Residence Life

Updates for move-in

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COVID-19 testing will be required for all faculty, staff and students who are unvaccinated or not yet fully vaccinated.

Arriving on campus

To reduce the possibility of students or employees arriving on campus for the fall semester COVID-19 positive, all individuals who were unvaccinated or those not fully vaccinated were required to submit a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours in advance of arrival (arrival includes move-in, first day of class, first day back on campus or whichever date is earliest).

COVID-19 testing during the semester

Individuals who are unvaccinated or not yet fully vaccinated must participate in random COVID-19 testing when requested to do so. Students, faculty and staff will be notified via email when selected for COVID-19 testing and must submit a valid test via the link included in the email as instructed. Students and employees will be responsible for obtaining their own COVID-19 test, and both PCR and antigen tests are accepted.

COVID-19 testing is available through many sources, including private physician offices and pharmacies (where there may be a charge) and county departments of public health (where they are generally free).

Please contact Sandy Butler for questions on COVID-19 testing for faculty and staff. Please contact healthinfo@oglethorpe.edu for questions on COVID-19 testing for students.

Please note, that any individuals who are not currently vaccinated, but become fully vaccinated at a later date will then be exempt from these testing protocols. If you would like to update your vaccination status, please do so using the appropriate form below.

Isolation and Quarantine

Any student or employee, regardless of vaccinated status, exhibiting COVID-19-like symptoms or feeling ill should stay home and contact their primary care provider for guidance or take a COVID-19 test before returning to campus.

Any individual testing positive for COVID-19 will need to isolate, regardless of vaccination status. On-campus residents may choose to return home to isolate or isolate on campus. While in isolation, residents will have access to support services (dining, educational, etc.). Isolation is observed for 10 days after a positive test in asymptomatic cases. In symptomatic cases, isolation is observed 10 days from the start of symptoms followed by a 24-hour fever-free period without the use of medication and improvement of symptoms. Please contact your Resident Advisor (RA) or Campus Life staff for more details regarding isolating on campus.

Unvaccinated individuals who are exposed to someone with COVID-19 should quarantine for 14 days from the time of exposure and monitor their symptoms. In this case, unvaccinated individuals can end their quarantine if they receive a negative COVID-19 test result 7 days from the time of their exposure and continue to remain symptom-free. They should continue to stay masked for a full 14 days from the time of exposure, unless alone in their room or while eating or drinking.

No quarantine is required for vaccinated individuals who are exposed to someone with COVID-19. However, these individuals should monitor their symptoms and continue to stay masked for a full 14 days from the time of exposure, unless alone in their room or while eating or drinking. A COVID-19 test is suggested 3-5 days from exposure.

Please refer to this helpful infographic as a quick reference to distinguish the difference between isolation and quarantine.

Important Dates for Fall 2021

  • August 27 – First-year student move-in day (details will be sent via email)
  • August 29 – Returning student move-in day (details will be sent via email)
  • August 30 – First day of classes
  • September 6 – Labor Day
  • October 18-19 – Fall Break
  • November 24-26 – Thanksgiving Break
  • December 8-14 – Final Exams
  • December 15 – Residence halls close at 10 a.m.

For further details, view the academic calendar.

Academic Calendar