Following the successful strategy of the fall semester, UVM is again requiring a pre-arrival COVID-19 test for all students — undergraduate, graduate, non-degree, and medical students — prior to the start of the spring 2021 semester. All students enrolled as “at-home” learners at any level who live in Burlington, South Burlington, or Winooski who do not have an approved testing exemption for spring 2021 are included in this group.

Specifics on when students need to complete their pre-arrival test vary by population group, according to when classes, clinics or practica begin; the pre-arrival test must be accompanied by a period of quarantine. See details on both below. Use this tool to help you determine when you should begin quarantine and order your test kit.

If you stayed in Vermont over break, complete your pre-arrival test prior to your Day 0 testing day (you'll take your Day 0 test between January 25-31). In other words, enter your Day 0 test day to determine when to claim your pre-arrival COVID-19 test from Color.

 

If you plan to arrive on campus / in Burlington on :

Choose a date above for required steps and associated dates.

 

Who Needs to Test?

Medical Students

All medical students are required to take a pre-arrival COVID-19 test and obtain a negative result before resuming on-campus instruction or clinical assignments, or before coming to UVM and/or the University of Vermont Medical Center campus(es) for any reason other than as a clinical patient.

The following is specific information for each class:

  • First-year medical students: You must complete your pre-arrival test prior to resuming on-campus instruction on Tuesday, January 19, 2021.
  • Second-year medical students: You must complete your pre-arrival test prior to returning to UVM or the University of Vermont Medical Center campus(es) for any reason and no later than March 22, 2021.
  • Third-year medical students, rotating within Chittenden County: You must complete your pre-arrival test prior to resuming clinical practice on Monday, January 4, 2021. You should ship your sample no later than December 29, 2020. See below for directions on shipping your sample.
  • Fourth-year medical students: You must complete your pre-arrival test prior to resuming clinical education on Monday, January 4, 2021. You should ship your sample no later than December 29, 2020. If you are not traveling outside Vermont between December 25, 2020 and January 4, 2021, you do not need to take the pre-arrival test. You must submit a temporary exemption request.
  • Third and fourth-year medical students returning to rotations within Chittenden County after January 4, 2021: You must complete a pre-arrival test and obtain a negative result prior to returning to in-person clinical education.

For third- and fourth-year medical students, UVM is providing an additional option of testing on campus on Saturday, January 2, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the testing center located in the Davis Center on campus. This clinic is specifically scheduled for medical students without symptoms who require a Day-7 quarantine test per Vermont Travel Guidelines, and will be walk-in only; as a private testing session, sign-ups will not be made available on CoVerified. This test can be used in place of the pre-arrival test. You will receive your results prior to resuming clinical assignments on Monday, January 4, 2021.

Students Living in the Residence Halls

  • All students living in the residence halls are required to take a pre-arrival COVID-19 test and obtain a negative result before being allowed to move into the residence halls.
  • All students living in the residence halls who will be participating in the on-campus pre-arrival quarantine housing are required to take a pre-arrival COVID-19 test and obtain a negative result before arriving on Tuesday, January 19, 2021.
  • All students living in the residence halls and approved for early arrival (RA, student employment, etc.) are required to take a pre-arrival COVID-19 test and obtain a negative result before being allowed to move into the residence halls.
  • All students are required to take a Day-0 test the day you move into the residence halls followed by a Day-7 test. You are then required to test every seven days.

Any on-campus students not completing pre-arrival quarantine through UVM will need to do the following:

  • Inform the COVID-19 Information and Service Center in advance at UVM.Strong@uvm.edu or (802) 656-1010
  • Students may be asked to provide information or documentation about their quarantine arrangements to the COVID-19 Information and Service Center and may not be permitted to move into the residence halls if it is determined that the quarantine process did not meet Vermont Department of Health guidelines on quarantine (see below).
  • On-campus isolation space is not available if students test positive.

Students Quarantining with UVM:

  • Claim your test kit no later than January 11. Activate, take, and ship your test kit no later than January 15 to receive your results by January 18.
  • Limit your activity from the time you take your test to your arrival on January 19

Off-Campus Undergraduate Students

  • All off-campus students are required to take a pre-arrival COVID-19 test and obtain a negative result no later than Friday, January 29, 2021, before being allowed to begin classes on Monday, February 1, 2021.
  • All off-campus students must obtain a negative test result prior to coming to campus even for a Day-0 test.
  • All off-campus students who live in Burlington, South Burlington, or Winooski enrolled as “at-home” students and who do not have an approved exemption are required to take a pre-arrival test and participate in the required every-seven-day testing protocol on campus.
  • Off-campus students who traveled out of state may use the pre-arrival test to meet Vermont quarantine travel requirements either prior to returning to Vermont or after quarantining in Vermont.
  • All off-campus students are required to take a Day-0 test the week of January 26, 2021 at the testing center on campus and begin the required every-seven-day testing protocol on campus the next week.

Graduate Students

  • All graduate students are required to take a pre-arrival COVID-19 test and obtain a negative result no later than Friday, January 29, 2021 before being allowed to begin classes on Monday, February 1, 2021.
  • All graduate students enrolled in winter session classes with an in-person component (including internships or clinical practica at University of Vermont Health Network or in Chittenden County) that start either Monday, January 4, 2021 or Tuesday, January 19, 2021 are required to take a pre-arrival COVID-19 test and obtain a negative result before being allowed to begin classes.
  • All graduate students must obtain a negative test result prior to coming to campus even for a Day-0 test.
  • All graduate students who live in Burlington, South Burlington, or Winooski who do not have an approved exemption are required to take a pre-arrival test and participate in the required every-seven-day testing protocol on campus.
  • Graduate students who traveled out of state may use the pre-arrival test to meet Vermont quarantine travel requirements either prior to returning to Vermont or after quarantining in Vermont.
  • All graduate students are required to take a Day-0 test the week of January 26, 2021 at the testing center on campus and begin the required every-seven-day testing protocol on campus the next week.

Non-Degree Students

All non-degree students at any level, including students enrolled in special programs from other institutions (such as ROTC and the 3+2 program), are required to take a pre-arrival test.

  • All non-degree students are required to take a pre-arrival COVID-19 test and obtain a negative result no later than Friday, January 29, 2021 before being allowed to begin classes on Monday, February 1, 2021.
  • All non-degree students must obtain a negative test result prior to coming to campus even for a Day-0 test.
  • All non-degree students who live in Burlington, South Burlington, or Winooski who do not have an approved exemption are required to take a pre-arrival test, take a Day-0 test the week of January 26, 2021, and participate in the required every-seven-day testing protocol on campus.
  • Non-degree students who traveled out of state may use the pre-arrival test to meet Vermont quarantine travel requirements either prior to returning to Vermont or after quarantining in Vermont.

Requesting an Exemption from Testing

If you believe that you should be exempt from the pre-arrival test as well as from the required every seven-day testing on campus you must submit an exemption request. Requests will be reviewed, and you will be notified of the outcome of your request by email. Those who submitted a request for fall 2020 must submit a new request for spring 2021.

 

Instructions for Taking the Pre-Arrival Test

Step One: Claim Your Test

Contact Color Support if you are having issues claiming your kit at at mycovidtest@color.com or (844) 352-6567

  • The tool at the top of this page will help you determine when you should begin quarantine and order your test kit.
  • Claim your test kit no earlier than two business days prior to starting your quarantine—see “Instructions on Quarantining” below for information about timing your test.
  • To claim your pre-arrival test, go to the Color website and create an account using your UVM email address. Be sure to enter and confirm the address where you want to receive the test kit and the cell number and email address where you want to receive your results.

Step Two: Activate, Take, and Ship Your Test—All on the Same Day

  • First, on the weekday that you take your sample, follow the directions to activate your COVID-19 pre-arrival test kit. Make sure you take your sample at the same time as you activate your kit — no earlier than seven days into your quarantine. You will receive a confirmation text and email once you activate your kit.
  • To take your test, swab at least 1 inch up each nostril for 10 seconds on both sides. This is the same sample process used at the on-campus testing center.
  • Finally, on this same day before 12:00 p.m. noon (if possible), return your sample using the pre-addressed FedEx shipping package. Your sample needs to arrive at the lab within 56 hours of you drawing the sample.

Step Three: Continue Your Quarantine

  • Quarantine until you receive your results and continue to quarantine until you travel to UVM or come on campus.
  • You will receive your results via text and email within 72 hours after you ship your sample.

Instructions for Shipping

  • Test kits are shipped to physical addresses only, not to P.O. boxes. 
  • Test kits are not shipped to international addresses.
  • Locate a FedEx shipping center near you.
  • Samples must be dropped off at a FedEx shipping center the same day, preferably by 12:00 noon, to ensure it arrives at the lab in 56 hours.
  • Do not take a test on a weekend. FedEx does not accept samples to ship on weekends. 
  • FedEx will not be accepting samples or shipping samples on the following days:
    • December 25, 2020
    • January 1, 2021
    • January 18, 2021

Quarantine Requirements and Instructions

Vermont requires that anyone traveling to the state complete a period of quarantine regardless of where you are traveling from. You can quarantine at home for 14 days, or for 7 days followed by a negative COVID-19 test result, before traveling directly to Vermont. Or you can quarantine in Vermont for 14 days immediately upon arrival, or for 7 days immediately upon arriving in Vermont, followed by a negative COVID-19 test result.

UVM encourages students living in Vermont to follow these same quarantine requirements before coming to campus.

Quarantine and Pre-Arrival Test Planning

  • Plan to quarantine for a minimum of at least 10 calendar days from when you start your quarantine. Order your test kit no earlier than two days prior to starting your quarantine. Use the tool at the top of this page will help you determine when you should begin quarantine and order your test kit.
  • Activate your test no earlier than seven days into quarantine.
  • Return the sample on day seven of your quarantine (has to be a weekday). Take the test early in the day (before noon if possible) to mail sample and to allow for ample shipping time
  • Quarantine until you receive your results and continue to quarantine until you travel to UVM or come on campus.
  • Specific information on Vermont’s travel quarantine requirements is available on the Center for Health and Wellbeing’s website and on the Vermont Department of Health website.

Receiving Your Test Results

  • You will receive your results by text and at the email address you entered when you claimed your test kit at the Color website.
  • If your results are negative, continue to quarantine until you travel to UVM or come to campus.
  • If your results are positive, contact Student Health Services at CHWBSHSnotifications@uvm.edu or (802) 656-3350 for information on isolation. Do not travel or come to UVM for any reason. See the Center for Health & Wellbeing website for information about isolation.
  • If your results are failed, invalid, inconclusive, or unsatisfactory contact Student Health Services at CHWBSHSnotifications@uvm.edu or (802) 656-3350 for information on testing options and when you are permitted to return to campus, move into the residence halls and/or begin classes.

If you have questions about the pre-arrival test process, please contact any of the following:

  • Specific questions related to claiming, activating and returning your test kit should be directed to Color at mycovidtest@color.com or (844) 352-6567.
  • COVID-19 Information and Service Center at UVM.Strong@uvm.edu or (802) 656-1010.

Thank you for participating in the pre-arrival testing program. It is an important part of starting the semester strong and keeping our campus and community safe and healthy.

What Is the Test?

The test is an anterior nasal swab that is not invasive and is easy to self-administer. It is the same type of sampling process used throughout the fall at the UVM COVID-19 Testing Center. The Color Geonomics SARS-CoV-2 RT-LAMP Diagnostic Assay uses real time reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) rather than real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It is not a SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR diagnostic assay. The Vermont Department of Health has approved UVM’s use of this type of test in place of the PCR test. Color provides additional information about the COVID-19 test on their website.

There is no cost to you for this test. You will return your sample by FedEx in a prepaid shipping package and will be notified of your results by text and e-mail. You will not receive notice of results through CoVerified.