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Health and Safety

Face Masks/Coverings

To help protect all members of the Dominican University Community, an acceptable face mask/covering that covers both the nose and mouth must be worn when on campus in enclosed spaces. Locations include but are not limited to:

  • Building lobbies
  • Classrooms
  • Shared Offices/Workspaces
  • Corridors/Hallways
  • Restrooms
  • Elevators

Acceptable face masks/coverings must also be worn outdoors when six-foot distancing cannot be maintained and when otherwise indicated as required.

Acceptable face masks/coverings include, but are not limited to, cloth masks (e.g. homemade sewn – two and three-ply), surgical masks, and N-95 respirators.  

The following face masks/coverings are not acceptable while on campus. 

  • quick cut masks
  • bandanas
  • neck gaiters
  • single ply cloth or material masks
  • masks with exhalation valves or vents
  • face shields without acceptable face coverings underneath

The College will provide students with one cloth mask, but students will need to provide their own in addition to this. Face masks are available for purchase at the College Bookstore. Students who cannot wear a face mask covering due to medical or disability-related reasons should contact the Office of Special Services (margaret.giuliano@duny.edu) for alternate class arrangements where possible. 

Daily Health Check

(including weekends and when not on campus)

***this does not apply to those working or learning on a completely remote basis for the Spring semester

Students, faculty, and staff must complete an online screening questionnaire every day, including weekends, whether they are on or off campus. If coming to campus that day, the questionnaire must be completed prior to coming to campus or leaving the residence halls for the first time each day. Clearance to come to campus or appropriate next steps will be provided based on the answers submitted. COVID-19 symptoms may appear from an average of 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with any of the following symptoms, or any combination of these symptoms, may have COVID-19:

  • Cough
  • Shortness of Breath (experienced during activities you would not normally feel short of breath during)
  • Chills or repeated shaking chills
  • Muscle aches or pain
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • A new loss of sense of taste or smell
  • Fever (>100.0 F)
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Faculty/Staff 

**this does not apply to those working on a completely remote basis for the Spring semester

If an employee experiences any symptoms of COVID-19 when off campus, he/she must remain home, contact his/her immediate supervisor, area Vice President, and Human Resources (humanresources@duny.edu) and call a healthcare provider for further guidance. 

An employee who begins experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 while on campus must keep his/her face mask/covering on, advise his/her immediate supervisor and area Vice President that he/she is returning home, advise Human Resources, and call a healthcare provider. 

In both scenarios, if the employee is a member of the faculty, the appropriate Division Director must be notified as well.

The reason that we ask employees to call their healthcare provider when they have certain symptoms is so that the provider can assist in determining whether COVID testing is needed and when. You may be advised to stay home and call in a couple of days to see if your symptoms have subsided.

Once you are tested for COVID, even if the test comes back negative, you must remain in isolation for ten days from the onset of symptoms unless your healthcare provider attests differently.

The following is based on instructions from the New York State Dept of Health

If your health care or urgent care provider decides you do not need to remain on 10 days of isolation you must obtain a letter of clearance indicating that you are not infectious and can return to campus. You must provide this letter of clearance to humanresources@duny.edu.

If COVID-19 is detected, the employee must follow the isolation provision and contact his/her supervisor, area Vice President and Human Resources. Once notified by Human Resources, the Student Health Center will contact the state and local Department of Health for guidance regarding surveillance, monitoring and communication to the Dominican University community. The Health Center will follow the protocol from the CDC and New York State regarding the employee’s return to campus. 

Employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 should not return to campus until all of the CDC criteria have been met, including:

  • At least 10 days since symptoms first appeared 
  • At least 24 hours with no fever without fever-reducing medications
  • Symptoms have improved

Before returning to campus, plans for return must be discussed with the appropriate supervisor, and Human Resources must also receive documentation of release from isolation or quarantine from the Department of Health or the employee’s healthcare provider.

Commuter Students 

If a commuter student experiences any symptoms of COVID-19 when off campus, they must remain at home and call their healthcare provider for further guidance. Commuter students may also schedule a telehealth appointment with a nurse practitioner by contacting the Student Health Center at 845-848-7918 or dchealthcenter@duny.edu.

A commuter student who begins experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 or feels ill while on campus should return home immediately and call his/her healthcare provider or schedule a telehealth appointment with a nurse practitioner by contacting the Student Health Center at 845-848-7918 or  dchealthcenter@duny.edu. Students who are not well enough to drive home or need assistance with securing transportation should contact the Health Center to assist with transportation arrangements.

Commuter students should contact their primary care provider and then contact the Health Center if they are being sent for COVID-19 testing. Commuter students will be instructed to report the findings of their visit to the Health Center. The Health Center will attempt to follow up with the student to obtain the diagnosis of the individual using Medicat secure messaging. College email or a phone call may be used if permission is granted in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) privacy policy signed by the student. 

If COVID-19 is detected, the student must follow the quarantine provision. The Health Center will contact the state and local Department of Health for guidance regarding surveillance, monitoring and communication to the Dominican University community. The Health Center will follow the protocol from the CDC and New York State, regarding the student’s return to campus.

Students should continue with their studies remotely provided they are able to do so during their illness. Students who are too ill to continue their coursework must contact the Academic Dean’s office.

Students who have tested positive for COVID-19 should not return to campus until the CDC criteria have been met, including:

  • At least 10 days since symptoms first appeared 
  • At least 24 hours with no fever without fever-reducing medications
  • Symptoms have improved

Before returning, the Health Center must also receive documentation of release from isolation or quarantine from the Department of Health or his/her healthcare provider.

Resident Students 

A resident student who experiences any symptoms of COVID-19, must isolate himself/herself in his/her residence hall room and notify a Residence Life staff member. 

If a resident student contracts COVID-19, is exposed to the virus or experiences any symptoms of COVID-19 isolation or quarantine will be required.  Students will be encouraged to return to home during the period of isolation/quarantine.

Students who return home and have tested positive for COVID-19 should not return to campus until the CDC criteria have been met, including:

  • At least 10 days since symptoms first appeared 
  • At least 24 hours with no fever without fever-reducing medications
  • Symptoms have improved

Before returning, the Health Center must also receive documentation of release from isolation or quarantine from the Department of Health or his/her healthcare provider.

If it is not possible for a student to return home, the College has identified dedicated spaces for isolation and quarantine, as needed, on and off campus. 

Students should continue with their studies remotely provided they are able to do so during their illness. Students who are too ill to continue their coursework must contact the Academic Dean’s office.

Faculty, Staff, and Students - Travel Advisory

Travel Advisory

Anyone who has traveled to New York State from a noncontiguous state, US territory or CDC level 2 and higher country, must follow the guidance below. Visit the link below for the current list of restricted states by New York State. Students who reside in one of these states or in another country must notify the College so quarantine arrangements can be provided.

  • If you were out-of-NY State in a noncontiguous NY state, US territory or CDC level 2 and higher country for MORE THAN 24 hours New York State requires that you:
    • obtain a test within three days of departure from your current location, prior to arrival in New York
    • upon arrival in New York, quarantine for three days
    • on day 4 of quarantine, obtain another COVID test
    • Both of these tests must be negative for you to return to campus.

Anyone who has traveled out-of-NY State to a noncontiguous state, US territory or CDC level 2 and higher country for more than 24 hours and did not follow the guidelines above, New York State requires that you:

  • quarantine for 10 days regardless of a negative test. Those who are asymptomatic and have not followed the above guidelines must quarantine for 10 days from the last day in a non-border state or another country.

If you were out-of-state in a noncontiguous NY state, US territory or CDC level 2 and higher country, for LESS THAN 24 hours New York State does not require that you get tested prior to returning to New York and you do not need to quarantine upon arrival to New York. However, New York State does require that you take a COVID diagnostic test 4 days after arriving in New York.

International students must follow the required quarantine guidelines. International Students must contact Residence Life for quarantine information and accommodation requests.

Vulnerable Populations - Faculty and Staff

Vulnerable populations, such as those who are 65 years or older or who suffer from underlying health conditions, will report to the Director of Human Resources regarding plans to work remotely. Employees who do not feel able to return in person will require the approval of their supervising Vice President to work remotely, when possible. All approved plans will be filed with the Office of Human Resources.

Public Health Awareness/Education

To ensure faculty, staff, and students have access to the same basic information, the College will offer formal online education/training regarding COVID-19.  Training is mandatory and compliance will be monitored by the office of Human Resources (for employees) and Student Development (for students).

Training and educational material will include the following: 

  • A general overview of COVID-19 including infection prevention and control measures (hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, physical distancing, cleaning and disinfection), signs and symptoms, testing, transmission, and credible resources. 
  • Campus-specific policies and practices regarding infection prevention and control, campus health and safety resources, use of PPE including face mask/covering, and actions if sick.
  • All students will be encouraged to sign and adhere to the Dominican Cares Pledge  

Student Health Center 

The Student Health Center has partnered with outside agencies such as local health providers, walk-in clinics, pharmacies and laboratories to ensure quality service to students. Additionally, the Health Center is working closely with the Rockland County Department of Health.

The Health Center, in collaboration with a partner organizations and/or Rockland County Health Department, will offer the following capabilities for the campus: 

  • Assist with accessing services for viral testing.
  • Contact tracing, identification, and quarantine of persons exposed to COVID-19
  • Case management of all students on campus with COVID-19 symptoms and/or diagnosis and all students under quarantine after exposure, and ongoing monitoring while isolated
    • SHC staff will remotely monitor students on a daily basis (temperature checks and symptom screening) and transfer to an on- or off-campus site for a clinical evaluation if symptoms advance or the patient requests. 
    • Syndromic surveillance utilizing electronic health record (EHR) data, ongoing tracking of influenza-like illness (ILI) and COVID-19 symptoms, and, when possible, viral surveillance of asymptomatic students. 
  • Seasonal Influenza Vaccine is highly encouraged and will be offered on campus when available. Flu vaccine clinics will be held on multiple days early in the fall season. Financial assistance is available to those students without insurance or to those unable to pay the $20 fee.  

Visiting the Student Health Center 

Whenever possible, telehealth visits will be offered. Students who wish to make a telehealth appointment should call the SHC (845-848-7918) If an in-person visit to the SHC is necessary, visitors will be required to complete a health screening form in Medicat (the College’s electronic health system) and have his/her temperature taken with a touchless thermometer prior to entry.  

Instructions for making appointments will be posted on the Health Center web page and will be available in Medicat. Upon initial screening, students will be placed directly into an exam room, the use of the waiting room will be kept at a minimum and will not be used for students who are ill. Health Center staff will assist, if needed, with acquiring transportation service for any individual requiring medical transport to a hospital or an escort to private care for outside medical follow up during regular business hours.