COVID-19 Entry Testing in January

Dear JMU on-campus community,

To follow up on the email about COVID-19 updates, JMU will be conducting COVID-19 entry testing for all students living on campus next semester.

Here’s how it will work:

• On Jan. 5, you will receive an email with information about signing up for an entry testing appointment. You will sign up for a one-hour time slot on one of the four days prior to classes beginning. You can arrive for your testing appointment any time during that one-hour window.
• All students living on campus are required to complete entry testing, even if they have previously tested positive. Prior COVID-19 infection does not prevent you from becoming infected again and possibly spreading the virus. For this reason, we are testing everyone who lives on campus. This test will not give a false positive result due to a prior COVID-19 infection.
• The one exception is for athletes since they already have a testing program in place. Please consult your coach if you have any questions.
• If you have permission from the Office of Residence Life to arrive prior to the regular move-in time, you will receive information for early arrival testing.
• Please report to the Convocation Center at your appointment time. Directions to the Convocation Center
• You must report for testing and receive your result before you go to your Residence Hall.
• The whole testing process will take approximately one hour.
• In order for us to maintain proper distancing, only students will be permitted to enter the testing area. There will be an entrance designated for family members to use the restrooms if needed.
• Once you complete your test, you will receive verification via the Navica App. You will present this to your hall staff to check into your hall.
• It is important for all students living on campus to be tested to help us identify any positive cases and help protect students, faculty and staff from COVID-19 infections and slow the spread of the virus. Therefore, any student who does not sign up for and complete entry testing will have their JACard deactivated so they will not be able to access their residence hall, meal plans or UREC until they complete the test.

Testing prior to coming to campus:

If you prefer to complete testing before you return to campus, you will need to:

• Complete a COVID-19 rapid antigen test performed within 24 hours of arrival on campus and be prepared to provide written verification of a negative result.

OR

• Complete a COVID-19 PCR test within 48 hours of arriving on campus and be prepared to provide written verification of a negative result.
• You still need to sign up for an appointment through the scheduling system. Upon arriving to campus, please report to the Convocation Center during your appointment time. A staff member will review your written verification at the test site and provide you with documentation if accepted. If your verification is not accepted, it is possible that you will need to test at the Convocation Center.

In the meantime:

• Prior to arrival, download the Navica app for Apple or Google Play. View an instructional video.
• Visit Entry Testing FAQs.
• Email vpstudentaffairs@jmu.edu if you have any questions regarding entry testing.

As a reminder, the Stop the Spread agreement will be available beginning Jan. 8, 2021 and all students are required to sign it prior to coming to campus or by January 15, whichever comes first. The university reserves the right to place a hold on a student’s account for noncompliance to the agreement.

Good luck on finals, we’re looking forward to seeing you all back on campus in January.

Happy holidays and Go Dukes!

Dr. Tim Miller