Frequently Asked Questions Surrounding Cabrini’s COVID-19 Guidelines
Cabrini University has been monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic closely, following the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and working with state and local public health experts to ensure that the University community is protected, in accordance with protocols issued by Governor Tom Wolf and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Decisions are always made with the health and well-being of the Cabrini community as top priority. Cabrini University’s COVID-19 protocols prioritize the health and wellness of all members of the Cabrini community—students, faculty, staff, and visitors—with special thought to at-risk populations.
If you have questions that are not answered by the information presented within our COVID-19 Tool Kit and this FAQs page, please reach out to return@cabrini.edu.
Face Masks and Personal Safety Practices
As of March 2, 2022, masks are no longer required except for specific circumstances, including those related to quarantine and isolation situations.
What type of mask do I need to have if I have to wear a mask?
In general, masks must cover the mouth and nose and should be two or more layers of a nonporous fabric, such as cotton, and without large holes or gaps in the fibers. KN95 masks are recommended.
Knit masks and N95 masks with exhalation valves do not provide adequate filtration. Additionally, neck gaiters and bandanas are generally not considered to be effective. As such, none of these will be considered an acceptable mask/face covering.
Please visit our guidance on Face Mask Wear and Care for appropriate face masks and how to wear and care for them.
How will the University handle communal bathrooms?
Public restrooms (those in high-traffic areas) will be cleaned at minimum three times per day.
Private bathrooms (single bathrooms housed within a specific department/area) will be thoroughly disinfected to start each day.
The University will not be providing cleaning supplies for residence hall bathrooms, and the expectation is for students to bring their own cleaning supplies for their personal space. Students should follow a wipe in/wipe out approach to ensure that the bathrooms remain clean in the spirit of the common good. There are paper towel dispensers in all common bathrooms and our resident assistants will remind students to clean their hands often, socially distance, and wear a mask (except for showering and brushing teeth), as will prominent signage.
How are classrooms being cleaned?
Cabrini's contracted cleaning vendor, CSI, Inc., disinfects(using wipes and/or an electrostatic mister) classroom desks, seats, tables, etc., overnight, so classrooms are disenfected to start each day.
Disinfecting wipes are available in each classroom for use throughout the day. Persons entering and leaving the classroom are encouraged to take a "wipe in, wipe out" approach, and wipe down sufraces upon arrival and before departing.
Academic Calendar, Class Modality and Scheduling
Has the academic calendar changed?
No. The Academic Calendar can be accessed using the link here.
How can I register for classes that are the modality I want?
The Term Master Schedule has been updated to reflect class modalities, and you might have received notification regarding class modality from your instructor or professor. To ensure you are prepared for the appropriate modality, please refer to the TMS and/or the Class Schedule Search when registering or working with your academic or faculty advisor. Undergraduate students, please work with your academic advisors, who will assist you in managing the registration process. First-year students, your COL 101 instructor serves as your first-semester academic advisor. Contact information is available via the information sent to you for Orientation and can be found in the Cabrini Portal. Students who have declared a major are assigned a permanent faculty advisor within the appropriate academic department.
The information currently listed in the TMS, such as classroom location, is subject to change. Please continue to monitor the TMS and your Cabrini email for communication and announcements from the Registrar’s Office or from faculty regarding potential changes.
As a commuter, where should I take an online class when it is followed immediately by an in-person class?
The University has posted a list of available classrooms and study spaces for students who need an on-campus spaces in which to take online classes, such as in this situation. You will want to make sure you have headphones to ensure your class audio does not interfere with others’, and vice versa. The WiFi around campus has been strengthened both inside and outside, so accessibility should not be an issue.
My schedule is such that on certain days throughout the week, I don’t have on-campus classes. Do I still have to come to campus?
No. While you are invited to come to campus to utilize the library, study spaces, recreation and athletics facilities, or dining services, you do not have to come to campus to attend remote classes.
Campus Life and Activities
Can I have outside visitors on campus?
Yes and No. We would love for your friends/family to visit you and our beautiful campus, but Cabrini requires all overnight guests to be registered with the Office of Residence Life.
Off-campus visitors, including delivery persons and ride-share drivers, must adhere to our updated Visitor Guidelines and are not permitted in buildings unless properly registered with the Office of Residence Life.
What will living on campus be like during COVID? Will there be clubs and activities?
Yes! The Student Engagement and Leadership (SEaL) Office and the Office of DEI and Belonging (ODEIB) are leading much of the activities and events that will keep our students engaged and active on campus. Clubs and extracurricular activities will take place in accordance with any necessary mitigation measures.
Testing and Mitigation Measures
Will I be required to get tested for COVID-19?
You will be required to test if you demonstrate symptoms or are exposed to a COVID-positive individual. You also may be urged by a doctor to get tested, and if so, you can follow your doctor’s instructions on where to get tested. A number of local sites have available testing; you can view our list below or at our more detailed Local Testing Sites page.
Where in the area can someone get a PCR (nasal swab) test to detect current infection?
A number of local sites have available testing; you can view our list below or at our more detailed Local Testing Sites page.
AFC Urgent Care
115 Eagle Road, Havertown, PA 19083
484.452.9400
afcurgentcarehavertown.com
Current test results in 2-3 days. Open 7 days a week.
PM Pediatrics Urgent Care
101 E. Swedesford Road, Wayne, PA 19087
484.688.5437
pmpediatrics.com
Current test results in 2-4 days.
CVS
Varied locations
cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing
Lab testing results typically take 3-4 days.
What should I do if I take a COVID-19 test before returning to campus and the results are positive?
Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 should notify Health Services (healthservices@cabrini.edu); students must contact Public Safety (610.902.8111). You will be given instructions for remaining in isolation. Employees must contact humanresources@cabrini.edu.
I’m following the rules, but my roommate/friend/classmate/coworker isn’t. What should I do?
A friendly reminder to your peers is warranted and can be very helpful in getting people to adhere. If that person continues to not adhere, we do have policies in place to report those who are knowingly going against the guidelines. Those reporting can choose to do so anonymously. If the transgressions are from a student, you would email deanofstudents@cabrini.edu; if they involve an employee, you would email Human Resources at humanresources@cabrini.edu.
Quarantine and Isolation Procedures and On-Campus Cases
I have symptoms of COVID-19. What do I do?
See our Protocols for COVID-19 Cases.
What is the difference between isolation and quarantine?
Isolation is used for an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19. Quarantine is used for an individual who is demonstrating symptoms of COVID-19 or who has been identified via contact tracing as having been exposed to someone who is COVID-19 positive.
See our Protocols for COVID-19 Cases page for descriptions of quarantine and isolation.
I have to quarantine/isolate, but I have class/work. How will I participate?
If you have to miss class/work for any reason, including a COVID-19 related reason, work with your instructor or supervisor to arrange for alternate attendance and/or work completion.
Anyone whose ability to participate in class/work is being altered due to quarantine or isolations procedures should notify Health Services (healthservices@cabrini.edu, 610.902.8400) or Human Resources (humanresources@cabrini.edu, 610.902.8760).
If the class is a hyflex or online-only course, you can continue participation utilizing the virtual format. All course instruction has been designed to accommodate an all-online format. As such, if the classroom is not equipped with a camera or other circumstances need to be considered, the professor is prepared to make provisions for you to maintain satisfactory academic progress.
Employees can work remotely if they are able; if your job is such that remote work is not possible, you can work with Human Resources and your supervisor for guidance on appropriate paid leave options.
Anyone in quarantine or isolation should monitor symptoms and manage their health accordingly, including reaching out to a primary care physician for further instruction regarding self-care and testing options.
What counts as "exposure" to someone diagnosed with COVID-19?
As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exposure is identified as being within six feet of someone for 15 minutes or longer within a 24-hour time frame, with or without masks.
Will the Cabrini community be informed if a student, staff, or faculty member(s) is/are tested positive for COVID-19?
Yes, by number only. While Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guidelines do not permit identification by name, Cabrini will be adhering to informing the community as per the Clery Act and in accordance with guidance from contact tracing officials.
What happens if a student has COVID-19 symptoms during the semester?
Any student experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, including fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath, should seek medical assistance. If urgent, call 911. If not urgent, resident students should notify Public Safety (610.902.8111); all students should notify Health Services (healthservices@cabrini.edu). Health Services will assist with instructions regarding quarantine procedures and further self-care options, including how to contact a physician.
Students should contact their own primary care physician or an urgent care facility for a telehealth evaluation.
Residential students waiting on COVID-19 test results may be placed in quarantine. Health Services will provide information for remaining in quarantine as well as provide means of obtaining additional medical/mental health support if warranted. Ordering of meals will be arranged.
What happens if a student is identified as needing to quarantine?
We encourage students who need to quarantine to go home. Students who live on campus and cannot go home will be provided with a quarantine space on campus. If they quarantine on campus, we will deliver meals, which will be deducted from their meal plan. Health Services will provide students in quarantine, on or off campus, with instructions containing clear dates of their quarantine period.
Why are students encouraged to go home during quarantine?
Choosing to quarantine on campus for any amount of time is challenging for students. In most cases, they will need to relocate, taking only essential items with them. The University recognizes that, while we can provide counseling support, many students would benefit from the support and comfort of their own home through quarantine.
How will meal deliveries work for students in quarantine/isolation?
Students in quarantine/isolation on campus will be asked to indicate any dietary needs or preferences. Meals will be delivered in the late morning for lunch, dinner, and the next day's breakfast. There will be a microwave and refrigerator in every room. Meals will be deducted from the student’s meal plan.
If a student tests positive for COVID-19, will their entire class or hall need to quarantine?
Except in rare circumstances, no. There are many variables that determine whether individuals identified through contact tracing will need to quarantine. Contact tracing officials focus on identifying people who have had direct, prolonged contact with someone who is positive.
Do international students need to quarantine before coming back to campus?
International students should follow the latest guidance and travel restrictions issued by the U.S. government. Those required to quarantine upon entering the U.S. are expected to do so off campus and prior to their arrival. If you have questions or concerns please contact Bryn Campbell, Director of Undergraduate Admissions, at admit@cabrini.edu.
When will a person in isolation or quarantine be released?
The most important determinent of release is good communication with the Director of Health Services who will provide a timeline for release based on symptoms and the latest CDC guidance. Students and employees may not return to campus before they are approved to return by the Director of Health Services.
If a student is identified in need of quarantine, will they be informed of how they were exposed to COVID-19?
Students who test positive for COVID-19 are protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Under this law, the University cannot disclose any personal information about how or why a student was identified through contact tracing without the person's permission.
What is contact tracing?
Contact tracing is the method for identifying individuals who have been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19 and who are at risk of contracting the virus from this contact. PA Department of Health officials (county) who are certified to contact trace will begin this process for each positive case connected to our University community.
Is there a finite number in mind for how many individuals need to test positive for the campus to close?
This is a decision by the Department of Health. Cabrini will continue to closely monitor the evolving situation and has a number of pivot points that would trigger a move to all-remote instruction. These include, but are not limited to, a rate of infection on campus and in Delaware County, as well as exceeding capacity to properly quarantine or isolate infected or exposed students; closure or all-online instruction of daycares and K-12 schools; and local hospital capacity.
If a student needs to be hospitalized, which hospitals would they be sent to?
Bryn Mawr Hospital is the facility most often used when our students need elevated medical care.