Dear Students,
Before the start of winter break, we shared that all residential students would be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test before arriving to campus for the spring 2022 semester. As students begin to return to campus, we are reaching out today to provide three possible ways to complete your pre-arrival testing and bring proof of a negative test prior to moving back into your residence halls. Make sure to have documentation of your negative result at time of move-in and please do not upload the negative result to the Bentley Health Portal.
PCR Test- 72 hours prior to move-in
Students can provide proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to their move-in date. PCR tests can be found here for those in Massachusetts, or here for those living in different states or countries. Bring a copy of the result report (a digital copy will suffice) with you to your move-in appointment. You may also contact your health care provider to ask if they are able to schedule a PCR test.
Antigen Rapid Tests- 24 hours prior to move-in
Antigen rapid tests, including those that can be purchased and completed at home, taken within 24 hours prior to move-in will be accepted. These tests can be performed by local pharmacies or testing centers or may be purchased online or at a local pharmacy to be completed at home.
For a rapid test performed at a pharmacy, testing center or with a video proctor and electronic result
Bring a copy of the result report (a digital copy will suffice) with you to your move-in appointment. This includes tests conducted at home under the supervision of a video proctor that produce an electronic results report.
For a rapid self-test without an electronic results report
After taking your test and waiting the required period (usually 10-15 minutes), you must:
- Write your Bentley ID number and the date on the physical test (if there is space to do so).
- Take a photo of your test next to your Bentley ID card.
Only photos of antigen tests with a Bentley ID number and date written on them next to the corresponding ID card will be accepted. Here’s a helpful example from Flex showing how to photograph your at-home rapid test:
On-Campus PCR Testing- 72 hours prior to move-in
Students can come to campus 48-72 hours prior to their move-in appointment for a PCR test, and an appointment must be made using the Bentley Health Portal. The Screening Test Program opens for the semester on Monday, January 24. The schedule is Monday – Thursday 9am-3:30pm. We are also offering a special testing day on Thursday, January 20 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. to accommodate earlier move-in times. No testing will be available on Wednesday, January 26 and February 2 due to move-in.
If You Test Positive
Do not come to campus. Contact the Residential Center to reschedule your move-in time. Members of our community who tested positive for COVID-19 during winter break are excused from testing requirements for 90 days. To be excused, students should upload their positive test report, or a letter from their health care provider, to the Bentley Health Portal. Please email the Health Center if you cannot obtain a positive test report or a letter from your health care provider documenting your positive COVID-19 test result.
Starting the semester off on the right foot is crucial to our spring on-campus experience. Completing a pre-arrival test is one way that we can ensure we’re all doing our part to keep ourselves and our peers healthy and safe.
Kim Kerrigan, MSN, FNP-BC
Screening Test Program Leader
Julia Matthews, MSN, MPH
Director, Health Center
Geoff Bartlett, CEM, NHDP-BC
Director of Emergency Management