College of Charleston President Andrew T. Hsu shared the following message with students on Monday, Aug. 9, 2021, regarding a one-time COVID-19 testing requirement prior to the start of the academic year:

Dear College of Charleston Students, 

We are looking forward to welcoming you back on campus soon! Our COVID-19 leadership team is committed to starting this year off safely, and we need your help! 

ALL students registered or planning to register for classes during the fall 2021 semester must comply with a one-time testing requirement prior to their return to campus. Permitted tests are a COVID-19 PCR or Antigen, and it must be conducted between August 12 and August 19, 2021. Uploads are due no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, August 20, for those living off campus and 24 hours prior to your scheduled move-in for those living on campus. Details of the only two exemptions from this requirement are below. 

Using your College of Charleston email address and student ID number, test results should be uploaded using the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/AkjnxmLVk3.  

Please note: students can be exempt from the above requirement if they either: 

  • Voluntarily submit their FULLY completed COVID-19 Vaccine Documentation:  

Link: go.cofc.edu/vax-upload 

RELATED: Students Encouraged to Get COVID-19 Vaccine Ahead of Fall Semester

  • This form is kept strictly confidential, and it will help with contact tracing on campus. Students who are vaccinated and identified as a close contact will be exempt from quarantine, provided they are asymptomatic. Students who test positive for COVID-19 will be required to isolate regardless of vaccination status.  
  • Submit documentation of a positive COVID-19 test result dated after May 22, 2021:    

Link: https://forms.office.com/r/AkjnxmLVk3 

This testing requirement is in alignment with guidance and policy approved by the Office of the South Carolina Attorney General in an August 2, 2021, communication with the University of South Carolina.  

If you have already uploaded your proof of vaccination or results of a positive COVID-19 test dated after May 22, 2021, no further action is needed.  

Sincerely,

Andrew

Andrew T. Hsu, Ph.D.
President
College of Charleston 

Frequently Asked Questions:

What if I have been partially vaccinated or my last vaccine was less than 2 weeks ago? Students who have not been fully vaccinated (at least two weeks from their final dose in a complete vaccine series) need to submit test results through the student portal.

I’m taking classes online or at night – do I have to do this? Yes, all students are required to participate. Some students come to campus for weekend sessions or to use campus facilities (dining, library, etc.) so we are asking all students to participate.

I’ve had COVID in the past, can I submit an antibody test? No, at this time, the College will only accept a PCR or Antigen test. If you have had COVID since May 22, 2021, please upload documentation verifying that infection and this will provide you with an exemption from return-to-campus testing.

What happens if I don’t submit this documentation? On-campus students who do not submit documentation at least 24 hours before they move-in may experience delays in receiving keys for their campus housing location. Off-campus students who do not comply may lose access to campus facilities (library, dining facilities, etc.) through their Cougar Card or have holds placed on their classes or accounts until they upload one of the three required items.

How can I make sure you got my information? At the end of the form, you can print a copy of your responses or email them to yourself!

Where can I go to get testing? There are many testing options available for students, but we encourage you to plan ahead. A few students experienced move-in delays last year because their test results were not available by the deadline. We recommend testing on August 12 to prevent any return-to-campus stress! You can find S.C. testing sites here: https://scdhec.gov/covid19/find-covid-19-testing-location. Or avoid stress by coming to the College of Charleston campus. The College will be hosting the following testing events: (Please note that the tests will be offered by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to people of any age; by the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) to only actively enrolled students, faculty and staff; and by the University of South Carolina (UofSC) to people 16 and older. UofSC testing will be a saliva-based test.)

  • Thursday, August 19th – MUSC (10 a.m.-3 p.m., Stern Center – Glebe Street)
  • Thursday, August 19th – Go Med Mobile (8 a.m.-12 p.m., Student Health Services, 181 Calhoun Street)
  • Friday, August 20th – Go Med Mobile (8 a.m.-12 p.m., Student Health Services, 181 Calhoun Street)
  • Saturday, August 21th – Go Med Mobile (8 a.m.-12 p.m., Student Health Services, 181 Calhoun Street)
  • Sunday, August 22nd – Go Med Mobile (8 a.m.-12 p.m., Student Health Services, 181 Calhoun Street)
  • Tuesday, August 24th – DHEC (9 a.m.-3 p.m., Stern Center – Glebe Street)