Starting Thursday, Oct. 15, on-campus pool testing open to all asymptomatic students and employees

Beginning this Thursday, Oct. 15, any SUNY New Paltz student or employee who is not experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 can walk-in for voluntary pool testing on campus.

This new policy increases our capacity to test our on-campus population, one of the most powerful tools available to prevent the spread of coronavirus within our community.

Students who previously received a notification about mandatory pool testing but were unable to appear on their assigned dates are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this new walk-in opportunity. Students who are required to be tested and fail to appear will have their card access terminated, per the SUNY-wide directive on universal sanctions for non-compliance of COVID policies.

Employees who were unable to appear for mandatory testing on their assigned dates are also invited to participate in quick and easy on-campus pool testing, as are non-union employees and others who are not subject to collectively bargained mandatory testing agreements with SUNY. Employees who are required to be tested and fail to appear may be subject to counseling to reinforce SUNY-wide mandates and bargaining unit memoranda on employee testing.

(Note: In rare cases, students and employees who have not come to campus and do not plan to come to campus this semester may receive a notification about mandatory pool testing. Employees who receive such a notification and believe they are not required to be tested can contact the Office of Human Resources, Diversity & Inclusion at HRDI@newpaltz.edu to confirm testing status. Students who do not come to campus and do not need card access this semester do not need to take any further action.)

The College initially offered pool testing to limited groups to ensure that we could accommodate all students and employees who are required to be tested. After a few weeks of adjusting to this process, we are ready to increase our daily capacity and invite all members of our community to be tested, on any day when testing is being offered.

As a reminder, pool testing will be provided in the Awosting Hall basement lounge every Thursday and Friday until Nov. 20, through our partnership with SUNY Upstate Medical University. Testing takes place during regular daytime hours, though specific hours are subject to change from week to week. Tests are conducted via self-administered saliva swab.

Those who wish to be tested must create an account at http://register.suny-covid.com/ prior to appearing for testing. Be prepared to provide insurance information. When the app asks “Do you have a test kit?” you’re ready to go get tested (the kit will be provided at the testing site).

You will need to bring your SUNY New Paltz ID and a mobile device to the testing site. The device is used to scan the testing kit’s code and link your test to your account.

Also, to ensure accurate results, you must not eat, drink, smoke or vape within 30 minutes prior to your test, and must not brush teeth or use mouthwash within three hours prior to your test.