Weekly Required COVID-19 Test Update

WEEKLY TESTING REQUIRED FOR CAMPUS ACCESS

This is a reminder that all students, faculty and staff are required to have a weekly COVID-19 Test submitted prior to them accessing the campus for the week.

Students, faculty and staff can get tested at their preferred testing site or by using the courtesy rapid testing that will be provided every Monday from 8:00 am to 12 noon.

IF USING AN EXTERNAL TESTING SITE –  GET TESTED STARTING TODAY AND SUBMIT FOR NEXT WEEK’S ACCESS TO CAMPUS

For those who will be receiving a weekly PCR test or Rapid Test beginning today the test will be acceptable for next week. Please submit the test results to covidreporthr@cooper.edu.

COOPER UNION ONCE AGAIN WILL BE OFFERING COURTESY RAPID TESING ON MONDAY FROM 8:00 AM TO 12 NOON – WITH SOME CHANGES – SEE BELOW.

Some information regarding last Monday on campus courtesy testing:

  1. 220 people registered for testing – 164 Cooper members actually tested.
  2. There were internet connection problems in the Colonnade that significantly slowed down the testing process. While the schedule for testing was originally set from 8:00 am – 12 pm, no one was turned away and we finished tested at approximately 2:00 pm.
  3. Our original plan was to limit the number of people into the Foundation lobby. However, due to the rain the College let everyone wait inside. As people came in Security asked everyone to socially distance from each other, consistent with the pledge we signed. We each need to remember that we each are responsible for our own actions which includes that we make sure we are keeping a social distance.
  4. Every test last Monday was negative. Should we have had a positive test, we had a plan in place for the person who tested positive per CDC guidelines and we had a contact trace system in place so we could alert the five people in front and the five people behind the person who tested positive. Fortunately that was not necessary.

For this Monday, December 7, 2020 Testing:

We have addressed the internet issues so we will be able to begin testing promptly at 8:00 am.

  1. Anyone who tested on campus Monday, November 30th. 
    • You do not need to pre-register and You will not need to bring any paperwork.
    • Your profile is now in the vendor’s alphabetized system so you will process to testing quickly.
  2. If you did not test on campus last Monday, but want to test this Monday or any Monday through the end of the semester, you will need to register and bring with you a completed HIPAA form (or fill one out before you test).

We will be setting up the space differently to provide a better flow from entering the building.

  1. We will have spaces for people waiting for testing and spaces for people waiting for results.
  2. We will provide wrist bands to everyone who tests negative to wear for one day so there is no confusion on Monday regarding building access.
  3. We will once again ask everyone to socially distance from one another, a responsibility we have each agreed to follow as part of our Personal Pledge.

We want to remind everyone that access to the campus requires a weekly negative PCR or Rapid Test.

The College is providing courtesy testing on Mondays recognizing that it is very difficult to get testing elsewhere. (City MD had a 4 hour wait in the rain last Monday).

No one is required to test at Cooper Union. The only requirement is to be tested each week for campus access.

If you are getting testing at a site other than the campus, you must submit your test results to covidreporthr@cooper.edu.

If non-residential students have not submitted their pre-Thanksgiving Test results (per the Governor’s request), they will not be permitted on campus regardless of current testing results until the Spring Semester.This information was communicated many times prior to the Thanksgiving Holiday. There will be no exceptions made.

Resident Hall students will follow the directions given by Student Affairs.

Quarantine Update:

The Health and Safety Committee is aware that the CDC came out with reduced quarantine requirements (7-10 days versus the 14 day requirement). The College will continue to follow the 14 day quarantine requirement until the end of the semester.

As more guidelines are provided for lowering the quarantine requirement, the Health and Safety Committee will potentially revise the standards for the re-opening of the campus for Spring Semester and will communicate to the Cooper Community.

We hope everyone continues to remain safe and healthy. There continues to be news regarding the escalating positive COVID-19 cases around the City and State.  The College is following the data closely. Each of us should take every precaution to keep ourselves healthy and to keep protect those around us both on campus, in our communities and in our homes.

We ask anyone who feels sick to please stay home and take care. While we are primarily focusing on the Coronavirus we should also be mindful that this is also flu season. If you have not already, consider getting a flu shot.

Stay healthy, Stay safe.

THE HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.