Revised January 20, 2021

Be sure to check the individual pages at right frequently, as updates are made throughout the semester. You can view a PDF of the Health and Safety Plan, but note that the pages at right may be more up-to-date as they change more frequently.

If you are feeling ill or think you have the symptoms of COVID, DO NOT COME TO CAMPUS. 

Updated Jan. 18, 2021

In October, Arcadia announced plans for the spring 2021 semester, which includes a limited residential option for Arcadia students and on-campus supplemental learning opportunities.

Undergraduate and graduate students not residing on campus in the spring semester will need to apply for campus usage. It is important to reiterate that such access would require strict compliance with all health and safety guidelines, including regular testing. Information and instructions on how to apply will be communicated to students in the coming weeks.  

The second phase of Arcadia's approach to reopen campus began on Oct. 19 with limited use access to select University facilities such as Kuch Athletic Center. All campus usage will adhere to federal, state, county, and University health and safety guidelines to protect all members of the Arcadia community. 

Our health and safety teams continue to gather vital components in our mitigation of COVID-19 within our University community; you can monitor campus testing results by following our public COVID-19 dashboard. 

In summer 2020, teams across the University developed a strategy to reduce density and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 on campus. The Health and Safety Plan and guidelines we developed were designed with an All-Modes Ready approach in mind. With the Fall 2020 semester moving fully online, many of the campus requirements and guidelines may not apply for the Fall, but these guidelines should continue to apply to anyone who may be on campus for any reason or time during the fall. 

None of us can guarantee a COVID-19-free environment. COVID-19 is a highly infectious, life-threatening disease for which vaccination is currently limited. COVID-19’s highly contagious nature means that contact with others, or contact with surfaces that have been exposed to the virus, can lead to infection. Minimizing the risk of COVID-19 infections is a shared responsibility, and every member of our community must do their part. Arcadia University’s health and safety plan for returning to campus is based on Pennsylvania's response to COVID 19, in conjunction with recommendations by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). Recommendations distributed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American College Health Association (ACHA), as well as the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Montgomery County Office of Public Health, were also considered.  

A Campus Community of Cooperation

These guidelines are an important part of establishing a common understanding of the University’s expectations for operating in the time of COVID-19 in a way that reduces risk. These guidelines are subject to change at any time, as policies and guidance will need to evolve as we learn more about COVID-19 and in response to public health guidance and requirements. 

The University coordinated with internal and local public health officials to establish a plan for how the institution will:

• Reinforce practices related to hygiene, sanitation, and face coverings on campus;
• Implement social distancing and make necessary modifications to facilities to create an environment most conducive to healthy, safe, and inclusive learning, living, and working;
• Review and adjust attendance requirements, absentee policies, and non-essential travel for students, individuals at high risk of COVID-19, and personnel; and
• Modify course modalities, schedules, and academic calendars to adapt to changing transmission levels and community spread of the virus.