Thank you to all students who have provided proof of vaccination or have applied for an exemption. More than 91% of our students are in compliance and we encourage anyone who has yet to act, to do so now to avoid having a hold placed on their account. Currently, we have approximately 14,538 students fully verified as vaccinated or partially vaccinated.
All URI students who are unvaccinated and who have an approved medical or religious exemption from the URI COVID-19 vaccine requirement must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 point-of-origin test no more than 72 hours prior to their arrival on campus or back to the community. Students must upload their point-of-origin test and other off-campus tests to Health Services via the patient portal. Please click here for instructions.
All students with an approved COVID-19 vaccine exemption MUST participate in testing for COVID-19 on campus twice per week beginning 1.) at move-in for students in on-campus or Greek housing and 2.) on Tuesday, Sept. 7 for students living off-campus. Students should plan to be tested on Monday or Tuesday and again on Thursday or Friday to meet the twice weekly testing requirement.
For students who have already returned to campus, testing is offered at URI Health Services, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Testing will transition to the Memorial Union testing center beginning Sept. 1. The center in the Union will be open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Any student who does not comply with the mandatory COVID-19 testing requirement will be immediately referred to the Dean of Students office and given ONE official WARNING about their missed test. Students who receive a warning must complete a COVID-19 test within 24 hours.
IMPORTANT READ CAREFULLY – Failure to be tested within the notified 24 hours, or a second missed test, will result in being referred immediately to the Office of Community Standards for a conduct meeting and placement on probation until in compliance. Students who miss a third test will be immediately referred to the Community Standards office and placed on emergency suspension. Residence hall students on emergency suspension must vacate their residence hall room immediately. Residence hall students and off-campus students on emergency suspension will be removed from their classes and will be no longer able to participate in campus activities, including but not limited to, athletics, clubs and organizations, etc. A conduct meeting will be held regarding permanent suspension.
Students who refuse to cooperate with URI or Rhode Island Department of Health contact tracers will be placed on emergency suspension. Students who refuse to comply with directives to vacate campus in the event of an exposure and the need to isolate or quarantine will be placed on emergency suspension. Contact tracing efforts are critically important to minimizing further transmission of the COVID-19 virus and are in place so we can all do our part to keep our community safe and have a productive school year.
We want to clearly communicate that the entire COVID-19 conduct process will move swiftly and could result in a student being suspended within three days. For example, an unvaccinated student who misses their testing on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will be placed on emergency suspension on Thursday pending a conduct meeting regarding permanent suspension.
Any refund of tuition, fees and housing will be based on the University’s approved refund policy.
COVID-19 surveillance testing remains open to all members of the community. Students, faculty and staff, regardless of vaccination status, are encouraged to participate.
Vaccination continues to be the best protection against the spread of COVID-19 in our community. The University is sponsoring free vaccination clinics through Sept. 30. If possible within the constraints of your personal situation, we strongly urge you to get vaccinated.