WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - The College of William & Mary is preparing to welcome back students after the holidays.
In preparation for student's return, W&M have issued guidance on COVID-19 protocols.
Similar to the fall semester, students and faculty will need to self-quarantine for eight days before returning to campus. Employees who work in high-contact roles in which they may not be able to use mitigation strategies – such as masks, physical barriers and social distancing at all times – may be tested for COVID-19 before students return to campus.
All students living in campus housing, who plan to attend in-person instruction or use university facilities, will be required to have a negative COVID-19 test before returning to campus. Students within a 30-mile radius of campus will also need to test negative.
W&M will provide each student a free COVID-19 saliva test that will be mailed in advance of returning. The COVID-19 testing group will soon start to contact students by email to coordinate test registration and shipments, based on students’ anticipated arrival dates.
The university says they do not plan to accept outside test results due to "the variability and efficacy of COVID-19 tests nationally and difficulties in streamlining testing results and reporting requirements from multiple sources."
Students will not be permitted to be on campus until their negative test results have been received and verified.
Students will be notified when it is time to confirm the shipping address. International students will be notified by email about specific testing requirements.
Those who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the 90 days prior to return, must fill out a form to alert the university.
