COVID-19 UPDATE

JULY 2023

State University of New York Chancellor John B. King, Jr. announced that a COVID-19 vaccine will no longer be mandated for students to attend SUNY’s 64 campuses, effective for summer courses, which coincides with the official end of the national public health emergency by President Biden’s administration.

Moving forward, COVID-19 vaccinations will be strongly encouraged for students, which is consistent with other viruses including influenza and mpox. Faculty and staff will also be encouraged to stay up to date on vaccinations.

"The safety of SUNY's students is our first and foremost priority, and while COVID is no longer an emergency, we will not lose sight of the impact it continues to have on us," said SUNY Chancellor King. “Across SUNY we will continue to monitor cases and make adjustments as needed, but even more importantly, we will look to increase the overall health and wellness support we provide our students.”

Updated SUNY COVID Policy Guidance July 2023 (file 33kB)

Our students play an important role in keeping the SUNY Empire community healthy and safe.   As such, this revised guidance reflects current conditions and is grounded in science to maximize the well-being of the community. These protocols are subject to change as COVID conditions evolve.  We ask that you check our website and your email regularly to stay up to date on our protocols.

MASK REQUIREMENT

Masks are not mandatory in SUNY Empire locations, however, at university sites located in third-party locations, such as community colleges or military bases, must follow the masking requirements of the host organization.

Anyone who wishes to wear a mask should feel free to continue to do so.

EMPIRE ENTRY REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT

Any student or visitor checking into a location must follow the Empire Entry procedure powered by the Envoy Protect app. The app is a quick and convenient way to sign in and out of our campus locations, ensure students and visitors are checking in to monitor capacity and visitor activity. Empire Entry is part of our ongoing effort to keep our community healthy and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Each time you visit a SUNY Empire location, you will be required to complete the Empire Entry process, using the Envoy app. Simply access the Envoy app on your smart device and register at that location at least one hour before arriving by signing in.

POSITIVE TESTS

If you test positive, local county departments of health and NYS Department of Health rules will apply.

SUNY Empire leadership continues to monitor the evolving response to the COVID-19 pandemic and will adjust our requirements based on any changes in infection rates.