Travel and visitor policies - COVID-19 Resource Center

NOTE: This was guidance included in the University’s Rochester Restart plan in June for planning for the fall 2020 semester. For the latest travel guidance, visit the University’s travel page. And for visitor guidance, visit our Operations page.

Travel policies

With all travel, individuals are expected to follow all relevant social-distancing policies. Individuals must also adhere to standards and travel advisories set by New York State and the CDC and meet any additional restrictions required by the state and local jurisdiction to which they are traveling. It is incumbent upon the traveler to be aware of local social-distancing guidelines.

Travel remains complex due to various federal and NYS travel restrictions and quarantines. Those who are approved to travel internationally or to U.S. States that fall under NYS travel advisories should plan to remain away from campus for 14 days after their return and should monitor their health per CDC guidelines.

University-related travel

Through at least December 2020, the University continues to restrict University-related domestic and international travel (business/work/research/study). This is primarily a measure of fiscal responsibility during the University’s restart and recovery process, and it aligns with ongoing illness prevention efforts and NYS and CDC guidelines. University-related travel that is considered essential may resume with approval by a cabinet-level officer and after consultation with the director of global travel risk management (when international).

Personal travel

While the University does not impose restrictions for personal travel undertaken by UR employees within the U.S. or abroad, individual travelers and their managers should be aware that U.S. and international travel remains complex and due to various national and state border restrictions and quarantines. Therefore, travel should be undertaken with caution and with an awareness of these risks and possible restrictions. Those who travel internationally or to U.S. States that fall under NYS travel advisories should plan to remain away from campus for 14 days after their return and should monitor their health per CDC guidelines.

Restrictions on student travel

Students attending classes from Rochester should plan to remain in Rochester for the duration of the fall semester. If students must depart Rochester mid-semester, they should plan to remain away from campus for 14 days after their return and should monitor their health per CDC guidelines. Such student may alternatively choose to continue their semester remotely.

The University has suspended programs abroad for the fall semester, and University-related student travel away from the Rochester area will be prohibited in order to limit movement to and from campus and the Rochester area for the fall semester. Exceptions may be granted in limited circumstances by the relevant Dean, and notification of any exception should be made to the Provost’s office prior to travel taking place.

Restrictions on visitors coming to campus

In order to limit campus density, only essential visitors with formal appointments in units and invited guests with prior approval will be allowed to visit any facility at the River Campus and the Eastman School of Music Campus. Formal visitors and invited guests should have an obvious and documented relationship that overtly furthers the University’s academic and/or research mission. All approved visitors and guests will be required to complete the University’s COVID training and conduct daily symptom tracking. Casual guests and non-essential visitors are prohibited from these locations. Students may not host visitors or guests during fall semester.

All formal visitors and invited guests must register with the University to ensure that COVID-related training and University expectations regarding PPE is conveyed. Visitors and guests arriving from locations requiring quarantine by NYS or other health agencies must adhere to these quarantine requirements before coming onto campus.

Admissions tours will be adapted to maintain physical distancing for spaces on campus and student and guest numbers will be capped. Records will be kept regarding the staff and visitors in each session each day in the event that information is needed for subsequent contact tracing.