November 16, 2020
Dear Liberal Arts Undergraduates:
As scheduled in-person instruction comes to an end this Friday, November 20, and we return to a remote learning environment for the remainder of the semester, we are reminding you to take action to protect your families before returning home.
In preparation for your departure from campus, Penn State is offering all students COVID-19 testing at no cost to you. Through the University’s partnership with Vault Health, voluntary on-campus departure testing for University Park began on November 12 and will continue until this Thursday, November 19, at predetermined testing sites.
Critical information has been shared in this Penn State News article, and resources have been provided at virusinfo.psu.edu/return-home for you to schedule an individual appointment for your test at a time that works best for you. Though some of you may not be leaving or may live near our campus community permanently, you may also sign up for testing during the allotted time.
If you have not already done so, please schedule your appointment as soon as possible. Plan to test at least three days before your scheduled departure, as the turnaround time for results will be approximately 48 hours from the time your test is received at the lab. Keep in mind these days for University Park testing:
| Departure | Last Day to Test |
| November 19 | November 16 |
| November 20 | November 17 |
| November 21 | November 18 |
| November 22 | November 19 |
Book your appointment by using the Return Home Event on the Penn State Go app or by visiting virusinfo.psu.edu/departure-testing. After booking an appointment, you will receive an automated confirmation email, which will also provide information on how to reschedule, if necessary. Do not eat, drink, or chew gum for 30 minutes prior to taking your test, and if you test positive, you must isolate for 10 days and until you are 24 hours without a fever and feeling better.
Test results are only used for contact tracing and providing appropriate support services to students. The University is required to report positive test results to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
As you have heard from President Barron, during the period of several days before and after being tested, it is important to take extra precautions. As much as possible, limit your interactions with others to attending classes in person and getting food or other essentials until you travel. Now is the time to be even more vigilant and continue to follow all masking and social distancing requirements, minimize interactions with others outside of roommates or “pods,” avoid large gatherings, and self-quarantine leading up to campus departure.
Thank you for your continued commitment to yourself and others before traveling home. As we look toward beginning strong in the spring semester, our responsibility to our communities calls us to keep doing our part as we finish this semester.
As always, I trust you to be healthy, safe, and wise.
Sincerely,
Dean Lang
Clarence Lang
Susan Welch Dean of the College of the Liberal Arts
Professor of African American Studies
The Pennsylvania State University
111 Sparks Building
University Park, PA 16802
AskLiberalArts@psu.edu