August 11, 2022: COVID-19 Campus Update
August 11, 2022
Dear Student,
Villanova University continues to review and update 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. Please review Villanova’s COVID-19 website for detailed guidance on University policies. Important information is highlighted below:
TESTING
Prior to arriving to campus, all students are encouraged to test for COVID-19, and, if positive, to stay home through their isolation period. Anyone who feels sick should not come to campus. Students who test positive should notify covidsurvey@villanova.edu so that the Student Health Center can provide appropriate care and medical support.
- Any student, with or without symptoms, may test at the Student Health Center.
- The Student Health Center provides rapid PCR or rapid molecular testing for a fee.
TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
- Any student who tests positive is expected to isolate for five days, per CDC guidance, and notify the Student Health Center at
- If a student tests positive, the Student Health Center will inform the appropriate Associate Dean that the student will require a period of isolation. The Associate Dean will inform appropriate faculty that the student will be absent from class due to illness.
CONTACT TRACING
- Villanova will continue to engage in contact tracing of student COVID-19 cases.
- Students who are close contacts and who are up to date on their vaccines will not need to quarantine away from campus. 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.
- Students who are close contacts and who are NOT fully up to date with their vaccines (i.e., have an accommodation or are not boosted when eligible) must quarantine away from campus for at least 5 full days after exposure. Per CDC guidance, they must test on day 5 after their last contact with someone with COVID-19. They must test negative and remain asymptomatic to leave quarantine. They should continue to wear a mask through day 10 and watch for symptoms. See below for information on quarantine spaces.
- Current CDC guidance also provides that any close contact who has tested positive in the last 90 days does not need to quarantine or 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.
- The Student Health Center will inform the appropriate Associate Dean when a student requires a period of quarantine away from campus. The Associate Dean will inform the student’s faculty that they will be absent from class due to illness.
ISOLATION and QUARANTINE SPACES
Villanova will maintain a limited number of beds off-campus and in the Student Health Center for students who (a) test positive or (b) are not up-to-date with their vaccines and require quarantine as a close contact. Students may also choose to return home for this time period. In the event no isolation/quarantine space is available, Villanova may ask students who live within 300 miles of campus to return home for their period of isolation or quarantine.
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 have a mask with them at all times. KN95 masks are available 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.
Finally, it is important to remember that washing hands, social distancing and wearing a mask when exposed remain effective tools to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, as well as other germs that cause illness. Students are directed to visit the Villanova University COVID-19 website for additional information on managing COVID-19 throughout the semester.
Sincerely,
Kathleen J. Byrnes, JD
Vice President for Student Life
