Important Update on Quarantine Requirement and On-Campus Housing Assignments

Dear Members of the Syracuse University Community:

We write today to update you on two interrelated subjects that are of great importance to our students and their families, as well as the broader campus community. Specifically, this message will address:

1. the University’s policy and approach related to students impacted by the New York State travel advisory and the 14-day quarantine required of all individuals who travel from impacted locations; and
2. the status of on-campus housing assignments and move-in registration for all residential students.

We describe these two issues as interrelated because housing assignments are temporarily delayed due to the New York State government’s travel advisory. At the same time, the University is working to formulate a strategy to enable impacted students to return in a manner that is logistically feasible, safe and in compliance with New York’s travel advisory and quarantine order. Currently, that order impacts students and their families traveling from 22 states where COVID-19 infection rates are high: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin.

The travel advisory, which requires individuals from the aforementioned states to quarantine for 14 days, will require that roughly 2,000 of our students self-quarantine at a location within New York state, before being allowed to access our campus, which includes University housing.

Syracuse University, along with nearly all our peer institutions in New York state, has engaged state officials to advocate for enhanced testing and modified quarantine protocols for students as an alternative to the full 14-day quarantine requirement. It is possible that such an alternative may still be proposed and accepted. However, for now, compliance with the 14-day self-quarantine remains the only way for students from impacted states to return to our campus in the fall.

That said, we are happy to report that we’re confident that students from impacted states will be able to participate in our residential campus this fall, assuming they can demonstrate compliance with the quarantine requirement. Given these incredibly difficult circumstances, Syracuse University is prepared to support and assist students impacted by the travel advisory to establish self-quarantine accommodations. Specifically, we have developed the following strategy to help our students arriving from impacted states, while at the same time protecting the health and safety of our broader community.

New First-Year and Transfer Undergraduate Students

Unfortunately, Syracuse University simply does not have the physical capacity to provide on-campus quarantine accommodations to the entire population of students who intend to live on campus and who are impacted by the travel advisory. As a result, we will prioritize the limited quarantine-eligible housing resources we do have for new first-year and transfer students.

• New first-year and transfer students will have the option to complete their self-quarantine requirement in their assigned University residence hall. Students wishing to exercise this option will be instructed shortly as to the process for informing the University of their intent.
• New first-year and transfer students who intend to complete their required quarantine in University housing should plan to arrive on campus on Aug. 2 (14 days prior to scheduled move-in for all new first-year and transfer students). Additional details related to this option will be communicated directly via a subsequent message to impacted students and families.
• New first-year and transfer students may also choose to self-quarantine at another location in New York state but will be required to provide Syracuse University with evidence of compliance prior to moving into campus housing (the week of Aug. 17).

Other Returning Students Living in Campus Housing

Although we will be unable to provide quarantine accommodations to our returning students who live in on-campus housing, we will do everything we can to support their return to campus, including:

• Syracuse University is actively working with local and regional hotels to secure space at reduced rates. We will provide a listing of participating hotels this week. Be advised that for planning purposes, students in this category should plan to arrive in New York state at least 14 days prior to your scheduled campus housing move-in date.
• Returning students who intend to live on campus are not required to complete their self-quarantine in one of the hotels identified by the University. Instead, this is an option the University is facilitating on behalf of impacted students. Students may also choose to self-quarantine at another location in New York state. These students must also provide Syracuse University with evidence of compliance prior to moving into campus housing (the week of Aug. 17).

Off-Campus Students, Including Undergraduate and Graduate Students

• Students from impacted states who live in off-campus housing must comply with the state travel advisory before Syracuse University can grant any campus privileges or campus access.
• Impacted students who reside off campus should arrive in New York state approximately 14 days prior to the start of classes, or earlier given any special circumstances that may require a student in this category to access campus prior to Aug. 24.
• Syracuse University will engage landlords and request their support to amend leases and rental agreements to accommodate impacted students. Students may also choose to self-quarantine at another location in New York state. These students must also provide Syracuse University with evidence of compliance prior to gaining access to campus (the week of Aug. 24).

For students from impacted states, please note: if you choose to complete your quarantine in a non-travel advisory state, be advised you may be required to provide evidence to New York State that you did in fact complete the required quarantine. All students affected by the travel advisory will receive additional details within 24 hours with next steps and further information related to complying with the quarantine requirement, testing and registering for early arrival if applicable. Students who cannot or choose not to comply with the quarantine requirement will be offered the opportunity to enroll in remote learning alternatives. Shortly, we will share additional information related to resources that may be available to support all students impacted by the quarantine requirement, to include instances of financial hardship.

Housing Assignments to Be Sent on Friday, July 24

As mentioned early in this message, we have postponed sending housing assignments to students living in on-campus housing. Additionally, we are delaying the opening of the housing portal for move-in registration for all residential students. That said, we plan to send housing assignments on Friday, July 24, and will notify students as soon as new dates are determined for the move-in registration portal. Please note, roommate assignments are not being altered. To our students and their families who are not impacted by the quarantine requirement, we appreciate your patience, understanding and flexibility.

This is a difficult time for everyone in our community and we are working to do everything within our power to support all our students, while balancing strict compliance with the quarantine requirement and mitigating the burden on our students and their families.

A subsequent communication to our students impacted by the New York travel advisory will follow soon. Stay safe and well.

Sincerely,
J. Michael Haynie
Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation

Amanda Nicholson
Interim Deputy Senior Vice President
Division of Enrollment and the Student Experience