Geneva (category collapsibles)

We strongly emphasize the role of vaccinations against Covid-19 in maintaining the safest possible environment for our community. This applies to all program participants–students, faculty and staff.

• Covid-19 vaccination is required of all students participating on BU Study Abroad Programs, unless an exemption is granted by Boston University Student Health Services.
• Students should be aware that vaccine exemptions granted by Boston University will not be recognized in Switzerland and may result in denial of entry, additional quarantine requirements, refusal of service, or limited participation in certain class or group activities. Any such measures are beyond the control of Boston University and no special allowance can be made for them.
• Remember: Bring your vaccination card, with a copy on your phone for backup. We recommend that you keep your vaccination card clipped inside your passport.
• We are confident that most if not all of our faculty and staff will be vaccinated by the start of fall semester. Because of privacy laws, however, especially in Europe we cannot mandate vaccinations for faculty or staff, or force them to disclose whether or not they are vaccinated.

• Vaccinated students: No specific entry requirements for vaccinated students, as long as the final shot (or last positive test) happened in the preceding 6 months.
• Unvaccinated students: must quarantine for 10 days in their assigned program room.
• Students will make their own way from the airport to the university at a time and place specified by the International Student Desk. Students are currently required to wear masks in program facilities or during program activities, except when in their own rooms.

Students in the Geneva program will live in single bedrooms in Boston University’s residence hall in central Geneva. They will share kitchens and bathrooms. Rooms on the top floor of the building will be reserved for quarantine and isolation.

• Student rooms are cleaned weekly (double-check this) unless being used for isolation.
• All Boston University Study Abroad programs will enforce a no-guest policy for Fall 2021.

• Including partner school protocols—UNIGE
• Classes will be taught in person for Fall 2021

• A database of the health and safety protocols of all internship providers will be maintained by the program staff.

1. Surveillance testingStudents in the Geneva program will be tested weekly by antigen testing. Testing will be conducted at the program offices every Monday morning.
   • Students who test positive will enter the site’s isolation protocol.
   • A positive test result will be reported to local authorities, who will contact the student with instructions and for contact tracing purposes.
   • The parents/emergency contacts of a student who tests positive for COVID-19 will be informed.
2. AttestationDaily attestation is not required except for students in isolation. Students will submit test results via a simple survey / show test results to supervising staff. Only specified staff members will have access to those results.
   • Students are encouraged to download the SwissCovid app. Test results should be entered into this app.Students will be made aware of any updates or newly developed “Green Passes” or “vaccination passports” by the program staff.

The top floor of the Boston University residence hall in Geneva will be kept vacant to be used as needed for isolating students with positive test results. Geneva program staff are developing plans to give students in quarantine or isolation access to food, supplies, classes, local immersion, and companionship. These plans will include such measures as:

• Welcome Kits, providing detailed information to students on how to prepare for and make it safely through quarantine and isolation.
• An initial supply of food items and cleaning supplies. Students will be able to request additional supplies by means of an online form.
• Grocery and food deliveries to the residence hall, where the RA or a student buddy will collect them from the front door of the building and leave them at the student’s bedroom door.
• Staff will support isolated students by means of regular check-ins at least twice weekly, and assistance in locating medical support if necessary.
• If possible, isolated students will be invited to participate remotely? in class excursions. In addition, many museums and other historical sites have created excellent remote tours during the pandemic, and these can go a long way toward assisting with students’ immersive experience, even during the toughest times.
• Finally, classes will be delivered remotely to a student in isolation.

• Local excursions and other group activities will take place as allowed by local law.
• There will be no overnight program excursions for Fall semester.
• Freedom to travel within Europe and beyond cannot yet be predicted for Fall 2021. In any event, free time travel must adhere to local and international guidelines and restrictions. It is the student’s responsibility to know and comply with these.
• Any inconvenience to the student resulting from free time travel is entirely the responsibility of the student, including the cost of required testing or quarantine, unanticipated travel expenses, immigration difficulties, or any missed course or internship requirements.

The Geneva program staff carefully monitors local authorities, and in all cases will follow the directives of those local authorities.

• In the event of a new lockdown the programs will pivot to remote instruction until in-person classes are possible. Classes may be recorded in order to facilitate access to classes.

• Swiss Government Entry and Residence Regulations
• US Embassy, Bern Covid
• University of Geneva
• Canton of Geneva Covid Information

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Fall 2021 FAQs