COVID-19 CAMPUS INFORMATION

Villanova University reviews and updates its COVID-19 policies to keep the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff paramount while recognizing the high vaccination rate of our campus community and monitoring CDC and state guidelines.

The following COVID-19 policies are currently in effect (updated 8/16/22):

COVID-19 VACCINE REQUIREMENT

All students, faculty and staff who will be on campus are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation. The vaccine requirement applies to all students who are enrolled in any in-person class, whether the class is held on campus or at another location.

Villanova accepts the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Villanova also accepts vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) evaluation process. A listing of COVID-19 vaccines that have been evaluated by the WHO and have met the necessary criteria for safety and efficacy can be found on the WHO website.

Proof of vaccination should be uploaded through Villanova's secure portal for any new law, graduate or CPS student. Traditional first-year undergraduate students (i.e., freshmen or transfers) should submit their vaccination document as part of their Student Health Record, available on the same portal. Information submitted through this portal will remain confidential.

COVID-19 BOOSTER

The COVID-19 booster is strongly recommended for all students, faculty and staff, when eligible, to remain up-to-date with their vaccination status (under CDC guidelines). Find out more from the CDC about staying up-to-date with your COVID-19 vaccines.

MASKING

Masks are not required outdoors or indoors.
Any community member who feels more comfortable wearing a mask is encouraged to do so.
All community members are expected to continue to have a mask with them at all times. KN95 masks are available on campus for all community members in the Connelly Center.
Faculty may require students to wear masks in their classes, laboratories or offices, and students must comply with this request. Students and staff may ask the same of one another when meeting or getting together.
Everyone is expected to put Community First and be respectful of others’ masking decisions. The reasons why individuals may choose to wear a mask can vary widely, so everyone is expected to show respect in all situations.
Masks are recommended inside campus buildings for visitors to campus.

TESTING

Prior to arriving to campus, all students are encouraged to test for COVID-19, and, if positive, students should stay home through their isolation period. Students who test positive for COVID-19 should notify covidsurvey@villanova.edu so the Student Health Center can provide appropriate care and medical support.
Any student, with or without symptoms, may test at the Student Health Center.
Students who have been exposed as a close contact, who remain asymptomatic, need to test on day 5 following their exposure and may be tested at the Student Health Center. Such students may also test on their own (with a home test).
All COVID-19 testing at the Student Health Center is a rapid PCR or rapid molecular test and has a fee.
Villanova employees should take advantage of local community-based testing locations or contact their primary healthcare provider for testing.
Mandatory random surveillance testing is not planned for the Fall 2022 semester; if there is a need to change our approach, a communication will be sent to students, faculty and staff.

TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

Students

Any student who tests positive is expected to isolate for five days, per CDC guidance, and notify the Student Health Center at covidsurvey@villanova.edu. (See below for more information about isolation.)
The Student Health Center will inform the appropriate Associate Dean when a student receives a positive COVID-19 test since the student will require a period of isolation. The Associate Dean will inform the students’ faculty that they will be absent from class due to illness.

Employees

Follow CDC guidelines regarding isolation.
Notify your supervisor/department chair to determine the appropriate next steps in terms of using sick time or working from home, if you are able to and a supervisor supports that the position can do so.
Employees are welcome to contact covidsurvey@villanova.edu with any COVID-19 related questions (but it is no longer necessary to notify Human Resources, the Student Health Center or covidsurvey@villanova.edu if you are positive).

CONTACT TRACING

Villanova will continue to engage in contact tracing of student COVID-19 cases.
Students who are close contacts, regardless of vaccination status, will not need to quarantine. Under CDC recommendations, students will be expected to mask for 10 days and test on day 5 after exposure if they remain asymptomatic. Rapid testing is available at the Student Health Center or students may test on their own.
Current CDC guidance also provides that any close contact who has tested positive in the last 90-days for COVID-19 does not need to test regardless of vaccination status. Such individuals should continue to watch for symptoms and, if symptoms develop, test immediately and isolate until test results are known.

ISOLATION SPACES

Villanova will maintain a limited number of beds off-campus and in the Student Health Center for students who test positive and require isolation away from campus. Students may also choose to return home for this time period. In the event no isolation space is available, Villanova may ask students who live within 300 miles to return home for their period of isolation.

TRAVEL

Villanova recommends that anyone traveling on behalf of Villanova be up-to-date with their vaccinations, which includes a booster when eligible per CDC guidelines.
Other travel with Villanova, including optional student travel, will continue to be evaluated in light of the most current CDC guidance and transmission trends.

PARTICIPATION IN CAMPUS EVENTS

Participation in campus events is generally open to all community members.
Some specific events or organizations may determine that up-to-date vaccination status is required for participation or attendance as circumstances warrant.

VISITORS TO CAMPUS

Up-to-date vaccination status is recommended for any visitor to campus.
Masks are recommended inside campus buildings for visitors to campus.