Update: January 5, 2022, 9:36 a.m.
Dear Students,
In preparation for the spring semester on State University of New York (SUNY) campuses, Governor Kathy Hochul has announced new guidance that includes the continuation of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all students regularly accessing campus facilities, as well as a new requirement that all students receive a COVID-19 booster shot within seven days of becoming eligible.
You are eligible for a booster dose if you received the Moderna initial vaccine series at least six months ago, the Pfizer-BioNTech series five months ago, or the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago. Schedule a COVID-19 booster appointment at a location near you.
For Buffalo State College students who are currently eligible for a booster, but have not yet received the booster dose, you must receive your shot no later than Monday, January 24, in order to attend classes in-person, access campus facilities, or live in a residence hall this spring. For Buffalo State students who are not yet eligible for a booster, you will be required to receive your booster shot within seven days of your eligibility date in order to remain enrolled at the college, access facilities, or continue living on campus.
If you receive your booster dose in New York State, the Weigel Health Center will have your booster information on file automatically via the New York State Immunization Information System. For students who receive a booster dose outside of New York State, please submit your booster information to the Weigel Health Center.
If you were approved for a limited religious or medical COVID-19 vaccination exemption for the fall 2021 semester, that exemption will carry over to the spring 2022 semester. New students seeking a limited religious or medical exemption, or any student seeking a temporary remote-learning exemption for the spring semester, should visit the Weigel Health Center website for additional information.
Additionally, all students with an in-person presence will be required to participate in COVID-19 arrival testing for the spring semester. More information about arrival testing protocols and regular surveillance testing during the semester will be shared by Students Affairs in the coming days.
All members of our campus community are reminded that, regardless of vaccination status, proper-fitting face masks are required to be worn in all indoor spaces on campus unless you are actively eating or drinking. Quality face masks remain one of the best protections we have against the spread of illness, including the highly transmissible Omicron variant. It is critically important that we adhere to these protocols for everyone’s safety.
Please continue to monitor your e-mail for updates and important information about your return to campus for the spring semester on January 31. If you have any questions about the spring semester, please contact Student Affairs at studentaffairs@buffalostate.edu.
Be well, Bengals.
Katherine Conway-Turner
President, Buffalo State College
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