Spring semester updates on travel and testing

 

Dear Students,

We hope that your Block 3 and spring semester classes are off to a good start. I’m happy to report that over the last three weeks, Juilliard has conducted 1,576 tests, with a positivity rate of less than 0.2 percent as of today. This is a testament to everyone's commitment to the safety protocols in place at school and across the state. In order to continue our in-person work together over the next few months, all students participating in-person must continue to:

• Take part in the required weekly testing requirement.
• Follow all safety protocols in the Community Pledge while on campus—this includes maintaining at least six feet of distance before and after rehearsals, including at breaks, in the elevators, and in the hallways.
• Follow all safety guidance when off campus—this includes not gathering in groups outside your immediate and current household.

In addition to these reminders, you will find important information below on the following:

• Reminder of the deadline to request online learning for spring semester
• Spring break travel, quarantine and testing information
• Weekly testing reminder

While the growth in cases throughout New York and the country appears to be slowing, to truly beat this pandemic and continue working together in-person, we must remain vigilant and protective of each other’s health and safety. To that end, we ask that students refrain from travel during spring break (Feb. 20-Feb. 28). If you have questions or concerns about any of this information, don’t hesitate to reach out to [email protected].  

Sincerely,

Adam Meyer
Provost

Deadline reminder to request online learning for spring semester

The deadline to request to remain online for part or all of the spring semester (which starts March 1) is Monday, February 1. In order to plan spring semester activities, we ask that you adhere to this deadline.

Students who face difficulties getting to New York or who have health concerns about working in-person may individually request to complete the spring semester fully online.

Students may select one of the following options:

1. Hybrid learning: in-person performance work with academic classes remaining online for the entire spring semester (March 1–June 11)

2. Learning online for the first half of the semester (March 1–April 23), and then being in-person for the remainder of the semester (April 26–June 11)

3. Learning online for the entire spring semester (March 1–June 11)

For those students who choose to remain online, ensemble, technique, rehearsal, and small-group studio work will also be online. This will mean that performance work, including juries and graduation recitals, will be replaced by virtual, individual, or written/research projects at the discretion of the student’s department.

To request options 2 or 3 above, please fill out this form. You do not need to take any action to opt into option 1. Your department will be in touch with you to provide details on how performance-based work will be completed in the spring semester.

Spring break travel and testing information

In addition to the weekly testing protocol listed above, there will be additional testing requirements for the week of spring break. These requirements fall into the following categories:
 

Students with current Block 3 building access:
You must test the week of spring break (February 20-28) regardless of whether you plan to access the building during that time. You may come to Juilliard and take advantage of our testing (schedule to be announced) or you may seek out your own PCR test and submit it following the guidelines above. Anyone who does not submit a test dated between February 20 and 28 will have their building access shut off until they can provide a negative PCR test result.

Students with current Block 3 building access who must travel during spring break or at any other time:

To limit risk of exposure to the virus, we are asking that students NOT travel during spring break. 

Any Residence Hall student who must travel during spring break to a location that requires a quarantine (that is, to a noncontiguous state) for more than 24 hours will not be allowed to complete their required travel quarantine in the Residence Hall and will have to arrange for their own off-campus location to quarantine.

Any student (Residence Hall or off-campus) who travels is required to fill out this travel form at least two weeks prior to travel. For purposes of the travel form, “travel” is defined by leaving New York City or your current residence and staying overnight outside of your current and immediate household. Once you fill out the required form, a member of Juilliard’s Covid Response Team will reach out to you to confirm the applicable quarantine and testing rules required prior to resuming building access. Students who travel without filling out this form will be subject to sanctions under the code of conduct, including but not limited to loss of building privileges.

If you do travel out of New York State or to a noncontiguous state for longer than 24 hours you are also required to follow all quarantine and testing rules as required by New York State.

International students should contact the Office of International Advisement ([email protected]) before making any international travel plans.

Students accessing the building for the first time in the spring semester (March 1):

Residence Hall students moving into the Residence Hall for the first time to start the spring semester should contact [email protected] for information about quarantining in the Residence Hall.

All students coming to the building for the first time in the spring semester must review and sign the Community Pledge and must participate in baseline testing prior to being given building access. The process for building approval involves multiple departments, and it may take up to two business days to process your information and grant you building access—please plan ahead.

Residential students: This test must take place prior to your spring semester move-in date to the Rose Building. If New York State travel guidelines require you to quarantine and be tested, your pre-travel test (which you are required to take within 72 hours before your arrival in New York State) will qualify. The results of your pre-travel test must be provided before you arrive on campus.

Students living off-campus: Your test must take place within 10 days prior to your first entry into the Diamond Building for the spring semester. If New York State travel guidelines require you to quarantine and be tested, your post-travel test (required after a minimum three-day quarantine after arrival) will qualify.

If you are not required to quarantine due to travel, you should seek a baseline test dated within 10 days of your first entry to the Juilliard facilities.
 

In New York State, testing is free to all eligible New Yorkers as ordered by a health care provider or by calling the NYS COVID-19 hotline at (888) 364-3065. If you go to a test site run by New York State, there is no charge. NYS testing

New York City offers free testing through the City Health & Hospitals Corporation, and NYC locations can be found here.

Weekly testing reminder

Juilliard will continue to offer weekly PCR testing to all students. This saliva-based test through Cayuga Health is provided by Juilliard at no charge and remains the easiest way to take care of your weekly testing requirement. If you are unable to take advantage of the testing offered by Juilliard, you should electronically send a pdf, scan, or photo of your negative test result to Student Health Services ([email protected]) or upload it to Medicat (located in Okta). Please include your full name, test collection date, type of test, and result.

Additionally, please be reminded that you cannot enter the building to test without a valid QR code for that day. If you don’t currently have access to the building, please submit a negative COVID-19 test result (PCR test only) collected off campus to [email protected] with the subject “Block 3 Baseline Test Result.” The process for building approval involves multiple departments, and it may take up to two business days to process your information and grant you building access—please plan ahead.