COVID-19 Testing

NOTE: Information on this page has been updated as of January 7, 2022.

In an effort to both protect the health and safety of community members working and learning on-campus and meet the mandate of SUNY to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in New York, Westchester Community College (WCC) has developed the following testing plan.

INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS

What Students Are Required to Take COVID 19 Tests?

• Any student regularly entering college property for reasons including, but not limited to taking an in-person class, attending a college-sponsored program or activity, utilizing student services, or working a job on site, must be compliant with the College’s COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement.
• Any student who has received an approved exemption to the COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement will be required to complete a weekly COVID-19 test.
• Students who are completely vaccinated, but who have not yet taken a booster shot, must participate in randomized COVID-19 surveillance testing when selected to do so during the Spring 2022 semester. Those required by random selection to take a surveillance test will be sent email notifications to their MyWCC emails.
• Students who have received a booster shot are exempt from surveillance testing.
• Students attending Westchester Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) are covered by a different set of guidelines previously communicated.

How Often Do Students Get Tested?

• Any student who has received an approved exemption to the COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement will be required to complete a weekly COVID-19 test.
• Students who are completely vaccinated, but who have not yet taken a booster shot, will be notified if they are randomly selected to take a surveillance test.  Students may be selected more than one time a semester.
• Students who have received a booster shot are exempt from surveillance testing.

Where Do Students Get Tested?

To satisfy a WCC testing requirement, students must be tested at one of the following:

1. Valhalla testing site of the Westchester Medical Center

OR

2. On Campus in the Technology Lounge (Available Mondays, Tuesdays & Saturdays ONLY)

More Information about taking a PCR Test On-Campus can be found here.

How Do Students Schedule a Test at the Westchester Medical Center?

• First Appointment– All students required to take a COVID 19 Test will need to contact the Westchester Medical Center (WMC) at either (914) 909-6754 or COVID19CCOPS@wmchealth.org to make their first appointment. Students must identify that they are a student with the Westchester Community College testing program.

On their first call with WMC, students will be invited to join their myCare patient portal. Students should receive step by step instructions to their emails regarding how to register and access the myCare patient portal where they will be able to view test results and schedule future appointments.

• Future Appointments– Students will need to schedule future appointments through the myCare patient portal.
• The week prior to a students required testing period, students should receive an email or call from WMC, reminding them to schedule an appointment.  Students should not wait for this notification from WMC; students must be proactive and schedule their COVID-19 test as it is ultimately the student’s responsibility to comply with the COVID-19 testing requirement.

What Do Students Need To Bring With Them If Testing On-Campus?

• If you can, print and complete the Authorization to disclose COVID Test Results – WCC and bring it with you.  This will expedite the process for you. If you are unable to print a copy in advance, copies will be available at the testing site in the Physical Education Building.

What Do Students Need To Bring With Them To Their Testing Appointment at Westchester Medical Center?

• Students should bring a signed consent form.  This will identify a student as part of the College’s testing cohort and allow Westchester Medical Center to release testing results to the College. Complete information about testing at Westchester Medical Center can be found below under the Message from Westchester Medical Center

What Happens If Students Don’t Test?

Students who have received an approved exemption to the COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement:

• Will be restricted from accessing campus property.  Students restricted from accessing campus property will not be eligible to attend in-person classes (though they may continue in remote coursework) and their parking privileges on campus will be temporarily revoked such that their car may be ticketed or towed if parked on campus.
• If a student comes to campus after being directed that they are prohibited from accessing college property, they will be reported to the Office of Student Life, where they will be subject to disciplinary action per the Student Code of Conduct, which can include sanctions of suspension or expulsion.
• If a student is restricted from campus they must complete a COVID-19 test at the Westchester Medical Center to regain their access.
• Students will not be given excused absences for missing classes due to their non-compliance with the College’s COVID-19 testing requirement.

Students who are completely vaccinated, but who have not yet taken a booster shot:

• Failure to comply will result in disciplinary procedures as detailed in the Student Code of Conduct.
• Students who have received a booster shot are exempt from surveillance testing.

What Happens After Students Test?

• Westchester Medical Center will, with student consent, submit student test results directly to WCC to demonstrate student compliance with the College’s testing policy. This is true for all students who test on-campus AND at the Westchester Medical Center.
• Students will only receive an email from the College if they are non-compliant with the weekly testing requirement.  Students will NOT receive an email if they are compliant with their weekly testing requirement.
• If a student test positives, WCC and WMC will both notify the Westchester Department of Health (WDOH) to initiate contact tracing protocols. Students will be instructed by the College to not come to campus and by WDOH regarding their isolation/quarantine requirements.
  • If a student has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days they will be exempt from the testing program. Proof of a positive COVID-19 test result must be submitted to Covidreporting@sunywcc.edu
  • Once a student’s isolation/quarantine period is completed and they are asymptomatic, they will be permitted to enter college property. They will be required to participate in the testing program 90 days after their positive test result.

Message from Westchester Medical Center
Westchester Community College (WCC) has partnered with Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMC) to provide COVID-19 testing for Fall 2021. The process will be as follows:

• Intake Call
  All students required to take a COVID 19 Test will need to contact the Westchester Medical Center (WMC) at either (914) 909-6754 or COVID19CCOPS@wmchealth.org to make their first appointment. Students must identify that they are a student with the Westchester Community College testing program.  During this intake call, WMC will request a student’s contact and insurance information. The student’s insurance company will be billed for the COVID-19 test but students will not be billed for any out of pocket expenses as WCC will pay any uncovered testing expenses.
• Testing
  Testing will occur at 49 Emergency Drive, Valhalla NY 10595 by appointment only. Upon arrival to one’s first appointment, please bring a copy of the attached consent form (required for compliance with the WCC testing policy) which allows WMC to share test results with Westchester Community College.
• Results
  During your intake call, WMC will be inviting students to join its myCare patient portal. Upon email invitation, students will receive step by step instructions on how to register and access the myCare patient portal where they will be able to view your results and schedule future appointments.

Future Appointments
Students will need to schedule future appointments through the myCare patient portal. The week prior to a required testing period, students will receive an email from WMC, alerting them to schedule an appointment. Students should not wait for this notification from WMC; students must be proactive and schedule their COVID-19 test as it is ultimately the student’s responsibility to comply with the COVID-19 testing requirement.

HIGHLIGHTS for EMPLOYEES

Who gets tested

• Unvaccinated employees – who do or will enter upon College property at any time MUST continue to be PCR COVID-19 tested weekly at WMC, unless otherwise approved by Human Resources.
• Vaccinated plus boosted employees – are asked to be tested at WMC or other convenient location before the start of the Spring 2022 semester. To find a testing location near you, visit https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/find-test-site-near-you. Expenses incurred at non-WMC sites will not be eligible for reimbursement from the College. Employees who have been fully vaccinated and received a booster will NOT be asked to participate in surveillance testing during the Spring 2022 semester.
• Vaccinated but NOT boosted employees – are asked to be tested at WMC or other convenient location before the start of the Spring 2022 semester. To find a testing location near you, visit https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/find-test-site-near-you. Expenses incurred at non-WMC sites will not be eligible for reimbursement from the College. Employees who have been fully vaccinated but did NOT receive a booster and will have a physical presence on campus will be required to participate in surveillance testing during the Spring 2022 semester.
• Surveillance testing – all vaccinated employees with a physical presence on campus will be required to take a PCR test at the Westchester Medical Center (WCC’s testing partner) each month, except those employees who have received a vaccine booster are exempt from this surveillance testing.

Where they get surveillance tested

• Westchester Medical Center (WMC) in Valhalla will conduct PCR tests for COVID-19. There will be no cost to employees or students for these tests at WMC, but you will be asked for your insurance information at the time of scheduling,
• WMC offers drive-up and walk-up testing options.

What happens after testing

• Any employee who receives a positive COVID test result should report this result to HumanResources@sunywcc.edu

Message from Westchester Medical Center

Westchester Community College (WCC) has partnered with Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth) to provide COVID-19 testing for the remainder of the 2021-2022 Academic year. The process will be as follows:

1. Schedule a test for the first time – Contact the Westchester Medical Center by telephone at (914) 909-6754 or email at COVID19CCOPS@wmchealth.org and schedule to be tested as soon as possible. When contacting the Westchester Medical Center, make certain to identify yourself as a WCC employee that needs to be tested to comply with WCC policy, and specifically the WCC testing plan.
2. Testing – Testing will occur at 49 Emergency Drive, Valhalla NY 10595by appointment only. Upon arrival to your first appointment, please bring a copy of the attached consent form (required for compliance with the WCC testing policy) which allows WMCHealth to share your results with Westchester Community College.
3. Results – During your intake call, WMCHealth will be inviting you to join its myCare patient portal. Upon email invitation, you will receive step by step instruction on how to register and access the myCare portal where you will be able to view your results and schedule future appointments.
4. Future Appointments – Unvaccinated employees will need to schedule weekly appointments through the myCare patient portal.