FROM THE DESK OF PANO KOUKOPOULOS, DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

As testing for Covid-19 continues, Western Connecticut State University wants to answer all your questions. Please find below FAQs related to testing requirements for students. They can also be view on the WCSU's website. If you have a question not on the list, please send an email to pr@wcsu.edu and we will answer you promptly. 

Do all students have to get tested?

The Connecticut Department of Public Health and the CSCU Board of Regents required a weekly test for every student who has an on-campus presence. Students who are fully online and do not go to campus do not have to get tested. 

I am a commuter student coming to campus every other week. Am I required to get tested weekly?

No. If you are only coming to campus every other week, you may follow that schedule for testing. 

Do I have to get tested on the same day every week?

No, you can be tested any day that our testing partner, Sema4, is on campus. Just be sure to test weekly. 

I am in quarantine and won’t be able to get tested this week. What do I do?

If you are in quarantine, you should not get tested. Once you finish your 10-day quarantine, you can resume the testing process. 

I am in isolation. Should I try to get tested?

If you are in isolation, you must stay in your designated area until your infectious period is over. Refer to the answer below for information on how to obtain a waiver from testing for 90 days. 

I recently tested positive, but my doctor said I can come to campus as of this date. What should I do regarding testing?

Per guidelines issued by the federal Centers for Disease Control, you should avoid testing for approximately 90 days after a diagnosis because you will likely continue to test positive. Please submit your positive test result to healthservices@wcsu.edu so that your testing requirement can be waived.  Contact WCSU Health Services at (203) 837-8594 if you have any questions.

I work 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and only have evening classes. How do I get a test?

If you are experiencing scheduling conflicts, please call the Director of Emergency Management, at (203)-837-9352. 

Do I need to get tested before I come to campus for the first time?

No. You can get tested after your first class or campus work hours. However, you need to get tested as soon as possible and then once a week after that. 

Will I have to pay for the test?

No. We have, however, been asked to provide insurance information if available, so you will be asked for an insurance card. If you do not have an insurance card, you can still be tested. In any case, Sema4, the insurance companies that serve Connecticut, and the state have agreed that students will not be billed. 

I have received both doses of the vaccine. Do I still need to get tested?

Yes. Following the recommendation from the Connecticut Department of Health, you should continue to be tested after receiving the vaccines. It is currently unclear if the vaccine prevents asymptomatic spread to unvaccinated individuals. When more is known about how the virus responds to the vaccine and as more people are vaccinated, this recommendation may change. We will inform the campus community at that time. 

I am getting tested for Covid-19 at work twice a week. Do I still need to get tested at WCSU?

Yes. To continue participating in all campus activities, we require you also to be tested on campus. 

Do I need to provide WCSU proof of tests that I take at work?

No. We are not collecting information from tests that are not conducted on campus. 

I tested positive. May I take another test and see if it is negative?

No. If you test positive, you will be required to isolate. The university will give you instructions. 

I could not get an appointment slot but I should get tested this week. May I just show up?

Sema4 has set aside slots for walk-ins so if you need to get tested, visit the testing site and sign in. In the future, continue to make every effort to sign up ahead of time to prevent a backlog. 

I am getting an error message when I try to set up an appointment.

Contact the Director of Emergency Management at (203) 837-9352 for assistance. 

What happens when there is a snowstorm and the campus is closed? Is testing still happening?

When the campus is closed or class and work schedules have transitioned to virtual operations, testing will be canceled. Additional testing hours may be added as needed. Visit Sema4’s website and schedule an appointment for the next convenient time. 

I have to cancel my appointment. How do I do that?

When you first scheduled your appointment, you received a confirmation email. That email contains information that will allow you to reschedule or cancel your appointment.  

I don’t have an ID.

If you don’t have an ID or lost it, contact the WestConnect Office to get one. You can obtain a test if you present your Banner ID number, but you will also be required to show a photo ID to confirm your identity. 

Do I have to get tested on campus or can I submit test results from an off-campus testing facility?

Test results from off-campus may be helpful for various reasons, but we have no way to compile those results. Because of that, we are making on-campus testing free and available to all students. Please get tested on campus weekly. 

Can university faculty and staff get tested?

The testing by Sema4 is primarily for students. Faculty and staff who choose to be tested on campus will be charged for the test. However, free testing is available at the Westside campus drive-up site in the commuter parking lot. It operates seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.