To comply with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), students, faculty and staff arriving from outside of the United States must self-quarantine for 14 days before participating in any in-person activities on campus, including classes.
Due to CDC travel restrictions and an expected drop in new international student enrollment, the requirement likely won't have a broad impact, said Shaun Jamieson, international risk analyst for the university's risk management office. Many continuing international students have remained in the U.S. since the COVID-19 pandemic began earlier this year, he said.
The international students and scholars office shared information about the quarantine policy as part of its regular updates for international students and as it assists students with travel plans, said director Brendan O'Brien.
"We're trying to open the door as much as possible for international students, but there are some limitations that are, for the most part, out of our control," O'Brien said.
International students planning to live in university residence halls will be provided temporary on-campus housing to complete their time in quarantine. Domestic students planning to live on campus should stay home for the quarantine period upon returning to the U.S. Students planning to live off-campus and employees also should quarantine at home.
Students who aren't returning to the U.S. in time to quarantine before classes start Aug. 17 should contact their academic advisers and their instructors to make needed arrangements, such as beginning in-person class activities remotely.
While many countries have lower rates of coronavirus than the U.S., the CDC recommends the 14-day quarantine more due to the exposure inherent in travel than traveler's origin, Jamieson said.
