Penn State Suspends 117 Students for Not Complying with COVID-19 Testing Requirements

Penn State so far has suspended 117 University Park students who have not submitted proof of vaccinations for missing three weeks or more of required COVID-19 testing, the university announced on Tuesday.

Students who have not provided proof of full vaccination for COVID-19 are required to get tested for the virus once a week until they do.

While on “interim suspension,” they are not allowed on university property and if they live on campus are temporarily removed from their residence hall assignment, according to the university. They can’t participate in classes in-person or remotely, nor can they attend Penn State-sponsored events and activities, including football games.

Students without proof of vaccination receive weekly emails reminding them to complete the testing, and if they missed two weeks of testing a registration hold was put on their records, meaning they could not register for future classes, according to the university.

Penn State officials say suspension was a last resort and last week staff called every student who missed at least three weeks of testing to offer assistance. That prompted several hundred students to go for the test.

“It’s important that both students and employees comply with our testing requirement, and we have done everything we reasonably can to ensure that these students are aware of their obligation and do what they must to honor it,” Damon Sims, vice president for student affairs, said in a statement.

“The last thing we want is to suspend them. I’m sorry these students did not follow our repeated admonitions and warnings, and I hope they will make the correction necessary. Others should not repeat their mistake, and everyone who can be should be vaccinated and should upload their data to us as soon as possible.”

Employees who have not provided proof of vaccination also are required to go for weekly testing. Those who don’t face sanctions ranging from being sent home until they do up to termination. Penn State said on Tuesday its Office of Human Resources “is examining employee testing data to determine the number of faculty and staff who are not in compliance.”

Penn State has not required COVID-19 vaccinations for students or employees, opting instead to incentivize them and require regular testing for those who don’t get them. To date, 85.8% of University Park students and 80.5% of University Park employees are fully vaccinated, according to the university’s COVID-19 Dashboard.

Students who have been suspended and plan to complete testing must email the university to indicate when they will be on campus and then leave immediately after the test has been done. They can also provide proof of vaccination.

They can then request the interim suspension be lifted and will be notified that they are allowed back on campus once a completed test or vaccination status has been received by the university.