Information and university updates about COVID-19 and CARES Act Funds.
The University of Saint Francis is recommending but not requiring students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. However, a decision not to be vaccinated may restrict access to clinical, internship, teaching practicum or other sites and result in the student’s inability to complete course outcomes, thereby impacting academic progression and degree completion. The university is unable to guarantee placement or alternate opportunities for all required activities to students who are not vaccinated. Academic programs may require documentation of vaccination status prior to assigning placements.
For updates from USF on its response to COVID-19, go to https://covid.sf.edu. All students who have not done so are strongly encouraged to sign up to receive My Cougar Connection (MCC) announcements by email.
Effective May 3rd, face coverings and social distancing are not required on campus but are strongly encouraged.
Clinicals/internships/class trips that occur at another facility will conform to COVID-19 safety practices of that location. University-sponsored travel will follow USF COVID-19 safety practices.
Students who have received a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 should immediately report to the Office of Student Affairs (260-399-8100), which will serve as the USF recorder for all COVID19 cases.
Students who are exhibiting symptoms, awaiting test results or have been exposed should contact their instructors and not attend face-to-face class (e.g. lecture, lab, studio, field trip, field work) or university affiliated internship, practicum or clinical until the situation is resolved.
Students who come to campus appearing ill should not be allowed to participate in campus activities and should be directed to schedule an appointment with the USF Health & Wellness Clinic or their own physician.
If a student appears ill or refuses to follow COVID-19 safety measures, a USF employee can dismiss students from class. If the student appears ill, they will be directed to the Health and Wellness Clinic to report symptoms.
Yes. While vaccination rates are rapidly increasing, there is still need for contact tracing when individuals test positive for COVID-19. Therefore, instructors will continue to assign seats and take attendance this fall as they have done throughout the school year.
Yes. COVID-related absences do not excuse the student from completing all course requirements. This may require an “incomplete” for the course at semester’s end. The student must work with their instructor to arrange course work completion.
Students should immediately report absences related to COVID-19 symptoms, quarantine mandate, or COVID-19 caregiver duties directly to their instructors. Students are to report positive COVID-19 diagnoses to the Office of Student Affairs (260-399-8100), which will communicate the information to the instructors and advisors.
COVID-19 related excused student absences include:
Students who are diagnosed with COVID-19 or exhibit symptoms should follow the “Return to Class” flowchart. Those who have been exposed to symptomatic or COVID-positive individuals should follow the guidelines to determine when to return to class.
Students will receive information that Smarthinking will still be available and other virtual tutoring may available. All students with documented need for course accommodations will be contacted by Geneva Burgess, the Coordinator of Student Accessibility Services (260-399-7700), to ensure those eligible have provided paperwork to instructors. Instructors who need assistance providing accommodations in an online course can reach out to Teaching and Learning Services (Nathalie Rouamba and Will Wells).
A collection of resources for academic support provided by the Library, Registrar and ACDC can also be found after logging into your My Cougar Connection account.
There is 24/7 support available through Canvas via the help button on the blue navigation bar on the left side of the Canvas screen to chat, call (support hotline for students: 833-485-5090) or report a Canvas problem.
Students and employees are encouraged to use the help desk ticketing system in MCC for general technology questions. Anyone can also email support@sf.edu any time which will automatically create a technology support ticket.
If it has been at least two weeks since the final vaccination (which varies by brand), it is unnecessary to quarantine after exposure to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 unless the vaccinated individual is displaying symptoms.
This information is directly from the Allen County Department of Health website:
What if a person reports a positive test conducted in the home? There are several home rapid test kits that can be purchased over the counter. These home tests are not reported to the health department like laboratory tests, and cannot be verified as far as technique nor how they were administered like in a testing facility, and are therefore not included in the daily or overall case numbers in the state of Indiana. Since there is no way to verify the validity of the test, our recommendation is not to accept these as confirmed cases in the school or work environment at this time. If someone does utilize a home test kits and tests positive, our recommendation is to keep the person home and encourage testing at an official testing facility for confirmation. Once the official report of a positive test is available, then all appropriate contact tracing will be done at that time. Negative results from home test kits also should not be used to allow someone to return from quarantine early.”
Please consider getting a PCR test for accuracy.