Screening and Testing

The daily self-screening questionnaire must be completed by all students and employees accessing campus. 

Students and employees who plan to access campus at any point in the semester must complete the Daily Symptom Screening Questionnaire on the days you intend to visit the campus. This survey consists of a series of health related questions that must be answered in order to gain access to campus. In order to sign up for MHealth, students must:

• Visit MHealthlogin.com
• Click on “Employee Screening” to set up an account
• Save the newly created login information, which is necessary each time the tool is used.

Residential students living on campus must complete the Daily Symptom Screening Questionnaire every day. If you live off campus, you will need to complete this screening only on the days you plan to access academic buildings. 

Students who pass the screening will receive a daily pass, which allows them to be on campus for the day. The pass must be presented to the Campus Safety officer upon entry to a New School building. Students will not be permitted to enter the building without a daily pass.

In the event students do not pass the screening, they will not be permitted to enter academic buildings and must schedule an appointment with Student Health Services or email covidtesting@newschool.edu to be cleared for access.

There are a variety of COVID-19 tests on the market. Student Health Services will only accept PCR Nasal or Saliva Swab tests and will not accept Serum Antibody tests or Rapid Antigen tests. Students who submit documentation of a COVID-19 test that is deemed unacceptable will be required to repeat their test.

For student convenience, beginning with the spring 2021 semester, the university will provide binx self-collection nasal swab test kits for pick-up at designated locations on campus. Students must complete the nasal swab at home or in their residence hall suite and return them to the on-campus drop boxes for shipment to the lab. Tests can be picked up and dropped off during the times listed below. However, you must activate your test and complete your nasal swab on the same day that you plan to return the test kit or it will be rejected by the lab. Students who receive a negative test result will hear directly from binx within approximately three (3) days. Positive test results will be communicated to students by Student Health Services within the same timeframe.

Pick-up and Drop-off Locations
University Center, New Store, 63 Fifth Avenue
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:00-4:00 p.m. (except on university holidays)

Loeb Hall Mailroom, 135 East 12th Street
Monday-Friday, 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (except on university holidays)

Students who are temporarily living in Stuyvesant Park Hall will receive a test kit at their suite door during their quarantine period.

Exceptions
All students must use the free binx self-collection nasal swab test kit for their testing needs except in the following instances: testing before your first visit to campus or pre-approved exceptions for other PCR tests.

Students who are tested by an outside provider in these instances must submit their results. Those who use a binx self-collection nasal swab test kit do not need to submit their results, but must follow the instructions in the Testing FAQ to activate their test kit.

Students living in on-campus housing are required to participate in two-phase entry COVID-19 testing and then take a binx self-collection nasal swab test every seven days during the semester.

Phase One Entry COVID-19 Testing
Students must take a PCR COVID-19 test seven days prior to their move-in date. Those who complete their first test with an outside provider must submit their results. Students who pick up a binx self-collection nasal swab test kit from campus do not need to submit their results, but must follow the instructions in the Testing FAQ to activate and complete their test kit.

Students will receive clearance to move in from Student Health Services upon review of negative test results, within three business days of submission.

Phase Two Follow-up COVID-19 Testing
Students who have moved into a residence hall must complete a binx self-collection nasal swab test no later than seven days after their move-in date. Test kits are available in the University Center and Loeb Hall. Students must remain in quarantine in their suite until they receive written clearance from SHS or Housing. Those who receive a negative test result will hear directly from binx within approximately three days. Positive test results will be communicated to students by Student Health Services within the same timeframe.

Ongoing Testing
Students living in on-campus housing will be required to complete a binx self-collection nasal swab test every seven days during the semester. The university is providing free binx self-collection nasal swab test kits available in the University Center and Loeb Hall. Failure to cooperate may result in removal from campus housing.

Daily Symptom Screening
Residential students are also required to complete the Daily Symptom Screening Questionnaire every day. Visit the MHealth website and click on “EMPLOYEE SCREENING” to set up an account. Save your newly created login information, which is necessary each time the tool is used.

To gain clearance to enter academic buildings for the first time each semester, students must complete a PCR COVID-19 test within seven days prior to their desired campus space reservation date or in-person class. We encourage all students to use the free binx self-collection nasal swab test kits if they are in the vicinity of The New School campus. For those who do not live near campus, check your state or country’s government website for information about free testing options near you.

Students who complete their first test with an outside provider must submit their results. Once you submit your results, you will receive written clearance from Student Health Services within three business days that you are approved to reserve campus spaces. Those who use a binx self-collection nasal swab test kit do not need to submit their results, but must follow the instructions in the Testing FAQ to activate and complete their test kit. If you receive a negative test result, you will receive an email notification from binx within 72 hours and can make a campus space reservation. If you receive a positive test result, Student Health Services will contact you with further instructions.

If you do not complete your test within seven (7) days prior to your desired reservation date or first in-person class, you will be unable to make a reservation or attend in-person class until you obtain an updated COVID-19 test.

Ongoing Campus Access
For ongoing access to campus, students will be required to complete a binx self-collection nasal swab test kit every 14 days. Test kits are available for pick-up in the University Center and Loeb Hall. Failure to cooperate may result in loss of access to campus facilities.

Intermittent Campus Access
Students who plan to visit campus intermittently (less than once a week) must take a PCR COVID-19 test seven (7) days prior to each desired campus space reservation date or in-person class. If you are only coming to campus to pick up or drop off equipment or library books, you are not required to obtain a COVID-19 test for that purpose but will be required to complete the Daily Symptom Screening Questionnaire on the day you pick up or return items.

All individuals permitted to be on campus on a regular and ongoing basis will be required to undergo diagnostic testing when they return to campus. Employees may continue to access campus buildings while they await test results but must adhere to the daily symptom screening protocols and all other safety protocols defined in the Spring 2021 Return to Campus Plan.

COVID-19 testing is not required for employees accessing campus intermittently over the course of the semester.

To access spaces, all employees must complete a Daily Symptom Screening Questionnaire on the days they intend to be on campus before accessing facilities, as described in the Faculty/Staff COVID FAQ.

In the event of an outbreak or cluster of cases identified on campus, students may be required to obtain additional PCR COVID-19 testing. Students are expected to cooperate with all requests for additional testing. In that scenario, students will receive detailed testing instructions.

We encourage all students to use the free binx self-collection nasal swab test kits if they are in the vicinity of The New School campus. For those who do not live near campus, check your state or country’s government website for information about free testing options near you. Students who complete their first test with an outside provider must submit their results. Those who use a binx self-collection nasal swab test kit do not need to submit their results, but must follow the instructions in the Testing FAQ to activate their test kit.

Testing is an effective way to help keep students and their community safe. Students can take this step on their own or they can schedule a telehealth appointment with Student Health Services at shsportal.newschool.edu to discuss a voluntary individualized testing plan.