Vaccine Mandate FAQs

as of Sept. 4, 2021

PROOF OF VACCINATION

Vaccinated SUNY Orange students can upload proof of vaccination here.

If you have not yet provided proof of vaccination (either full vaccination or a record of your first dose) we urge you to upload your vaccination card before the Sept. 27 deadline to assure you are not automatically withdrawn from your in-person classes.

As long as we have proof that you have begun the vaccination process (that is: having received the first dose of the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccine) by the end of the day on Sept. 27, we can work with you to remain enrolled in your in-person, on-campus courses while completing the vaccine regimen. Starting Tuesday morning (Sept. 28), we will begin the automatic withdrawal process, related to in-person classes only, for those students who have not offered any information at all.

It is important to note that there will be no remote, online or other alternative options for completing your in-person, on-campus courses if you do not meet the deadline.

Don’t delay. Upload your vaccination card today.

Key Remaining Deadline

11:59 p.m., Monday, Sept. 27: Deadline to have begun a two-dose vaccination regimen (Pfizer or Moderna) or one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine AND provide proof of vaccination
We want you to be able to safely and confidently finish what you’ve started this Fall, whether you are in person or remote, but we are obligated to enforce the SUNY mandate, meaning those students who have not provided the necessary paperwork WILL be automatically withdrawn from in-person classes, prohibited from returning to those in-person classes and ineligible for a refund of tuition or fees for those in-person classes.

Below are some FAQs that supply more details about the SUNY vaccine mandate and how it will apply at SUNY Orange.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I attend my in-person classes remotely if I choose not to be vaccinated?

No. On-campus classes will not offer a remote option to accommodate students who choose not to get vaccinated or who fail to provide proof of vaccination.

Will I have to be vaccinated to be on campus?

Yes, unless you have been granted a religious or medical exemption. The FDA's formal approved of the Pfizer vaccine activated the SUNY-wide vaccine mandate, meaning SUNY Orange students have until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 27 to complete the vaccine series and provide proof of vaccination to the College. Students who choose not to get vaccinated within this time period (or provide proof of vaccination in this time window) will be unable to access either SUNY Orange campus to attend in-person, on-campus classes or to come to campus for any purpose (i.e. to visit the library, attend an event, or access in-person services), and will be automatically withdrawn from their on-campus, in-person classes.

Can I attend my on-campus class if I have only received my first vaccine dose?

Yes. Please upload proof of your vaccine if you have not already done so AND remember to submit proof of your second dose so that you can satisfy the vaccine mandate.

Can I get an exemption to the vaccine mandate?

Requests for exemptions needed to be submitted online between Aug. 24 and Sept. 3 to have been consdiered for review. Any exemption forms, letters, emails, phone calls or other submissions given to the College prior to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 24 will not be accepted. Submissions are being reviewed on a rolling basis and the College will issue a response within five business days.

Can I submit antibody test results in place of providing proof of vaccination? Or can I use antibody test results to support a medical exemption?

No. Serological tests are not acceptable for the purposes of compliance with the SUNY COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

Must I be vaccinated to participate in off-campus clinicals, internships or other experiential learning opportunities?

Students participating in applied learning experiences will be required to comply with their host site's policies. This includes all levels of clinical and allied health training and educator preparation.

Will this vaccine mandate only apply for the Fall 2021 semester?

The SUNY policy will begin for the Fall 2021 semester and is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

If I receive a COVID-19 vaccine exemption from SUNY Orange, does that apply to my off-campus clinical, practicum or experiential learning site?

No. Students participating in applied learning experiences will be required to comply with their host site's policies. This includes all levels of clinical and allied health training and educator preparation.

Can I get a refund if I can’t continue my in-person courses?

The College will not adjust its course add/drop deadlines (as outlined on the Fall 2021 Registration Calendar) or tuition refund dates/policies (Refund FAQs here) because of the SUNY mandate. The Fall 2021 refund schedule is in the table below. You should also know that there may be financial aid impacts if you are automatically withdrawn from your courses for non-compliance of the SUNY mandate. More information on refunds can be found on the Student Accounts web site.

Fall 2021		Full-semester class	8-week class*
	Refund Deadline	Refund rate	Refund rate
During first week	5 p.m., Friday, Aug. 27	75% of tuition	25% of tuition
During second week	5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 3	50% of tuition	0%
During third week	5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 10	25% of tuition	0%
After the third week	Beginning 5:01 p.m., Friday, Sept. 10	0%	0%
*Applies to eight-week courses beginning at the start of the semester. Students will be required to be vaccinated in order to participate in any eight-week courses starting at the midpoint of the Fall semester.

Will my financial aid be impacted?

It could be. Your financial aid package may need to be adjusted if you are automatically withdrawn from courses during the semester. A grade of “W” will also have an impact on your SAP (satisfactory academic progress).

I am already vaccinated. How do I submit proof of vaccination?

Students can upload proof of vaccination here.

I am an undocumented student. Can I receive the COVID-19 vaccine?

Yes. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that vaccines are available to anyone, including undocumented students, regardless of their immigration status.

Must I participate in weekly surveillance testing if I am unvaccinated?

You must continue to participate in COVID-19 surveillance testing if you are unvaccinated or have not submitted your proof of vaccination. Students who complete the vaccine series between now and the mandate deadline of Sept. 27, but are not yet fully vaccinated by Sept 27, will be subject to pooled surveillance testing until 14 days after your final dose. Students who fail to participate will be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct. SUNY Orange may need to adjust testing protocols and requirements based upon new information or guidance from the CDC, New York State DOH, SUNY and/or Orange County Department of Health.

The weekly Fall 2021 semester pooled testing schedule (effective Monday, Aug. 30 and continuing through the end of the semester) is as follows:

Newburgh campus (Orange Bank and Trust Great Room, Kaplan Hall): Mondays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Middletown campus (Lower Level, Shepard Student Center): Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For the week of Sept. 6-10, the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday testing hours at Middletown will be held as scheduled. Because the Newburgh site will be closed on Monday, Sept. 6 (Labor Day), the Friday testing window that is normally held in Middletown will be MOVED to the Newburgh campus for that week only. The hours of Friday testing (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) will remain the same, just the testing location will change.

Must I participate in weekly surveillance testing if I am the process of acquiring a vaccine?

The weekly Fall 2021 semester pooled testing schedule (effective Monday, Aug. 30 and continuing through the end of the semester) is as follows:

Newburgh campus (Orange Bank and Trust Great Room, Kaplan Hall): Mondays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Middletown campus (Lower Level, Shepard Student Center): Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

I am tested for COVID every week at my job. Do I have to participate in surveillance testing on campus?

No. You do not need to participate in on-campus testing, but you must submit proof of your COVID test results to the Wellness Center each week.

All of my courses are remote but I may need to come to campus during the semester. Do I have to be vaccinated to access a campus?

Yes. The SUNY vaccine mandate covers all students who need to come to a campus for any reason. In order to access on-campus classes or services, students must submit proof of their full COVID-19 vaccination.

What does “fully vaccinated” mean?

People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, or two weeks after the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.

I was vaccinated overseas with a vaccine other than Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson. Am I considered fully vaccinated?

Contact the SUNY Orange Wellness Center (wellnesscenter@sunyorange.edu).

Do I have to be tested before the semester begins if I am taking in-person classes?

Yes. ALL students who have not uploaded proof of vaccination prior to Aug. 23 are required to submit proof of a negative COVID test administered on or after Aug. 18, before returning to either campus. Please submit your test results online.