Coronavirus Information

Update: November 19, 2020, 12:45 p.m.

Residents:

Due to the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in Western New York, the state has designated parts of Erie County as an orange micro-cluster zone, which means the college must discontinue in-person dining as of Friday, November 20. However, in-person course and facilities operations (e.g. Library, Study Quad) will continue as normal through Tuesday, November 24. 

Residential students will need to remain on campus until they complete their COVID-19 exit pool testing. Students who have tested more than three (3) days ago and were not told to isolate are cleared to leave campus. Students who recently tested or have not completed their pool test will not be cleared until at least three days after their pool test is conducted.

Any student moving out for the semester should follow COVID-19 safety procedures (no guests in building, keeping six-foot distance, and not being in groups larger than two people) and should plan to take all belongings with them.

If items are being left behind, please be sure to pack and label items and complete the Residence Life box request form by Friday, November 20, at noon in order to arrange storage if needed.

If you are not taking all belongings, please remember your technology, medicines, and other critical items. 

Students must complete an express checkout and leave their residence hall by Wednesday, November 25, at noon (unless approval to stay over break has occurred—the deadline for applying for this has passed).

Checkout instructions are located on signage in your hall and at your hall’s front desk.

Should students need to remain on campus from now until November 25, the following continues to be required for students: ­­­­­

• Students cannot host guests in their rooms or attend gatherings of any size.
   
• Complete the COVID-19 Daily Symptom Tracker each day. If you have COVID-19 symptoms, please contact the Weigel Wellness Center at (716) 878-6711.
   
• Continue mask wearing and keep six-foot distance from others when leaving your room to use restroom facilities and for picking food up at the Student Union.
   
• Students may choose to leave campus if they have completed their most recent pool test and have been cleared. Students choosing to do so may not return until the campus returns to in-person operations. 
   

Dining Services Updates

NOTE: Students entering a space to pick up food will need to display their COVID-19 symptom tracker with their name, a green dot, and a date that indicates it is current.

Dining services will be available as take-out only starting Friday, November 20, beginning at breakfast, in the following ways:

• The Bengal Kitchen will be accessible from the patio in the Plaza as a residential operation, with one-way traffic exiting further down on the patio toward the stairs.
   
• Retail dining locations will be accessible through the lower retail patio entrance. This is the same entrance used for Boost mobile ordering. Students are encouraged to utilize Boost mobile for all retail options. Students will need to exit through the exit door by Market 1300.
   
• ADA access for both the Bengal Kitchen and Retail operations will be through the lower patio retail entrance.  
   
• Milligan’s Food Pantry will have online ordering available for students who may have food needs.

You are encouraged to continue to check your email for important updates along with the college’s website at coronavirus.buffalostate.edu/updates.

In the coming weeks, you will receive important information about requirements for returning for the spring 2021 semester. 

Stay safe and be well, Bengals!

Tim Gordon
Vice President for Student Affairs