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Penn State Threatens Canceling Semester Registration For Pre-Arrival Testing Noncompliance

Penn State is threatening to cancel semester registration for students who fail to comply with the university’s pre-arrival coronavirus testing.

Despite the semester kicking off today, Penn State Provost Nick Jones said “a number” of off-campus students haven’t been tested yet, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. He added the university will begin disciplinary processes for students who didn’t make plans to get tested by 8 a.m. Monday.

Those who don’t complete testing by Friday, August 28 could have their semester registration canceled if recommended by the Office of Student Conduct.

“The pre-arrival testing is a critical part of the University’s multi-layered approach to returning to our campuses and mitigating the spread of the virus,” Penn State spokesperson Wyatt DuBois told the Inquirer. “The University is providing on-campus testing sites this weekend for students to initiate the testing process.”

On the flip side, Penn State said pre-arrival testing compliance was very high for on-campus students because they needed clearance before moving into the dorms.

Penn State’s pre-arrival testing focused on areas around the country featuring a “high prevalence of coronavirus” where cases may be more common. The university planned to test approximately 30,000 students, faculty, and staff across all its campuses. Approximately 24,000 students were chosen to take part in the testing process.

Friday, Penn State reported 148 of the 17,042 students who’d complied with pre-arrival testing received positive or presumptive positive results. Additionally, 5,005 students are still waiting for their results. Affected individuals need to receive clearance from a health care professional before returning to campus.

Penn State will begin its random coronavirus surveillance testing on Monday, August 24. The university plans to test at least 1% of its population (~700 people) each day at designated locations around campus, including the Bryce Jordan Center and Eisenhower Auditorium. Students who fail to comply could be met with disciplinary action, including suspension or expulsion.

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About the Author

Matt DiSanto

Matt proudly served as Onward State’s managing editor for two years until graduating from Penn State in May 2022. Now, he’s off in the real world doing real things. Send him an email ([email protected]) or follow him on Twitter (@mattdisanto_) to stay in touch.

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