Pre-Arrival COVID-19 Testing for Students in Fall 2021

Yes. The University accepts at-home COVID-19 test results that are administered in the required timeframe of within 7 days before arriving on campus. Students must upload a photo of the at-home test package with the brand name of the test clearly visible and the test results next to their student ID card.

Yes, you are subject to the pre-arrival testing requirement if you have only had one dose of a two-dose vaccine. You are not considered to be fully vaccinated until two weeks after receiving the second of a two-dose vaccine or one dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. You must be fully vaccinated to be exempt from the pre-arrival testing requirement.

Students who are fully vaccinated and have confirmed their status using our COVID-19 Return to Campus Form are exempt from pre-arrival testing requirements.

All students who have not attested to being fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Students who are vaccinated can attest using our COVID-19 Return to Campus Form. 

Exceptions are:

• Any student tested positive for COVID-19 in the 90-day period prior to returning to campus for Fall 2021, and the positive test result has been provided to the University through IU Health, the health department or a self-report; or
• The student is enrolled entirely online for the Fall 2021 semester, is not residing in the residence halls, and will not be physically present on campus in the Spring semester; or
• The student is approved for an exception by the Director of the Health Center.

Students are responsible for determining their own preferred location to be tested. If in-state students need help finding a location, they should visit the Indiana Department of Health. Out-of-state students should seek guidance with their state department of health. There will be limited on-campus testing options available for students who cannot secure a test by other means, please review our Get Tested website for details.

Students may submit results from a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or a rapid antigen test to meet the pre-arrival testing requirement in Fall 2021.

A COVID-19 test must be administered within seven (7) days of arriving on or returning to campus. 

For example, if you are moving into the residence hall on August 18, your test must be administered on or after August 11.

Students who have been tested but who have not yet received their test results should consider the following things:

• Wait, if possible: If enough days are remaining, students should wait for their test result and then wait for it to be approved. Students will receive an email confirmation when their submitted test results are accepted.
• Rapid Test: If not enough time allows for a student to wait on a result, the student could seek a second test of the rapid type, which generally provides results in just a few hours or less. The availability of rapid tests is limited, so students should contact testing sites to see if rapid tests are available. If a student can get a rapid test and it is negative, the student should submit that result, and, once approved, return to campus.
• Check the Ball State Get Tested website for on-campus testing options for students who are unable to secure a test in a timely manner.
  
• Return to Campus: Remember, students can not come to campus for on-campus instruction, move into the residence halls or University Apartments, or participate in on-campus activities until the University approves test results.

If your test was inconclusive, you should get tested again.

Students should submit their COVID-19 test result, administered seven (7) days prior to returning to campus, using our COVID-19 Return to Campus Form. 

Yes. Students must quarantine at home between the time they are tested and the time they arrive on our campus.

Students who test positive for COVID-19 should submit their test results via the Ball State COVID-19 Return to Campus Form. Students will receive instructions for at-home isolation and instructions about when they can return to campus.

Students who are required to submit a test result and fail to do so will not be permitted to move-in to the residence halls and will be required to participate in mandatory surveillance testing.

Online courses will be listed as ONLINE under location. All other designations should be considered as an in-person course. Students should follow testing protocol and contact their faculty member for additional information about the class meeting times.

Students who have in-person classes but have been given permission by their faculty/instructor to be remote should email the Dean of Students (View Email). Notifying the Dean of Students is important so that student access to Canvas is not restricted.

In order to be considered for the exception, the University must have a record of your positive COVID-19 test. Your positive test result could be a direct report from IU Health, the Health Department, or you can submit a copy of your positive test results to our COVID-19 Return to Campus Form.

• If a person has an in-person class, regardless of their affiliation as a staff person, they must meet the pre-arrival testing requirement, if that person has not confirmed fully vaccinated status.
• If a student is only taking online classes but will be on campus for other reasons, such as research, or an on-campus job, that student must submit a test result before coming to campus, if that person has not confirmed fully vaccinated status.

• For questions about move-in or housing, please contact housing@bsu.edu.
• For questions or help with uploading your COVID-19 test results and/or general questions about the pre-arrival requirements, please call the Help Desk at 765-285-1517.