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Clark University
Healthy Clark COVID Plan

Spring 2022 Campus Arrival

We look forward to starting the Spring 2022 semester with no changes to the current academic calendar — classes will begin on Jan. 18, 2022.

To maintain the health and safety of our campus community, however, essential pre-arrival and arrival requirements have been put into place.

Read the Jan. 6, 2022 Pre-Arrival and Arrival Expectations message from the Dean of Students

Pre-Arrival Testing

All spring semester students (residential and non-residential) who plan to arrive on campus after January 10 must submit their COVID-19 testing status 24 to 48 hours before their arrival if they are not currently testing regularly through the  Clark University Testing Center. Only students who test negative and share that information with the Pre-Arrival Testing Information Form will be permitted to return to campus.

Students testing at the Clark University Testing Center with their three-day testing cadence beginning January 9 have fulfilled their pre-arrival testing requirement. They will receive confirmation via email from the Dean of Students.

In addition to pre-arrival testing, all residential students must test at the Clark Testing Center before checking in to their residence halls, and non-residential students must test at the Clark Testing Center before the start of classes on Jan. 18.

Pre-Arrival Testing Information Form

Students can log in to the secure Pre-Arrival Testing Information Form and upload their pre-arrival COVID-19 test 24–48 hours before their desired return to campus.  Once you are logged in, you will have two options:

  • If you tested positive outside of Clark’s testing facility during winter break, please supply the details of the positive test and upload a document/image of the test clearly showing your name and the result.
  • If you tested negative outside of Clark’s testing facility in preparation for your return to campus, please supply the details of the negative test and upload a document/image of the test clearly showing your name and the result.

Students who have been on campus over Winter Break or arrived early, and who are currently testing regularly with the Clark University Testing Center, will not need to upload their information. Students who have previously tested positive and have been removed from the testing requirements by Health Services also will not need to upload their information.  A separate email from the Dean of Students will be sent to those students for verification during check-in.

Finding a COVID Test

Many drug stores and local governments have tests available in the United States. Students who are local or within driving distance may use Clark’s Testing Center in the days prior to their return to campus.

While PCR tests are preferred, rapid tests and at-home tests are acceptable alternatives. Information about where to find rapid test kits, and details about what should be included in the Pre-Arrival Information Form uploads, can be found here.

Any student who has financial difficulty obtaining a COVID test should contact the Dean of Students office.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pre-Arrival Testing

Students who are within driving distance to Clark are encouraged to get tested at the Clark Testing Center. 

  • Jan. 9–11:  11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Jan. 12:  7 a.m. to  5 p.m.
  • Jan. 13:  11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Jan. 14: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Jan. 15–16:  8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Jan. 17 (resuming normal hours): 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • PCR tests are preferred. Students should upload the email or physician information with their name and the result.
  • Rapid tests (antigen tests) and at-home rapid tests are acceptable as well, as we try to make fulfilling the testing requirement as easy as possible. Here is some helpful information from the CDC about how to administer an at-home COVID test. Rapid tests taken at home require students to take a photograph of the test next to their Clark ID.
  • Antibody tests are NOT acceptable.
  • Visit the U.S. Office of Health and Human Services for more information about tests offered near you.

Rapid tests, including at-home test kits, are available for purchase over the counter at local pharmacies and online. It typically costs $20-$30 for a kit containing two tests. The most common, FDA-approved at-home test kits include:

  • BinaxNow (Abbott Diagnostics)
  • BD Veritor (Becton, Dickinson and Co.)
  • InteliSwab (OraSure Technologies)
  • SCoV-2 Ag Detect Rapid Self-Test (InBios Int’l)
  • Flowflex (ACON Laboratories)
  • iHealth (iHealth Labs, Inc.)
  • Ellume (Ellume Limited)
  • Celltrion DiaTrust (Celltrion USA)
  • CareStart (Access Bio, Inc.)
  • QuickVue At-Home Test (Quidel Corp.)

Students who took a PCR test or a rapid test administered by a physician or testing center should upload the email or documentation from the testing center or physician. The document should include the student’s name, date of the test, and clearly show the test result.

Students who have an at-home test result should take a photograph of the test results next to their Clark ID and upload that image.

Students who previously tested positive with an at-home test and do not have a photograph should upload a PDF statement that shares the type of test taken, the amount of time they were isolated, and any additional pertinent information.

Yes. All currently enrolled Clark students must complete the Pre-Arrival Testing Information Form. In addition, all students, whether they live on or off campus, must get a test at the campus testing center before classes start.

Students who tested positive over the break should log into the Pre-Arrival Testing Information Form to submit their information, which includes the date the test was taken and the result. They should upload a statement that shares the type of test taken, the amount of time in isolation, and any additional pertinent information.

Students who tested positive over Winter Break, are asymptomatic, and have followed CDC guidance regarding isolation may return back to campus. You should upload your positive test result and date of the test on the Pre-Arrival Test Information Form; Health Services will communicate with you directly to remove you from Clark Testing Center cadence requirements from 90 days from the positive test date.

If you have questions, please contact Health Services.

Students who have tested positive for COVID-19 and currently are isolating per CDC guidance are not permitted to come back to campus. Positive test results should be submitted to the Pre-Arrival Test Information Form, and you will be contacted by Health Services.

If your isolation period extends beyond January 17 and you are unable to return to campus in person for the start of the Spring semester, the Dean of Students Office will contact you to help you communicate with faculty and to plan your return to campus.

Students living on campus in the Spring semester and who have submitted their Pre-Arrival Testing Information Form with documentation of a negative test may move into their residence halls at their assigned move-in time. You should arrive on campus at least 30 minutes before the Clark Testing Center closes to check in.

If you have specific questions about move-in, please contact Residential Life and Housing.

Pre-approved early arrivals begin on Thursday, Jan. 13. Please note that the testing center is open on Jan. 13, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Jan. 14, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Please arrive on campus at least 30 minutes before the Testing Center closes so you can test and check in to your residence hall after. Individual questions should be directed to Residential Life and Housing.

New student move-in is Saturday, Jan. 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Testing Center will open at 8 a.m.; New Student Orientation begins at 2 p.m.

Returning student move-in is on Sunday, Jan. 16. Residential students must test at the Clark Testing Center and then check in with Residential Life and Housing to get access to the residence halls. The Testing Center will be open on Sunday, Jan. 16, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Monday, Jan. 17, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

No. You will not be allowed to move in to your residence hall without testing at Clark’s Testing Center, which will be open on Saturday, Jan. 15, and Sunday, Jan. 16, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and on Monday, Jan. 17, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Please arrive on campus at least 30 minutes before the Testing Center closes so you can test and check in to your residence hall after. For more information, contact Residential Life and Housing.

All students who are not actively testing at the Clark Testing Center are required to submit their Pre-Arrival Testing Information Form — unless they receive explicit instructions, via email from the Dean of Students, indicating that they have fulfilled their pre-arrival testing information requirement.

Students will not have card access to University buildings, including their residence hall, and will be unable to use their Clark OneCard for meal swipes, until their Pre-Arrival Testing Information Form is submitted.

To maintain the safety of our community during the inflection period of the Omicron variant, Clark University will isolate on-campus residential students in one of the following ways:

  • A student should return home for the duration of their isolation period if they live within driving distance, can travel in a private vehicle, and can isolate at home without putting anyone else at undue risk.
  • A student should “stay in place” and isolate in their current on-campus residential room and maintain strict safety guidelines, especially if they have a roommate.
  • A student should be instructed to relocate to one of our isolation spaces, especially if the student has extenuating health circumstances.

The determination of whether a student should be moved into an isolation space or “stay in place” and isolate in their on-campus residential room will be based on the availability of isolation spaces in addition to each student’s unique situation.

Students who are currently living on campus for the Winter Break, or who arrived on campus prior to January 10, will have already entered their three-day testing cadence at the Clark Testing Center, and will need to continue their regular testing as required.

Students who are actively and regularly testing at the Clark Testing Center, and who receive an email that states their pre-arrival test information is complete, are not required to submit a Pre-Arrival Test Information Form because Clark already has their testing information on file and they are actively in the three-day testing cadence.

Mask Policy

Clark has tightened its mask-wearing guidelines for the spring semester: Everyone must wear a mask when in a public space and/or when interacting with others in private offices on campus. The policy applies to both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. We strongly recommend that you use a KN95 or N95 mask, as cloth masks have proven less effective at preventing the spread of the Omicron variant. KN95 masks are available at these distribution points on campus: the Information Desk in the University Center, the Information Desk in the Shaich Family Alumni and Student Engagement Center, and the Help Desk in the Academic Commons. 

Booster Vaccination Requirement

There is clear and compelling scientific data that a COVID-19 vaccination booster decreases the transmission and health effects of COVID. Therefore, anyone who has been vaccinated — students, faculty, and staff — are required to receive a booster if they plan to be on campus for the spring semester. The CDC offers guidance on determining your eligibility, and you must receive your booster as soon as possible after becoming eligible — but in no later than 30 days. Once you comply, please update your booster status through our secure portal.