Checking People at Entrances

Updated January 2023

On this page:

  • Checking Proof of Vaccination or Negative COVID-19 Tests
  • What to Expect at Building Entrances
  • How to Prepare to Come On Campus
  • CUNY’s Random COVID-19 Testing Program
 

 

Proof of Vaccination and Negative COVID-19 Tests

Our students, faculty, and staff will need to follow CUNY guidelines and either:

  • verify vaccination documents through CUNYfirst, or
  • participate in CUNY's weekly testing program.

Before coming to campus, each member of the community is expected to monitor their symptoms, stay away from others if they feel sick, and get tested at a public testing site if they have any symptoms. CUNY safeCircle testing sites should not be used if you have symptoms.

CUNY continues to follow the latest CDC guidance on isolation and exposure. Any students, staff, or faculty who test positive with COVID-19 or are exposed to someone with COVID-19 must contact Nurse Vasquez and follow these guidelines prior to returning to campus. If you are required to isolate, you must receive a negative test or doctor’s certification prior to returning to campus. Test results will be accepted from CUNY testing sites or other licensed test providers.

What to Expect at Building Entrances

Students, faculty, and staff: keep your Hostos ID card handy! If your vaccination information has been verified or you have a valid negative COVID-19 test result, entering the campus may be as easy as swiping in at a turnstile.

However, issues can come up. So, be ready to share a verification method like your Cleared4 Access Pass to Public Safety if there’s a problem using your card.

Effective March 7, 2022, CUNY students, faculty, staff, and visitors are not required to wear a mask in any campus setting.

How to Prepare to Come On Campus

For vaccinated students, faculty, and staff

Vaccinated students, faculty, and staff should submit documents through CUNYfirst for verification. You'll need a copy of your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card, and should also submit a copy of your Excelsior Pass if you were vaccinated in New York State. 

It may take a few days to review and verify your vaccination documents. However, once you receive a confirmation, the process is complete and you won't have to participate in CUNY's weekly COVID-19 testing program.

For unvaccinated students, faculty, and staff

*All full- and part-time faculty and non-teaching instructional staff are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 (two dose Pfizer or Moderna regimen, or 1 dose J&J) and their proof of vaccination uploaded in to CUNYfirst by May 27, 2022, unless a religious or medical exemption has been approved.

Students, faculty, and staff who are unvaccinated or have not uploaded vaccination documents must do regular, weekly COVID-19 PCR tests through CUNY's testing program. A negative test result from the previous seven (7) days will be required before you can enter a building.

Weekly COVID-19 testing is available on the Hostos campus in the A Building, 1st Floor. The testing location is open during the hours listed on CUNY's COVID-19 testing locations page. However, you can choose any CUNY testing site that you can easily get to.

Things to know:

  • You may need to get your next test 5 or 6 days after your previous one because it can take 24 hours (48 hours on weekends) to get test results. It'll be important to plan ahead; students, faculty, and staff are responsible for timing tests to meet requirements.
  • Testing for students, faculty, and staff must be done at a CUNY COVID-19 testing site. The College cannot accept results from other sources.
  • The sample for this PCR test is self-collected. That means you'll use the collection kit to swab the inside of your own nose with guidance from trained staff.
  • Employees with verified vaccination information or an approved fully remote work agreement do not need to be tested through this program.

Testing is managed through the safeCircle testing program. To get started, look for an email from Cleared4.

Need help? Contact the safeCircle/Cleared4 support team or find more information on CUNY's COVID-19 Testing Program FAQ page.

For visitors

To come on campus, please email Public Safety at CampusVisit@hostos.cuny.edu. Visitors must get approval before traveling here.

Effective February 1, 2023, CUNY will no longer require proof of vaccination or recent negative COVID test for visitors.

CUNY’s Random COVID-19 Testing Program

Effective February 1, 2023:

  • CUNY’s Random Testing program will move to 5% of the on-campus population. Participation in the random surveillance testing is mandatory and failure to participate will result in the removal of the individual’s Cleared4 access pass to CUNY spaces.

Medical clearances required to return to campus will continue to be accepted from non-CUNY testing providers. CUNY safeCircle test sites will also be available for clearance because of the shortage of available testing in New York City.

For more information about CUNY’s COVID-19 testing program, please see the Testing FAQ. For a list of testing locations, visit here. For general frequently asked questions, please refer to the Getting Back to Working in Person FAQ. If you still have questions, please contact the Human Resources office.

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