Buffalo State College has welcomed students, faculty, and staff members back for a fully in-person academic year.
Testing: Surveillance testing will remain a requirement this fall for any individual with a presence on campus who has not yet been fully vaccinated.
Masks: Buffalo State College will again require all campus community members and visitors—regardless of vaccination status—to wear face masks while indoors on campus.
Vaccines: Following the F.D.A.’s full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, the State University of New York’s (SUNY) mandate that all students be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 is in effect. Buffalo State College strongly supports and will enforce this mandate as we collectively work to safeguard the health and well-being of our campus community.
August 30, 2021
Fall Semester Begins
October 11–12, 2021
Fall Recess, No Classes
November 24–28, 2021
Thanksgiving Recess, No Classes
December 10, 2021
Final Day of Instruction
December 13–16, 2021
Critique and Evaluation Period
December 16, 2021
Final Day of the Fall Semester
Unvaccinated and partially-vaccinated students must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test that was administered within five days before their arrival on campus for the semester. That negative test result must be followed up by another COVID-19 test administered on their day of arrival on campus.
In lieu of a negative test, unvaccinated and partially-vaccinated students must attest to Buffalo State College that they had quarantined for at least 10 days before arriving on campus or they must agree to quarantine for 10 days after arriving on campus.
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.
Buffalo State College will return to normal in-person course scheduling in the fall. This means the majority of courses will be held face-to-face, with select classes offered in hybrid or fully online formats. Students can check the attribution codes in Banner to determine the modality of a course. Students who have a health or safety concern regarding in-person classes should consult with their advisers about online course options.
Students with accessibility concerns will continue to be accommodated on a case-by-case basis by the Student Accessibility Services Office.
The Buffalo State Child Care Center is available at a reduced rate for student parents with child-care concerns.
Students, faculty, and staff members are asked to complete the online COVID-19 Daily Symptom Tracker each day before coming to campus. Residential students are expected to complete the symptom tracker every day.
Students who experience any symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to isolate at home or in their residence hall rooms and call the Weigel Wellness Center (716) 878-6711 and their personal health-care providers.
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, are expected return to normal operations and in-person dining this fall 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, this fall. 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.
In accordance with updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Erie County Department of Health, Buffalo State College will again require all campus community members and visitors—regardless of vaccination status—to wear face masks while indoors on campus.
Face masks are not required when faculty or staff members are alone in their personal offices or when students are inside their private residence hall rooms, or for individuals who are actively eating or drinking in a campus dining area.
Unvaccinated individuals will be required to wear face masks in all outdoor settings. Face masks will also be required for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals in all large outdoor group settings of 200 or more people.
Buffalo State will require all resident students living on campus this fall to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with limited medical or religious exemptions. Fully vaccinated students will not be subject to any restrictions in the residence halls. Any student who qualifies for a limited vaccine exemption will likely be housed with other unvaccinated students and be required to wear a mask in common spaces.
New and transfer students will move in on Thursday, August 26. Returning students will move in on Saturday, August 28.
Please review the Residence Life Office's COVID Vaccination FAQ page.
Buffalo State has set aside dedicated residence hall space for quarantine and isolation use. CDC guidelines indicate that fully vaccinated individuals who are exposed to COVID-19 do not have to quarantine unless they are symptomatic. Both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals who test positive must isolate for 10 days. Unvaccinated residential students who cannot provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test or cannot attest to Buffalo State College that they had quarantined for at least 10 days before arriving on campus must quarantine for 10 days after arriving on campus.
Learn about campus services, academic success strategies, and on-campus resources to support your physical and mental well-being.
Watch President Conway-Turner’s informational town halls for continuing students and new students.
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.
Following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, August 23, the State University of New York’s (SUNY) mandate that all students be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 is now in effect. Buffalo State College strongly supports and will enforce this mandate as we collectively work to safeguard the health and well-being of our campus community.
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) on the following days and times:
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.
