Message for new international students at the Stamford, Hartford, Law, Avery Point and Waterbury campuses

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:

International students who will live in the Stamford campus residence hall move-in August 28 or 29;  more details will be provided by Residential Life at a later time about the move-in process. Please contact livingoncampus@uconn.edu with any questions you have.

Living off campus:

If you will live off campus you 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. Please be mindful of any in-person activities or program requirements, as well as testing and quarantine requirements (see below) when planning your arrival date.

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 receive a vaccination through a community provider. We will share more details regarding community vaccination provider options soon.

 

Please upload proof of your vaccination, 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). 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 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. We will provide you with more information on how to obtain a COVID-19 test in your community.

 

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, whichever comes first.

 

Quarantine Scenario 1: If you are fully vaccinated, living on-campus or off-campus:

Quarantine is not required. 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:
Modified quarantine for 7 days

Early Arrival:

To be confirmed

 

Standard Arrival:

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

Early Arrival:

To be confirmed

 

Standard Arrival:

August 28-29

You may arrive up to 30 days before the program start date on I-20.
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

Early Arrival:

To be confirmed

 

Standard Arrival:

August 28-29

You may arrive up to 30 days before the program start date on I-20.

 

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 am9:30 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.

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