Message for new international graduate students at Storrs campus

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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.

International Graduate Student Welcome Program

 

ISSS invites new graduate students at the Storrs campus to attend the International Graduate Student Welcome Program on Monday, August 23. This program complements your online international student orientation, and will include both in-person and virtual elements. This includes graduate students who began their program abroad, and who will arrive at UConn for the first time in the fall.

 

Students who are fully vaccinated may participate fully in the International Graduate Student Welcome Program. Students who are not fully vaccinated may likely participate in only some aspects of the orientation program. We strongly encourage all new international graduate students at Storrs to attend this program, which will help orient you to life at UConn and meet others. We will provide more details to you regarding the International Graduate Student Welcome Program soon.

Student Arrival Dates

If you will live on-campus:

New international graduate students living on-campus at Storrs may move into their room early, on Friday, August 13. There is an extra charge/fee associated with early move-in, and specific details about how to sign up and the cost for early move-in will be provided to you by Residential Life. New international graduate students who cannot move-in on August 13 should follow the standard move-in calendar, posted here. New graduate students who cannot arrive for the early move-in date can move in August 28 or 29. Contact livingoncampus@uconn.edu with any on-campus housing questions.

 

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. If you are a Storrs campus student and you will attend the International Graduate Student Welcome Program, please arrive by August 24. If you will not be fully vaccinated, you should arrive at least 7 days before the International Graduate Student Welcome Program to fully participate, or at least 7 days before classes begin, and follow all guidelines listed in this email regarding testing and quarantine.

 

Airport shuttle:

ISSS will sponsor an airport shuttle for students from Bradley International Airport  (Windsor Locks, Connecticut) to Storrs, Connecticut on the following dates:

 

Friday, August 13, 2021

Sunday, August 14, 2021

Saturday, August 21, 2021

Sunday, August 22, 2021

Tuesday, August 24, 2021 – drop off at UConn Storrs campus only.

 

ISSS will provide more information about the airport shuttle, and a form to sign up for the shuttle, very 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 starting in August. As an international student, you will be allowed to move to Storrs campus residence halls on the designated early arrival day of August 24 even if you are not fully vaccinated, but you will need to follow all guidelines described below.

 

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. Instead, register for a vaccination appointment when available. 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. Students who attend the Storrs campus can be tested through on-campus student health and wellness (SHaW) services.

 

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: August 13

 

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: August 13

 

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: August 13

 

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 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.
  • Watch for emails from ISSS with a link to fill out a new student arrival form. In this form you will confirm your arrival date, request early arrival, and register for the new student welcome program and airport shuttle.