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should contact the Wellness Center by phone to schedule an appointment. The Wellness Center can be reached at 518-255-5225. If your test is positive, please notify the Wellness Center by completing the Student Report of Quarantine/Isolation Directive form and follow all isolation instructions as per the CDC.

 

COVID-19 Symptoms

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. 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 or hoarseness
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea 

 

We Are a Mask-Friendly Campus

At this time, face masks are not required inside campus buildings. This applies to all areas of campus, including residence halls and instructional spaces (with one exception, noted below*). Faculty and staff do not have the authority on their own to institute mask requirements in classrooms or offices.  

Of course, everyone has the right to choose to continue wearing a mask, and the College expects all members of our campus to respect the decision to do so.

There are specific instances on campus in which a mask must be worn: 

• If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you must wear a mask for 10 days from date of exposure.
  
  
• If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you must continue to wear a mask for five days following your initial five-day isolation period, as per CDC guidelines.
  
  
• All healthcare settings regulated by the New York State Dept. of Health continue to require masks. This applies to the campus Wellness Center and all classes (lecture, lab, clinical) within our Paramedic Program*. Masks must be worn by everyone in these locations. 
   

Notes on other areas of campus COVID-19 policy: 

• Outdoor Masking: There is no requirement on the use of masks in any outdoor settings on campus; however, individuals may choose to wear a mask.
  
  
• Eating/Drinking in the Classroom: Eating and drinking in lecture classes will be left to the discretion of the professor. Eating in drinking are not allowed in any lab classes.
  
  
• Student-Athletes: SUNY Cobleskill student-athletes will be required to follow NCAA and NAC guidelines during practice and competition.
  
  
• Campus Visitors: Campus visitors will not be required to wear a mask.

 

If you feel you may be struggling with depression, anxiety, stress, or emotional challenges, help is available. You are not alone.   

These resources are always available to you:  

NY Project Hope - 1-844-863-9314  
Project Hope Crisis Counselors understand what you are going through. Talking to them is free, confidential, and anonymous. Talk to someone who is trained, knowledgeable and never judges. Sometimes it helps to talk with someone you don’t know.   
  
Crisis Text Line - Text GOT5 to 741741  
A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text. The volunteer Crisis Counselor will help you move from a hot moment to a cool moment.   
  
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - Dial 988
The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, as well as crisis resources for you or your loved ones.   

Headspace: A New State of Mind   
Headspace offers a collection of meditation, sleep, and movement exercises to help you through these stressful and challenging times.   
 
Visit our Wellness Center page for strategies in supporting your mental health.   

 

The Everbridge App is an essential element of SUNY Cobleskill’s campus safety plan, giving you a quick, direct line of communication to University Police through your smart phone. In this way, Everbridge serves as an extension of our Emergency Blue Lights which are located at key points throughout campus.

Everbridge is also your official source for up-to-date campus information during emergency situations, including class cancellations and timely warnings of crime incidents near campus.

Please download the Everbridge App as soon as possible and to familiarize yourself with its features.

• Click Enroll and search for 12043 (campus zip code)
• Login using your Single Sign On Credentials

 

Safety Tools within Everbridge

 

Safety button	Safety Label and Instructions
	Safety Shield: Open Everbridge and tap the Shield icon near the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. This will open a menu with the seven options listed below.
	Check In enables you to quickly share your location with University Police. This feature can be activated as a safeguard in any situation in which you want your specific location to be known.
	Virtual Campus Escort can be activated to allow you to check in at certain intervals during a certain period of time. If you fail to check in at any point, an SOS is automatically triggered, notifying University Police.
	SOS triggers an alert that automatically sends your device’s location and a two-minute video recording to University Police. Once you tap “SOS,” you have 10 seconds to cancel, or the SOS will be sent. If you want to send an SOS as soon as possible, tap “SOS Now.
	Emergency Call: Tap “Emergency Call,” then tap “Call” to automatically call 9-1-1.
	Report an Incident: This feature gives you options to report an incident or crime on campus. If you see something, say something.
	Campus Guidelines provide links to the College’s COVID-19 information, Residence Hall Terms and Conditions, Student Conduct Codes, Student Handbook, Wellness Center, and Emergency Procedures Quick Reference.
	Quick Emergency Ref will directly open the Emergency Procedures Quick Reference.