Buffalo State College welcomes students back for a fully in-person academic year.
Testing: Students with medical or religious exemptions to the vaccination requirement and who live on or come to campus must participate in COVID-19 testing. Rapid antigen COVID-19 test kits will be available for students who have met the waiver requirement at the welcome area (Information Desk) of the Campbell Student Union. Students with a COVID-19 immunization waiver must test weekly.
Masks: Students, faculty, staff, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, are not required to wear masks in most settings, indoors or outdoors. Anyone who wishes to continue wearing a mask on campus is welcome to do so.
Vaccines: For the fall 2022 semester, students are required to have a completed primary series of the COVID-19 vaccine or an approved exemption on file with the Weigel Health Center in order to register for classes or live on campus.
Pursuant to the policy, students are considered fully vaccinated for the initial course of vaccination:
Recent changes in the SUNY policy no longer require a booster vaccination.
Final Day of Instruction Summer - Session LS
8/12/2022
Final Day of Instruction- Summer - Session VS
8/12/2022
Classes Begin Fall
8/29/2022
Labor Day - No Classes
9/5/2022
Fall Recess - No Classes
10/10/2022
10/11/2022
Thanksgiving Recess - No Classes
11/23/2022
11/24/2022
11/25/2022
11/26/2022
Final Day of Regular Instruction - Fall
12/9/2022
Vaccination is required for:
The vaccination requirement is met if you are fully vaccinated, in the active process of becoming fully vaccinated, or have a documented medical or religious exemption certified by Weigel Wellness Center.
Campus dining facilities, including the Bengal Kitchen and the Retail Food Court located in the Campbell Student Union, and Starbucks located in E. H. Butler Library, have returned to normal operations and in-person dining for fully vaccinated individuals. Unvaccinated students may be limited to take-out options only.
Buffalo State is planning to allow in-person activities for fully vaccinated students, including full participation in clubs and organizations. Capacity restrictions are not expected for vaccinated individuals; however, unvaccinated students may experience restrictions on the ability to use services such as the fitness center, participate in recreational sports, attend select student events, and partake of in-person dining options.
International students who obtained a COVID-19 vaccination may provide documentation signed by a healthcare provider duly licensed to practice medicine in the United States or a foreign country, and such documentation must include the dates of vaccination and name of the COVID-19 vaccination given. International students who have received COVID-19 vaccines not licensed or under an EUA by the FDA in the United States, or not authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization ("WHO") (e.g., AstraZeneca/Oxford) may apply for a medical accommodation, as discussed below, which will be addressed in accordance with NYS guidance by each campus on a case-by-case basis. In general, campuses will designate these students as partially vaccinated and they will therefore be subject to the conditions of the medical accommodation until further notice.
International students and COVID-19 unvaccinated students who are traveling abroad and arrive in the United States to enter SUNY facilities may be subject to additional quarantine restrictions as determined by the SUNY facility.
Students who are unable to obtain a COVID-19 vaccination in their hometown or country of embarkment will have an opportunity to be vaccinated when they arrive in New York State. These students must begin the vaccination process as soon as possible and either: (1) quarantine for at least ten (10) days upon arrival; (2) submit an attestation to the campus that they have quarantined for at least ten (10) days prior to arrival; or, (3) provide evidence of a negative result on an approved COVID-19 test within the past (5) days. Any such student must also abide by all COVID-19 related health and safety restrictions for all applicable SUNY Facilities (e.g., face coverings, social distancing, and surveillance testing) until fully vaccinated.
Students, faculty, staff, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, are not required to wear masks in most settings, indoors or outdoors. Anyone who wishes to continue wearing a mask on campus is welcome to do so.
Quarantine and isolation guidelines.
How to manage symptoms of COVID-19 at home.
The difference between cleaning and disinfecting germs.
Up-to-date quarantine and isolation guidelines
If you have concerns regarding COVID-19, please call the Weigel Health Center at (716) 878-6711 to speak to a provider.
Buffalo State College is requiring all students living in campus-operated residence halls to be fully vaccinated prior to occupancy for the fall 2022 term, with limited medical and religious exemptions only and independent of the FDA approval process.
New and transfer students will move in on Wednesday, August 24. Returning students will move in on Saturday, August 27.
Please review the Residence Life Office's COVID Vaccination FAQ page.
Learn about campus services, academic success strategies, and on-campus resources to support your physical and mental well-being.
If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, it is critical to get tested and isolate until you know the status of your results. Symptoms for COVID-19 typically begin a few days after being exposed to someone who tests positive for COVID-19.
There are two different types of tests available:
If you reside outside of the Buffalo area, please reference the New York State Coronavirus webpage to find a testing location closest to you.
Check your email daily. Student Affairs communicates updated information directly to you. These emails are very important and could alter issues with your testing frequency/compliance.
This website will continue to be the clearinghouse of all relevant information related to Buffalo State’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic. It contains information, resources, and frequently asked questions segmented by audience (students, faculty/staff, parents/community, and all) as well as a comprehensive list of related campus e-mail communications.
SUNY maintains a comprehensive dashboard of COVID-19 testing and infection rate status across the system and at each campus.
Buffalo State also maintains a campus-specific COVID-19 case dashboard.
Boosters are no longer required to attend Buffalo State.
However, they are strongly encouraged as they may reduce quarantine and isolation time if you contract COVID-19.
To keep our campus safe for students, faculty, and staff, we all must adhere to the following CDC, and Buffalo State College, COVID-19 protocols, and guidelines.
Buffalo State requires that all students with an on-campus presence during Summer/Fall 2022 be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Full vaccination status is considered to be effective two weeks after receiving the second dose of a two-dose vaccine or two weeks after receiving a single-dose vaccine. Students must be fully vaccinated to register for Summer/Fall 2022 in-person classes.
All students, faculty, and staff who are not vaccinated will have to wear a mask while on Buffalo State campus (in classes, library, the union, and walking on campus, etc). Unvaccinated students, faculty, and staff will have to participate in weekly surveillance testing. Site, date, and time to be announced.
Make a vaccine appointment today by visiting suny.edu/KnowYourVax.
SUNY Buffalo State College policy requires that all students receive a COVID-19 vaccination.
A religious exemption may be granted if (1) the individual holds sincere religious beliefs which are contrary to the practice of vaccination, (2) completes this form, and (3) provides the required documentation to support the exemption request. Buffalo State College is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and supportive experience for all and recognizes true and genuine observance of faith as it pertains to the practice of immunization.
A temporary medical exemption may be granted upon receipt of a completed medical exemption form as well as medical documentation from your medical provider (not related to the submitter). Medical Exemptions expire when the medical condition(s) contraindicating the COVID-19 vaccination changes in a manner that permits vaccination or upon graduation. The assigned expiration is at the sole determination of Buffalo State College.
Required documentation includes:
Completes a medical exemption form (linked below)
Submit a letter from a medical provider stating the need for a temporary medical exemption (submit within the form)
A temporary remote-learning exemption may be granted to students with a 100% remote schedule that will not have a presence on the college campus. A remote exemption may be granted if (1) the individual is registered for 100% online or off-campus courses, (2) the individual does not participate in on-campus activities (i.e. sports, clubs), and (3) the individual will not be utilizing on-campus services and (4) the individual has written approval by their faculty member to attend their course remotely.
Individuals who may have a special arrangement with their faculty member for a course that is listed in person must submit documentation from their faculty member stating the individual will not be attending the course in person.
This documentation can be submitted to studentaffairs@buffalostate.edu.
NOTE: Fully online, unvaccinated students identified as having been in-person on the Buffalo State campus utilizing in-person services or facilities will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.
While Buffalo State is not currently restricting the activities or access of unvaccinated individuals with exemptions, other outside entities are. With the increased demand for proof of vaccinations comes the temptation for some to consider getting fake Covid-19 vaccine cards (or negative test results). In addition to potentially endangering your own health by faking a vaccine status you don't have, you are also potentially compromising the health of others who may be led to believe one thing based on your presented status.
Presenting a fake card is against the law, and providing false documents is definitely against the Student Code of Conduct. You could jeopardize your ability to remain at Buffalo State student by providing false information such as this.
Scammers are also seeing the potential to turn a profit by selling false credentials. Please educate yourself on the dangers of purchasing false cards. The Federal Trade Commission is a good resource for information.
Mandatory COVID-19 surveillance testing will remain a requirement this fall for any individual with a presence on campus who has not yet been fully vaccinated.
Testing will be held in Buckham Hall’s D-Wing (located across from the Sports Arena and next to the Technology Building, and accessible from lot R-12).
Testing times to be announced.
We understand that this is an exceptionally challenging time. Buffalo State has resources to help you get the support you need.
New York State Office of Mental Health Crisis Text Line: Text GOT5 to 741741.
