Federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration Ends; Community Transmission Level Updates No Longer Available
May 11, 2023, marked the end of the federal COVID-19 PHE declaration. After this date, the Centers for Disease Control’s authorizations to collect certain types of public health data has expired, including community transmission rates, which has been reported on this page.
IUP will continue to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control regarding masks/face coverings; currently, masks are not required for Allegheny, Armstrong, Indiana, or Jefferson counties. The exception is that masks will continue to be required in the IUP Health Service.
IUP is following the CDC recommendation regarding masking and self-isolation, which is, that regardless of vaccination status, you should isolate from others when you have COVID-19. You should also isolate if you are sick and suspect that you have COVID-19 but do not yet have test results. If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19, you may have been infected with the virus. Follow CDC’s recommendations for what to do if you were exposed. This includes wearing a high-quality mask when indoors around others (including inside your home) for 10 days, testing, and monitoring yourself for symptoms.
Student-athletes are to continue to follow the COVID-19 policy established by the NCAA and PSAC. Students in off-site experiences should follow the guidelines of their host institution.
Anyone who wishes to wear a face covering is encouraged to do so, and individuals in private offices and in private residence hall suites and rooms are permitted to ask that visitors wear masks when in these areas.
IUP has secured a quantity of KN95 masks for employees and students, following CDC recommendations that KN95 and N95 respirator masks are preferred over cloth masks.
These KN95 masks are available in the residence halls, at dining facilities, at MSCLE in Elkin Hall, and at the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs.
IUP employees can order KN95 masks online from IUP Central Stores.
Learn more on the COVID-19 Health and Safety page.
COVID-19 Vaccinations and Boosters
IUP Health Service can provide the COVID-19 bivalent booster.
COVID-19 PCR asymptomatic testing is available (8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) while classes are in session during the fall and spring semesters.
Schedule your appointment online.
All members of the IUP community should consult their personal physician or health-care provider about recommendations for vaccinations and booster doses. Learn more on the COVID-19 Health and Safety page.
Update, Aug. 11, 2022
COVID-19 Testing
Free testing is available to all IUP students, regardless of whether or not you feel sick. Schedule your appointment online.
COVID-19 testing hours at the IUP Health Service are 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday during the semester.
Free COVID-19 testing is also available at a number of community sites.
Contact Tracing
Contact tracing (getting information from and to people who may have been exposed to a positive COVID-19 individual) is essential to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.
If you have been identified as a "close contact" of a COVID-19-positive person, you will be contacted via text from IUP. The text message will come from “IUP COVID-19 Close Contact Alert” and will advise you to contact IUP Health Service for instruction and additional testing. You may also be contacted by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
When preparing for the academic year amid a global pandemic, each university must do what's best for its situation and must be prepared to change course as new information becomes available.
IUP's plan follows guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,Pennsylvania Department of Health, American College Health Association,Pennsylvania Department of Education, and Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education. It applies to IUP's Indiana campus, regional campuses, and other sites.
The plan focuses on protecting our employees, students, and communities, while providing our students with the best educational experience possible.
If we are to be healthy and safe, we need every member of the IUP community to work together and follow the plan detailed on this site. Here's what you'll find:
Campus Health and Safety
Precautions, campus modifications, face coverings, testing, positive cases, quarantining.
Academic Information and Resources
Dining on Campus and Other Food Resources
Eat-in dining, grab-and-go options, other ways to access food.
Campus Events and Student Life
Financial Information, Aid, and Student Employment
Financial aid, student employment, student assistance, CARES Act, CRSSA Act.
Guidance for Campus Visitors
The IUP COVID-19 Response Committee
The 50-plus member IUP COVID-19 Response Committee, after formulating plans and recommendations for the 2020–21 and 2021–22 academic years, continues as a core group of employees making recommendations for the 2022–23 academic year.
Although we are navigating uncharted territory with this pandemic, we continue to focus on these core guidelines:
- Being flexible and ready to act as new information becomes known.
- Communicating new information and decisions as broadly and as quickly as possible (including on this website).
- Providing a high-quality educational experience.
- Protecting the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff members, and home communities.
- Holding fast the ties that bind the IUP family together.
If you have questions or concerns about IUP's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, please contact a committee cochair: Paula Stossel, pstoss@iup.edu, or Scott Moore, rsmoore@iup.edu.
Messages and Updates Related to COVID-19 Mitigation Plans and Guidelines
Update to COVID-19 Masking Mitigation for IUP Buildings, Facilities
Temporary Adjustment to Spectator Policy for Indoor Athletic Events
IUP Plans to Begin Spring Semester with In-Person Instruction on January 18
Post-Thanksgiving Recess Class Format Reminder, Extended COVID-19 Testing Hours
Welcome Back IUP Message from President Driscoll, August 18
COVID-19 Face Coverings/Masking Policy Update, August 16
Sharing Governor Wolf's Recommendation on Student Vaccinations
IUP Announces Plans for Summer 2021 Sessions
In-Person Commencement Ceremonies Planned for May 2021
IUP Announces Plans for In-Person Classes for Fall 2021
COVID-19 Testing Available for Students
Spring 2021 Classes to Begin via Remote Instruction
Update on Spring Academic Calendar from the IUP COVID-19 Response Committee
An Update from the Fall Planning Committee on Remainder of Fall, Spring Break
Update, Answers to Frequent Questions from the Fall 2020 Planning Committee
Reminder: Wear Your Masks and Social Distance
President Driscoll Welcomes Students to the 2020-21 Academic Year
Fall 2020 Operations Update for Students
IUP LibrariesFall 2020 Operations Information
A Message from Student AffairsVice President Segar About the Fall Semester
Update on Fall Rebalance Plan from Fall 2020 Planning Committee
Let's Help Each Other Stay Safe
Fall Planning Rebalance Announcement from President Driscoll
President Driscoll Announces Plans for Fall 2020
Education Abroad Experiences Suspended for Fall 2020
September 12 Commencement Ceremony Changed to Virtual Format
We Made It! Message to Students from President Driscoll
May 8 Heartfelt Commencement Greetings, Summer Work Driscoll's Weekly Update
May 1No Tuition Increase, Making PPE Driscoll's Weekly Update
April 24 Looking Toward Fall, U-SOAR, Meet Bert Driscoll's Weekly Update
Caring for the Present and for the Future
April 17COVID-19 Partnership with IRMC, Stress Tips Video Driscoll's Weekly Update
Driscoll's Weekly Update: Campus Community Collaboration, Pass/Fail Option Approved, Thanks Given to IT Services, and More
April 10Vibrant Campus, Pass/Fail Grading Option: Driscoll's Weekly Update
Driscoll's Weekly Update: Get Help via Technology, Credible Sources, Refunds, Commencement, and More
IUP Following Governor Wolf's Stay-at-Home Order
IUP Family Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Driscoll Announces Commencement Postponed; Polling Students for Alternative Date
Driscoll's Weekly Update: IUP Classes On, Thanks to Staffs, Student Emergency Fund
Update to COVID-19 Response Plan from President Driscoll
Message to Employees from President Driscoll, March 20
Message from President Driscoll, March 16
Message from President Driscoll, March 13
Message to the IUP Community from President Driscoll, March 12
IUP Provides Donations to Indiana Regional Medical Center, Punxsutawney Area Hospital
IUP Leverages Community Partnerships to Print Facemasks
Food and Nutrition Faculty Member Teaches Online by Day, Combats the Pandemic by Night
IUP, IRMC Collaborate to Provide COVID-19 Testing
Keep Your Stress in Check: Tips from IUP's Counseling Center
State System of Higher Education Votes to Freeze Tuition for Consecutive Year
English Professor to Study Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Undergraduate Research
Postponed Commencement Ceremonies Rescheduled for September
IUP Virtual Orientation Announcement
IUP Day of Caring Focusing on Giving Back While Helping Students
Temporary Modification To Grading, Withdrawal Deadlines, Related Issues
Guidelines Developed to Respond to Request for University Donations
IUP Library and Other Building Closures
Extension of No In-Person Instruction Directive
IUP Transitioning to All Online Course Delivery Starting March 23
Message to Staff from the Office of the Vice President for Administration and Finance, March 13
Health Update 3-6-2020: Coronavirus 2019-nCov
Update to Students About the Coronavirus
IUP Following US Department of State Guidelines for Travel to China