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Baylor is requiring a negative COVID-19 test of all students coming to campus for the fall semester. We are mailing mandatory COVID-19 test kits to students beginning next week. 

To make sure that you receive your test kit on time, you will need to verify your mailing address. The test kits will be mailed to the "Test Kit Address" listed in BearWeb, which will be auto-populated from your Student Home Address. We ask that you please review your Test Kit Address in BearWeb and change your location, if needed. You do not need to make any changes if the address is correct. 

You will need to review and update your address by midnight CST on Wednesday, July 29.  

For students who will reside on campus, please enter the best address for you between August 4—August 7. 

For off-campus students, please enter the best address for you between August 11—August 14.

Note: Students in the following groups will have a separate testing protocol: Community Leaders, Golden Wave members, Louise Herrington School of Nursing students, student-athletes, and student volunteers who live off-campus. 

There is an instructional video with a step-by-step guide on how to change your address at www.baylor.edu/registrar/AddressUpdate. 

Below are 15 of the most frequently asked questions about Baylor's COVID-19 testing plan. For additional FAQs, visit www.baylor.edu/coronavirus. If your specific question is not answered in the FAQs, contact COVIDtesting@baylor.edu for assistance. 

1. For students in programs that start the first or second week of August, how will they receive their test kits in time? Or will testing be available when they arrive in Waco? 

Students arriving early to campus (Community Leaders, Golden Wave members, Louise Herrington School of Nursing students, student-athletes, and student volunteers who live off-campus) will be contacted directly about instructions on COVID-19 testing. 

1. When will the testing kits arrive? 

For students living on-campus, the test kits should arrive by August 5. For students residing off-campus, the test kits will arrive by August 13.

If your test kit does not arrive by the specified date, please contact COVIDtesting@baylor.edu. 

1. How long will it take for test results to become available? And how will students be notified of their test results?

Please be sure to take your test as soon as you receive it. Included in the test kit is packaging for overnight shipping of your test to the lab. From the date the lab receives your test sample, processing takes 48 hours.  

When you receive your test kit, you must collect the sample and mail it using a UPS drop box on the same day.  Do not collect the sample on the weekend.  The sample will be delivered overnight, and the lab will have your results within 48 hours. You will receive notification of your results through email and text.

1. Can I opt-out of COVID-19 testing?

No. The University is requiring all students to take a COVID-19 test and have a negative result before returning to Baylor campuses. 

For students under the age of 18-years-old and those who reside in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, or Rhode Island, you will need to get tested before returning to campus and submit proof of a negative result in the form of a photo that includes the test results and date taken. Proof of negative test results should be emailed to Health_Services@baylor.edu. 

Viral testing, such as a PCR or an antigen test, is the required replacement for the Baylor-provided test.

1. I am not returning to Waco for the semester. Do I need to be tested?

No. Since you are not returning to any Baylor campus during the fall semester, you do not need to be tested. 

1. How do I know my test results are accurate, or if I correctly administered the test?

The Baylor COVID-19 Test Kits use a PCR test, which is the gold standard for testing.  The kit includes a video with instructions on how to collect the sample.  It is important that students collect the sample and place it in a UPS drop boxall in the same day.  Do not collect the sample on the weekend.

1. Do you have the right to ask about my student's medical files, or receive the results of my student's COVID-19 test? 

Students can elect to provide access to specific health information to their parents. Parents will not have access to all of their student's medical records but may be granted access to information related to a specific health event such as COVID-19 test results. 

Baylor's Health Services has a medical release form related to COVID-19. The medical information release form is available at www.baylor.edu/healthservices. 

A student can go to our website, click on the "Medical Records" tab to access the Medical Records Release Form. The student needs to complete the form specifying the name and phone number of the contact person and that this release applies only for information relating to COVID infection, and email it to health_services@baylor.edu. The release form will allow Baylor Health Services staff to answer questions if a parent calls. However, it will not trigger an update or notification without a phone call from a parent. Health Services staff encourage students to let their families know, especially if a test comes back positive. 

The release form is available here: https://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php?id=28089. For more information, the medical records release policy is below. 

MEDICAL RECORDS RELEASE POLICY 
The medical records of students attending Baylor University fall under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, FERPA, guidelines. FERPA establishes the guidelines and allows organizations that fall under the guidelines the right to choose to exceed those guidelines. In order to protect the privacy of our students, Baylor University has chosen to establish the following policy:

• Medical releases may be requested for a specific medical event through a medical release form signed by the patient. 
• In the case of a medical emergency in which the patient is unable to give written or verbal permission for the release of medical information, the attending physician may contact the parents/guardians of the patient. 
• The policy does not provide an opportunity to request a universal or specific medical condition release of medical information.

1. What happens if a student tests positive? 

Baylor COVID-19 Test Kit 
Students will receive notification of their test results through email and text notification as soon as they are available (24-48 hours once received at the lab). A student with a positive test will receive a telehealth outreach by a third-party physician network to communicate the positive test result and provide guidance in caring for their health. 

Students can move into their residence hall or come to campus once 10 days have passed since the date their sample (nasal swab) was collected.  If a student continues to feel ill after 10 days, we recommend contacting a medical provider and remaining at home until symptoms improve. 

Student tests positive once on campus
If a student tests positive once the semester has started, please refer to the "Baylor Student Guide for Returning to Campus" for details about self-isolation housing and available support for students. (Note: The "Baylor Student Guide for Returning to Campus" will be provided in the coming weeks.)

1. What if I have already tested positive for COVID-19 and recovered?

If you have tested positive for COVID-19 and are considered recovered per CDC guidelines, you may provide confirmation of the positive result to Baylor Health Services by sending a letter from your physician or the positive test results showing the date to  Health_Services@baylor.edu. 

1. If I have recently had a negative COVID test, do I need to conduct another test using the Baylor-provided  COVID-19 test kit?

Yes. You will need to complete another test using the test kit supplied by Baylor.

1. Can I get testing at a local testing site in my community and provide the test results to Baylor?

No. Baylor is requiring that students complete the test kit that the University provides.  

1. I am an international student. Will I have to take a test, or will I need to self-quarantine when I arrive in Waco? 

International students arriving to campus directly from their international home will be required to quarantine for two weeks. They will not need to be tested. International students arriving to campus from a domestic location will not need to quarantine but will need to be tested. International students arriving from their international location should contact the Center for Global Engagement at global_baylor@baylor.edu or (254) 710-1461 to learn more about quarantine locations.

1. If I am uncomfortable with a nasal swab, is oral testing available?

No, we are using the PCR nasal swab. 

1. Is there a mandatory quarantine for students traveling out-of-state, especially from communities with high rates of infection?

No. Baylor does not have a mandatory quarantine for students traveling from out-of-state.  To protect the health and safety or our campus communities, we have elected to require all students to submit the Baylor supplied self-test kit and have a negative result before coming to campus.

1. Are the tests self-administered, or is help needed from another person?

The tests are self-administered and are simple to take.  In addition to the instructions provided, there is an instructional video.

1. I tested positive, and I feel fine. Can I retest with my healthcare professional to confirm my test results?

A positive result with no symptoms most likely represents an asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic infection (as false positive tests are uncommon). You should remain home until 10 days after the swab was taken. We do not recommend a second test.