ISSS would like to share with you important information regarding arrival to campus for the fall 2021 semester to help you in your planning. Classes at all UConn campuses begin August 30, 2021. Please read the following information carefully to help you plan your arrival.
Student Arrival Dates
If you will live on-campus:
Most returning students who live in on-campus residential housing at Storrs or Stamford campuses will move in August 28 or 29. Please see the important dates posted by Residential Life here. More move-in details will be provided by Residential Life at a later time. Please contact livingoncampus@uconn.edu with any questions you have.
Living off campus:
If you will live off campus your arrival dates are more flexible. Students who have initial attendance I-20 forms may enter the U.S. with your F or J visa up to 30 days before the program start date listed on your Form I-20 or DS-2019. If your Form I-20 or DS-2019 is already active, you may return any time in the summer, unless you are traveling to the U.S. from an entry restricted country*. If you will travel from an entry restricted country, and your I-20 begins before August 1, 2021, we recommend that you do not arrive earlier than July 31, or 30 days before semester begins. J-1 students traveling from an entry restricted country also require a written national interest exception (or a visa annotated for NIE) before you can travel. If you will not be fully vaccinated upon arrival in the U.S., we recommend that you arrive at least 7 days before classes or any in-person campus commitment begins, and follow all guidelines listed in this email regarding testing and quarantine.
Airport shuttle:
ISSS plans to sponsor an airport shuttle for students from Bradley International Airport (Windsor Locks, Connecticut) to Storrs, Connecticut on the following dates:
Friday, August 13, 2021
Saturday, August 14, 2021
Saturday, August 21, 2021
Sunday, August 22, 2021
Tuesday, August 24, 2021 – drop off at UConn Storrs campus only.
Priority for this shuttle is given to new international students, but on a space-available basis, returning or continuing students may be able to sign up for a seat on the shuttle. ISSS will provide more details soon.
COVID-19 Testing, Vaccination, and Quarantine Requirements
COVID-19 Vaccination:
The University requires that all UConn students be vaccinated for COVID-19, unless you have been approved for an exemption from this requirement for medical or non-medical reasons. Students who wish to apply for the exemption should submit the exemption request form by July 15. Links to the exemption requests form can be found here. Do not submit the exemption form if you plan to be vaccinated upon arrival to the U.S.
You are considered to be fully vaccinated two weeks after completing a full course of a vaccination approved by the World Health Organization. If you are unable to be fully vaccinated in your country, the University will allow you to get your vaccination when you arrive. Students who need to be vaccinated upon arrival can register for an open appointment with the on-campus vaccination clinic in Storrs starting in August. Students who are not at the Storrs campus can obtain a vaccination through a local community provider. ISSS will provide more information on community vaccination options soon.
Please upload proof of your vaccination status, even if you are not yet fully vaccinated and even if it is not a WHO-approved vaccine, to myhealth.uconn.edu as soon as you are able to, and no later than July 31 (when possible). If you will not have access to a WHO approved vaccination upon arrival, do not apply for the vaccination exemption. More information on the University’s vaccination requirement can be found here.
COVID-19 testing:
After international travel:
All international students who fly to the U.S. from another country are required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test in order to fly to the United States. Learn more here. Please also submit this proof of your negative COVID-19 test result to myhealth.uconn.edu. Upon arrival in the U.S., you should be tested again, and then again 5-7 days after arrival. Students who attend the Storrs campus can be tested through on-campus student health and wellness (SHaW) services. Students who do not attend the Storrs campus can be tested through a community provider. ISSS will provide more information on community testing options soon.
Residential students who are not yet fully vaccinated, no international travel:
Students who are not fully vaccinated, but will live on campus and did not travel from outside the U.S., must also be tested prior to arrival, upon arrival, and within 5-7 days after arrival.
Quarantine:
Your vaccination status will determine if you will need to quarantine upon arrival to the U.S. or arrival to campus.
Quarantine Scenario 1: If you are fully vaccinated, living on-campus or off-campus:
Quarantine is not required. However, if you traveled from an international destination, you will still need pre-arrival testing, arrival testing, and testing 5-7 days after arrival for COVID-19 (as described above) and monitor for symptoms.
Quarantine Scenario 2: If you are not fully vaccinated, and arrive from a U.S. location, or from an international location that is not subject to geographic entry-restriction*:
Students living on campus:
In addition to the COVID-19 testing described above, you will need to follow a modified residential quarantine for 7 days. During the modified quarantine:
- Students are permitted to attend class and participate in essential research functions conducted at UConn.
- Students in clinical rotations should follow the recommendations of their clinical setting.
- No close contacts (<6 ft. for >15 min) outside defined residential pod.
- Continue to wear masks, physically distance, and avoid crowds and social gatherings.
- May leave primary residence for Dining Hall take-out service.
- May engage in outdoor activities by yourself or with members of defined residential pod.
- May participate in limited, university sponsored, socially distanced outdoor activities.
- No prolonged indoor activity outside of primary residence other than to attend class, engage in essential research, and access take-out food service.
- Adhere to all control measures advised by the university.
- Daily symptom check during the modified quarantine period.
- May leave primary residence to obtain medical care and participate in required testing for COVID-19.
Students living off-campus:
Follow the modified quarantine guidelines above for seven days (but in your off-campus residence), or ten days if you are unable to follow the COVID-19 testing schedule after arrival.
Quarantine Scenario 3: If you are not fully vaccinated, and arrive after international travel from a country subject to entry-restriction*:
Students living on campus:
In addition to the COVID-19 testing described above, you will need to follow a medical quarantine for 7 days after arrival to the U.S. If you arrive in the U.S. before your move-in date, you should complete the 7-day quarantine and related COVID-19 testing before you move into your on-campus housing and upload your testing results to SHaW. Otherwise you may complete the medical quarantine on-campus.
During the 7-day medical quarantine:
- You will live in temporary housing for residential quarantine.
- No close contacts (<6 ft. for >15 min).
- May only leave primary residence for Dining Hall take-out service.
- No in person class attendance. If you must miss classes due to quarantine, the University will support you to remain engaged with your coursework.
- No in-person work attendance.
- Daily active monitoring of temperature (2x/day) and daily symptom check
- Testing for COVID-19 day 5-7 after arrival from an entry restricted country.
- May leave primary residence to obtain medical care and participate in required testing for COVID-19.
Students living off-campus:
Follow the general medical quarantine guidelines above for seven days (but in your off-campus residence), or ten days if you are unable to follow COVID-19 testing schedule after arrival.
*Entry restricted countries as of June 2021: Brazil, China, India, Iran, South Africa, Ireland, United Kingdom, and Schengen Area countries of Europe, which are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Summary of Arrival, Testing, and Quarantine Policy
| Travel description: | Covid-19 Testing | Quarantine | Arrival Date- Living On Campus | Arrival Date- Living Off Campus |
| Domestic travel: | Fully Vaccinated: None required
Not fully vaccinated: Pre-arrival, upon arrival and 5-7 days after arrival |
Fully vaccinated: None required
Not fully vaccinated: |
Freshmen (Storrs):
August 27
All others: August 28-29 |
If you are already in the U.S. on an F or J visa, you may arrive at any point in summer, by your program start date. |
| International travel (not traveling from an entry restricted country): | All students: Pre-arrival, upon arrival, and 5-7 days after arrival | Fully vaccinated: None
Not fully vaccinated: Modified quarantine for 7 days |
Freshmen (Storrs):
August 27
All others: August 28-29 |
New I-20/DS-2019: Arrive up to 30 days before program start date.
Continuing I-20s/DS-2019s: Arrive at any point in the summer. |
| International travel from entry-restricted country: | All students: Pre-arrival, upon arrival, and 5-7 days after arrival | Fully vaccinated: None
Not fully vaccinated: Medical quarantine for 7 days |
Freshmen (Storrs):
August 27
All others: August 28-29 |
New I-20/DS-2019: Arrive up to 30 days before program start date.
Continuing I-20s: Arrive no earlier than July 31. This includes students whose flights transit entry- restricted countries.
If not fully vaccinated, arrive at least 7-10 days before classes begin. |
What to do next:
- We know that you probably have a lot of questions about your situation. Please attend a live webinar to learn more about arrival and returning to campus, and ask your questions to SHaW, Res Life, and ISSS staff.
When: Tuesday, July 6 at 8:30 am – 9:30 am, EST.
Link to meeting:
https://uconn-cmr.webex.com/uconn-cmr/onstage/g.php?MTID=e277313e6e231215f85ab85d960f36f70
Event number 120 869 7786
Event password: UConn2021
- Upload your COVID-19 vaccination record status, even if you are not yet fully vaccinated, to uconn.edu by July 31 (when possible). Contact studenthealth@uconn.edu with any questions. Check your myhealth.uconn.edu portal for response from Student Health Services (for your privacy).
- Fill out your ISSS Fall 2021 Study Plan, if you have not already done so. Please also complete this form if you will not study in-person for fall 2021.