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Seton Hall University

Health and Safety Updates and Frequently Asked Questions

As our understanding of COVID-19 evolves, Seton Hall works to update our plans and policies appropriately. The following frequently asked questions will be updated as new information becomes available.

Health and Safety Considerations: General Safeguards

The general safeguards mandated by the state are completely congruous with those recommended by the CDC and ACHA. Seton Hall has developed policies and protocols regarding the following safeguards and requirements for faculty, staff, and students when they return to campus. The University is committed to working with local and state officials to review the components of the plan and revise it as necessary. The plan includes:

  • Training for students on COVID-19 sanitation (including handwashing and disinfection of spaces and surfaces) and social distancing practices and protocols as an expectation for returning to campus
  • Training for faculty and staff on sanitation (including handwashing and disinfection of spaces and surfaces) social distancing practices and protocols, and institutional policies and procedures developed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19
  • Required use of face coverings (i.e., face masks) for faculty, staff, students, and visitors12
  • Frequent cleaning and sanitation of all facilities (i.e., classrooms, residences, restrooms), including high-touch hardware and equipment, as well as shared surfaces
  • Provision of adequate supplies, including personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies, as required, to faculty, staff, and students
  • The availability of continued remote instruction for faculty and/or students who are unable to participate in in-person instruction13
  • Social distancing in all indoor and outdoor areas of campus
  • A limited number of students in residence halls and restricted residential common areas
  • Designated quarantine and isolation rooms for students who live on-campus and (1) are identified as close contacts of a person who has COVID-19, or (2) themselves have symptoms or a positive diagnosis of COVID-19
  • Use of daily health screenings for faculty, staff, students, and visitors prior to entering campus and education regarding self-monitoring for symptoms
  • Modified food service and dining operations to comply with health and safety standards
  • Established COVID-19 testing and contact tracing protocols, developed in consultation with local health officials and aligned with state and federal health privacy statues and regulations
  • Limited gatherings in accordance with state guidelines, as defined and applicable at any time as the semester proceeds

In addition, Seton Hall has developed specific plans for the operation of research labs, computer labs, food service and dining, athletics, student services (including advising), and study abroad, the details of which can be found in later sections of this document.

For more information on Public Health and Prevention, Screening, Testing, Contact Tracing Protocols, Enhanced Cleaning and Disinfecting, please click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I protect myself from COVID-19?

Prevention is very important. Here are ways to stay healthy:

  1. Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently with soap and water.
  2. Increase your fluid intake.
  3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth and face.
  4. Keep home/personal spaces clean; disinfect common surfaces.
  5. Avoid contact with sick people.
  6. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue/paper towel and discard it immediately. If neither are available, the crook of your elbow is acceptable. Do not cough or sneeze into your hand.
  7. If you have not received an influenza (flu) vaccine this year, get one as soon as possible.

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What if I feel sick?

COVID-19 causes a respiratory illness. Symptoms may include fever, cough and shortness of breath, runny nose, headache and sore throat. In severe cases, the virus can cause pneumonia. There is no vaccine or treatment currently available for this or other coronaviruses.

  1. If you are off campus: Stay home and contact your medical provider over the phone.
  2. If you are on campus: call (rather than visit) University Health Services immediately.
  3. If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, Seton Hall asks that you give due regard to the health and safety of others and self-quarantine.

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What happens if a student is diagnosed with COVID-19?

If the student can return home (within a day’s driving distance), they will be expected to do so until they are cleared by a medical professional to return to campus. If the student cannot return home, the University has identified a separate residential facility where the student will reside until they are medically cleared. The University will provide meals, health care, etc. on site for the student.

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Will you conduct contact tracing for those who are diagnosed with COVID-19?

Yes. Contact tracing protocols will include:

  • Developing and maintaining an ongoing log of students, faculty, staff and visitors to campus.
  • Interviewing the infected persons to determine with whom they have had close contact during the timeframe since their exposure and infection. The contact tracers will then inform the potentially exposed individuals (contacts) about their possible exposure and assist those individuals with arrangements for quarantine, medical care, or social work services.
  • Requiring contacts to stay home, quarantine, and maintain social distance from others until 14 days after their last exposure, while monitoring symptoms.

Contacts who develop symptoms should seek medical attention and get tested for COVID-19. Health Services staff will maintain the confidentiality of any students who test positive for COVID-19 while conducting contact tracing protocols.

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Will the school require students to take their temperature every day?

The University is developing plans to have all students, faculty, and employees do daily tracking of COVID-19 related symptoms. The details of how this will be done will be shared in the coming weeks.

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Are masks going to be required on campus?

Per the guidance from the state of NJ, masks will be required on campus at all times except when a student is in their residence hall room.

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Please explain how students receive health care at Seton Hall.

All students are encouraged to visit Health Services on campus for basic health care, wellness exams, and much more. Please visit our website for full listing of all the services available and the hours of service. Health Services at Seton Hall is staffed by a Physician, Nurse Practitioner, and Nursing staff. The Service is also accredited by Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care – one of only three Universities in New Jersey to have that distinction.

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What insurance is accepted at Health Services? If we choose to waive the Seton Hall insurance, can our son still utilize the medical services on campus with our personal insurance?

Health Services will accept any insurance that a student has and accepts the coverage provided by the insurance company. There is no further bill (or balance bill) issued. The only services that Health Services will bill a student directly for are prescription medications and vaccines (other than flu vaccine which is provided at no cost to all students) provided directly from Health Services

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How do I waive Seton Hall health insurance?

Before you waive the Seton Hall insurance, we encourage you to take the time to compare – be sure that the insurance you have will cover your student when they are in New Jersey if you are from out of the area. You can find details about the coverage of the plan provided through University here.

To waive the Seton Hall insurance, have your student log into PirateNet, click on the Pirate Adventure icon and scroll down to “Health Services.” Note that the waiver is not compatible with Firefox browser – please use IE or Chrome.

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If we opt out our student from the university health insurance plan, will they have access to insurance as an athlete? Are they separate plans?

Student health insurance and insurance for athletes are separate plans. Student-athletes must have student health insurance. Athletic insurance is secondary insurance and only applies to their participation in athletics.

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I assume that health insurance is also not needed for the Fall Semester if student select "Online".

Health Insurance is required of ALL students EVERY year. This a New Jersey state law.

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How is your child treated medically if they start their first semester and are not 18 years of age yet? My son won't turn 18 until the end of October.

You may complete a Minor Consent Form in advance and your student can place it in his Health Portal. If the form has not been completed when the student comes to Health Services, we will contact the parent at that time.

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I declined SHU's health insurance but do I still need to fill out medical records for my son?

Yes! All students must submit a medical history and immunization records (as required by the state of NJ). Visit our Health Services website for what’s needed and how to submit the information.

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Please advise if any medical tests are needed before starting semester and also about immunizations.

All requirements, including immunizations, can be found on our Health Services website.

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Where do we find health forms and when are they due to the health office?

All health forms are completed online through a secure portal. What is needed and how to complete are explained in detail on our website – there’s even a video to walk our students through the process. Health forms are due by August 1st.

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Is there a psychiatrist on staff on campus that can see students?

We have a part-time consultant in psychiatry on staff who works on a short-term basis with our department of Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS). The psychiatrist works with CAPS’ students to evaluate potential benefits of medication and prescribe as appropriate. A student must be engaged in counseling at a CAPS in order to access psychiatric services at CAPS. New students who are already receiving care for psychiatric medications should continue with their current prescriber or work with CAPS to find a local psychiatrist who can continue their treatment.

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What is security like?  Is the campus safe?

The Department of Public Safety is committed to helping members of our community enjoy a safe and secure environment on and off campus.  The Department offers extensive services including campus patrols, escorts, and transportation services such as Safe Ride.

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What is the Seton Hall Pledge?

The Seton Hall Pledge, which asks all of us to do our part to keep ourselves, each other, and our community members healthy and safe — is our shared responsibility. The University will require that all community members, including residents and those living in off-campus locations, as well as visitors, comply with symptom monitoring, mask-wearing, and physical distancing policies. Students who do not abide by the Pledge will be subject to the consequences outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.

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How do I monitor my symptoms?

All students, faculty, priests, employees, and visitors to campus must monitor their health daily for COVID-19 related symptoms. The University will utilize an App for this purpose to make it easy for users to do this. The App, along with details about how to use it, will be deployed in early August and all members of the University community will be expected to use it daily. The symptoms that will be tracked and recorded by users are those recommended by the Centers for Disease Control can be found here.

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Resources on COVID-19

Questions and Feedback

Seton Hall University continues to closely monitor and respond to the impact COVID-19. The health and safety of our students, faculty, employees and their families is of paramount importance in our planning to safely restart classes across our three campuses. If you have any questions, please submit them here: