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Franklin Pierce University's guidelines, expectations, and processes were developed with guidance from, and in some part are governed by, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services NHDHHS), and the New Hampshire Governor's Office.
What are the expectations for returning to the Rindge Campus or Academic Centers for the Fall 2021 semester/term?
All students attending classes on the Rindge Campus or in our academic centers beginning with the Fall 2021 semester/term must be fully vaccinated, and have provided a copy of their COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card to Health Services or their graduate program director prior to their arrival on the Rindge Campus or at either of our academic centers in New Hampshire.
Currently, the state of Arizona does not permit the mandating of the COVID-19 vaccine,
so students attending our Goodyear, Ariz. center should consult with their program
director for further assistance.
For students who are already fully vaccinated, you may submit a copy of your COVID-19
Vaccination Record Card to .
Will there be exemptions for the vaccination requirement?
Students may receive exemption from the required COVID-19 vaccination if they have an appropriate medical or religious accommodation approved. For information on medical and religious exemptions, please click here.
Will the University be testing students for COVID-19 when returning to the Rindge Campus for the fall semester?
The University will not be testing vaccinated students upon return to the Rindge campus; however, testing will continue, as necessary, for the following situations:
Can I move in if not vaccinated, and do not have an approved medical or religious exemption?
No. Students who do not have a completed COVID-19 vaccination record card on file with the Office of Health Services, or whom has not been properly approved for a medical or religious exemption, will not be permitted to physically come to the Rindge Campus or any of our academic centers in New Hampshire.
What if I test positive for COVID-19?
While not likely, it is still possible for a vaccinated person to test positive for
COVID-19, called a breakthrough infection. If anyone, vaccinated or exempt and unvaccinated,
tests positive for COVID-19 while on the Rindge Campus, they will be required to complete
a 10-day quarantine period. Space on campus remains set aside to accommodate such
situations. All efforts will be coordinated by the team in Health Services.
What will testing look like if I have to be tested while on Campus?
Any student who becomes symptomatic should contact the Office of Health Services for assistance. Do not leave your room or come to the office until Health Services has been contacted. Any symptomatic student must wear a mask, whether vaccinated or not.
If you are a student with an approved exemption from the vaccine mandate, email outreach from Health Services will be sent to notify you of the required randomized testing protocols.
What if I have a fever or other symptoms when I arrive for move in or the start of classes?
Students who are symptomatic should not physically come to Campus. Please contact Health Services for further assistance regarding any necessary follow-up or testing.
Before coming to Campus for move-in, will I be required to self-isolate?
Only unvaccinated students will be asked to self-quarantine at home for 10 days prior to coming to Campus and limit all unnecessary contact with anyone outside of their immediate family.
What are the testing expectations for commuter students?
If you are vaccinated, there is no need for testing prior to your arrival to Campus. If you have an approved exemption and are not vaccinated, we require a negative PCR COVID-19 test that was taken no earlier than 72 hours prior to your arrival at orientation or the start of classes.
Will faculty and staff also be tested?
Yes, faculty and staff with an approved exemption will be tested throughout the academic year.
Will there be testing available on-site? Who will pay for testing?
Yes, testing will be available on Campus during the return to campus period during
the Fall 2021 semester.
At this time, any testing conducted when students move-in to Campus, during the established
days of testing, or any additional semester testing conducted by Student Health Services
will be covered by the University.
Will there be a daily screening?
Each Franklin Pierce University community member, staff, faculty, or student, is encouraged to be mindful of their current health status by conducting a daily self-assessment check; however, we will not be requiring anyone to complete the daily survey. Anyone whose exhibiting symptoms should remain in their assigned room or at home and contact Health Services for further support.
What should I do or whom do I contact if I observe another student who might have COVID-19 symptoms?
We ask that all community members encourage each other to report any potential COVID-19 symptoms to Human Resources (faculty or staff) or Health Services (student). We also ask that anyone who believes other members of the community are showing symptoms of COVID-19, to please report their concerns to Student Health Services.
What happens if I do not want to adhere to the required precautionary and preventive measures the University expects of me?
If you feel that you cannot adhere to the COVID-19 expectations, contact the Dean of Students’ Office to discuss a leave of absence or other options that may be available to you. Those not abiding by guidelines will not be allowed on Campus.
What happens if I must go into quarantine/isolation?
Students who test positive for COVID-19 can return home if they do not have to board a plane or take any form of public transportation, including cabs or car services. If returning home is not an option, we have beds and spaces set aside for students who test positive for COVID-19, those who are symptomatic, or those who have been exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 case. Health Services will be required to approved a student to return to in-person classes.
If I’m in quarantine/isolation, what will it be like?
A student will be assigned a room space in our quarantine area in which they must remain until cleared to leave. Meals will be delivered, trash will be taken out, and laundry will be collected weekly. Students who are unable to attend face-to-face classes will work with their faculty to ensure they are able to keep up with class discussions and coursework. We will work with students individually to make quarantine as pleasant as possible.
What if my roommate tests positive? Will I be quarantined?
Not necessarily - there are specific guidelines through the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services that dictate who will be considered an exposed contact for a positive COVID-19 case.
Anyone that is vaccinated, assuming they are not symptomatic, will not be required to quarantine even if they are a contact to a positive COVID-19 case. Any student that is a contact to a positive COVID-19 case and who has been approved for an exemption and not vaccinated and is living with the person who tested positive, will be required to quarantine.
I have anxiety about the nasal swab test. What should I expect?
For our tests, the swab will only be placed in the lower part of your nose, and will not involve the “brain tickle” associated with early COVID-19 tests. The swab procedure will test will take less than 10 seconds to complete.
I have been approved for an exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine requirement, should I arrive on campus early for testing and move-in?
While unvaccinated individuals will be required to be tested as part of the move-in process, we ask that students and their families not arrive on Campus more than 10 minutes prior to their scheduled move-in time to avoid congestion and delays.
Can both roommates have the same slot to move in?
Our preference is that roommates move in one at a time in order to maximize social distancing and minimize any direct contact between families.
Will you be providing bins or dollies for move-in?
To avoid exposure, we will not provide bins or dollies during move-in. Families of course may bring ones of their own.
When will the testing consent form be sent out to residential and commuting students?
The first time you are tested on Campus for the fall 2021 semester, we will ask for you read, fill out, and sign a consent form from our testing vendor, Broad Testing Institute.
When will the results from tests administered on Campus be made available?
We expect test results within 3 to 5 days of being administered. Test results will be emailed to you.
Will family members accompanying students be tested when arriving on campus?
No, each student will be allowed to have two family members or friends help them move in. Unvaccinated family members or friends are asked to wear masks. We ask that if any family members or friends exhibit any symptoms of COVID-19, they not come to Campus.
What is the policy for facemasks?
Students are not required to wear masks on campus unless:
What other protocols should I follow?
We suggest, as it these remain a continued step in infection prevention, students should also continue to do the following:
Will the University provide masks and/or face coverings for all students?
While the need to wear a facemask is very different, the need for masks may still present on occasion. We do encourage you to bring your own reusable facemask. The University does have a small supply of face masks on hand, but will not have them as widely available as we did last year.
What about Social Distancing?
Social Distancing continues to be recommended as another preventative measure from exposure or transmission of COVID-19 and other infections; however, vaccinated students are no longer required to socially distant when on campus under current CDC and DHHS guidelines.
Some spaces on campus may still require social distancing if they experience higher levels of public foot traffic or for additional safety protocols. Please respect these guidelines where necessary.
You may also find some classrooms are still set up with social distancing. This remains a part of our contingency planning in case of a situation that would require us to reintroduce social distancing. We ask that you continue to honor the classroom setup in your classes that are still set up for social distancing, and leave desks and chairs where they are.
Will student clubs, organizations, and teams be able to meet in person?
Yes.
Will there be an option for remote learning on the Rindge Campus for 2021-2022?
At this time, there will not be a remote learning option offered for the 2021-2022 academic year on the Rindge Campus. Although individual faculty members may choose to offer remote learning opportunities in their courses, the option that was available last year to “remote-in” for all of your courses, is no longer active.
What about Heightened Cleaning Protocols?
Facilities will fall back to pre-COVID cleaning protocols, but will respond when directed and as recommended by the Director of Health Services and/or the University to locations of concern and potentially related to exposure and transmission of COVID-19.
Where can I find the latest information about COVID-19, and how FPU is Preparing/responding?
Updates regarding student expectations and how the University is responding to violations of said expectations can be found at the following two locations.
What is FPU doing to keep the University community informed?
We will continue to use multiple communication channels to keep the university community across campuses informed. These include:
Is FPU coordinating with health agencies?
Yes. Administration, in collaboration with Health Services, is coordinating closely with state health authorities on these and other measures, as well as following the guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.
What is the current risk of COVID-19 to people in the United States?
All the vaccines are proving to be a successful barrier to infection and transmission of COVID-19 illness remains a potential threat to the health and well-being of individuals in our communities. The risk appears greatest in those who are unvaccinated and those with underlying immune compromise. While early variants impacted those 60 or older and unvaccinated most heavily, more recent variants of the virus have been creating active transmission and infection in those unvaccinated and whom are much younger in age. While very rare, there are cases of breakthrough infections as well, or those whom are fully vaccinated and yet end up contracting COVID-19. Both the CDC and the NHDHHS websites have updated and active information pertaining to the current state of infection and transmission within the state, within the larger United States, and the surrounding world.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Symptoms of specific concern, for which you should immediately contact Health Services and related to COVID 19 infection include: fever or chills; coughing; shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; unusual fatigue; muscle or body aches; headaches; new loss of taste or smell; sore throat; unseasonable congestion or runny nose; nausea or vomiting; and/or diarrhea.
What can I do to prevent the spread of COVID-19?
Please continue to follow all recommended health precautions:
What about university-related or personal travel plans?
Travel can increase the risk of exposure to you and the community. Government restrictions and public health measures continue to evolve. If you travel, those changes may impact your return to the Rindge Campus or academic centers. We will continue to update guidance as needed. The CDC provides recommendations on postponing or canceling travel if you are not vaccinated. A list of destinations with travel notices is available on the CDC website.
What are the protocols related to quarantining and travel?
International Travel: Students vaccinated with either Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson and Johnson approved
vaccines have no requirement for quarantine but must consent to a COVID-19 PCR test
at Health Services within 72 hours of arriving on campus.
Unvaccinated students approved for an exemption or vaccinated with a vaccine different
than the approved Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson or Johnson vaccine are required to quarantine
on campus for 10 days upon arrival and consent to COVID 19 PCR testing protocol and
the vaccination requirement under the direction of Health Services.
Domestic Travel: Students vaccinated with either Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson and Johnson approved vaccines have no requirement for quarantine or testing unless they are symptomatic.
Unvaccinated students approved for an exemption or vaccinated with a vaccine different than the approved Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson or Johnson vaccine are required to quarantine on campus for 10 days upon arrival, consent to COVID-19 PCR testing protocol and the vaccination requirement under the direction of Health Services.
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What is the difference between isolation and quarantine?
Isolation is set aside for any student that tests positive for COVID-19. Quarantine is for students who are symptomatic and being tested (regardless of vaccination status) or for unvaccinated students (because of an approved exemption from the vaccination requirement) and who resident in a living space with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, and have not yet officially tested positive for COVID-19 themselves. If while in quarantine, someone tests positive for COVID-19, they will be moved to isolation.
How does contact tracing work?
A “contact” is defined by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services as any individual who is unvaccinated and that is currently residing with the individual who tested positive, or is a vaccinated student living with someone who has tested positive that becomes symptomatic. Anyone named as a contact during contact tracing must quarantine. The initial contact tracing process begins when the Director of Health Services notifies a student that they have tested positive for COVID-19 as discovered by testing. Students are asked to provide an initial list of individuals with whom they have had contact with, as defined above, beginning two days prior to their test date. Members of the Franklin Pierce University COVID-19 response team will contact these students to inform them they have been named as a contact for someone that has tested positive and to coordinate their move into quarantine.
A caseworker with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services will likely contact the student that tested positive within 48 hours to do additional investigation and contact tracing. At that time, additional individuals may be identified by the NH DHHS who may also need to move into quarantine.
What if my child tests positive for COVID-19 and has to go in to isolation and/or quarantine?
All students who test positive for COVID-19 are required by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services to self-isolate ‒ either at home if they can safely travel there without using any form of public transportation ‒ or in one of our isolation locations on campus.
While the student is in isolation, we will work with them to ensure that they do not fall behind in their classes. We will of course also work with each student to make isolation and/or quarantine as pleasant as possible. It goes without saying that our students’ well-being is our first priority and at no point in this process will they be on their own.
If my child is in in quarantine/isolation, what will it be like?
A student will be assigned a room space in our quarantine area in which they must remain until cleared to leave. Meals will be delivered, trash will be taken out and laundry will be collected weekly. We encourage students to bring all of their essential items, on a case by case basis we will go to their assigned space and obtain the missing item for them. Students who are unable to attend face-to-face classes will work with their faculty to ensure they are able to keep up with class discussions and coursework. We will of course work with students individually to make quarantine and isolation as pleasant as possible, but it is not like the experience of living in their assigned residence hall and so patience will need to be exercised. Due to our inability to assure an outdoor space that can separate isolated and quarantined students on campus from other members of our community, students in isolation and quarantine do not have an option to go outside.
What if my child gets a COVID-19 test done will in isolation or quarantine and it comes back negative? Can they leave quarantine or isolation?
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services will not permit an individual to test out of quarantine or isolation. They must complete their full time in quarantine and isolation before being permitted and cleared to rejoin general activities.
How long does isolation and quarantine generally last?
There are several factors, determined by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, that go into determining the prescribed number of days that a person must remain in isolation and quarantine. However, in general, if a student is asymptomatic and tests positive for COVID-19 or named a contact they must quarantine/isolate for a minimum of 10 days. The length of each is determined by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.
What if my child’s roommate tests positive? Will my child be quarantined?
Any unvaccinated student that is living with a student who has tested positive for COVID-19 will be required to quarantine for 10 days. If the student is vaccinated for COVID-19, they will be monitored by Health Services staff, only needing to quarantine if symptoms develop.Will the University be testing students throughout the semester?
While all unvaccinated students, faculty and staff will be tested during the move in period, additional testing (scheduled, random, and as needed) will also occur throughout the semester at no charge to the student.
Will there be a daily screening?
The practice of assessing one’s current health on a daily basis, specifically looking to identify if they may be experiencing symptoms potentially associated with an infection, is a continued recommended practice. However, we will not be requiring students to complete a daily health survey. If they are symptomatic, they should contact Health Services for support.
What will happen if my student is documented for not following COVID-19 expectations?
Your student will be referred through the Student Conduct Review process.
How will Franklin Pierce University report active cases of COVID-19 on the campus?
In accordance with the guidance of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Franklin Pierce will publish and update the number of active cases on campus as data becomes available.
Can I go to the dining hall any time I want? What are other food options on campus?
All of our updated dining hall policies and options can be found via the FPU Sodexo website: https://fpu.sodexomyway.com/ . In general, all dining locations will be open for in-person dining again.
Can I leave campus any time I want?
Yes. We are not controlling students’ comings and goings from Campus, but we are heavily advising them that they be thoughtful when they are leaving Campus. We ask though that all students wash their hands and use hand sanitizer much as possible while doing so both for the safety and well-being of those on campus and surrounding communities. If you do become symptomatic, we ask for you to not leave Campus and to wear a mask when leaving your assigned space.
What is the policy related to guests and visitors?
All residential students can have up to one registered guest at a time, beginning September 1, 2021. Visitors may also resume coming to the Rindge Campus beginning September 1. Under current CDC guidance, unvaccinated guests and visitors are asked to wear a mask when on Campus.
Students may entertain guests in their residences. These guests may be Franklin Pierce University students living in other residence halls, Franklin Pierce University students living off-campus, or non-students. This privilege requires the approval of the host’s roommate(s). Further, the exercise of this privilege requires that the rights of one’s roommate(s) take priority over the privilege of having a guest.
When will be know more about orientation?
Details on orientation can be found on our Raven Nation Orientation web page.
Can you tell us more about the Freshman Seminar, what is it and what does it entail?
The Freshman Seminar, our GLE 101 course, is required of all incoming students. Everyone has a specific topic as determined by the instructor, but all have similar components that are designed to help you transition to the college community and the academic world at Franklin Pierce. All students will complete a career exploration project and a first-year inquiry project that will introduce them to the academic resources on campus. There will also be readings and discussions on the topic of the seminar as determined by the instructor and all sections have a minimum number of reading and writing assignments. The instructor will also be students’ first-year advisor, and will help them learn more about the University environment and how it works. Each seminar will also include two peer leaders who can help with any questions students have.
What is the process with mail and packages during the pandemic?
The Franklin Pierce mail department is following the United States Postal Services’
guidelines regarding COVID-19.
Student’s mailing address should be written as follows:
Student First and Last Name
FPU Box #XXXX
40 University Drive
Rindge, NH 03461
